News: Double the Fun: Fire v. Nashole S_C_ and (Red) Stars v. Seattle 6.14.25 7:30 and 4:00

We have our first double header in a while today!

I used to like the double headers, either the Fire match and a friendly or a Fire/Red Stars double bill.

I am completely opposed to the changing of the Red Stars to the "Chicago Stars FC."

Note, the Red Stars match will be on actual tv, as part of the ION tv deal.
For the Fire, well, we have to subscribe to the Apple TV bullcrap to watch the match.
I will admit that I have lost a bit of interest in the Red Stars since moving away, but I still catch their matches when they are on television up here.
The Red Stars are not good this season, sitting dead last in the league with 5 points from 11 matches.
Their opponents the Seattle Reign are fifth in the table with 17 points from 11 matches.

The Red Stars are currently led by Masaki Hemmi, who took over as interim coach in April, after Lorne Donaldson was canned following a dismal start to the season.
It really seems that the Red Stars have yet to fully recover from the Rory Dames scandal in 2021-2022 (of course, the actual abuse and mistreatment went back many years).

Since I have not been following the Red Stars that closely lately I will not comment further, except to say, the final will be
Red Stars 3 Seattle Reign 1
Go Red Stars!


And now onto the Main Event of the Evening!

The Fire seek revenge for that humiliating 7-2 loss to the Villains of Nash in April. As a team, the Fire have rebounded nicely from that destruction, going 6-1-1 since then in all competitions and 4-1-1 in MLS, including the official Tom Barlow Man of the Matchday performance with a hat trick in the 7-1 demolition of DC United last weekend.

Nashville have not lost since April with 6 wins and 3 draws since that fateful night in April.
That ends tonight!

For the season, Nashville are fourth in the East with 29 points form 17 matches (1.71 PPG).
The Fire are 10th with 25 points from 16 matches (1.56 PPG).
The Fire are second in goals scored, one behind Inter Messi, but fourth worst in goals conceded, with 29 from 16 games.
The Fire are leading the league with 6 away wins, against 0 draws and 4 losses.
Sadly, the Fire are third worst at home with 1 win, 4 draws and 1 loss. That has to improve.

According the Fire's Match Preview the Fire are all time 1-2-5, managing just five point from 8 matches against the team from (bad) "Music City."
In the past two matches between the two teams, Nashole have out scored the Fire 10-2.
Note: MeninRed claim the record is 4W-4D-6L.

fbref.com has it the same as the Fire's website.
https://fbref.com/en/stathead/matchup/teams/f9940243/35f1b818/Chicago-Fire-vs-Nashville-SC-History


Both teams are banged up, but the Fire especially with almost have the starting line up out.

First, Chris Brady is sitting on the bench for the USMNT, for no apparent reason in the middle of the season. Oh, that's right, we are pretty thin at goalie on the USMNT and MLS stupidly decided to play through the Gold Cup.
Idiots.

The Fire's injury issues are most acutely seen in central defense, where Captain Jack Elliott is questionable, first choice starter Teran is still out (and may be out the door from the Fire), back up Sam Rogers is out and back up the back up Chris Cupps is out with a broken leg (and, presumably, Junior Prom).

I have not read anything the last day or so about Hugo Cuypers and his return to health, but I hope he is out there.

Also, our own great and special Philip Zinckernagel may be out, as it has been reported that is getting hitched this weekend.
If so, congratulations/condolences to him.

Who starts tonight is anyone's guess at this point.

Nashville are missing a bunch of players due to International Duty.

Chicago Fire FC

• OUT: Chris Brady (international duty)
• OUT: Christopher Cupps (lower body)
• OUT: Rominigue Kouame (lower body)
• OUT: Chris Mueller (not due to injury)
• OUT: David Poreba (lower body)
• OUT: Sam Rogers (lower body)
• OUT: Carlos Teran (lower body)
• QUESTIONABLE: Hugo Cuypers (lower body)
• QUESTIONABLE: Jack Elliott (lower body)
• QUESTIONABLE: Philip Zinckernagel (marriage or something?!?)

Nashville SC

• 
  
  
  • OUT: Tyler Boyd (knee)
  • OUT: Maximus Ekk (knee)
  • OUT: Jacob Shaffelburg (international duty)
  • OUT: Xavier Valdez (international duty)
  • OUT: Taylor Washington (knee)
  • OUT: Walker Zimmerman (international duty)

Regardless of who is out there for the Fire, the Fire WILL win the match (or not, what do I know?!?)

Fire 2-1
Bamba/Maren Haile-Selassie and Gutierrez score for the Fire.

 

Refresh and try again.
It should provide multiple choices

 

I added him to Questionable, since there was no official announcement.

 

Is that from the White Party?!?

 

I was just about to post that!
Thanks!


Good to see Elliott and Cuypers in the starting lineup.

 

Gonzalez is not "1st choice."

Dean, Pineda and Oregel should not be "1st choice," either.
Of course, Oregel has shown flashes of being good and Pineda/Dean are "reliable" but should not be "1st choice" on a top quality team.

 

Kevin Egan whoring for Draft Kings Sports Book.
No surprise, I suppose.

35.5% of a fire win
38.5% of a Nahsvillian win.

 

That is just a silly comparison. It is completely ridiculous.
As I stated, Oregel has shown some flashes and Pineda is "reliable."

Tony Meola is doing another match today?
Jessica Charman is also on the call.

 

Gutierrez with an early chance.

Corner kick.
MHS to take it.

Elliot heads it over the cross bar.

 

Very sloppy early play from both teams.

The turf is pretty awful.

The camera work was much better for the Red Stars match this afternoon.