With both the Fire and Red Stars underway, it’s time to turn on the over and create some deep dish!
FIRE: Last year, any optimism one had about the Fire dissipated after New England rallied so quickly to draw the Fire in the home opener or after the last preseason friendly against Vancouver. This year, this is far more optimism about the club and it has proven so far to be justified after two wins and two draws and just one goal conceded. Last Saturday against Sporting Kansas City, the team simply looked more confident than in previous years and have a good idea of what they want to accomplish.
Raphael Czichos is proving to be a great signing in the early going and they finally managed to get Kacper Przybylko going in attack after Shaqiri had more of an influence against DC. We should also mention Gaga Slonina and his goals against average of 0.25 so far. Now, it’s a week off before preparing for FC Dallas on April 2nd (2:30pm, Univision).
RED STARS: After an offseason of change and tumult, the Red Stars got back to the pitch at PNC Stadium in Houston. A brace by Mallory Pugh help lifted the Red Stars to a 3-1 win in their opening NWSL Challenge Cup match. Arin Wright also added a penalty to the scoreline after ex-Red Star Katie Naughton gave the Dash the lead. Alyssa Naeher returned in goal for the Red Stars and managed four saves.
The Red Stars have three successive home matches at SeatGeek Stadium in eight days starting with Friday night against Kansas City Current (7:30pm), then next Wednesday against Racing Louisville (6:30pm), and then finally on April 2nd against the Dash (7pm). All matches are on Paramount+.
NATIONAL TEAM CALLUPS: Several Fire players received callups to their national teams for this upcoming international match weekend. Miguel Navarro will join Venezuela for a pair of World Cup Qualifiers away to Argentina on Friday and then home to Colombia on Tuesday to complete their campaign. Boris Sekulic will join Slovakia for a pair of friendlies starting at Norway on Friday and then on Tuesday to face Finland in Murcia, Spain. Xherdan Shaqiri will join the Swiss National Team for a pair of friendlies starting with a Saturday friendly against England at Wembley, and then host Kosovo in Zurich on Wednesday.
Earlier in the week, goalkeeper Chris Brady and forward Brian Gutiérrez were named to the U.S. Under-20 Men’s Youth National Team roster for a training camp in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from March 21-30. The USA U-20s will face Argentina on Saturday, March 26, and Argentina Primera Division club River Plate on Tuesday, March 29. It is the first call up for Brady under head coach Mike Varas, and the third call up for Gutiérrez during the current cycle.
US OPEN CUP: The US Open Cup is back after a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Tuesday, Chicago FC United of USL League Two will travel to Ohio to face Cleveland SC of the NPSL. The winner will face Forward Madison FC of USL League One on April 6th in Madison.
SPEAKING OF USL LEAGUE TWO: Chicago FC United will play their home games at SeatGeek Stadium this season starting May 22nd against new USL-2 side Chicago City SC. Chicago City SC has yet to announce where all of their home matches will be held, but two are set for Wish Field at DePaul University. The third Chicagoland side in the Heartland Division of the Central Conference will be Chicago Dutch Lions who will play their home games at Wheaton College.
MORE ABOUT CHICAGO CITY SC: Chicago City SC will field both a USL-2 and W-League side this season (as will Chicago Dutch Lions). They are also notable for entering a partnership with English Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers last November. The partnership is said to “see Wolves and Chicago City collaborating on various projects in 2022, providing new and exciting opportunities for all levels of talent throughout Wolverhampton and Chicago City. Community camps and clinics, ID sessions, player and team exchanges, team tours, and online content will be created in Chicago, within the Wolves framework, providing additional professional level engagement.”
MLS NEXT PRO: Chicago Fire II will kick off their inaugural season in MLS NEXT Pro on Saturday against Orlando City B. Kickoff is at 2pm CT.
