NEW YORK RED BULLS vs. CHICAGO FIRE
RED BULL ARENA, Harrison, N.J.
May 18, 2016 (WEEK 12, MLS Game #112)
7:30 p.m. ET (MSG; CSN-Chi+, MLS Live)
A pair of clubs aiming to begin making a charge up the Eastern Conference table meet when the New York Red Bulls play host to the Chicago Fire on Wednesday evening at Red Bull Arena. The Red Bulls return home after seeing their three-game undefeated run put to an end, now in eighth place in the East following a 2-0 loss at D.C. United last Friday evening. The Fire remain on the road for a third consecutive match, sitting at the foot of the division after seeing their MLS-record away winless streak extended in a 2-0 loss at the New England Revolution on Saturday evening.
- The Red Bulls saw their three-game undefeated run put to an end in a 2-0 loss at D.C. United Friday, their first defeat since April 16.
- The Fire became the sole holders of the all-time MLS record longest winless streak away from home, now 29 games since their last road victory following their 2-0 loss at the New England Revolution on Saturday. The Fire last won away from home July 12, 2014, a 1-0 win at New England.
- When the teams last met, as part of Decision Day on Oct. 25 last season, the Red Bulls won 2-1 at Toyota Park – their first win ever in Bridgeview. The Red Bulls’ last away win against Chicago had come May 14, 2005, a 3-0 win at Soldier Field; in between, the Fire were unbeaten in 14 home games in the league series (9-0-5).
- The Fire have come away with a victory on two of their last four trips to Red Bull Arena, their last win in Harrison coming in a wild 5-4 victory May 10, 2014, as Chicago’s Harry Shipp and New York’s Bradley Wright-Phillips each scored hat tricks – the only time in MLS history two hat tricks were scored in the same game. The Red Bulls took a 3-2 win last Sept. 11 in Harrison in the only meeting there between the clubs.
REFEREE: Robert Sibiga. AR1 (bench): Joe Fletcher; AR2 (opposite): Gianni Facchini; 4th: Mark Geiger
MLS Career: 7 games; FC/gm: 25.3; Y/gm: 3.0; R: 2; pens: 2
SUSPENDED: none
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: none
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: NYR: Mike Grella, Ronald Zubar … CHI: Matt Polster
DISABLED LIST: NYR: Damian Perrinelle
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (51 meetings): Red Bulls 15 wins, 66 goals … Fire 26 wins, 86 goals … Ties 10
AT NEW YORK (25 meetings): Red Bulls 11 wins, 41 goals … Fire 11 wins, 40 goals … Ties 3
RETURN MATCH: 7/31: Chicago Fire vs. New York Red Bulls, 6 p.m. CT
