Chicago Fire FC vs. Houston Dynamo | 2020 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 13
Chicago Fire FC vs. Houston Dynamo
Soldier Field – Chicago
September 23 – 7:30 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada

LOCAL TV: QuestTEXAS Ch. 55, WGN-TV

Chicago Fire FC are looking to snap a winless streak that is now at six games when they host a Houston Dynamo side seeking to end their own three-match run without three points Wednesday night at Soldier Field.

Fire FC (2W-7L-3D) are coming off a 4-1 loss at Orlando City SC and have conceded 11 goals in their last six games without a win, while the Dynamo (3W-3L-6D) played Minnesota United to a 2-2 home draw and sit just below the playoff line in the West.

The all-time series between these teams in the Windy City is as close as it can get. Each team has four wins and there's been four draws. The Dynamo have scored one more goal than the Fire, with a 3-2 victory on May 20, 2018 the difference.

Chicago Fire FC

Fire FC conceded twice in the opening half hour, argued over who was taking a penalty kick, hit a pair of posts and had two goals called back following Video Review in a 4-1 defeat to Orlando City SC. It's a microcosm of a frustrating 2020 season, according to first-year coach Raphael Wicky.

“All these little things right now are not going our way,” Wicky said during his post-match press conference. “Sometimes in life that happens. I don't know why, I don't have the answer for that. I am still pleased with a lot of things I see, creating so many chances, scoring goals.

“I say the same as what I always do: We have to keep working at it, but we have to become better in both ends otherwise we will talk all year about that, and at the end of the day it will be a fancy hand. It's nice to play good, it's nice to create, but we got to be better on both ends of the field.”

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Jeremiah Gutjahr (M) - knee injury
- OUT: Johan Kappelhof (D) - hip flexor
- OUT: Kenneth Kronholm (GK) - knee injury
- OUT: Luka Stojanović (M) - knee injury
- OUT: Przemysław Frankowski (M) - undisclosed injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: Francisco Calvo (D)
International duty: None

Houston Dynamo

Darwin Quintero scored his second goal against his former team as the Dynamo rallied from a 2-0 halftime deficit to earn a 2-2 draw with the Loons at BBVA Stadium Saturday.

On Monday, the club announced the transfer of Honduran international Alberth Elis to Portuguese side Boavista. Elis, 24, has been a mainstay with the Dynamo since joining in 2017. The Designated Player had 34 goals and 27 assists over 88 appearances (71 starts), including four goals and three assists in just six matches this season before departing. Elis's contract was set to expire at the end of the season.

"All of us at the club would like to wish Alberth nothing but the best as he takes on this next step in his career to pursue his dream of playing in Europe," said Dynamo Senior Vice President and General Manager Matt Jordan in a team release. "We are very proud to have brought Alberth here as a young player and helped him develop and grow to take on this next challenge. Alberth has earned this opportunity through his commitment and performances on the field, having helped the club reach a Western Conference Final and win an U.S. Open Cup along the way. He will go down as one of the best players in the history of our club and we wish him well as he joins Boavista."

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Michael Salazar (F) - right knee injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Wilfried Zahibo (M) - right thigh injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: Maynor Figueroa (D), Boniek Garcia (M), Matias Vera (M), Kiki Struna (D), Memo Rodriguez (M)
International duty: None