New York City Football Club are back on home soil on Saturday afternoon as they welcome the Chicago Fire.
The Boys in Blue return to action in a 6:00pm ET kick-off at Citi Field.
Here are the Keys to the Match, presented by Ford…
Strong Finish
2023 has been a challenging year for NYCFC.
The Boys in Blue have faced many difficult tests during the campaign and now they finish the year at home in New York. Games in the Five Boroughs have always been special for NYCFC with both layers and coaches, past and present, speaking of the special aura games in New York can generate.
The fans play a huge role in cultivating that atmosphere, and Saturday represents another opportunity to make home advantage count. The team still has a shot at making the playoffs, provided they can win and results elsewhere go their way.
Head Coach Nick Cushing said himself that regardless of the playoff picture the team is determined to finish strong and entertain during the last game of the campaign. They can do that and potentially secure a playoff spot meaning the game against Chicago could be another memorable one in the Club's history.
Form Guide
The Chicago Fire arrive in the Five Boroughs knowing a victory will give them the best shot at securing a playoff place.
Frank Klopas’ side have one win in their last five MLS road games, but interestingly, that away victory came during their last outing when they overcame Red Bulls 1-0 at the start of October. That result meant the Fire are still in with a shout of a place in the post season - although they will need results elsewhere to go their way.
Chicago come into the contest off the back of a win, and with both teams keen to secure three points it promises to be a competitive end to the regular season.
Decisions
Nick Cushing has often discussed preferring form over freshness when selecting his team.
The NYCFC Head Coach has been afforded a two-week international break to further evaluate his squad in terms of both form and freshness. For example, Costa Rican international Alonso Martínez has gained more match sharpness with each passing week and could be handed his first start against Chicago. Cushing has a number of attacking combinations he could put together, and while that might provide a selection headache, it is also a blessing.
The opportunity to spring a surprise should give Frank Klopas something to think about in the build-up to the contest, and for those who aren’t named in the starting XI, there remains a chance to enter the field from the bench and change the game.
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