Montreal Impact vs. Chicago Fire FC | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 15
Montreal Impact vs. Chicago Fire FC
Red Bull Arena – Harrison
October 3 – 7:30 PM ET

TV: TSN3, TVA Sports

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US

LOCAL TV: WGN-TV

Eastern Conference foes streaking in opposite directions square off at Red Bull Arena Saturday night when the Montreal Impact host the Chicago Fire.

The Impact (5W-8L-1D) suffered a fourth consecutive defeat, and another sending off, in a 4-1 loss to the Red Bulls at RBA Sunday night, while the Fire (4W-7L-3D) defeated Atlanta United 2-0 for their second consecutive victory Sunday at Soldier Field.

Both teams are above the playoff line in the East, with Montreal currently in eighth, one point in front of 10th-place Chicago.

Montreal Impact

The Impact actually raced in front of the Red Bulls on a Bojan banger, but they conceded a pair of goals by Tom Barlow and a pair of goals a minute apart in the second half in a 4-1 defeat. The Impact looked gassed by the end and were again reduced to 10 before the final whistle when Luis Binks was sent off on a straight red (following Video Review) for DOGSO. The Impact returned to Montreal where they'll have to quarantine, but they hope the trip home will recharge their batteries.

On Monday, the club announced goalkeeper Evan Bush was traded to the Vancouver Whitecaps in exchange for a natural third-round selection in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft. And then Thursday, the Impact acquired in exchange for $600,000 General Allocation Money and a 2021 MLS SuperDraft second-round selection, where he will unite with childhood hero Thierry Henry.

“We are happy with the acquisition of Mason, who fits the profile we wanted, meaning a striker who can score and who has already demonstrated what he’s capable of in this league,” Impact sporting director Olivier Renard said in a club statement. “This addition is also in line with our sporting philosophy of having young players with high potential in the squad.”

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Steeven Saba (M) - left foot injury
- OUT: Mathieu Choinière (M) - ankle injury
- OUT: Orji Okwonkwo (F) - hamstring injury
Suspended: Luis Binks (D)
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None

Chicago Fire FC

The Fire followed an impressive 4-0 win over the Dynamo with a 2-0 win over Atlanta Sunday. Fabian Herbers and Robert Beric scored in the first half and Chicago picked up a second consecutive clean sheet.

"We’re still in the process of finding each other, of building a team," first-year coach Raphael Wicky said after the match. "I try to give the team a lot of consistency because we didn't play much together before COVID. We have a lot of new players, so I think with consistency you will be able to build something."

Chicago exercised the 2021 contract option on defender Francisco Calvo, the club announced Friday. Calvo is the club's captain.

“Francisco has been a very important leader in our locker room,” sporting director Georg Heitz said in a statement. “He truly cares about his teammates and always represents this Club with a tremendous amount of pride. We look forward to having him return as a key part of our squad in 2021.”

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Jeremiah Gutjahr (M) - knee injury
- 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