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Major League Soccer | Gameweek 41
Oct 21, 2021 at 12.30am UK
Nippert Stadium
CF

Cincinnati
3 - 4
Chicago Fire

Acosta (28'), Vazquez (36'), Blackett (90+1')
Bailey (30'), Gyau (48'), Cameron (80')
FT(HT: 2-2)
Beric (14', 17'), Medran (71'), Stojanovic (90+3')
Kappelhof (45+1'), Navarro (68'), Slonina (79')

Preview: FC Cincinnati vs. Chicago Fire - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: FC Cincinnati vs. Chicago Fire - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Major League Soccer clash between FC Cincinnati and Chicago Fire, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Two teams officially eliminated from playoff contention in the MLS Eastern Conference will play for pride on Wednesday as FC Cincinnati host the Chicago Fire at TQL Stadium in Ohio.

The Orange-and-Blue have dropped four straight contests by a single goal under interim manager Tyrone Marshall, while the temporary Chicago boss, Frank Klopas, saw his team fight back twice from a one-goal deficit to draw the New England Revolution.


Match preview

For a third successive campaign, it will be an abrupt end to the season for FC Cincinnati, who can only hope for a higher standing in the Eastern Conference than in previous years.

Knowing that they are mathematically eliminated from postseason contention could release some of the tension that the team had been playing with throughout the year.

Given that they are dead last in the Eastern Conference, the hope is that this team can at least finish the year strong and move out of that position.

Cincy have lost seven straight games, tying a franchise record set last year, but they are playing a Chicago team who have only beaten them once since the Orange-and-Blue came into the league in 2019, and they have not conceded a goal to the Fire in Cincinnati.

Given how many personnel changes this team have made from the beginning of this campaign until now should serve as notice to all the players, along with interim manager Tyrone Marshall, that they need to show the management team something special over their final five games to convince them that they deserve to be here beyond this season.

Since Marshall took over, we have seen a much better effort from this team consistently, but one too many errors have cost them points.

On Saturday, we saw the Fire show a ton of resiliency and fight to come back and draw the top team in the Eastern Conference and MLS.

It is too little too late at this stage of the season, but it should give the players a confidence boost to finish the year on a positive note.

Not only did Chicago steal two points away from New England, but they also picked up their third result away from home in 2021.

Despite conceding early into the second half versus the Revs, we saw the Fire play with a lot more confidence than we have seen throughout most of this campaign as they showed great mental strength and belief, two traits which we have often failed to see from them consistently this year.

Throughout this season, the Fire have not been able to sustain any momentum when putting together a positive result, and that is part of the reason why they will be watching the MLS Cup playoffs on TV for a fourth successive campaign.

If they can find a way to win their final four games, this team will have 11 victories, which would be their highest tally in a regular season since 2017, when they collected 16.

FC Cincinnati Major League Soccer form:
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • L

Chicago Fire Major League Soccer form:
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • D



Team News

Midfielder Kyle Scott made his MLS debut for Cincinnati on Saturday, coming on for Haris Medunjanin in the second half, his first appearance since signing from Newcastle in the English Premier League.

Kamohelo Mokotjo made his 10th career start for the Orange-and-Blue this weekend, while Joe Gyau saw his first action since May 1.

Edgar Castillo is eligible to return following his yellow card suspension, while Ronald Matarrita could be back following his time with the Costa Rican national team, but Yuya Kubo and Gustavo Vallecilla could miss this match because of ankle and hamstring injuries, respectively.

Alvaro Medran scored his fourth career goal for Chicago in their draw with New England, while Ignacio Aliseda picked up his fourth of the year thanks to a nice pass from Brian Gutierrez, who collected his first assist since August 28.

Goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina made a career-high six saves in his seventh career start, and Jhon Espinoza notched his first career MLS assist on their opening goal versus the Revs.

Boris Sekulic is still dealing with back spasms, Carlos Teran and Fabian Herbers are suffering from right thigh issues and Francisco Calvo might miss this game due to health and safety protocols.

FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Tyton; Cameron, Blackett, Hagglund; Bailey, Scott, Cruz, Atanga; Acosta, Barreal, Brenner

Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Slonina; M. Navarro, Bornstein, Kappelhof, Espinoza; Pineda, Omsberg; Aliseda, Medran, Stojanovic; Beric


We say: FC Cincinnati 1-0 Chicago Fire

These teams have gone through many frustrating times this season, and with two coaches and a lot of players looking to keep their jobs into next year, expect to see a very tight affair.

Chicago have never scored a goal in two games played in Cincinnati, and even though the Fire performed well against the Revs, they have failed to show us enough consistency this season so we expect to see a letdown from them in this one.


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Premier League Table

Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721
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