With a predicted game time temperature of around 90°F, FC Cincinnati returns home to face a potent Chicago Fire squad for the 21st MLS contest of the 2025 season. With Philadelphia facing Nashville, Cincinnati has the opportunity to place themselves at the top of the Eastern Conference, where an intense four-way battle has emerged and mere points separate Columbus (37), Nashville (38), The Orange & Blue (39), and Philly (40). But will they have the manpower?
The Fire
Coach Gregg Berhalter brings his club to TQL Stadium in 8th place in the Eastern Conference with eight wins, four draws and seven losses (28 points). This is not a team to discount. Noting the Fire have won three of their last five, with victories over Orlando and Charlotte, and an absolute drubbing of DC United, teams might already be put on notice to take this squad seriously. But close examination of even the losses to Nashville and then Philadelphia—where they only lost by an early penalty kick goal—might give FC Cincinnati some incentive to arrive fully awake and prepared.
Chicago’s Last Five:
| Orlando City | W | 3 – 1 | Zinckernagal 5′; Hugo Cuypers 31′, 32′ |
| DC United | W | 7 – 1 | Haile-Selassie 8′; Bamba 23′; Barlow 30′,44′,65′; Zinckernagel 56′; Gutierrez 90+1′ |
| Nashville | L | 0 – 2 | |
| Philadelphia | L | 0 – 1 | |
| Charlotte | W | 3 – 2 | Biel 56′; Gorno 59′ |
The Orange & Blue
In a word: injuries. Obi Nwobodo will undergo surgery on his quadricep, which will cause him to miss more games. He has already missed six. Laurel Pfahler reports that Teenage Hadebe is also in question, as is Gilberto Flores. With Miles Robinson still gone for one more game, and Nick Hagglund still recovering from the collapsed lung suffered via Atlanta’s Emmanuel Latte Lath, Noonan will not find it easy to construct a durable defense. Kubo and Santos are also questionable. Cincinnati’s bench already held just seven players during the Orlando game.
Players to Watch
Zinckernagel Chicago’s winger who was named to the MLS Team of the Matchday. The honor came as a result of his stellar performance against Charlotte, with one goal and one assist within the span of just minutes. MLS named him to the Team of the Matchday Starting XI for the third time. He has eight goals and eight assists this season.
Of course, watch out for Hugo Cuypers who has 11 goals, tied for third in the MLS with Denkey and Evander. Brian Gutiérrez and Tom Barlow complete an explosive set of offensive weapons for Chicago. Alongside veteran Jack Elliot in the back, we can say hello to our old friend Andrew Gutman, who has recorded two goals and six assists so far this year.
What to Expect
With Columbus visiting for the second edition of Hell is Real a week from Saturday, it would be fair to expect Noonan to produce a rotated squad, or earlier substitutions, especially in the mid-field, where Anunga and Bucha are likely to start. Often not scoring, but contributing to opportunities, the midfielders will be called upon again for yeoman’s duty. We may see another game where a lot of time is spent in our half of the field defending, hoping for opportunities to open up for breakaway offensive opportunities.
With the heat and potential physicality of play, the attrition of the squad is already a forefront subject. “We physically were in a tough place,” Noonan reflected in the pre-game press conference, when asked about the last game. “The guys competed in the right way, in some moments, couldn’t get it right based on the mental and physical fatigue.”
Noonan also reflected on how key it was for Miazga to get through a 90′ + 10 game. He commented on how Matt has improved from just focusing on how he feels personally to ensuring he’s adequately communicating during the game. Miazga’s leadership, and the emerging leadership of Evander who is more often exchanging passes with Denkey and Orellano will be key on Saturday and over the next stretch of games.
MATCH INFO
WHERE: TQL Stadium
WHEN: 7:30 PM
WEATHER: 90°F
WATCH: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+
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