The hosts are heading into the tie on the back of a 2-1 defeat to San Jose last Sunday, while Columbus Crew played out a goalless draw against Philadelphia Union in their last outing.
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Chicago Fire will host Columbus Crew in a Major League Soccer (MLS) fixture at Soldier Field on Saturday night. The hosts are heading into the tie on the back of a 2-1 defeat to San Jose last Sunday, while Columbus Crew played out a goalless draw against Philadelphia Union in their last outing. Chicago Fire are languishing at the bottom of the 14-team Eastern Conference table with just 17 points from 18 games. Meanwhile the visitors, who have a game in hand, occupy 10th spot, having collected 22 points so far.
Catch football not feelings. ? @Heineken_US | #cf97 pic.twitter.com/fkt0nwpTq2
— Chicago Fire FC (@ChicagoFire) July 9, 2022
At PayPal Park, San Jose netted two times courtesy of a brace from Benjil Kikanovic, while the Men in Red scored a late consolation goal in the fifth minute of injury time through Brian Gutierrez. Chicago have managed to register just two wins from their last 14 games. However, Chicago’s recent form has been pretty hot and cold, winning and losing twice in their last four games. Prior to the San Jose defeat, the Men in Red secured a narrow 1-0 win over leaders Philadelphia.
Columbus Crew, on the other hand, have also endured a difficult season, recording just 5 wins from their 17 opening league games. However, the Crew are just three points adrift of the playoff spot and a couple of positive results could propel them to the top half of the table. The Black and Gold’s biggest concern has been their inability to win games. The Crew has drawn three of their last five games, while one of them ended in defeat. Head coach Caleb Porter’s side must find a way to score goals and close out games in order to make it to the playoffs.
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Chicago has a lengthy injury list with Kendall Burks out with knee problem, Wyatt Omsberg sidelined with ligament damage and Chris Brady nursing an ankle problem. Przybylko is expected to lead the attack with Shaqiri deployed behind him in a free role. Gimenez and Navarro would sit in front of the back-four. As for Columbus Crew, Lucas Zelaryan is expected to partner Jacen Russell-Rowe up front. Moreira and Santos would occupy the flanks with Nagbe, Morris and Zawadzki forming the midfield-trio.
Chicago Fire probable starting lineup: Slonina; Sekulic, Teran, Czichos, Bornstein; Gimenez, Navarro; Mueller, Shaqiri, Herbes; Przybylko.
Columbus Crew probable starting lineup: Room; Mensah, Williams, Degenek; Moreira, Nagbe, Morris, Zawadzki, Santos; Russel-Rowe, Zelerrayan
The Major League Soccer encounter between Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew will take place at Soldier Field and it will kickoff at 5:30 am IST on July 10, Sunday.
The Major League Soccer matches are televised on different networks in various countries. In the United States, these matches are shown on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, Fox, FS1, FS2, Fox Deportes, UniMás, TUDN. In the Indian subcontinent, the matches are televised on Eurosport.
