East cellar-dweller Chicago Fire (6-13-5, 23 points) will host the conference's no. 2 team, the New York Red Bulls (11-6-6, 39 points), at the Toyota Park on Wednesday as the 2015 Major League Soccer regular season moves forward.
Frank Yallop's Men in Red are coming off a hard-fought 0-1 home loss to Western Conference straggler Colorado Rapids last Saturday.
It was a tough break for the Fire, who needed more wins to give them a shot at entering the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.
Midfielder Dillon Serna scored a goal 51 seconds into the game after a successful counterattack by the Rapids, and they held on despite Chicago controlling the ball for the rest of the match.
Meanwhile, the Bulls blanked Toronto FC, 3-0, in their match on August 15 at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.
Designated player Bradley Wright-Phillips again led the team with a goal in the first half. Defender Anthony Wallace found the net in the 65th while another DP, Argentine midfielder Gonzalo Verón, scored in stoppage time to complete the rout.
Prediction: A 2-0 shutout for the Red Bulls. Chicago is no match for the firepower of Jesse Marsch squad.
Match Details
Chicago Fire starting lineup (4-4-1-1 formation): Johnson; Polster, Gehrig, Larentowicz, Jones; Nyarko, Watson, Stephens, Accam; Shipp; Igboananike
New York Red Bulls starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Robles; Lade, Miazga, Ouimette, Wallace; McCarty, Felipe; Sam, Kljestan, Grella; Wright-Phillips
Date: Wednesday, August 26
Time: 8:30 p.m. (ET)
Venue: Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Illinois, United States
Gamecast & Commentary: ESPN FC
TV Info & Live Stream: MSG, MLS Live, SiriusXM FC / Live Stream - MLS Live (US)