Chicago Fire vs Vancouver Whitecaps Pre-Match Thoughts: Midweek match against Chicago on the road

It is a midweek match against the Chicago Fire for the Vancouver Whitecaps, as the Whitecaps continue down this road trip looking to move up in the standings again, by winning against Chicago.

Standings

The city of Vancouver is wishing for the Whitecaps to be a top 4 seed in the west, to have home court advantage in a Best Of 3 series in the first round, this was recently added this season, as the format has changed from 2022, including a wildcard match between the 8th seed and 9th seed, and a Best Of 3 in the first round of the MLS playoffs. But a top 4 seed for the Whitecaps will mean that they can have home court 2 of the 3 games played in the first round, while this will be hard as there is still 6 games to go on this stretch away from home, and the Fire are the next challenge that the Vancouver Whitecaps will take on. Currently, the Whitecaps are 7th in the standings, after defeating the Timbers in a intense 3-2 win. For the Whitecaps, the difference between you and third, which is Seattle is 3 points, with you having two games in hand. While there's a team tied with Seattle on points, and that's Real Salt Lake you're still 3 points behind them but you only have one game in hand instead of 2. While you are one point off 5th and 6th, which is Houston and San Jose. But if you look down, you have 3 teams that are only 1 or 2 points behind you, Dallas, Austin and Minnesota. As you are just above that line for a automatic playoff spot, and you are 1 spot to drop back down to the wildcard match, and you are 2 points and 3 spots away from dropping all the way down to not even making the playoffs and the wildcard game. It is a Western Conference feast, in competing for the playoff spots and the higher seeds, as a bad run of games you will drop out of the playoffs. But a good run can get you all the way to the 3 seed.

While for Chicago, they're are currently standing 9th in the standings, which gets them into the wildcard match. And they're 6 points away, from a automatic playoff spot. A win here would benefit their chances of making an automatic playoff spot, or getting 8th which will get you home field in the wildcard match to make the MLS playoffs. No matter what, this would impact these 2 teams in the MLS standings a lot, as they're both hoping to be in a better situation than they currently are.

Chicago

The Chicago Fire as I said currently stand at 9th in the Eastern Conference, this game will be played at Soldier Field in Chicago. It's a Wednesday weekday match, it'll be the second last game until a two week break for both the Whitecaps and the Fire. Chicago with 32 goals scored so far in this 2023 season, but they have conceded 37 goals. Compared to their opponents Vancouver, who have scored 41 goals and conceded 35 goals. While for Chicago, the obvious threat here is Xherdan Shaqiri who have played for Liverpool in the past, now he is 31 and playing in MLS, for the Chicago Fire. He has surprisingly only scored 3 goals and 3 assists in the 2023 MLS season, which I thought that the Swiss winger would have more goal contributions than that. We can date back to last season where these two teams matched up, it was a 3-1 win at BC Place for Chicago with Xherdan Shaqiri opening the scoring with the right foot, from outside the box. The departed Cavallini equalized for Vancouver, but the Fire scores 2 more with Czichos and Mueller to win 3-1 at BC Place. This was last season though, now a improved Whitecaps side, can they take down Chicago this time? But this time it'll not be at the familiar place of BC Place, it'll be at Soldier Field in Chicago. This will also be the first of three in the Eastern tour, which the Caps will be facing Chicago, New York City FC and Toronto in the Eastern tour.

Midweek decisions for Vanni

It's the first week in a while where the Whitecaps had 3 games in a week, you will have to date back to July 8, July 12 and July 15 where they played against the Sounders, Austin and Galaxy. Which for a manager like Vanni, who doesn't really have a starting 11 he uses weekly, it will change even more than the normal weekend match, without a weekday match. Now is the second game out of the 3 games this week, Vanni usually rotates the squad a lot during the midweek matches. I feel like it's less drastic than before, but Vanni is still going to change the squad around from the game at Portland. Vanni has improved from playing players very out of position, and being undecisive in the formation. Now Vanni seems to like to play the 3-1-4-2, with still occasionally experimenting with playing players in different positions, but it's not as severe as before. I think the Caps will change 2-4 players from the team against the Timbers, as a midweek match will for sure make Vanni think. I believe someone will get rested here, it doesn't feel like a game where Vanni will put out his absolute best 11. It will be interesting to see the lineups that Vanni puts out before the game.

Prediction

I think this will be a match where the Whitecaps will struggle a lot, they'll fail to get shots on goal, get possession. And it will feel like they're lost here, they won't really play well in the first half and I think the Fire will lead by one goal at halftime. Vancouver just isn't really clicking, but I believe one big chance will shift this game a bit, as I believe the Whitecaps will equalize between the 50th-60th minute to tie the game. But while Vancouver will slowly get into this game, get into the environment and adapt to the game. Unfortunately, they'll fail to score a goal while they seem like they're playing well. And in my prediction I think Chicago, will capitalize on the missed chances by Vancouver and they'll score a winner with some questionable defending but the Chicago Fire will win this game 2-1 in my prediction.

Final Prediction: Chicago Fire 2-1 Vancouver Whitecaps

Key Player Of The Match

I think that Pedro Vite will make a huge impact on this game, as he was left out on the starting 11 against Portland, the young Ecuadorian midfielder has been in and out of the starting 11 this season, but after being left out of the starting 11 on Saturday. I think he'd start against the Fire, I believe as a center-midfielder, but I won't be surprised if Vanni tries to play him at wing-back. Vite has recently scored against Tigres on August 4, 2023, he has 4 goals this season in the MLS, 1 assist. 6 goals scored this season including all competitions. I think that he should start for the Whitecaps, as I like him playing this season I think he's played well this season. This will be a game where I think he can get into, creating chances and potentially getting a goal. I believe that this would be a great game by the Ecuadorian. I pick Pedro Vite as the Key Player Of The Match for the Vancouver Whitecaps.