Chicago Fire Defeats Toronto FC 2-1 Ahead of MLS Break

The Chicago Fire made the most out of their final match before Major League Soccer breaks for the FIFA World Cup and defeated Toronto FC 2-1 at Soldier Field on Saturday evening.

Goals from Chicago Fire forward Robin Lod and left back Andrew Gutman on each side of halftime, respectively, were enough for Chicago to finish the first portion of the season on a three-match win streak while occupying the third spot (8-2-4, 26 points) in the Eastern Conference table.

Chicago held on late despite pressure from Toronto in the match’s dying moments and saw out the three points while not making crucial mistakes as they did in the build-up to Toronto’s first goal.

The Fire had the momentum early and they were able to get the lead in the 22nd minute after some great passing that began all the way back with goalkeeper Chris Brady in Chicago’s own penalty area. Brady moved the ball out to Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who played 60 minutes against Toronto, and the center back fired a fabulous feed down the left sideline that found Hugo Cuypers 40 yards down the field. Chicago’s number nine hit a cross into the middle of the pitch for Maren Haile-Selassie, who quickly played a through ball for Robin Lod in the 18. Lod took his time and waited for Toronto goalkeeper Luka Gavran to leave his line before firing a right-footed shot into the far corner of the net to put his side up 1-0.

While Cuypers got the goal contribution on Lod’s goal, his goal-scoring streak ended at ten matches after he was unable to find the back of the net against Toronto. Cuypers had scored in every MLS match he appeared in until the Fire’s win over Toronto, which was the third-longest goal-scoring streak in MLS history.

Chicago’s fun wouldn’t last long and they conceded thanks to a mistake of their own near midfield.

Mauricio Pineda lost control of the ball in the midfield and Toronto immediately made a run towards the Fire’s goal through Dániel Salló in the 34th minute. The Hungarian forward worked the ball quickly to Alonso Coello, who then found Josh Sargent with a through ball near Chicago’s penalty area. Toronto’s club-record signing from Norwich City hammered his right-footed effort past Chris Brady, tying the match at one while taking all of the momentum out of Chicago’s favor just before halftime.

Toronto were primed to take the lead in first half stoppage time but Brady made a crucial kick-save to maintain the 1-1 scoreline entering the intermission.

Chicago were disjointed after conceding and the coaching staff wanted them to play closer together in the second 45.

“We were disconnected in the first half, offensively,” Chicago Fire director of football and head coach Gregg Berhalter said. “We were disconnected. The game was disconnected. Our four guys were high, we weren’t dropping at the right moment, we weren’t playing behind at the right moments. So what it led to was six guys, them pressing us and us losing the ball in difficult positions. They had a couple good transitions right before halftime…

“At halftime, we said we need to make some adjustments. We need to come closer to each other. We want to overload a little bit on one side of the field to advance the ball. And then if we can’t do that, we need to play behind them, and we need to have guys that are willing to make the runs. And I thought in the second half it got a little bit better. I liked the defensive shape better in the second half. I thought it was compact, and they had some of the ball but didn’t hurt us that often.”

It took some time and two substitutions but the Chicago Fire finally broke the deadlock in the 65th minute.

Philip Zinckernagel’s corner kick was only cleared out back to Zinckernagel on the right wing and the Fire’s 2025 MLS All-Star hit a left-footed cross that fell perfectly for Andrew Gutman, who headed the effort into the corner of the net to give his side the 2-1 lead on his first goal of the season while Zinckernagel collected his 12th goal contribution of 2026.

Chicago looked like they were going to put the match away in the 84th when Hugo Cuypers set up Dje D’Avilla for a rocket of a shot from just beyond the penalty area but Luka Gavran was there to parry the effort away.

Toronto had one last chance in second half stoppage time but nobody could connect on the corner kick that flew in and Chicago was able to secure three points at home for the first time since April 25.

“This was exactly the type of game we needed today because it was very difficult, a really difficult game,” Berhalter said. “Toronto, I think, played really well. It’s hard to understand where they are on the table, based on how they play. A very difficult team to break down, very compact, had good power in the back line and were able to create some chances.

“So, for us it was a difficult game but we needed to overcome it. You have guys in different scenarios; some are preparing potentially for a World Cup; some are preparing for vacation. It’s always a difficult game but I thought the guys showed a great mentality to dig in, to keep grinding, keep fighting and in the end get a very important win.

“It’s a good 14 games but it’s only just a start. I told the guys that the second half of the season is going to be much harder. So we needed a mentality like that. Overall, proud of the guys.”

The Fire’s locker room was thrilled to enter the World Cup break on a high after facing multiple obstacles throughout this early portion of the MLS season.

“It’s a good point for us to get to the break, I think with our eighth win,” Andrew Gutman said. “For us, it was a good close-out of the first half of the season. We jumped up a spot into third. So it gives us good confidence to reset for a few weeks and then get going again.”

Gutman was incredibly encouraged to get his first goal of the season in such a crucial moment for his side.

“It was nice to finally get one. I’ve been close a few times this year. So, I always feel like getting the first one is the hardest and then the floodgates open. So hopefully, in the back half of this season, I can get a few more.”

Mbekezeli Mbokazi played 60 minutes at center back before coming off. He’s encouraged by the way his fellow defenders have helped him adjust to MLS since signing with the Chicago Fire in the offseason.

“It’s easy to defend with the players,” Mbokazi said through a translator. “They’ve welcomed me into the team. They play well and they guided me about the MLS, and they gave me directions as to how to tackle and how to defend.

“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.”

Lupe Fiasco performed after the match as the first artist in the Chicago Fire’s summer concert series.