Chicago Fire FC looks to cap off a successful road trip in downtown Orlando, Florida on Saturday night, where it will face Eastern Conference foe Orlando City SC.
Chicago is looking for another three points after picking up wins in Portland and Kansas City within the span of four days. Following a 2-1 victory on Wednesday, June 21 at Portland Timbers, the Fire traveled to Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas to take on Sporting KC on Saturday, June 24. An early second half goal by Fabian Herbers, his second in as many games, was enough as the Fire put forth a sterling defensive performance in a 1-0 road victory.
Meanwhile, Orlando City returns to Exploria Stadium following a 0-0 road draw against Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday, June 24. The contest marked the third consecutive match without a win for Orlando, following a 2-2 home draw against the Union on June 21 and a 3-1 loss at New England Revolution on June 17. Orlando is hoping to remain in playoff position in the East, currently in seventh place but only five points ahead of the Fire.
First kick is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. The match will be transmitted live locally in Spanish on TUDN 1200 AM, while an English audio stream will be available on wlsam.com. The English stream will also be preceded by a 30-minute pre-match show beginning at 6 p.m. CT and followed by a 30-minute post-match show after the conclusion of the action.
Learn more about tonight’s starters in the lineup notes below:
- Chicago Fire FC Head Coach Frank Klopas has made a trio of changes to the starting XI that took the field against Sporting Kansas City last Saturday.
- Carlos Terán will line up to the right of captain Rafael Czichos at center back. The defender is making his first start since sustaining a first half injury against St. Louis CITY SC on May 13. Arnaud Souquet and Alonso Aceves complete the Fire backline.
- Mauricio Pineda remains in the lineup, replacing Federico Navarro at the double pivot alongside Gaston Giménez.
- Xherdan Shaqiri returns to the starting XI following a 31-minute appearance in Kansas City. The midfielder returns to a central position in the midfield after starting in a pair of UEFA Euro qualifying matches for the Swiss men’s national team.
- Fresh off earning a place on the MLS Team of Matchday 21, Fabian Herbers will make his third consecutive start on the right wing. Fire Homegrown Brian Gutiérrez lines up opposite Herbers on the left wing, making his 16th start of the season.
- Newly minted MLS All-Star Kei Kamara will make his 17th appearance of the year for Chicago. The Fire’s lone All-Star selection leads the team with five goals this year, his latest being the game-winner against Portland last week.
- Looking for his fourth clean sheet of the season, Chris Brady makes his 17th start at goal for the Fire.
- Available off the bench tonight for Klopas are goalkeeper Spencer Richey; defenders Miguel Navarro, Wyatt Omsberg, Jonathan Dean and Kendall Burks; midfielders Maren Haile-Selassie and Jairo Torres; and forwards Kacper Przybyłko and Georgios Koutsias.
- Midfielders Javier Casas, Jr. (right upper leg) and Federico Navarro (right lower leg), as well as forward Chris Mueller (right upper leg) will not be available for tonight’s match.
