When starting lineups were released prior to Wednesday night’s kickoff against the Philadelphia Union, a familiar face was missing from the forward position.
Nemanja Nikolić did not make the trip to the City of Brotherly Love, and -- for the first time in his MLS career – was not a part of head coach Veljko Paunović’s starting eleven. Prior to Wednesday, Nikolić had started each of his 46 MLS regular season appearances -- a span that includes 30 goals scored -- dating back to opening day of 2017.
Nikolić was listed as questionable (right ankle) ahead of the match, and will be evaluated day-to-day leading up to the Fire’s return home on Saturday, June 2 against the San Jose Earthquakes (7:30 p.m. CT | ESPN+).
Among the club’s most durable players since his arrival, Wednesday marked just the second time Nikolić has missed a match for the Fire in all competitions. The 30-year-old was rested during the Fire’s opening foray into Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play last season, a 1-0 win over St. Louis FC in St. Louis. He went the full 120 minutes in the tournament’s next round, a draw at USL side FC Cincinnati in which Cincinnati advance on penalty kicks.
Nikolić additionally went 90 minutes in his first and only MLS postseason appearance, an opening round defeat to the New York Red Bulls last season.
