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

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 18
Minnesota United FC vs. Chicago Fire FC
Allianz Field – Saint Paul
October 14 – 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 four matches against a Chicago Fire FC squad seeking their first road win of the season Wednesday night at Allianz Field. 

The Loons (6W-5L-5D) are coming off a 0-0 draw with Nashville SC, while Chicago (4W-8L-4D) defeated reeling D.C. United 2-1 at Soldier Field Sunday.

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

Minnesota United

Major League Soccer postponed the FC Dallas vs. Minnesota United match following two confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 among the Minnesota United player pool. The league also postponed the match between Orlando City SC and Columbus Crew SC and said both matches were postponed to ensure the health and safety of all players and staff and to allow for further testing and evaluation prior to travel and competition.

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Tyler Miller (GK) - hip injury
  • OUT: Ike Opara (D) - undisclosed injury
  • OUT: Luis Amarilla (F) - undisclosed injury
  • OUT: Greg Ranjitsingh (GK) - undisclosed injury
  • QUESTIONABLE: Ozzie Alonso (M) - undisclosed injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: Michael Boxall (D)
• International duty:  Jan Gregus (M)

Chicago Fire FC

CJ Sapong scored inside three minutes and Boris Sekulic struck in first-half stoppage time to lift the Fire to a 2-1 win over D.C. United. Both goals were set up by Alvaro Medran, who showed a glimpse of why the Fire were so keen to sign him on a TAM deal. 

"We all know the qualities of Alvaro. They're above average," head coach Raphael Wicky said after the match. "He's an amazing midfielder [and a] very, very important player for our team."

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Jeremiah Gutjahr (M) - knee injury
  • OUT: Kenneth Kronholm (GK) - knee injury
  • OUT: Luka Stojanović (M) - knee injury
  • OUT: Brandt Bronico (M) - knee injury
  • QUESTIONABLE: Johan Kappelho (D) - undisclosed injury
  • QUESTIONABLE: Djordje Mihailović (M) - undisclosed injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: Alvaro Medran (M)
• International duty:  Gaston Gimenez (M), Miguel Navarro (D)

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: Logan Brown, TJ Zablocki
• 4th Official: Ismir Pekmic
• VAR: Fotis Bazakos