FRISCO - FC Dallas heads to Chicago for their lone meeting of the season against the Fire on Thursday night (7:30 p.m., FCDallas.com). Dallas (5-1-4) is coming off their first loss of the year against San Jose on Saturday night, opening a nine-day stretch with three games. Chicago (6-3-3) has won three straight matches and is unbeaten at home in 2017.
Much-Improved
Through their first 12 games last year, Chicago was 2-5-5 and the Fire finished 2016 dead last in the MLS standings with a 7-17-10 record. The offseason additions of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Dax McCarty to the midfield and Nemanja Nikolic’s 10 goals up top, coupled with the resurgence of David Accam with six goals, the Fire have leaped from bottom-dwellers to emerging powerhouse in a matter of months. They’re hitting their stride too, outscoring opponents 7-1 in their last three games.
Key Match-Ups
Matt Hedges vs. Nemanja Nikolic: With four goals and an assist in his last three matches and already 10 tallies on the year, the newcomer has quickly made a name for himself in Chicago and MLS. The early-season golden boot leader will have to beat the reigning MLS Defender of the Year to back up his hot start.
Carlos Gruezo vs. Bastian Shweinsteiger: Thursday is set to be a midfield showdown with the legendary Shweinsteiger squaring off against the up-and-coming Gruezo. Both players are the back of each team’s stout midfield and whoever has the best showing in the Windy City will likely see his team take points as a result.
Last Time Out
(4-2-3-1): Matt Lampson; Brandon Vincent, Joao Meira, Johan Kappelhof, Matt Polster; Dax McCarty, Bastian Sweinsteiger; David Accam, Michael de Leeuw, Luis Solignac; Nemanja Nikolic.
Key to Three Points
It’ll be interesting to see how Oscar Pareja plays this one coming off a loss and preparing for a Texas Derby match at home just three days later. If he goes young, it’ll be quite the test for some of the fresher faces and if he goes with the normal look, it’ll be a chance to bounce back against a formidable foe in Chicago. Either way, Thursday’s match will be won or lost in the midfield while keeping an eye on the threats up to for either side.
