Chicago Fire FC wraps up its 2021 regular season on Sunday afternoon with a visit to Lower.com Field to take on Eastern Conference rivals the Columbus Crew.
The Fire and Crew have traded wins in their pair of matches played this season, with Columbus taking a 2-0 win at MAPFRE Stadium on June 19 before Chicago were 1-0 victors at Soldier Field on Aug. 15. Columbus enters the match needing a win and several results around the conference to break their way in order to keep their MLS Cup Playoff hopes afloat. View all of the Decision Day scenarios from around the league here.
The Fire will look to play spoiler and close their season on a high note when today's opening whistle blows at 2:30 p.m. CT. Tune in for coverage on WGN-TV, CFFC Live, TUDN 1200 AM, and MLS LIVE's out-of-market package on ESPN+ and get the details on today's Fire starting XI below:
- Three changes have been made to the Fire's starting XI from their last outing, a 1-0 defeat at New York City FC on Oct. 27.
- Carlos TerƔn returns to the lineup for the first time since Sept. 22. TerƔn had been unavailable while dealing with a right thigh injury. He'll partner with captain Jonathan Bornstein on the backline.
- Homegrown Brian GutiƩrrez is back in the XI as well, making his sixth start and 17th appearance of the season. Following today's match, GutiƩrrez and goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina - today's starter in net - will join the U.S. U-20 Men's National Team for the upcoming Revelations Cup in Celaya, Mexico, from Nov. 7-17.
- Forward Chinonso Offor gets the start up top tonight, making his 34th appearance of the season. Offor becomes the only Fire player to have started or appeared in every Fire match this season. Robert BeriÄ, who is available off the bench today, would match Offor with 34 appearances should he enter the match. Offor will lead the attacking unit alongside GutiĆ©rrez and Ignacio Aliseda today.
- Fresh off of his 50th career start, Mauricio Pineda is back in the first XI today. The 2020 Homegrown signing will make the 52nd appearance of his career overall as his sophomore season comes to a close. He'll patrol the midfield today alongside Ćlvaro MedrĆ”n and Federico Navarro.
- Fullbacks Boris SekuliÄ and Miguel Navarro will lineup out wide opposite one another today, rounding out today's defensive unit.
- Available to interim head coach Frank Klopas as substitutions today are goalkeeper Chris Brady, defender Wyatt Omsberg, defender Jhon Espinoza, midfielder Javier Casas Jr., midfielder Luka StojanoviÄ, midfielder Alex Monis, forward Elliot Collier, forward Stanislav Ivanov and forward Robert BeriÄ.
- Midfielder Fabian Herbers is unavailable for today's match after suffering a broken nose in training on Saturday morning.
- Goalkeepers Bobby Shuttleworth (left thigh) and Kenneth Kronholm (right knee) are also out due to injury for today's match.
Get a look at Columbus' starting lineup below as it becomes available:
