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Match Storylines: Chicago Fire Look to Rebound Saturday vs. Houston Dynamo

May 21, 2016 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


Matchup Chicago Fire (1-5-4, 7 pts.) vs. Houston Dynamo (3-6-2, 11 pts.)

Date Saturday, May 21 - 4 p.m. CT

Location Bridgeview, Ill. - Toyota Park

TV CSN Chicago Plus (Pregame: 3:30 p.m. CT)

Radio 97.5 FM Poder (Spanish)

Fire Field Vision Watch Now

Four games in 11 days, in four different cities, spanning three time zones. That's the stretch that concludes Saturday for the Chicago Fire when the Men In Red host the Houston Dynamo in the first of back-to-back home contests against Western Conference opponents. Both sides enter the match with work to do to improve their respective place in the table and seek to string together a run of positive results heading into MLS' Copa America hiatus.

First kick at Toyota Park is set for 4 p.m. CT. Coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. CT with the Chicago Fire Pregame Show hosted by Dan Kelly, Frank Klopas and Paul Tenorio on CSN Chicago Plus.

The following is a look at a few of the storylines we're tracking for the match:

The Beas is Back

A player whose exceptional talents have withstood the test of time, 33-year-old Dynamo defender DaMarcus Beasley is set to make his first competitive club appearance in the city of Chicago since completing his outstanding four-and-a-half-year stint as a member of the Fire from 2000-04. Beasley appeared in 134 matches, won three trophies and made two All-Star teams during his time in Chicago, which preceded a lengthy club career in Europe and Mexico and ultimately a return to MLS. A hamstring injury late in the 2014 season forced Beasley -- the first American player to appear in four World Cups -- to miss what otherwise would have been his Toyota Park debut that season.

Road Woes

Houston has been unable to secure even a point from its five road matches this season (0-5-0) and in fact has lost nine consecutive games away from BBVA Compass Stadium dating to last season. Only five of Houston's 18 goals scored in 2016 have come on the road -- three of which came in a demoralizing 4-3 loss at Red Bull Arena. The Fire are unbeaten in their last six regular-season home games against the Dynamo, though both clubs are 3-3-4 in 10 all-time meetings in Bridgeview.

MORE: Five memorable Fire-Dynamo matchups

Who's On The Ball?

Saturday's match brings together the two teams in MLS with the lowest cumulative percentage of possession thus far in 2016; Houston is 19th with 45.7 percent of the ball while the Fire are last at 45.3 percent. That said, the Fire have shown an ability to create 1v1 in attack, ranking third in MLS with 8.7 successful dribbles per game -- instances of running at and beating their opponent while retaining possession -- while Houston is last with 4.5. If possession breaks down throughout the match, scoring opportunities could come down to which side can better face goal and break down the opposition.

Dynamo Destroyers

Despite the numbers above and the absence of Erick "Cubo" Torres to international duty, Houston's 18 goals scored this season (fourth in MLS) still leave little doubt that their likely front four of Will Bruin, Giles Barnes, Christian Maidana and Andrew Wenger are capable of linking up to create the one or two chances necessary to change a game. Veljko Paunovic has fielded a formidable list of holding central midfielders in front of Jonathan Campbell and Johan Kappelhof this season, be it Matt Polster, Michael Stephens, Razvan Cocis, Khaly Thiam or, as was the case on Wednesday, Joao Meira. Ultimately, player matchups and who has the most left in the tank after the lengthy road trip will determine who Pauno tasks with breaking up play in the Dynamo's attacking third.

Bring the Belief

While Veljko Paunovic's side of course had higher hopes for the outcome of their three-game road trip, there were positives to be drawn from the performances, most recently another sound defensive performance -- with one miscue on the ball -- against a potent New York Red Bulls attack. Now at home and with everything to play for, the Fire will need to regroup and lean on one another to push through any lingering effects from their cross-country travels. With the likes of David Accam (suspension), Michael Harrington (knee), John Goossens (hip) and potentially Arturo Alvarez (hip) not available for selection, Chicago must bring all it has against a well-rested Dynamo side.

"We're playing at home so first and foremost we have to dictate the play, we have to come out and make sure we bring the energy and take it to them over 90 minutes," said goalkeeper Sean Johnson. "We have our destiny in our own hands we just have to believe it and go out there and do it."

Note: Stats via WhoScored.com

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