MLS
21 July, 2024 - Indian Date
Chase Stadium
MATCH TIMES
India
05:00 AM
UAE
03:30 AM
Saudi Arabia
02:30 AM
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LIVE INFO
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Inter Miami possible starting lineup: Callender; Weigandt, Kryvtsov, Fray, Alba; Redondo, Bright, Cremaschi; Gressel, Suarez, Taylor
Chicago possible starting lineup: Brady; Souquet, Omsberg, Czichos; Gutierrez, Acosta, Gimenez, Dean; Mueller, Haile-Selassie; Koutsias
Team Previews
Inter Miami will aim to maintain their narrow lead atop the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer with a victory over the Chicago Fire on Saturday at Chase Stadium. The Herons secured a 3-1 win against Toronto FC on Wednesday, while the Fire defeated FC Cincinnati 1-0, allowing Miami to reclaim the Supporters' Shield lead. The Fire, meanwhile, are two points below the Eastern Conference playoff line. Miami's recent resurgence came 11 days after a 6-1 loss to Cincinnati saw them drop to second place.
Despite dealing with international tournaments and a long list of injuries, Miami head coach Tata Martino has managed his squad rotations effectively. The Herons have secured points in six of their last seven league matches, winning five of them. They now have 50 points this season, surpassing their previous best of 48 points in the 2022 MLS regular season.
Miami leads the Eastern Conference with seven home wins from 12 matches at Chase Stadium, one more than last season. Up until matchday 17, they were the comeback kings of MLS, earning 20 points from losing positions. However, they are winless in three of their last four league matches when conceding the opening goal.
The Herons are the only team in the league to reach the 50-goal mark this season, with 54 goals in total. They have scored in 22 of their 24 fixtures and have never been shut out at Chase Stadium in 2024.
Chicago Fire, who helped Miami by defeating FC Cincinnati on Wednesday, have put themselves back in the Eastern Conference playoff race, ending a two-match winless streak. Frank Klopas’s team is currently 13th in the East but could move above the playoff line with a win and some help from other results. They are within a victory of surpassing Atlanta United, DC United, Nashville SC, CF Montreal, and Toronto FC.
Chicago’s win on matchday 24 ended a two-game goalless run, and they have posted consecutive MLS clean sheets for the first time this season. However, scoring has been a significant issue for them, with the third-fewest goals in the East (29). They have failed to score in eight regular-season matches in 2024, including three away games.
In 2024, Chicago has the joint-fewest away victories in MLS (two), but a win this weekend could mark their first consecutive away victories of the year. Historically, they have performed well against the Herons, winning their last three meetings and losing only once in six all-time encounters—a 3-2 defeat in Fort Lauderdale in 2021.