2019 MLS Regular Season – Week 29
FC Cincinnati vs. Chicago Fire
Nippert Stadium – Cincinnati
September 21 – 7:30 PM ET
STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, on DAZN in Canada
FC Cincinnati look to play spoilers and bounce back from a midweek loss to Atlanta United when they host a Chicago Fire team that can settle for nothing less than three points Saturday night at Nippert Stadium.
FC Cincinnati (6-22-3) squandered scoring chances and conceded twice in quick succession to fall to Atlanta United, 2-0, Wednesday night in the Queen City. The expansion side was arguably the better team leading up to the first of two Josef Martinez goals. FC Cincy, which couldn't build on momentum from a 1-0 win at Montreal on the weekend, tied the MLS record for goals conceded in a season with 74, set by Orlando City SC a year ago.
The Fire (9-12-10) kept their playoff hopes alive with a stunning 4-0 victory over FC Dallas at SeatGeek Stadium Saturday afternoon. CJ Sapong struck for his second brace of the season and Przemyslaw Frankowski and Nemanja Nikolic scored to give Chicago a commanding four-goal lead after 39 minutes.
This is the second meeting this season with FC Cincinnati winning 2-1 in Bridgeview on July 13. After Nico Gaitan canceled out Allan Cruz's first-minute strike with a first-half stoppage time equalizer, Fanendo Adi scored his first goal for FC Cincinnati, the 83rd-minute winner.
FC Cincinnati vs. Chicago
Saturday, September 21 at 7:30 PM ET
Nippert Stadium
FC Cincinnati
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Jimmy McLaughlin (M) - right ACL surgery
- OUT: Darren Mattocks (F) - ankle injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Spencer Richey (GK) - back injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Allan Cruz (M) - concussion
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: Allan Cruz (M), Emmanuel Ledesma (M), Kendall Waston (D)
- International duty: None
Chicago Fire
- Injury Report:
- QUESTIONABLE: Diego Campos (M) - knee injury
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: Francisco Calvo (D)
- International duty: None
Series Matchup at Cincinnati
- This is the first all-time meeting between FC Cincinnati and the Chicago Fire at Nippert Stadium.
Officials
- Referee: Baldomero Toledo
- Assistant Referees: Apolinar Mariscal, Ian McKay
- 4th Official: Fotis Bazakos
- VAR: Kevin Terry Jr
