The Chicago Fire and the Philadelphia Union meet Saturday at Toyota Park, fresh from the rest the international break affords non-international players. Twelve months ago, people covering this game would dread it. Fans wouldn’t tune in. People might not come out to the stadium. These were the two worst teams in the whole Eastern Conference last year, bar none. At best, fans could have hoped for a dull affair on the pitch. At worst, it could look ugly.
Here’s the thing: Those dark days might really be behind both teams.
While the Fire (0-2-1, 2 points) are near the bottom of the table in the East, they haven’t conceded a goal since the fourth-minute strike from Cyle Larin in the second week of the season.