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Fire-Sounders Preview

Jul 24, 2009 - 6:06 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Chicago (7-3-7) at Seattle (7-3-7), 3:00 p.m. EDT

The Seattle Sounders FC have put together an impressive debut season in MLS by accumulating the most points at home. The Chicago Fire, however, are atop the Eastern Conference thanks to the best road record.

The clubs will meet for the first time at Qwest Field on Saturday.

The expansion Sounders (7-3-7) are second in the West, four points behind first-place Houston. Of their 28 points, they've collected a league-leading 21 at home while going 6-1-3 with a 19-8 scoring advantage in front of sold-out crowds for each game.

That success has been most evident during Seattle's seven-game (4-0-3) home unbeaten streak, capped by a 2-1 victory over the Dynamo on July 11. The Sounders haven't lost a league game at home since falling 1-0 to Kansas City on April 11.

They were defeated at Qwest Field though, in an exhibition match last Saturday, losing 2-0 to England's Chelsea in front of 65,289 fans. Seattle rebounded with another victory over Houston on Tuesday, as Stephen King scored five minutes into overtime to secure a 2-1 win and advance the team to the U.S. Open Cup final, where it'll visit reigning champion D.C. on Sept. 2.

"We try not to call ourselves an expansion team," said King, who was selected by Seattle from Chicago in November's expansion draft. "We can still reach all the goals we set at the beginning of the year."

The Fire (7-3-7) are 5-1-3 on the road and lead the East by one point over D.C. and Columbus and two over Toronto FC.

Chicago won for only the second time at home last Saturday, beating San Jose 2-0 in its first game without Brian McBride. The forward, who leads the team with six goals, was ruled out for up to four months after undergoing right shoulder surgery on July 17.

With McBride out, midfielder-forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco picked up the scoring slack, getting a goal and an assist in the final eight minutes. The Mexican playmaker has four goals and a team-high seven assists.

Chicago, though, will be without All-Star defender Bakary Soumare due to a one-game suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards. The club is also missing midfielder Logan Pause, who is with the U.S. national team at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

"You have a deep roster and have to trust all the players you put on the field," Fire coach Denis Hamlett said.

Missing two of their top defensive players could be a problem for the Fire, who will have to contend with red-hot Fredy Montero.

The Sounders forward has found the back of the net in each of his last five MLS games, and his nine goals on the season are just one behind league-leader Guillermo Barros Schelotto of Columbus.

Chicago shut down Montero in a 1-all tie at home on May 2.

The Fire will likely have Patrick Nyarko starting at forward for a second consecutive game after he scored the eventual game-winner in the 82nd minute against San Jose. Nyarko, who has been used on the right side of midfield at times this season, has three goals in 17 games.