Chicago Fire FC returns to the lakefront with a three-game winning streak in tow, facing off against Eastern Conference foe CF Montréal Saturday night at Soldier Field. First kick is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT. The match will be broadcast across the globe on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, and transmitted locally in English on wlsam.com and in Spanish on Que Buena Fire via the Uforia App.
Chicago Fire FC Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter has named the following starting XI looking for their first home win of the year:
- No changes have been made to the Starting XI that earned a 3-1 victory on the road against Vancouver Whitecaps FC last Saturday in Canada.
- Goalkeeper Chris Brady will make his 70th regular season appearance for Chicago Fire FC, leaving him five games short of third place all-time among Fire goalkeepers, behind Jon Busch (75), Sean Johnson (176) and Ring of Fire member and goalkeeper coach Zach Thornton (215).
- Defender Jack Elliott makes his sixth start of the year for the Fire, donning the captain’s armband for the third consecutive time. He will line up to the left of Sam Rogers for the fifth time in a row at center back.
- Right back Leonardo Barroso will make his Soldier Field debut in his second start for Chicago. Left back Andrew Gutman will make his 123rd regular season appearance overall in MLS, and his 17th start overall for the Men in Red.
- Sam Williams will fill in for Brian Gutiérrez (Lower Body) in his second consecutive start for Chicago, and his second straight at Soldier Field. He will line up next to fellow Homegrowns Sergio Oregel, Jr., and Mauricio Pineda, who leads all players on the Fire with 130 regular season matches played.
- Looking to tie the Fire record for consecutive games with a goal (5), Hugo Cuypers will make his sixth start of the season in as many matches.
- Hoping to make it two in a row with a goal is winger Philip Zinckernagel, who starts in the right wing again after an MLS Team of the Match appearance for his performance in Vancouver. Jonathan Bamba will line up across the field from Zinckernagel on the left looking for his first goal of the season at Soldier Field.
- Aside from Gutiérrez, defenders Jonathan Dean (Torso) and Chase Gasper (Lower Body); and midfielders Kellyn Acosta (Lower Body), David Poreba (Lower Body), and Chris Mueller (Not Due to Injury) will not be available for selection tonight.
- Goalkeeper Jeff Gal; defenders Carlos Terán, Omar González, Justin Reynolds and Diego Konincks; midfielders Rominigue Kouamé, Maren Haile-Selassie and Omari Glasgow; and forward Tom Barlow will be available off the bench for tonight’s match.
