The Fire are right back at it following their gutsy performance in Foxborough on Saturday night. Chicago will now travel to FC Cincinnati’s new digs, TQL Stadium, for the first time on Wednesday.
FCC are in the midst of a seven-game winless streak and it is a great opportunity for the Fire to pick up four points in two games heading into Saturday’s Fan Appreciation Night at Soldier Field against Real Salt Lake.
Here’s what to look for as interim head coach Frank Klopas leads the Fire to Cincy’s west end:
LAST TIME OUT
It’s been quite some time since the Fire have seen FC Cincinnati. Like Chicago, they are in the middle of a coaching transition, after they parted ways with Jaap Stam back on Sept. 27.
Klopas employed a four-back system against the Revs on Saturday for the first time since June 23, the Fire’s 1-0 loss at Soldier Field against FCC. That game was truly a tale of two halves, as FCC dominated the first 45 minutes and forced Bobby Shuttleworth into nine first-half saves. FCC pressed and made life difficult for the Fire, who simply couldn’t get control of the ball.
Brian Gutiérrez then came on in the second half and changed the complexion of the affair with his quality. He set up Robert Berić for a point-blank opportunity, which the Slovenian striker was unable to convert. The Fire really made FCC sweat, had a goal chalked off after VAR, and ultimately fell to the visitors 1-0 after Álvaro Barreal scored the lone goal with a fantastic free kick.
The Fire will be looking to return the favor at TQL on Wednesday night in their second and final meeting of the season.
MOMENTUM
While the Fire were officially eliminated from postseason contention after their 2-2 draw with New England, it was one of their better performances of the season. Going down twice to the soon-to-be Supporters’ Shield champions and fighting back showed a lot of character.
The shift to four at the back – with Mauricio Pineda playing in the midfield with Federico Navarro acting as the destroyer – was a really good look for Chicago. Álvaro Medrán played one of his finest games of the year and controlled the middle of the park for large stretches while adding a goal. With Pineda responsible for starting the build-up and dropping deeper while Navarro was being a pest, it allowed Medrán to play further up the field and express himself a bit more.
There is a lot to build on from this weekend’s performance and I expect to see those positives roll over to TQL.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This FCC group has clearly struggled this season and are enduring changes at the very top of their first-team operations. They just hired former Philadelphia Union executive Chris Albright to be the General Manager, and are also looking for their next head coach as well. Tyrone Marshall has been leading the group in an interim capacity, and - as mentioned earlier - they are in the middle of a skid having lost their seventh-straight match this past weekend to Orlando by a score of 1-0.
FCC hardly generated any sort of threat in the first half, and had few opportunities in the second 45 minutes. Marshall’s side did have a few injuries and absences for that game, with Ronald Matarrita, Yuya Kubo and Gustavo Vallecilla all unavailable.
Lucho Acosta, Brenner and Álvaro Barreal will provide the attacking prowess for FCC. Acosta in particular can turn any game on its head.
The Fire are coming off a galvanizing type of performance against New England, and will be looking for their second road win of the season.
Tony Meola and I will be live from TQL stadium and I, for one, am really excited to see this soccer-specific cathedral that will host the USA-Mexico game in just a few weeks' time. Catch the game on WGN and CFFC Live at 6:30 PM CT.