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[monks data]
Charlotte FC
Major League Soccer
May 18, 2023 at 12.30am UK
Bank of America Stadium
Chicago Fire

Charlotte FC
2 - 1
Chicago Fire

Cambridge (68', 81')
Malanda (45+1'), Kahlina (55'), Swiderski (80'), Jones (87'), Sobocinski (88')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Przybylko (29')
Gimenez (20'), Gutierrez (39'), Torres (72'), Koutsias (90+1')

Preview: Charlotte FC vs. Chicago Fire - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Major League Soccer clash between Charlotte FC and Chicago Fire, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Charlotte FC will be aiming to record their fourth successive victory in all competitions when they host Chicago Fire in MLS on Wednesday.

Chicago, meanwhile, head into this encounter off the back of two wins against St Louis within the past week.


Match preview

Charlotte FC head coach Christian Lattanzio on April 16, 2023© Reuters

After finishing ninth in their first season after becoming the MLS' 28th franchise club, Charlotte will be aiming to kick on and qualify for the playoffs for the first time in their history this time around.

Former New York City FC and Nice assistant manager Christian Lattanzio has been retained as the club's head coach, with the 51-year-old beginning to find his groove after guiding The Crown to three consecutive wins in recent weeks.

After Justin Meram had fired his side into an early 1-0 lead away to Atlanta United over the weekend, Charlotte capitalised on Andrew Gutman's 51st-mintue dismissal, with Karol Swiderski's dispatching his penalty and Meram sealing his brace before the hour mark.

As such, only goal difference is keeping Charlotte outside of the Eastern Conference's playoff spots ahead of them hosting Chicago Fire in midweek, but they will need to maintain their excellent form of late if they are to compete for them towards the latter stages of the season.

Chicago Fire FC head coach Frank Klopas watches his team play on May 9, 2023© Reuters

Chicago Fire, on the other hand, made the decision to part ways with their manager Ezra Hendrickson earlier this month, with the 51-year-old departing the club with a disappointing win rate of 28.26% from his 46 games in charge since being appointed in November 2021.

Frank Klopas, who made 45 league appearances for The Fire as a player before managing them between 2011 and 2013, has been drafted in as interim manager for the second time in recent years, and the former AEK Athens forward has made an instant impact during his first week in charge.

St Louis were comfortably dispatched 2-1 in the US Open Cup last week, with Miguel Perez's 93rd-minute strike amounting to no more than a consolation effort for Chicago Fire's opponents, before Rafael Czichos's strike downed the same side in the MLS across the weekend.

Having failed to qualify for the playoffs in each of the last four seasons, Chicago Fire have clearly fallen a long way since the days of their domestic double in 1998, but they will hope to see small shoots of recovery with Klopas's guidance across the coming weeks.

Charlotte FC Major League Soccer form:

Chicago Fire Major League Soccer form:


Team News

Pablo Sisniega in action for Charlotte FC on October 9, 2022© Reuters

Charlotte appear set to remain without George Marks, Kerwin Vargas, Bill Tuiloma, Joseph Mora and Guzman Corujo through injury, with none of the quintet likely to return to action until next month.

Having won emphatically away to Atlanta in their last match, Lattanzio is unlikely to make any changes to his starting XI, which will include former Burnley midfielder Ashley Westwood.

Chicago Fire, meanwhile, will likely travel without Victor Bezerra (leg) and Justin Reynolds (ankle), but the duo should return to first-team training within the next couple of weeks.

Like his forthcoming counterpart, Klopas may elect to choose the same starting XI that helped his team return to winning ways in MLS at the weekend, with much of the visitors' creative burden set to fall on Switzerland midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri's broad shoulders.


Charlotte FC possible starting lineup:
Kahlina; Lindsey, Malanda, Sobocinski, Byrne; Westwood, Bronico, Bender; Jozwiak, Swiderski, Meram

Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Brady; Souquet, Teran, Pineda, M Navarro; F Navarro, Gimenez; Herbers, Shaqiri, Gutierrez; Kamara


SM words green background

We say: Charlotte FC 1-1 Chicago Fire

Both teams will have taken plenty of confidence from their recent victories, as they look to claim a positive result and return to the playoff positions.

Both teams possess some highly talented individuals, and we can envisage a share of the spoils being played out at the Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday.

How to watch

You can watch Charlotte FC vs. Chicago Fire and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Written by
Brett Curtis

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How you voted: Charlotte FC vs Chicago Fire

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Draw
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Chicago Fire
0.0%
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
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3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
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7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
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11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721


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