Fire ready for take off against high flying City
Lowly Chicago Fire welcome high flying Orlando City to Soldier Field in a match set up to entertain. Orlando come in as outsiders despite sitting second in the Eastern Conference, the Fire look to be turning a corner in terms of their underlying data and in that earn a slight favourites tag off the back of a comprehensive 3-0 win over Atlanta United. Chicago Fire have missed out on the playoffs in the last three editions of MLS, therefore they will be hungrier than ever to right that wrong this campaign. They currently sit in 12th position with just eight points from 11 matches, they need a win here to change the outlook of their season.
Process
The Fire have underperformed both expected goals metrics in the 11 game opening stretch thus far, with the bookies stance suggesting it is high time they put a positive run together. Chicago have scored just ten from 14.3 expected goals, the second least converted chances in the Eastern Conference, where Orlando have scored far more from a lower quality of goalscoring opportunities. The Lions have netted 19 from 13.7 expected goals, regression is likely to hit at some point, with them ranking second for goals scored but eighth for attacking process, an unsustainable difference.
In defensive terms, Fire are a run of the mill upper mid table borderline playoffs side, not dissimilar to their poor fortunes in recent years. They have conceded 17 goals from 14.3 expected while Orlando City have overperformed to let in just nine goals from 13.7 expected. At some point these numbers will begin to regress to the mean and the league table will fall more in line with the expected goals standings, hence why the bookies have made Fire narrow favourites.
Goals?
Overs is my angle in this one, despite the unsustainable process, Orlando know where the goal is at the moment and buoyant from their victory last time out, the Fire should match them in both boxes.
- Fire have scored in four of ten.
- Fire have conceded in eight of ten.
- Fire have seen both teams score in two of ten.
- Fire have seen over 2.5 goals in three of ten.
- Orlando have scored in ten of ten.
- Orlando have conceded in six of ten.
- Orlando have seen both teams score in six of ten.
- Orlando have seen over 2.5 goals in six of ten.
This could be epic for the neutral and backing goals is the way to go in my opinion.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
Solid W, this one came in during the 72nd minute, 3-1 Fire.