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When the Chicago Fire host the Philadelphia Union at Soldier Field on Saturday (7 p.m. CT, WGN-TV and CFFC Live), it’ll be a matchup of two teams heading in very different directions.
The Fire are coming off a gut-punch of a loss to FC Cincinnati in Chicago on Wednesday night—a defeat that dropped them to dead last in Major League Soccer. While the team’s defense has been acceptable—they’re averaging one goal allowed per game over the last five—the attack has been as bad as it gets. The Fire have scored just four goals all season, and two of those came in the first 15 minutes of the season opener.
After a slow start, the Philadelphia Union continue to inch higher and higher in the Eastern Conference table—they’re now up to third after defeating the Columbus Crew on Wednesday, and will look to gain ground on the New England Revolution and Orlando City by taking points in Chicago. Philly came away with a 2-0 win over Chicago when the two sides met last month at Soldier Field.
Chicago is still without Gastón Giménez, who is still on Copa America duty with Paraguay, and Przemyslaw Frankowski, who just wrapped up his Euro 2020 stint with Poland. Goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth is listed as questionable with a rib injury he picked up on Wednesday against Cincinnati. If he can’t go, the Fire will have to start one of their two 17-year-olds in goal—either Gabriel Slonina or Chris Brady.
Arlo White is handling play-by-play again tonight on WGN-TV. It’s the third of four Fire matches he’ll call in 2021, before heading off to call Olympic soccer for NBC. Despite the team’s struggles, it’s been a treat having White involved with Fire broadcasts this season.
Chicago Fire vs. Philadelphia Union
MLS Match #10 | Saturday, June 26 | Soldier Field, Chicago
Kickoff: 7 p.m. CT
TV: WGN-TV - with Arlo White, Tony Meola and Tyler Terens on the call
Chicago Area Steaming: CFFC Live - free at ChicagoFireFC.com or the Chicago Fire mobile app for fans living in the Chicago TV market
Out of Market Streaming: ESPN+ (use our link to subscribe and help support Hot Time!)
Radio: TUDN 1200AM
Live Twitter Updates: @HotTimeOldTown
Chicago Fire Injuries & Absences
- OUT: Przemyslaw Frankowski (international duty)
- OUT: Gaston Gimenez (international duty)
- OUT: Stanislav Ivanov (left knee)
- OUT: Kenneth Kronholm (right knee)
- QUESTIONABLE: Wyatt Omsberg (left hip)
- QUESTIONABLE: Bobby Shuttleworth (ribs)
- QUESTIONABLE: Carlos Teran (right shin)
Philadelphia Union Injuries & Absences
- OUT: Jack de Vries (concussion protocol)
- OUT: Ilsinho (groin surgery)
- OUT: Anthony Fontana (concussion protocol)
- OUT: Jose Martinez (international duty)
- QUESTIONABLE: Alejandro Bedoya (calf)
Next up for the Fire
Saturday, July 3 - Chicago Fire vs. Atlanta United at Soldier Field, Chicago (7 p.m. CT, WGN and CFFC Live)