CLEARWATER, FLA. – Chicago Fire FC kicked off its preseason slate on Saturday at Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex, falling 3-0 to Philadelphia Union.
Chicago played each half with a different starting XI, mixing in returning players, new signings, trialists, and Academy prospects.
Here's how first-year head coach Raphael Wicky's squad lined up for the first 45 minutes: Kenneth Kronholm, Jeremiah Gutjahr, Johan Kappelholf, Francisco Calvo, Jonathan Bornstein, Fabian Herbers, Mauricio Pineda, Djordje Mihailović, Frankowski, Robert Berić, and Alex Monis.
And in the second-half: Connor Sparrow, Brandt Bronico, Jonathan Campbell, Jesús Vázquez, Raheem Edwards, Álvaro Medrán, Micheal Azira, Javier Casas, Jonathan Jiménez, CJ Sapong, and Elliot Collier.
The Fire return to action on Thursday against expansion side Nashville SC at the Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa Bay at 2:00 p.m. CT.
After that, the next phase of Chicago’s preseason training camp will take place in Los Angeles, where the Club will play four preseason matches. The Fire will face USL Championship side Orange County SC (Feb. 12), Colorado Rapids (Feb. 15), Toronto FC (Feb. 19) and LA Galaxy (Feb. 22) during its training camp in California. The Fire’s matches against Colorado Rapids and LA Galaxy will be held at Dignity Health Sports Park as part of a doubleheader and will be open to the public.
