MATCH PREVIEW: Inter Miami CF to Visit Chicago Fire FC on Saturday

By Inter Miami CF

May 21^st, 2021

Inter Miami CF (2W-2L-2D, 8 points) returns to the road for a second consecutive week to take on Chicago Fire FC (0W-4L-1D, 1 point) on Saturday, May 22. The match at Soldier Field is set to kick off at 6 p.m. ET.

MATCH PREVIEW: Inter Miami CF to Visit Chicago Fire FC on Saturday

Head Coach Phil Neville Said

"The quality of the group [in training] this week has been fantastic," said head coach Phil Neville. "The group is in a really good place and we are looking for the game against Chicago."

Where to Watch

The match will be nationally broadcast on UniMás and TUDN. Fans worldwide can follow live updates including video highlights and stats on the Club’s App. Download and Register your Profile here: https://www.intermiamicf.com/en/club/app.

Undefeated on the Road

Inter Miami will continue its second MLS season after a hard-fought road win over FC Cincinnati in the opening game at the new TQL Stadium. A brace by forward Gonzalo Higuaín, who was voted Heineken Man of the Match, was named to the MLS Team of the Week and earned MLS Player of the Week honors, and a goal by defender/midfielder Brek Shea saw the team take a 2-3 victory to remain undefeated after three on the road so far this season. It was Higuaín’s fourth goal of the season, being the team’s top scorer, and Shea’s first in 2021. Higuaín is also the first Inter Miami player to be voted MLS Player of the Week in Club history.

Round one vs. Chicago and Familiar Faces

Saturday’s match, which will be the Club’s first-ever against the Chicago Fire, may feature reunions between former teammates or rivals. Goalkeeper John McCarthy may face former teammate Fabian Herbers, who he played alongside 16 times for Philadelphia Union and Philadelphia Union II between 2016 and 2018. Defender Kelvin Leerdam may play against former teammate and rival Johan Kappelhof, who he shared the pitch with three times for the Netherlands’ U-21 side and faced in the past eight times during his spells with Feyenoord and Vitesse Arnhem, and subsequently in two MLS matches during his time as a Seattle Sounders player. Defender/midfielder Christian Makoun, meanwhile, may meet again with former teammate Miguel Ángel Navarro after they played together in 10 games for Venezuela’s U21 team from 2018 to 2019.

On the other hand, midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro may face former rival Jonathan Bornstein, after matching up against Bornstein’s Queretaro FC and Atlante six times during his time playing in his native Mexico with CF Pachuca and C.D. Guadalajara. Argentine defender Nicolás Figal may have the opportunity to match up against fellow countryman Gastón Giménez, who he faced once in an Argentine Superliga match between his former team Club Atlético Independiente and Club Estudiantes de La Plata. Lastly, Shea could play once again against Bobby Shuttleworth, who he has previously faced eight times in MLS action in matches against Shuttleworth’s New England Revolution and Minnesota United during his days as an Orlando CIty SC and Vancouver Whitecaps player.

Love Unites Special edition adidas pre-match warmup tops

Last weekend, Major League Soccer teams launched a special edition pre-match warmup tops in advance of Pride Month. The “Love Unites” campaign, which runs through the end of June, focuses on the love of the sport and how fútbol unites us all.

Inter Miami CF players will wear the special edition adidas training top in the matchup against Chicago.

Chicago Fire FC's Record

Chicago Fire FC enters this weekend’s matchup after a 0-1 defeat on the road against D.C. United in their last fixture. In 2021, the team has a record of four losses and one draw, with midfielder Luka Stojanović leading the team with two goals and one assist so far this season.

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