Columbus Crew (8-15-6, 11th in East) vs. Chicago Fire (8-12–9, 10th in East)
It’s likely that neither team will make the playoffs. Sure, both have a mathematical shot at them, but both teams need wins and a lot of help to get there.
The Crew ended a four-match winless streak with a win over FC Cincinnati. Gyasi Zardes scored twice in the year to take his season tally to eleven. That’s the same number of goals Nemanja Nikolic has for the Fire.
He need to do more of the load this week as CJ Sapong is out with an ear injury. Bastian Schweinsteiger should return to the fold after he and his wife welcomed their second child into the world last week.
The Crew are banged up quite a bit with Federico Higuain (knee), Hector Jimenez (knee), and Waylon Francis (thigh) out and Jonathan Mensah suspended. They do have Zardes, Luis Diaz, and Pedro Santos to lead the attack.
Realistically, both teams are playing for the future as it becomes more apparent than neither team will feature in the playoffs. Both teams need the win to stay at least mathematically in things, but also to at least give fans reason to hope there are better days ahead for next season.
Kickoff is at 6:30pm CT on ESPN+.
INJURIES:
COLUMBUS CREW:
OUT: Federico Higuain (M) – right knee injury
OUT: Milton Valenzuela (D) – right knee injury
OUT: Hector Jimenez (D) – left knee injury
OUT: Waylon Francis (D) – left thigh injury
QUESTIONABLE: Aboubacar Keita (D) – left thigh injury
QUESTIONABLE: Luis Diaz (M) – right thigh injury
QUESTIONABLE: Josh Williams (D) – right thigh injury
CHICAGO FIRE:
OUT: CJ Sapong (F) – ear injury
SUSPENDED:
CLB: Jonathan Mensah
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW:
CLB: Alex Crognale
Referee: Drew Fischer
Assistant Referees: Jason White, Oscar-Mitchell-Carvalho
4th Official: Yusri Rudolf
VAR: Rosendo Mendoza
THIS YEAR:
7/17/19: CHI 2-2 CLB
