The New York Red Bulls (5-2-4, 19 pts.) return to Red Bull Arena for a midweek match against the Chicago Fire (2-5-4, 10 pts.) on Wednesday, May 18. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET with coverage on MSG+, MSG GO, and New York Red Bulls Radio in English and Spanish via TuneIn, the New York Red Bulls app and NewYorkRedBulls.com.
Get to know who the Red Bulls will be playing in their upcoming matchup:
How they’re doing
It’s been a tale of two seasons for Chicago.
The Fire started out the season with a staunch defense, earning clean sheets in five of their first seven matches. They picked up ten points from those matches, and were in the thick of the playoff teams.
Since then, though, Chicago has failed to pick up a point since they drew with LA Galaxy on April 16.Â
The defense, which had buoyed the Fire in the early part of the season, has turned into a weak spot, as they have conceded 11 goals in their last four matches.
The offense has been a question mark all season, as Chicago has only scored more than one goal in a match only once, and have been shut out six times.
Only two players, Xherdan Shaqiri and Kacper Pryzbylko, have recorded more than one goal this season.
Chicago will look to stop the skid at Red Bull Arena, where New York is winless in 2022.
Last Time Out
In the last matchup between these two clubs, the Red Bulls weathered the storm and fought back to earn a 2-1 victory at Solider Field in Chicago.
Chicago opened the scoring in the 16th minute, as Xherdan Shaqiri converted a penalty kick following a New York handball.Â
New York evened the score in the 75th minute. Dylan Nealis found Luquinhas, who made a run down the far side of the field, cut back into the edge of the box, and found Patryk Klimala who found the back of the net.Â
The Red Bulls then took the lead in the 91st minute, as Klimala converted his fourth career penalty kick goal with New York.
The match marked the first come-from-behind victory for Gerhard Struber during his time with New York. The Red Bulls are 9-1-1 in their last 11 MLS road matches, outscoring their opponents 22-6.Â
Head-to-Head History
This will be the 71st matchup between Chicago and New York, with the Red Bulls currently having a 23-34-13 record against the Fire. Only Columbus, New England, and D.C. have more matches against New York in their club history.
New York’s 2-1 victory at Chicago on April 30 was their first road win against the Fire since 2018.
The Red Bulls are 6-4-0 at home against Chicago in their last ten matches at Red Bull Arena.
Player to Watch- Forward Sheridan Shaqiri
Arguably the most high-profile from this past MLS offseason was forward Xherdan Shaqiri, who signed with the Fire after scoring 78 goals across 429 appearances in Europe.
In nine appearances for Chicago in 2022, Shaqiri has tallied 14 total scoring attempts and a team-leading 23 total attacking assists.
Shaqiri’s goal against New York on April 30 was one of two goals on the season, but both have come from the penalty spot. He has yet to score from open play.
Despite a slow start to the season, partially due to injury, his European pedigree, and his overall skill set, will make him one of the main focuses for Gerhard Struber and the Red Bulls on Wednesday.
