Fire head North in search of first win

The Chicago Fire head to Minnesota for the first time as they take on the Loons in their home opener. Last year, the Loons got their first MLS away win with a 2-1 decision at Toyota Park.

Fire midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger said the Fire need to be more “Italian-like” when it comes to protecting a lead. The Fire had come from 2-0 down last week to go 3-2 ahead of Sporting Kansas City, only to lose the lead inside of two minutes and lose the match inside of four.

Aleksandar Katai and Nemanja Nikolic got off the mark for the Fire, and 36-year old Alan Gordon has just joined them after coming into the club as a trialist. Gordon has a total of 57 goals in 289 regular season and playoff appearances in his 14 seasons in MLS with LA Galaxy (two stints), Chivas USA, San Jose, Toronto, and Colorado. Gordon is guaranteed through the remainder of the 2018 season.

Meanwhile, Michael de Leeuw, Djordje Mihailovic, Grant Lilliard, and Jonathan Campbell remain out and Daniel Johnson, Rafael Ramos, Richard Sanchez, and Luis Solignac remain question marks though the latter three players played last week.

Minnesota didn’t have to wait long for their first away win this season by winning at Orlando, but they have lost striker Kevin Molino to a torn ACL in training this week. Abu Danladi (who scored twice against the Fire last season) and Sam Cronin are also out for Saturday. Ethan Finlay scored twice in the win over Orlando. Former Fire keeper Matt Lampson is likely to start in goal on Saturday hoping to get revenge on his former club after trading him after the SuperDraft. Other players to watch for the Loons include Miguel Ibarra, and Christian Ramirez.

The defense needs to improve from last week and the road has not been the best of places to do that. Last season, the Fire conceded multiple goals 11 times. Three of the Fire’s four away wins last season were by the odd goal. In none of those wins did the Fire concede multiple goals. It may get harder if the Fire find themselves in a trailing position for which the Fire have only won twice in league play over the last two seasons.

Kickoff is at 1pm at TFC Bank Stadium with the match streamed online at MLS Live.

MINNESOTA UNITED FC–OUT:  M-Kevin Molino (torn left ACL), M-Sam Cronin (cervicogenic dysfunction), F-Abu Danladi (left hamstring strain); QUESTIONABLE:  M-Sam Nicholson (left hamstring)

CHICAGO FIRE–OUT:  M-Djordje Mihailovic (right ACL surgery), F-Michael de Leeuw (left ACL surgery), D-Jonathan Campbell (facial fracture), D-Grant Lillard; QUESTIONABLE:   M-Daniel Johnson (right ankle), D-Rafael Ramos (right thigh), G-Richard Sanchez (left elbow), F-Luis Solignac (left hip)

Referee:  Alex Chilowicz

Fourth Official:  Baldomero Toledo

VAR:  Kevin Terry Jr.

 

08/26/17:  CHI 1-2 MIN