MLS 2023: Preview, prediction for FC Cincinnati at Chicago Fire FC

Within 25 minutes of the final whistle of the 1-0 win against Seattle Sounders FC, FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan had all but turned the page on what was arguably FCC's greatest-ever home victory.

Saturday’s 1-0 win against Seattle at TQL Stadium was a statement to the rest of Major League Soccer, but Noonan said it wouldn’t count for nearly that much if it wasn’t replicable.

“If we want to show the character of the group, how do we prepare and step on the field and have a strong performance against Chicago? This doesn’t mean much if we can’t go and replicate a lot of the things that we saw tonight when we go on the road and play Chicago,” Noonan said in his post-match remarks. “That’s the challenge – it’s to not think we’re better than we are or we’ve accomplished anything. It’s just to continue to build on good early results and three performances that have improved each game.”

Now that the short trip to play Chicago Fire at Soldier Field on Saturday has arrived, FC Cincinnati is still of the mindset that it needs a good performance. However, there's now some recognition the game against the Fire isn't so straightforward.

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A Chicago team of unknowns

No team in MLS has more than three game's worth of a track record, but the Fire's sample size is even smaller than that. Winless Chicago has played just twice (0-1-1), which Noonan said during a Thursday news conference makes the team somewhat less predictable.

Part of the unpredictability stems from the fact that Chicago head coach Ezra Hendrickson's team has tactical flexibility and could line up in one of two different formations.

Beyond that, Chicago will be without the services of Fabian Herbers and Kei Kamara, both of whom were issued red cards and ejected from the Fire's 1-0 loss to Philadelphia Union last weekend.

It's worth noting shorthanded Chicago nearly earned a scoreless draw with Philadelphia, but for a late goal by the host Union.

Fire star midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri is listed as questionable with what Chicago officials described in a team news release as an upper right leg injury.

"There's just a lot of uncertainty. They play two different formations. We just have to be really alert early on, because I think, in a lot of ways, we're not sure what the starting group's going to look like or the formation," Noonan said. "So we'll have to try to put the focus more so on us in the lead up to this game, maybe a little bit more than we would in today's training and tomorrow's training with preparation for the next opponent, but it's going to be tricky. And even though it's only been two games, when you have a team that hasn't gotten a result yet, they're going to be pushing to win their first game. And so it's going to be a difficult task. And our guys need to be prepared for that both mentally and physically. And the conditions aren't going to be great."

Chilly Soldier Field

Another obstacle for FC Cincinnati will be Chicago's trademark late-winter weather, which is forecast by the National Weather Service to stay below freezing all day Saturday with a windchill in the teens by game's end.

It was noteworthy last weekend when FC Cincinnati played the coldest home match in its history, but that was a long way from freezing at 39F when the match kicked off.

Cold weather hasn't played a large role in FC Cincinnati's history, especially considering how the COVID-19 pandemic forced the 2020 and 2021 seasons into the warm-weather months.

FCC played one outdoor game prior to widespread pandemic shutdowns in 2020, and when the regular season resumed, MLS did so in a "bubble" tournament format in Central Florida in late June.

In 2021, the MLS season didn't begin until April 17. That's about seven-plus weeks later than when it started in 2022 and 2023. But MLS reset its annual calendar ahead of the 2022 season as pandemic restrictions were relaxed, and MLS is back to playing outdoor games in true winter.

The kind of cold FC Cincinnati will experience Saturday isn't unique in MLS - Minnesota United FC hosted a game with snow on its field in St. Paul, Minnesota last weekend - but it will still be a rare occasion for FCC.

"The guys running around are typically in a better position because they're moving and the blood's flowing, but it's for the guys that aren't, the reserves," Noonan said. "Making sure they're dressed properly for a game of cold conditions and mentally in a good place. It's easy to make an excuse after the fact about a performance individually or as a team, but both teams have to play, and it's going to be cold, but that can't be an excuse. We have to figure out a way to go and perform regardless of the conditions."

Unbeaten run on the line for FCC

FC Cincinnati will look need to outlast the unpredictability of the Fire and the bitter Chicago cold but if it can, it will extend what is already the best start to an MLS season in club history.

Seven unbeatens remains in MLS and FC Cincinnati is in fourth place in the very early stages of the Supporters Shield race. It's too early to read into the standings but continuing to put points on the board in the standings will serve FCC well when the playoff picture comes into clearer focus this summer.

The club will have all its players available except for Yuya Kubo, who is out with an injury, and Nick Hagglund, who is serving a suspension for the red card he received against Seattle.

Ian Murphy seems a likely replacement for Hagglund at right-center back.

Luciano Acosta missed multiple days of training this week due to what Noonan described as a "knock" but he's expected to be available to start against Chicago.

Lastly, Junior Moreno will be available for FCC until next week after some doubt was cast on his upcoming availability via the call-up to the Venezuelan national team.

All things considered, FC Cincinnati appeared well-positioned to extend its unbeaten streak.

"It's been good energy. You know, today was as lively as it's been, I think," Noonan said. "Certainly, there's wins along the way where the group comes in the following day or the following week and has a pep in the step. And I think that is the case this week. But the message from the beginning was, how does that translate to our performance on the weekend? Because it's not getting any easier. We need to understand that it's a good result for us and good teams respond in a strong way, whether you have good results or poor results. And so I'm looking forward to a strong performance from our group on the weekend."

The Game

Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET, Saturday | Soldier Field, Chicago

Stream/radio: Apple TV; ESPN1530

Series info: FC Cincinnati leads the all-time series against Chicago Fire FC with a 3-2-2 record.

Cincinnati.com prediction: FC Cincinnati 2, Chicago Fire 0.

FC Cincinnati

Record: 2-0-1; Tied for first in MLS Eastern Conference.

Goals for: Three

Goals against: One

Coach: Pat Noonan – second season at FC Cincinnati.

Projected starting lineup:

Roman Celentano, goalkeeper

Ray Gaddis, right back

Ian Murphy, center back

Matt Miazga, center back

Yerson Mosquera, center back

Alvaro Barreal, left back

Obinna Nwobodo, midfielder

Junior Moreno, midfielder

Luciano Acosta, midfielder

Brandon Vazquez, forward

Brenner Souza da Silva, forward

Chicago Fire FC

Record: 0-1-1; 13th place in MLS Eastern Conference

Goals for: One.

Goals against: Two

Head coach: Ezra Hendrickson - second season at Chicago Fire FC.

Projected starters:

Chris Brady, goalkeeper

Kendall Burks, left back

Rafael Czichos, center back

Carlos Terán, center back

Arnaud Souquet, right back

Gastón Giménez, midfielder

Jonathan Dean, midfielder

Christopher Matthew Mueller, winger

Miguel Navarro, winger

Xherdan Shaqiri, midfielder

Kacper Przybyłko, forward

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: MLS 2023: Preview, prediction for FC Cincinnati at Chicago Fire FC