The Seattle Sounders are visiting the Chicago Fire on Saturday in their first meeting of the regular season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 5:08 p.m. PT at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on FOX 13+ and Prime Video.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 93.3 KJR FM and El Rey 1360AM.
2022 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 8-9-2 (26 points, 8th West), Fire: 5-10-5 (27 points, 7th West)
FORM GUIDE (all competitions, most recent first): Seattle: LLWLW, Chicago: WLLWL
PREVIOUS MEETING: The Sounders last faced the Fire during the group stage of the MLS Is Back Tournament on July 14, 2020. Robert Beric scored the opening goal early in the second half, but Handwalla Bwana equalized for Seattle in the 77th minute. A late goal from Chicago's Mauricio Pineda saw Chicago secure a 2-1 win.
BOUNCE BACK: The Sounders enter Saturday's fixture looking to return to winning ways after a pair of losses against the Portland Timbers and Nashville SC. A victory against the Fire, coupled with Minnesota, Dallas or the LA Galaxy dropping points, would see Seattle rise back into the Western Conference playoff spots.
NEXT MAN UP: With Raúl RuidÃaz nursing a hamstring strain, the Sounders will likely turn to one of Fredy Montero or Will Bruin to lead the attack against Chicago. The pair have combined for 8 goals and 1 assist across all competitions this season.
NOUHOU MILESTONE: If Sounders defender Nouhou gets the start on Saturday, it will mark his 100th start in MLS play. Since signing with the First Team from S2 in 2017, the Cameroonian international has progressed into one of the most effective 1-v-1 defenders in MLS.
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FAMILIAR FACE: The Fire will be led by head coach Ezra Hendrickson. A former member of the Sounders organization, Hendrickson was an assistant coach from 2009-14 before serving as the head coach of S2 for three seasons. He joined Chicago after working as an assistant with the Columbus Crew 2019-21.
SHAQIRI SHOW: Chicago's marquee signing of the offseason, Xherdan Shaqiri brings plenty of pedigree to MLS. The Swiss international's glittering career includes productive stops at Bayern Munich, Stoke City and Liverpool. He has three goals and two assists from 16 appearances this season.
ONE TO WATCH: While the Fire's attack is yet to ignite -- they have the fourth-fewest goals scored in MLS this season -- the team boasts a budding star for club and country in goal. Slonina, 18, has 13 shutouts in 31 career starts and has been linked with a big-money transfer to European giants like Real Madrid and Chelsea FC.
