This is the first of a two-part retrospective on the 2019 season. Part two will run next week.
The Chicago Fire came into the 2019 season with a lot to prove.
After regressing to 10th place the previous year from 3rd in 2017, the Fire were looking to bounce back into playoff contention. Their biggest offseason pickup, Przemysu0142aw Frankowski, was brought in to finally fill the hole left by David Accam’s departure to Philidelphia the previous winter. CJ Sapong was brought in to bolster an already strong front line, led by Nemanja Nikolic.