Seattle Sounders FC vs. Chicago Fire FC
The new look Chicago Fire FC begin their 23rd season at the home of the defending MLS Champion Seattle Sounders FC. The new look includes a new owner (Joe Mansueto), new sporting director (George Heitz), new technical director (Sebastian Pelzer), new coach in Raphael Wicky, a new home venue (Soldier Field) and a new logo (that some fans hate).
The Sounders look just about the same as they did when they lifted MLS Cup back in November. However, Nicolas Lodeiro (tendinitis), Gustav Svensson (calf strain), and Will Bruin (ACL) are all out for the home opener. The Sounders are also coming off heartbreak in the CONCACAF Champions League after crashing out of the Round of 16 on penalties at home to Honduran side Olimpia.
The Fire’s new signings in Boris Sekulic, Ignacio Aliseda and Luka Stojanovic will be missing due to visa issues. However, the rest of the roster is available with no injury concerns.
In just over two months, Heitz has built a roster that, while absent a flashy name, hopes can start winning to help draw fans into Soldier Field.
“We’re trying to bring the fans into Soldier Field by winning matches and by being successful, by playing an attractive style,” Heitz told the Chicago Sun-Times. “This is one thing, because a name is a name. A name can help you, this is clear. It can help you in the beginning, but if you sign big names then afterwards you are not successful, I don’t think that fans would come just because you have signed a big name. Our focus was on the skills of the players and the mentality of the players and not on the name of the players.”
The Fire are still an unknown quantity and it will be interesting to see how things go with the attempted re-establishment as they try to be relevant in the Chicago sporting scene. The Sounders are very much relevant in Seattle, but can they shed their notorious reputation for being slow starters and cope without Lodeiro, Svensson, and Bruin for this match?
Kickoff for the match is at 2pm CT on ESPN.
INJURIES:
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC:
OUT: Nicolas Lodeiro (M) – tendinitis
OUT: Gustav Svensson (M) – calf strain
OUT: Will Bruin (F) – ACL
CHICAGO FIRE FC:
None
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
Assistant Referees: Jeremy Kieso, Cory Richardson
4th Official: Ismir Pekmic
VAR: Victor Rivas
LAST YEAR:
3/16/19: CHI 2-4 SEA
