CHICAGO FIRE vs VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC

TOYOTA PARK, Bridgeview, Ill.

March 14, 2015 (WEEK 2, MLS Game #16)

5 p.m. CT (CSN-Chi; TSN Network)

A pair of teams looking for their first point of the new season meet in an interconference matchup as the Chicago Fire play host to Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday afternoon at Toyota Park. The Fire kicked off the new campaign with a test against the defending champions, falling 2-0 to the LA Galaxy in the season opener at StubHub Center. Whitecaps FC began their new campaign at home, dropping a 3-1 decision to Canadian rival Toronto FC at BC Place.

Octavio Rivero scored the first goal of the season for Vancouver – on his MLS debut – but Whitecaps FC lost its first-ever home opener on Saturday in the club’s 3-1 defeat to Toronto FC at BC Place.

For a third consecutive year, the Chicago Fire opened the season at StubHub Center and recorded a loss, falling 2-0 to the LA Galaxy on Friday evening. The Fire lost 3-2 to Chivas USA last year, after opening 2013 with 4-0 loss to the Galaxy in Carson.

The Fire have never lost to Whitecaps FC at Toyota Park while the ‘Caps have never scored a goal in Bridgeview. The Fire have won one of three meetings all-time at Toyota Park; the teams have played to a pair of scoreless draws there, including in the lone meeting last year.

The Whitecaps have won both encounters at home, scoring seven goals (allowing three) vs. Chicago.

REFEREE: Fotis Bazakos. AR1 (bench): Anthony Vasoli; AR2 (opposite): Eduardo Mariscal; 4th: Kevin Terry Jr.

MLS Career: 34 games; FC/gm: 26.1; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 7; pens: 13

SUSPENDED: none

DISABLED LIST: none

INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none

HEAD-TO-HEAD

ALL-TIME (5 meetings): Fire 1 win, 4 goals … Whitecaps FC 2 wins, 7 goals … Ties 2

AT CHICAGO (3 meetings): Fire 1 win, 1 goal … Whitecaps FC 0 wins, 0 goals … Ties 2

LAST YEAR (MLS):

7/30: CHI 0, VAN 0

This is the only league meeting between the teams this season.

The Fire have never lost to Whitecaps FC at Toyota Park – and the ‘Caps have never scored a goal in Bridgeview. The Fire have won one of three meetings all-time at Toyota Park; the teams have played to a pair of scoreless draws there, including in the lone meeting last year.

The Whitecaps have won both encounters at home, scoring seven goals (allowing three) vs. Chicago.

Coaches record: Carl Robinson vs. CHI: P1 W0 L0 D1 … Frank Yallop vs. VAN: P7 W1 L2 D4

CHECK OUT THE INJURY REPORT HEADING INTO THE MATCH