Seattle Sounders Fc Sea vs Chicago Fire Chi Picks and Predictions June 29th 2024

Fire, Sounders Face Off as Both Push for Playoffs

On Saturday, the Seattle Sounders will play host to the Chicago Fire, both teams aiming for a spot in the playoffs.

Seattle Sounders’ Drive for the Playoffs

Present Position

Seattle (6 wins, 7 draws, 7 losses, 25 points) sits right below the playoff cut-off in 10th position in the Western Conference. Even though they obtained seven points in the last eight days, the Sounders are currently level on points with the ninth-placed Vancouver Whitecaps, despite having played two additional matches.

Join the Best in Betting! Create Your Account for top-tier tips.

Recent Form

The Sounders have shown resilience recently. In their latest match on June 22, Seattle rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat FC Dallas 3-2. They also rallied for a 2-2 draw at Houston on June 19. Raul Ruidiaz scored in the 78th minute against Dallas, followed by a brace from Jordan Morris, including the game-winner in stoppage time.

“It’s a big result. That’s what it really comes down to,” Morris said. “Obviously, I’m happy to get on the scoresheet but we needed that win.”

Home Advantage

Seattle has lost just once (3-1-5) in nine home matches. The game against Chicago is the second in a crucial three-game homestand for the Sounders, who will also host the New England Revolution on July 6.

“We’re definitely playing better,” Morris said. “We made it a goal of ours the second half of the season to push up the table because we know we have the quality to compete for a trophy.”

Chicago Fire’s Playoff Push

Current Standing

Chicago (4-9-6, 18 points) is in last place in the tightly contested Eastern Conference but is just three points behind Atlanta United for the final playoff spot.

Recent Form

The Fire’s recent form has been mixed. They had a four-match unbeaten streak, including wins over Toronto FC and the LA Galaxy, snapped by a 4-2 loss at Orlando City on June 22. In that match, Chicago fell behind 3-0 within the first 29 minutes.

“We can’t start games or go on the road and be in a situation where we’re (down) 3-0 in the first half,” Fire coach Frank Klopas said. “It’s extremely difficult to come back from results like that. … Normally, for me, if you score two goals in a match, you should be able to get a result.”

Key Player

One positive aspect for Chicago is forward Hugo Cuypers, who is the team’s top goal scorer with seven goals and has found the back of the net in his past four games.

Summary

Saturday’s game will be crucial as each team looks to improve their standing in the playoffs. The Sounders plan to take advantage of playing at home and recently gaining momentum, while the Fire hope to enhance their away performance and narrow the Eastern Conference standings gap.