Chicago Fire FC (2-0-2, 3rd in East) vs. FC Dallas (2-1-1, 5th in West)
After a two-week break, Chicago Fire FC return to action and it’s the first Brimstone Cup match since September 2019 against FC Dallas. Both teams are expected to have all their international players back. Xherdan Shaqiri created a couple of assists for Switzerland in matches against England and Kosovo while Boris Sekulic played all 90 minutes in Slovakia’s friendly against Finland. Miguel Navarro (Venezuela) and Brian Gutierrez (USA U-20) are also back from international duty.
The Fire are off to their best start in 13 years, and looked confident in their 3-1 win over Sporting Kansas City that they can compete for a playoff spot this season even though it is early days in the season. Getting points on Saturday will match the 2009 team in starting the season unbeaten in at least five. Kacper Przybylko got his first two goals for the Fire and Shaqiri also got his first in the win. They will look to keep the good thing going in an afternoon tilt against the Red Hoops.
Paul Arriola and Jesus Ferreira are due to return after helping the USA qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup after missing out four years ago. Szabolcs Schon of Hungary is also due back. FCD are coming off back-to-back wins at home against Nashville and Portland, though they lost their only road match so far at New England before that. Jesus Ferreira scored a hat trick in the win over Portland and is the only FCD player with more than one goal on the season.
The stamina of the players who were on international duty over the past couple weeks will be something to look at as well as to see if the Fire can make Soldier Field a fortress like it was in the first few seasons of their existence. Also in the early years, it was quite a rivalry between the Fire and FC Dallas. It will feel like old times for fans of a certain age. It will feel what’s old is new again the Fire are able to maintain their early momentum.
Kickoff for the match is at 2:50pm CT on Univision in Spanish with English commentary on Twitter.
INJURIES:
CHICAGO FIRE FC: OUT: Jhon Duran (right ankle);
FC Dallas: None
Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
Assistant Referees: Logan Brown, Jose Da Silva
Fourth Official: Calin Radosav
VAR: Geoff Gamble
AVAR: Peter Manilkowski
LAST TIME:
9/14/19: CHI 4-0 DAL
