For their third and final meeting of the season, the New York Red Bulls (17-10-6) will face the Chicago Fire (8-19-6) at Toyota Park on Sunday, October 25. The series is currently tied 1-1. The game will be broadcast on MSG+ at the new kickoff time, 7 p.m. EDT. Pregame coverage will begin at 6:30 p.m. The Red Bulls are seeking a win to end the season and clinch the Supporters’ Shield following win over the Philadelphia Union last weekend, while the Chicago Fire will end the season in last place regardless of this result after their 4-0 loss to D.C. United.
Here are some numbers to know ahead of Sunday’s match:
-14: The Chicago Fire’s goal differential of -14 is the joint-lowest in the league (with Philadelphia Union).
0: The Red Bulls have never won at Toyota Park, but until last weekend, they had never scored a goal in 7 seconds either.
2: Only twice this season have the Fire not lost consecutive matches. One individual loss preceded a draw and only one – against the Red Bulls – preceded a victory.
3: The Red Bulls have won the past three final regular season away matches. Chicago have won 2 of their 3 past final regular season home matches.
5: The Fire’s 5-match losing streak (September 5 to September 26) is the record for longest this season.
13: The last time Sacha Kljestan failed to record an assist in consecutive matches was August 5, which was 13 matches ago. He assisted Bradley Wright-Phillips’ 4th minute goal last Sunday.
15: Luis Robles’ Save of the Week nomination for denying Philadelphia Union’s Eric Ayuk last Sunday is his 15th Save of the Week nomination this season. This is the most nominations of any keeper in the league.
18: A win against Chicago would be the Red Bulls’ 18th of the season, and would set a new regular-season wins record.
33: The maximum amount of points Chicago can end the 2015 season with is 33 (they currently have 30). The Red Bulls took their 33rd point on August 5.
50: David Accam, the Fire’s leading goalscorer, hasn’t gone consecutive matches without scoring since August 26, but the Fire have still lost 50% of their games in which he’s scored (as opposed to losing 61.5% of the games in which he doesn’t.)
80: The Red Bulls are unbeaten in 80% of the matches in which Matt Miazga, who returns this weekend from his suspension, plays. Without him, they’re only unbeaten 50% of the time. (Their win rates are 56% with compared to 37.5% without.)
