FC Cincinnati (6-22-3, 12th in East) vs. Chicago Fire (9-12–10, 9th in East)
Well, the Fire are still mathematically alive for the playoffs and will be regardless of result going into the penultimate Sunday of the season. They will prefer to get their second road win of the season against the team who picked up of their three away wins at SeatGeek Stadium back in July in FC Cincinnati.
FC Cincy has had their woes to say the least this season as a first-year team in MLS. They have shipped 74 goals so far this season which is 16 more than the next worst in MLS which is Colorado. At least they have the third best average attendance in the league behind Atlanta and Seattle.
The Fire actually played at Nippert Stadium two years ago in the US Open Cup, but that ended in a penalty shootout loss. They also lost to FC Cincy at home during one of their lowest points in the season.
However, if they played the way they did last week against FC Dallas and maybe sustain that for more than 45 minutes, then they will be in the thick of things for that seventh and final playoffs spot. They are currently three points out of that spot right now and they will need three points to keep their hopes alive.
Kickoff is at 6:30pm CT on ESPN+.
INJURIES:
FC CINCINNATI:
OUT: Jimmy McLaughlin (M) – right ACL surgery
OUT: Darren Mattocks (F) – ankle injury
QUESTIONABLE: Spencer Richey (GK) – back injury
QUESTIONABLE: Allan Cruz (M) – concussion
CHICAGO FIRE:
QUESTIONABLE: Diego Campos (M) – knee injury
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW:
CIN: Allan Cruz, Emmanuel Ledesma, Kendall Waston
CHI: Francisco Calvo
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Assistant Referees: Apolinar Mariscal, Ian McKay
4th Official: Fotis Bazakos
VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.
THIS YEAR:
7/13/19: CHI 1-2 CIN
