Atlanta United (7-5-2, 1st in East) vs. Chicago Fire (4-5-6, 7th in East)
On Wednesday, the Fire went from dominated the early stages against DC United to being immensely fortunate to draw in the end. The catalyst for the Fire’s near-collapse was the injury to Johan Kappelhof who left just before halftime. The injury has been undisclosed and he is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game in Atlanta.
The question if Kappelhof cannot go is whether or not Veljko Paunovic will once again go with three center backs and two wingers posing as fullbacks. Nico Gaitan went sixty minutes in his first match back after a thigh injury.
Atlanta are coming off a 3-0 win over Minnesota on Wednesday night to climb to fourth in the East. It’s hard to believe that at this stage of the season they have scored seven fewer goals than the Fire, but they have also shipped ten fewer goals. The Five Stripes have lost just once at home this season so far. Ezequiel Barco is on international duty with Argentina’s Under-20s.
It’s been already established that the Fire need to seek an identity in their play. They also need to hold their nerve after things start to go wrong like with Kappelhof’s injury. This squad does not need another performance like the one in San Jose.
Kickoff is at 5pm CT on UniMás.
INJURIES:
ATLANTA UNITED:
OUT: George Bello (D) – right adductor injury
OUT: Brandon Vazquez (F) – knee injury
OUT: Hector Villalba (M) – knee injury
CHICAGO FIRE:
QUESTIONABLE: Johan Kappelhof (D) – undisclosed injury
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW:
ATL: Franco Escobar
CHI: Francisco Calvo
INTERNATIONAL DUTY:
ATL: Ezequiel Barco (ARG U-20)
Referee: Nima Saghafi
Assistant Referees: Adam Wienckowski, CJ Morgante
4th Official: Fotis Bazakos
VAR: Ricardo Salazar
LAST YEAR:
5/05/18: CHI 1-2 ATL
10/21/18: ATL 2-1 CHI
