The Chicago Fire and Gabriel Slonina look to extend their shutout streak to four games to start the season when they host Sporting Kansas City on Saturday at Solider Field.
The 17-year-old goalkeeper has led the Fire to clean sheets in each of their first three matches of a season for the first time in club history. He made four saves in Chicago’s 2-0 win last week at DC United for his seventh career clean sheet in just his 14th career match.
Slonina rolled his ankle in the match, but is expected to play Saturday despite not training this week. If he plays, Slonina will have the opportunity to become the first MLS goalkeeper to start a season with four consecutive clean sheets.
Stanislav Ivanov and Jonathan Bornstein each scored for Chicago in DC. Ivanov scored his first career goal for the Fire, which did not record a goal in their first two matches. Oddly enough, the 37-year-old Bornstein subbed in for Ivanov then put the game away with a goal of his own.
Kansas City has lost two of their first three games by more than one goal, being outscored 5-2. SKC defeated Houston 1-0 for the lone win this season.
Kansas City’s offense might be without their top three forward options Saturday: Johnny Russell, Khiny Shelton and Daniel Salloi. All three players are listed as questionable for the cross-conference clash. They’re also still without Designated Players Alan Pulido and Gadi Kinda.
With so many key players, and potentially more, out Saturday, the Fire need to capitalize and continue their winning ways to start the campaign.
Series History
The Fire lead the all-time series 26-20-12, but are 0-2-1 in the past three meetings. Chicago has struggled against Kansas City, winning only one match in the past 10 meetings between the two clubs.
How to Watch
What: Chicago Fire vs. Sporting Kansas City
When: 5 P.M. CT, Saturday
Where: Soldier Field, Chicago
TV: WGN-TV
Live Stream:Â MLS Live on ESPN+, CF97 Live
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