Philadelphia Union vs. Chicago Fire Prediction, Preview and Odds - 8/1/21
Philadelphia Union vs. Chicago Fire
Another round of the 2021 MLB season wraps up Sunday, August 1, and we’re taking a closer look at the Eastern Conference showdown at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, where the Philadelphia Union welcome the Chicago Fire. These two foes have already met twice in 2021 and Chicago has earned just one point in the process even though both games took place at Soldier Field, so let’s see what’s the best Philadelphia Union vs. Chicago Fire betting pick for their first encounter in Pennsylvania this term.
Philadelphia hopes to break out of its patchy form
The Union have won only one of its previous five games overall, earning five points in the process and tallying a 5:6 goal difference. They are still sitting at the fourth spot of the Eastern Conference standings with 24 points on their tally (W6, D6, L4), but the top-seeded New England is now nine points away.
Philadelphia is winless in its previous two outings. After a 2-1 defeat at Orlando City, the Union played a 1-1 draw at Inter Miami this past Sunday, as Kacper Przybylko scored a late equalizer. The 28-year-old striker has bagged ten goals in 20 appearances in all competitions, including six across 16 MLS outings.
Strikers Sergio Santos and Cory Burke have combined for seven MLS goals so far this season, while midfielder Jamiro Monteiro is the team’s best assist-maker with four dishes in 15 league appearances. Besides the 35-year-old fullback Ilsinho (groin), all other players are ready to go.
Chicago continues to play lousy defense
The Chicago Fire have conceded nine goals in their last three games overall, earning just one point in the process thanks to a 2-2 draw against DC United at home. On the other two occasions, Chicago suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat at Nashville SC and a 2-1 loss to Toronto FC at Soldier Field.
Chicago is now sitting at the 13th spot of the Eastern Conference table with 12 points (W3, D3, L9) and a 17:27 goal difference. The Fire are ten points behind the bottom playoff spot which seems like a mountain to climb.
Winger Ignacio Aliseda and midfielder Luka Stojanovic have netted three goals each, topping Chicago’s scoring chart. Striker Robert Beric has only a couple of goals on his tally, and the 30-year-old Slovenian has completely disappointed through 15 appearances this season. Midfielder Alvaro Medran is the team’s leading assist-maker with five dishes, while fullback Boris Sekulic has three dishes and a pair of goals in 15 games.
Pick: Philadelphia to win
Interestingly, Chicago has dropped all its five road contests in 2021. That awful streak will come to an end eventually, but I’m backing Philadelphia to pile on the Fire’s misery. Despite their iffy form, the Union should have enough firepower to outscore the Fire.
I’ve mentioned Chicago’s defensive foes, and Philadelphia certainly looks like a much stronger team at the back. The previous encounter between these two foes was finished in a 3-3 stalemate, while Phila beat the Fire 2-0 in Chicago in their first meeting of the season. Philadelphia has won six straight home games against Chicago, so I would stick with this betting trend at -137 odds.
Total: Over 2.5 goals
The Over 2.5 Goals sits at -156, and I think that’s a fair offer. The Union and Fire have combined for six goals last time they met each other. Also, six of their previous seven head-to-head duels produced more than a couple of goals in total.
Betting on the totals seems like the best move in this matchup, though the visitors might struggle to find the net. Chicago has recorded a 2:13 goal difference in five road games so far, and Philadelphia has kept its net intact in three of its last four showings at home. Still, give me the Over 2.5 Goals.