Minnesota United vs. Chicago Fire FC | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 23
Minnesota United FC vs. Chicago Fire FC
Allianz Field – Saint Paul
November 4 – 8:00 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; on DAZN in Canada

LOCAL TV: FOX Sports North, WGN-TV

Minnesota United hope to extend an unbeaten streak to seven matches and maintain a top-four seed in the Western Conference when they take on a Chicago Fire FC squad desperate to remain above the playoff line in the East when the squads square off Wednesday night at Allianz Field. 

The Loons (8W-5L-6D) are fourth in the West at 1.58 points per game and are coming off consecutive wins, including a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids last Wednesday. The Fire (5W-9L-7D) are ninth in the East at 1.05 PPG and drew Nashville SC on the road Saturday. 

This is the second all-time meeting in Minnesota with the Loons winning 2-1 on March 17, 2018 on Sam Nicholson's second-half winner at TCF Bank Stadium.

Minnesota United

A scheduled match between Minnesota United and Sporting Kansas City was canceled by Major League Soccer after a second Minnesota player was confirmed positive on Saturday following the announcement that a player had tested positive on Wednesday. The game will not be rescheduled due to a lack of available dates prior to Decision Day presented by AT&T. 

Minnesota United FC signed a trio of players, defender Sam Gleadle, forward Foster Langsdorf and midfielder Kevin Partida, the club announced Friday. The deals were completed ahead of the Secondary Transfer Window deadline.

All three players were most recently with Reno 1868 FC in the USL Championship. 

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Tyler Miller (GK) - hip injury
  • OUT: Ike Opara (D) - undisclosed injury
  • OUT: Luis Amarilla (F) - undisclosed injury
  • OUT: Hassani Dotson (D) - ankle injury
  • OUT: Ozzie Alonso (M) - undisclosed injury
  • OUT: Jacori Hayes (D) - undisclosed injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: Ozzie Alonso (M)
• International duty:  None

Chicago Fire FC

The Fire's search for a first road win of the 2020 season take them into their penultimate game of the regular season after they played Nashville SC to a 1-1 draw Saturday at Nissan Stadium. It was a frustrating result for a team that were desperate for three points to have more secure footing above the playoff line, but the belief in reaching the postseason hasn't wavered. 

“We believe that we can make the playoffs,” Raphael Wicky told media following Saturday’s match in Nashville. “I see the progress. I see the progress and the process of this team, and I see a lot of progress. I see it in every single game.”

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Kenneth Kronholm (GK) - knee injury
  • OUT: Luka Stojanović (M) - knee injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: Mauricio Pineda (D), Alvaro Medran (M)
• International duty:  None

Series Matchup at Minnesota United

• This is the second meeting between Minnesota United and FC Cincinnati in Minnesota, with the Loons winning 2-1 at TCF Bank Stadium on March 17, 2018.

Officials

• Referee: Victor Rivas
• Assistant Referees: Jason White, Matthew Nelson
• 4th Official: Fotis Bazakos
• VAR: Jorge Gonzalez