Chicago Fire vs FC Cincinnati Match Preview
Chicago Fire start off their home campaign at Soldier Field this weekend when they take on FC Cincinnati. The two sides started off their MLS season with a draw and will be keen on getting their first win of the season.
This will be the 11th MLS meeting between the two sides, and only three of them have ended in draws – two of them were goalless in the league. Cincinnati have won this fixture five times, while Chicago Fire have secured just three wins.
One thing guaranteed in these meetings are close encounters, with six of the last seven matches ending with a single goal difference. Moreover, 22 goals have been scored in the last five matches!
Chicago Fire FC had the game in their hands in the opening game week before Daniel Gazdag scored an injury-time equalizer for Philadelphia Union. They had taken the lead in the 39th minute via Drian Gutierrez before Mikael Uhre equalized.
Fabian Herbers scored in the 82nd minute, and it felt like it was going to be a winner. However, the home side managed to fight back and get another goal in the dying minutes to share the points.
FC Cincinnati were at home in their first match of the season and had to settle for a goalless draw. They had their chances to win the game and were just not able to keep their shots on target. They had seven blocked, while only 5 were on target.
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Team News
Chicago Fire have just one big injury issue, with Victor Bezerra ruled out. Andrew Gutman is an injury worry as well after the left-back came off just four minutes into the season opener and could miss the next few games.
Javier Casas and Bryan Dowd are also on the sidelines, while Carlos Teran is also recovering from a muscle injury. Apart from the aforementioned four names, the home side have a fully fit squad and will be looking to put out a strong XI this weekend.
Nick Hagglund and Alec Kann are once again going to miss the match for Cincinnati, but the former is close to making his return. There are no other injury worries for them at this point, but Marco Angulo has a personal family issue to deal with and is away from the team.
Predicted Lineups
With Andrew Gutman added to the injury list, Chase Gasper will be coming into the starting XI. He came on in the 4th minute in the previous match and was taken off in the 77th minute for Jonathan Dean.
Apart from the forced change, Frank Klopas is not expected to make any changes to his side as they did in the season opener. Brady should be the one starting in goal, with Arigoni, Pineda, Czichos, and Gasper playing in defense.
Gimenez and Herbers will be deployed as the defensive midfielders, with Xherdan Shaqiri playing in the attacking role. Haile-Selassie and Gutierrez should be the wingers once again, with Hugo Cuypers leading the attack.
Predicted XI: Brady; Gasper, Czichos, Pineda, Arigoni; Gimenez, Herbers; Haile-Selassie, Shaqiri, Gutierrez; Cuypers
Matthew Miazga was injured in the previous game and is now back for FC Cincinnati. He should be slotting right back into the starting XI instead of Kipp Keller, though he was their best defender in the previous game.
Pat Noonan will be keeping his 3-4-1-2 formation intact and will be looking forward to a better performance in attack. They scored six goals in two CONCACAF Champions Cup matches against Cavalier in the last 8 days, and that is something the manager would be keen on replicating in the MLS too.
Predicted XI: Celentano; Miazga, Robinson, Murphy; Kubo, Bucha, Nwobodo, Orellano; Acosta, Santos, Baird
Chicago Fire vs FC Cincinnati Head-to-Head & Prediction
FC Cincinnati 1-0 Chicago Fire FC
Chicago Fire FC 3-3 FC Cincinnati
FC Cincinnati 2-3 Chicago Fire FC
Chicago Fire FC 1-2 FC Cincinnati
FC Cincinnati 3-4 Chicago Fire FC
Prediction:
Chicago Fire vs FC Cincinnati has produced goals in most of the last five meetings, with just one match ending with less than three goals.
That was the last meeting between these two sides, back in June when Cincinnati won 1-0 at home to Chicago Fire FC. Both teams have scored in four of the last five meetings and that should continue this week.
Chicago Fire are likely to score at least two goals in the game, while FC Cincinnati just need their CONCACAF Champions Cup form can carry into MLS.
Prediction: Chicago Fire 2-2 FC Cincinnati
Betting Tips
Draw.
Both Teams To Score: Yes.
Over 3.5 Goals: Yes.
Odds
Chicago Fire Win: 2.36
Draw: 3.73
FC Cincinnati Win: 3.05
Chicago Fire vs FC Cincinnati Timings & Telecast
Soldier Field – 3rd March – 01:30 GMT
India: MLS Season Pass
United Kingdom: MLS Season Pass
US: Fox, Fox Desportes and FS1