Hugo Cuypers and the Chicago Fire will try to continue their strong form away from home when they visit the New York Red Bulls on Saturday evening in Harrison, N.J.
Cuypers has netted three of his MLS second-best five goals on the road as the Fire (3-1-2, 11 points) enter the weekend with the most away wins in the league with three.
The Fire have won three straight on the road after opening the season with a 4-2 defeat at Columbus on Feb. 22. Chicago, which has yet to post a clean sheet, has scored at least two goals in each of their four away matches and are tied for second in the league with 13 goals on the season.
Chicago coach Gregg Berhalter gave his thoughts regarding his squad’s inability to post a shutout through six matches.
“If we’re looking at the process of building this team, the important thing is the consistency,” Berhalter said.
“Instead of chasing the result, trying to chase a shutout, it’s really about continuing to build our defensive principles, our defensive structure and really become a team that’s difficult to break down.”
Chicago, which enters the match on a five-game unbeaten run, is towards the bottom of the league in goals conceded per match with 1.7. Four teams are tied for last with 2.0.
Berhalter confirmed that the Fire will once again be without Brian Gutierrez (lower body). The U.S. international has scored two goals in three matches this season.
The Red Bulls (2-2-2, 8 points) return home after their four-game unbeaten run ended last Saturday in a 2-1 defeat at New England. New York conceded an injury-time penalty kick in the loss, their first since Feb. 22 at FC Cincinnati.
New York captain Emil Forsberg leads his team with three goals and scored a brace in the Red Bulls’ last home match.
Red Bulls coach Sandro Schwarz recognized during the week that the Fire are a step up in recent competition for his squad.
“Wonderful,” Schwarz said enthusiastically when speaking about the Fire’s form and scoring prowess to begin the campaign.
“It’s a good team, it’s a great team. Very good head coach in Gregg (Berhalter). You can see his philosophies in the first games of the regular season. The main focus is what we need in the quality.”
So far, that quality for New York can be seen in allowing just six goals on the season. The Red Bulls are unbeaten in three at home, having scored two in each match.
Red Bulls midfielder Felipe Carballo will be available after missing the last match due to a red card suspension.
Chicago hasn’t lost to New York in their last five meetings (2-0-3).
–Field Level Media
