Following a 3-0 defeat in Nashville and the sacking of manager Ezra Hendrickson, the Fire will return to SeatGeek Stadium for the second match of their U.S. Open Cup campaign.
Last time out in the cup, a rotated Fire team defeated the Chicago House by a comfortable margin of 3-0. Tonight’s match, however, will be nowhere near as simple, given the quality of their opponent.
In their first-ever MLS season, St. Louis CITY has gotten off to an electric start and currently sits 2nd in the Western Conference.
However, tonight’s visitors have been going through a small dip in league form, having taken just 4 points from the last 15. In that five-game span, St. Louis has suffered losses to Minnesota, Seattle, and against Portland a week and a half ago.
With both sides going through a rut of rotten form, a win would do wonders in getting either team back on track.
With so many starters rested on Saturday against Nashville, anything less than a win would be a disappointment. However, in terms of available personnel, the Fire are still struggling with a myriad of first-team injuries.
While in the opening weeks of the season, it was the Fire’s midfield that was run dry due to injuries, it is now at center-back where the Fire are suffering. Starting center-backs Rafa Czichos and Carlos Terán are both questionable for tonight, and it is highly unlikely that the two will be fit enough to start together. Of the two, it is more likely that we will see Czichos fit enough to play.
Other questionable inclusions tonight include Chris Mueller, who did not make the bench against Nashville due to injury, and Jairo Torres, who is still recovering from the injury that he suffered in the Fire’s season opener.
For St. Louis, Joakim Nilsson and leading scorer João Klauss are presumed out for tonight’s match. Questionable inclusions include Rasmus Alm and Njabulo Blom.
Chicago Fire vs. St. Louis CITY
US Open Cup Round of 32 | Tuesday, May 9 | SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview, Illinois
Kickoff: 7:00 PM CST
Watch: Bleacher Report App and Bleacher Report Football on YouTube
