It's Fireworks Night at Soldier Field as Chicago Fire FC looks to light up the visiting Columbus Crew when the opening whistle blows at 7 p.m. CT.
Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson's side is undefeated in two straight matches at home, with wins against D.C. United and the Philadelphia Union behind them heading into tonight's match. However, they'll be looking to rebound from a 2-1 defeat on the road at San Jose last weekend. Tonight's opponents enter the match unbeaten in their last five (2-0-3) after a 2-1 win at Toronto FC their last time out. The Crew currently sit in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, with 22 points through 17 matches played.
Find coverage of tonight's match on WGN, CF97 Live, Univision Radio, and MLS LIVE's out-of-market package on ESPN+, and get the details on tonight's just-released Fire starting XI and bench below:
- Four changes from last weekend's visit to San Jose highlight tonight's opening lineup.
- 18-year-old Jhon Durán makes his fourth start of the season up top, with one goal and two assists to his credit so far this season. Last week in San Jose, Durán assisted on Brian Gutiérrez's second half finish.
- Gutiérrez also finds himself back in the starting XI tonight for the first time since the Fire's trip to Houston on June 26. The 19-year-old Homegrown product's late finish last week was the first of his MLS career.
- Joining Gutiérrez in midfield are Xherdan Shaqiri and Chris Mueller. They'll be supported by Gaston Giménez and Federico Navarro in the deeper-lying midfield spots, who bring their streak of starts together to seven-straight matches.
- Both of the fullback positions have been swapped since last Sunday, as Jhon Espinoza and Miguel Navarro enter for Jonathan Bornstein and Boris Sekulić. Navarro makes his first appearance since May 29 at Toronto, having just returned from being in health and safety protocols.
- Between them, captain Rafael Czichos and Carlos Terán will partner in central defense for the fourth-straight outing.
- In goal, 18-year-old 'keeper Gabriel Slonina makes his 18th start of the campaign looking for his eighth shutout of the year.
- Available to Hendrickson as substitutions tonight are goalkeeper Spencer Richey, defender Jonathan Bornstein, defender Andre Reynolds II, defender Boris Sekulić, midfielder Mauricio Pineda, midfielder Jairo Torres, forward Fabian Herbers, forward Stanislav Ivanov, and forward Kacper Przybyłko.
- Defender Kendall Burks (right knee), defender Wyatt Omsberg (left foot) are unavailable for selection tonight.
Get a look at the Columbus starting lineup below as it becomes available:
