Minnesota United (3-2-2, 7th in West) vs. Chicago Fire FC (2-1-4, 7th in East)
Chicago Fire FC will look to recover quickly from their Open Cup embarrassment against Minnesota United at Allianz Field in St. Paul on Saturday. Last Tuesday, the Fire crashed out of the Open Cup to USL League One side Union Omaha on penalties. Minnesota United’s Open Cup tie was more straightforward with a 2-0 win over Forward Madison FC.
The narrative for the Fire now is that they have not scored a goal in open play in 398 competitive minutes (both of Rafael Czichos’s goals were penalties on Tuesday night). Xherdan Shaqiri and Fabian Herbers are still question marks with a calf and a right hip, respectively. Another question is how Czichos will be after unexpectedly playing 120 minutes on Tuesday night when he had to fill in for Carlos Teran who got injured in warmups.
One person for whom the Fire need to find answers for is Kacper Przybylko who missed his spot kick in the penalty shootout and has not scored since his brace against Sporting Kansas City. Fire head coach Ezra Hendrickson mention how it was up to the team to help him find answers to his scoring drought.
“Well, he’s a veteran player and he has to find some way,” said Hendrickson. “He’s in a bit of a funk right now and he has to find some way to get out of it. As a team, we have to put him in good situations more often and that starts with training. So, we definitely have to make sure that we get him on track, because he’s a big part of what we’re going to need in the attack. It’s going to help when Shaq (Xherdan Shaqiri) comes back, as far as creating more chances for him. But in the meantime, we have to find a way for him to gain that confidence back and start putting goals away for us, because we’re gonna need it.”
Before the Loons finished off the Flamingos, they defeated Colorado Rapids, 3-1, last Saturday. The ended a two-match losing streak. Luis Amarilla and Robin Lod are the two multiple goalscorer on the Loons with two each in league play. After not scoring multiple goals in their first six games, they have now done so in their last two.
After playing in just the second game in MLS history with no shots on target, the Fire will look to get back on target on the attacking end. In league play, the defense has been stellar only giving up the one goal in Orlando. However, finishing off games needs to be re-learned after not doing so against Omaha on Tuesday night. It will be the difference between whether “Wonderwall” is played or not for the team whose kit sponsor is Target.
Kickoff for the match is at 4pm CT on ESPN.
INJURIES:
MINNESOTA UNITED: OUT: Romaine Metanire (thigh), Patrick Weah – (knee)
CHICAGO FIRE FC: QUESTIONABLE: Fabian Herbers (right hip), Xherdan Shaqiri (left calf)
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
Assistant Referees: Adam Wienckowski, Lyes Arfa
Fourth Official: Joe Dickerson
VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero
LAST TIME:
11/04/20: MIN 2-2 CHI
