Charlotte FC will try to end a four-match MLS losing streak when they return home to host the Chicago Fire on Saturday night.
Although Charlotte (6-6-1, 19 points) began its current slide with a 1-0 loss at home to New England on April 26, their home form has been among the best in the league at 5-1-0. Despite the rut that has dropped Charlotte into seventh place in the Eastern Conference, coach Dean Smith feels that his squad has been in every match.
“The morale is good,” Smith said about his team’s locker room after Wednesday’s 3-1 defeat at Orlando City.
“It’s never nice to go and lose four MLS games on the spin but I’ve said before two of them I don’t feel we should have gotten beaten. Today it could have easily been a draw if we don’t give away the goals that we did. Listen the lads will be disappointed because we felt there have been games we could have won but unfortunately we haven’t.”
Winger Wilfried Zaha, who joined in January on loan from Turkish club Galatasary, scored midweek and is now joint top scorer along with Liel Abada with four goals. It was Zaha’s second goal in the last three league games.
Chicago (4-4-4, 16 points), which sits just outside playoff position in 11th place, has enjoyed a strong start on the road in coach Gregg Berhalter’s return to MLS. The Fire are 3-3-0 away from home and only East-leading FC Cincinnati currently have more road wins (four).
The Fire ended a six-match MLS winless streak (0-3-3) with their 2-1 victory over Atlanta on May 10. It was Chicago’s first home win of the season and first in the league since a 3-1 victory at Vancouver on March 22.
Hugo Cuypers scored his team-leading eighth goal of the season from the penalty spot in the win over Atlanta. Cuypers ended last weekend as the leading scorer in MLS and now sits tied for third after the midweek fixtures.
Berhalter joked after the match that he hadn’t spoken with his top scorer in weeks.
“What do I need to say to him, right?” Berhalter replied when asked about his communication with a player performing at such a high level.
“I don’t think there’s much to be said for a guy who’s in form. You want to continue that on. We show him video. We work with him, but no real deep conversation with Hugo right now. We’re just letting it ride.”
Charlotte has won the last five meetings with Chicago.
–Field Level Media
