CHICAGO — The Chicago Fire emerged victorious over Charlotte with a narrow 3-2 win on Saturday night, fueled by an impressive three-goal burst within the first half.
Chicago demonstrated a powerful performance during the initial 45 minutes, securing a 3-0 lead going into halftime. Philip Zinckernagel set the pace by scoring the opening goal in the 23rd minute, paving the way for further successes by teammates Brian Gutiérrez and Hugo Cuypers in the 25th and 33rd minutes, respectively. Zinckernagel’s goal was the result of a rapid advance down the field, where he skillfully surpassed the defense before delivering a precise right-footed shot into the lower right central area.
Despite the challenging deficit, Charlotte mounted a notable comeback attempt in the second half. Pep Biel initiated their counterattack with a well-placed left-footed shot from the center of the box in the 56th minute, nestling the ball into the bottom left corner. Just three minutes later, Charlotte’s Idan Toklomati further closed the gap with another left-footed strike, this time reaching the top left corner after a setup from Biel.
The intensity remained high throughout the match, punctuated by seven yellow cards issued in the second half. Chicago received five, while Charlotte was handed two. Charlotte’s Kristijan Kahlina managed to record two saves during the game, while both Charlotte goals came from their only shots on target against Jeffrey Gal of Chicago.
This defeat extends Charlotte’s road losing streak to three matches. Notably earlier in the season, Chicago secured a decisive 4-1 win against Charlotte on May 17.
Looking ahead, the Chicago Fire are set to compete against Cincinnati next Saturday, aiming to build on their success. Meanwhile, Charlotte will be preparing to host Orlando City on the same day, eager to reverse their recent fortunes.