Javier Mascherano insists his Inter Miami side will not surrender on a second consecutive MLS Fans’ Shield, despite one more tight turn-around prior to they face the Chicago Fire.
Miami were held to a 1 – 1 draw by FC Toronto on Saturday, in a game that was played simply 3 days after the Herons won 4 -0 at New York City.
They sit fourth in the Eastern Meeting standings however have actually played two video games less than all the teams around them, and a pair of triumphes in their suits in hand would certainly take them within one point of the seminar and Fans’ Guard leaders, the Philadelphia Union.
Owing to their involvement at the Club World Mug and their runners-up finish in the Leagues Mug, Miami have had numerous video games rescheduled and encounter a jam-packed timetable before the MLS Mug playoffs.
Tuesday’s video game against Chicago will certainly be their 20 th midweek match (on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays) in all competitors this year, a figure only reached by 6 previous MLS groups.
Assessing the draw with Toronto, Mascherano stated: “Not also 72 hours had actually passed since the suit in New york city. It’s a significant physical toll, and we dealt with a group that hadn’t shed in their last 5 games.
“We need to keep going. We have 4 suits left and we’ll attempt to win them all to complete as high as possible.
“We’re focused on finishing the regular season near the top. Maybe we missed out on a chance today, however we want home-field advantage in the playoffs.
“We’ll maintain fighting for the Supporters’ Guard– we have that responsibility.”
@PhilaUnion hold on to that top place in the East. pic.twitter.com/ u 2568 oUb 7 X
— Big League Soccer (@MLS) September 29, 2025
Tuesday’s game can also be a critical one for Chicago, that inhabit the East’s last play-in area and are 5 points free from the New York Red Bulls, behind them in 10 th.
Gregg Berhalter’s men have won back-to-back games versus Minnesota United and the Columbus Staff, and a triumph in Florida would certainly secure their area in the postseason.
“I assume our very first fifty percent was possibly the best half of football we’ve played all year,” Berhalter stated after Saturday’s win.
“They had absolutely no shots, no expected goals, we were totally on it. At this time of year, it is essential to play well.
“But we also know that we have a difficult week showing up, with 2 good challengers in Miami and Toronto, and we have to keep getting outcomes if we intend to maintain climbing.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Inter Miami– Lionel Messi
Messi, whose 24 objectives this season are one of the most in MLS, has tape-recorded several objective payments in six successive regular-season home matches.
This run has him tied for the lengthiest touch in MLS history, together with Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the LA Galaxy and Carlos Vela for Los Angeles FC, both in 2019
Messi’s 17 objective payments (10 goals, 7 helps) during this run are the most by any type of gamer in a span of 6 home suits in league background.
Chicago Fire– Hugo Cuypers
Cuypers scored his 17 th goal of the 2025 regular period in Chicago’s 2 -0 win over the Team last break.
Only 2 gamers have ever netted extra goals in a single campaign for the Fire, with Stake Razov racking up 18 times in 1999 – 00 and Nemanja Nikolic hitting the internet 24 times in 2017 – 18
SUIT FORECAST– INTER MIAMI SUCCESS
The Fire’s win over Columbus last weekend took them to 48 factors for the 2025 season. A sway Miami would certainly currently take Chicago over the 50 -point mark for simply the third time because winning the Fans’ Guard in 2003, complying with a 57 -factor project in 2012 and a 55 -factor haul in 2017
Berhalter’s team have revealed significant improvement this year, and they won their last away match 3 -0 at Minnesota on September 30 to get to 8 road triumphes for 2025
That is their most in a single normal period in the post-shootout period (considering that 2000, however a meeting with Miami may show a bridge too far.
Miami are unbeaten in three straight conferences with Chicago (two wins, one draw) after avoiding loss in just two of their initial six conferences (one win, one draw).
The Herons are unbeaten in their last four games, winning 3 of those, and with the Supporters’ Shield still a reasonable purpose, they will certainly be in no state of mind to go down more points.
OPTA VICTORY LIKELIHOOD
Inter Miami– 60 2 %
Chicago Fire– 18 9 %
Draw– 20 9 %