The Chicago Fire are in the driver’s seat for a top-three finish in the Eastern Conference, and their current surge is a major reason why.
On a three-game winning streak in MLS and a six-game winning streak across all competitions, the Fire seek another win Saturday night in Harrison, N.J., when they visit the New York Red Bulls, who are trying to move up from eighth place.
Chicago (11-6-2, 35 points) enters its final 15 games with a two-point lead over fourth-place New England. The Fire also trail second-place Inter Miami by just four points.
The Fire are coming off three straight 2-1 wins in MLS games against Charlotte, Portland and Orlando. Chicago also owns a trio of wins against Mexican opponents in Leagues Cup matches this month and will play in the quarterfinals on Tuesday after its visit to the Red Bulls.
On Wednesday at Orlando City, Robert Lewandowski scored his third MLS goal when he converted a penalty kick in the 68th minute to snap a tie. Puso Dithejane also tallied after scoring twice against Cruz Azul in Leagues Cup action on Aug. 13.
“The vibes are great,” Dithejane said. “Every player wants to work and wants to win, so our mentality is the same. … We told ourselves we have a lot of games coming, and we have to win all those games. It’s all in the mind. Our mentality has to be right going into a game, and we have to go to win.”
The Red Bulls (7-9-4, 25 points) begin the weekend one point behind seventh-place NYCFC and one ahead of ninth-place D.C. United. New York is barely holding onto a playoff spot because of four losses in its past five matches following a four-game unbeaten streak before the World Cup break.
New York has scored twice across its past four losses. The Red Bulls were blanked for the fifth time this season Wednesday in a 1-0 home loss to Nashville SC, when they allowed the deciding goal off a set piece two minutes into stoppage time.
“I think generally the path of the team in this last period and in the growth and the improvement has been good, but again, we’ve got to make sure that we have more to show for it,” Red Bulls coach Michael Bradley said. “I’m going to repeat myself and just say that is the next step for this team, for our team is the maturation that now has to come.”
Julian Hall, 18, continues to lead the Red Bulls with nine goals to go along with five assists.
–Field Level Media
