Tonight marks the second of three matches this week for the Chicago Fire, when they travel north to take on Minnesota United. The Fire have been strong at home, but are the only remaining team in MLS without a win on the road, something they’ll be looking to change tonight, for sure.
Fire Captain Francisco Calvo is back after his one game suspension for yellow card accumulation, and will no doubt be ready to face the club that traded him last season. This also marks the first time Bobby Shuttleworth will get to face Minnesota United, since the team sent him on loan to Sacramento Republic last season.
Minnesota returned to training on Tuesday for the first time since two players tested positive for COVID-19 late last week. Those two players are in isolation, and since then, no new players have tested positive.
Last time out, the Fire beat D.C. United 2-1 in a tough match at home to move to 9th place in the East. Tonight’s match figures to be even tougher, with Minnesota currently sitting at 5th in the West.
These two teams haven’t played an official match this season, but they did meet for a friendly in Orlando. In that one, the Fire were leading 2-0 at halftime off goals from Mauricio Pineda and Fabian Herbers, when the match was called off due to a thunderstorm.
Minnesota United vs. Chicago Fire
MLS Regular Season Match #18 | Allianz Field, St. Paul, MN
Kickoff: 7 p.m. CT
TV: WGN
Streaming: ESPN+ (sign up using our link, and help support Hot Time! ESPN+ pregame starts at 6:45, 15 minutes earlier than WGN.)
Radio: TUDN 1200AM
Live Twitter Updates: @HotTimeOldTown (from Ruben)
Next Up: Chicago Fire vs. Sporting Kansas City | Saturday, Oct. 17 | Soldier Field, Chicago | 2:30 p.m. CT | Univision & TUDN
Chicago Fire Injuries
- OUT: GK - Kenneth Kronholm (torn ACL, meniscus tear 8/11, out for season)
- OUT: M - Luka Stojanovic (MCL surgery 7/23)
- OUT: M - Jeremiah Gutjahr (knee injury)
- OUT: M - Brandt Bronico (not medically cleared)
- QUESTIONABLE: D - Johan Kappelhof (undisclosed injury)
- QUESTIONABLE: M - Djordje Mihailovic (undisclosed injury)
Minnesota United Injuries
- OUT: GK - Tyler Miller (hip surgery 8/19, out for season)
- OUT: D - Ike Opara (not medically cleared)
- OUT: F - Luis Amarilla (ankle injury 9/8, out 2-3 weeks)
- OUT: GK - Greg Ranjitsingh (not medically cleared)
- QUESTIONABLE: M - Osvaldo Alonso (undisclosed injury)