Kenneth Fernandez/LMD Media Group
A crowd of 26,752 attended the match at Soldier Field as Chicago Fire extended its winning streak to three games heading into the break.
The team started the match off aggressively, although much of the early possession came from captain Jack Elliott and goalkeeper Chris Brady connecting on back passes while Toronto applied pressure.
Toronto created several early chances. In the 14th minute, Malik Henry attempted a shot that Brady cleanly secured, creating loud cheers from the crowd. Toronto also threatened in the sixth and ninth minutes but failed to follow through with either opportunity.
Chicago Fire struggled to generate offense early in the match. Head coach Gregg Berhalter later addressed the slow start during the postgame press conference.
“We were disconnected in the first half, offensively,” Berhalter said. “What it led to was six guys, them pressing us and us losing the ball in difficult positions.”
Chicago Fire began pushing forward more consistently around the 11th minute after earning a corner kick. Defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi repeatedly cleared balls away from Chicago’s end, while Elliott, Anton Salétros and Mauricio Pineda worked together to play through Toronto’s pressure.
Mbokazi later said in the press conference that it’s easy to defend with the other players.
“They’ve welcomed me into the team,” he said through an interpreter. “I feel that there is good teamwork with the whole team as we all get along. They are pushing me through and pushing me to succeed.”
Toronto’s Malik Henry received a yellow card in the 13th minute.
Chicago broke through in the 22nd minute when Robin Lod scored the opening goal. Hugo Cuypers passed to Maren Haile-Selassie, who quickly found Lod in front of goal. Lod slipped the ball past Toronto goalkeeper Luka Gavran to give the Fire a 1-0 lead.
Later in the half. Brady made another save in the 28th minute before Toronto set the score in the 34th minute when Josh Sargent scored to tie the match 1-1.
The equalizer did little to quiet the crowd, as fans immediately began chanting in support of the Fire.
Chicago regained the lead in the 65th minute when defender Andrew Gutman scored off a corner kick. Gutman’s shot found the far post for his first goal of the season, sending the crowd into chants of “Let’s go Fire!”
Toronto attempted to slow the pace late in the match, but Chicago continued applying pressure. In the 84th minute, Dje D’Avilla fired a direct shot that Gavran stopped. Salétros later received a yellow card in the 86th minute, while Philip Zinckernagel showed visible frustration before being substituted for Chris Mueller.
The match ended with Chicago holding on for the 2-1 win and entering the World Cup break feeling good.
In the locker room, Gutman reflected on the team’s efforts.
“It was nice to pick up all of these points against teams that we should win [against],” Gutman said. “Now it’s just about raising our level and really cementing ourselves at the top of the East.”
Chicago Fire will return to action June 18 after a 24-day break.
