Our prediction for this MLS match:
DC United welcome Chicago Fire at their Audi Field in what is expected to be an entertaining Major League Soccer clash. The capital club have been having their ups and downs of late, but despite their anything but brilliant form, Hernan Losada’s troops are still sitting in the playoffs berth. Even though Hamid, Hines-Ike, Perez, and Robertha remain in the recovery room, DC United are seen as favourites to win the midweek clash.
Chicago Fire have been struggling to find their best form as well, with the team losing three of their last four league fixtures. Even though German international Kenneth Kronholm should be the only absentee in the away team, we are tempted to put our money on Hernan Losada’s men, as they have turned their Audi Field into a real fortress.
Highlighted Player (Felipe Martins):
Felipe Campanholi Martins is a Brazilian footballer who was born on September 30, 1990 in Engenheiro Beltrao. After playing for the likes of PSTC-Londrina, Atletico Catarinense and Campo Grande during his youth career, he started his senior career at Padova.
The Brazilian midfielder appeared in no more than four league matches for the Italian club and in 2009 he moved to Switzerland, signing a deal with FC Winterthur. At the end of the season he joined fellow Swiss Super League club Lugano and he quickly established himself as a first-team regular. In the winter of 2011 Felipe moved to MLS, signing a deal with expansion team Montreal Impact.
He scored his first MLS goal in a 2-0 win over Sporting Kansas City on May 5, 2012 and he has been playing an important role in the team ever since. Felipe has yet to represent Brazil at senior level, but he could play for Canada national team in the future as he applied for permanent residency.
Highlighted Team (Chicago Fire):
Based in the suburb of Bridgeview, Illinois, Chicago Fire is a professional soccer club who compete in Major League Soccer. Chicago Fire were founded on October 8, 1997 and one year later they won the MLS Cup by beating D.C. United (2-0) in the title game. The club play their home games at Toyota Park, the venue that was opened on June 11, 2006. Chicago Fire won four U.S. Open Cups (1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006) and in 2009 they were beaten by UANL Tigres in the North American Superliga final.
The likes of Chris Armas, DeMarcus Beasley, Brian McBride, Eric Wynalda and Frank Klopas are some of the notable footballers who played for Chicago Fire in the past. It has to be noted that a number of veterans were part of the club as well: Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Pavel Pardo, Piotr Nowak, Hristo Stoichkov and Lubos Kubik.
The club’s official colors are red and white and they are nicknamed Men in Red. Veljko Paunovic, who won the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup with Serbia, is one of the club’s most famous coaches.