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The yearly Easter Eve home match for the Fire is here. It always seems to be a big early in the year matchup. Last year FC Cincinnati and this year it’s the red-hot and top of the table Nashville SC. This is a big “prove it” game for Chicago. What better way to climb into the top 4 in the east and prove they are a legitimate contender, than by handing Nashville it’s first loss of the season. So big things at stake for the Fire in front of 15K plus at Soldier Field.
Don’t blink, I did, and it cost me the first Fire goal! The first play of the game Jonathan Bamba crossed to Philip Zinckernagel in the box who tapped it in for an immediate goal in the 17th second. This is the fastest goal in Chicago Fire history. Dream start for the Fire.
Barroso crossed a perfect ball from the right wing outside the box and Zinck whiffs on it and so does Bamba. As tight and on-line of a ball as you can get. Barroso has a unique skill set and he can be dangerous in attack, even though he plays in the back. He’s the kind of player who can catch you off-guard if you didn’t do a good job scouting him.
Fire pushing pace and having momentum with the ball. Nashville might be competing the wind and the Fire (no pun intended). These are some fairly common wind conditions on the lakefront in Chicago, but for an away team not used to it, it’s problematic.
Nashville did very little in the first half to threaten Chris Brady in goal. A combination of solid defense and lack of possession to create, B.J. Callaghan’s guys have been quiet.
The Fire had a slight scare when Cristian Espinoza found himself deep in the Fire box with a shot that was blocked by Mbekezeli Mbokazi, which ended up being ruled offsides on Espinoza eventually. That was it for the half.
The Fire holding a 1-0 lead at the half. I don’t think Callaghan thought they would be training and chasing the game in the second half. Problem for Nashville is that they have a big CONCACAF Champions Cup game on Tuesday night against Mexican powerhouse, Club America. Does B.J. sit and rest guys and somewhat concede this game, in hopes of having a fit squad on Tuesday or ride it out tonight and have a weaker squad for America? That’s not a worry for the Fire who are chasing the three points on the night.
Chicago comes out of the half with an immediate chance for Bamba spriting to a ball laid out to him and gently taps it, but Patrick Schulte gets a hold of it. It’s interesting to watch as an observer the ball sweep around due to the wind, which in turn must be a nightmare for the players. The wind is intercepting balls more than either team. Yikes!
Jack Elliott goes down in the 60th. Youngster Christopher Cupps subs in for Elliott, who only got called-up to start in the pre-game warm-ups due to an injury to then starter Joel Waterman. Fire backline very young and lacking depth for the rest of the game.
Nashville had their best chance of the game when Hany Mukhtar had a free kick right outside the top of the box. Mukhtar connected with a fantastic shot, but only to be miraculously saved by a diving Brady who stretches out all the way to knock it way one-handed in mid-air. Magical goalkeeping by Brady. Any a handful of goalies in this league make that save, and Brady is one of them.
B.J. Callaghan’s guys been trying to break though and put pressure on the Fire, but stella defense by the young backline just wouldn’t allow Nashville’s marksmen to come through. The MLS league leader in in goals, Sam Surridge, shut out on the night. The always dangerous Hany Mukhtar, stopped also. The Fire delivered a brilliant defensive performance and shut out Nashville and handing them their first loss on the season.
Huge victory for Berhalter’s boys. In retrospect, this is what Berhalter’s Fire have been. Last season they ended Vancouver’s undefeated start to the season. Late in the season, in a crucial push for the playoffs they took care of Inter Miami with ease, in Miami. They have been known to rise to the occasion in the biggest moments. Hard not to think they didn’t forget the 7-2 drubbing they received in Nashville last April.
It’s notable that Callaghan decided to roll with his starters and stick with his stars till the end. They wanted this game, and it showed by the lack of subs of the core players. Callaghan will have some decisions to make on who to sit and rest and who to play in a big first leg match against Club America on Tuesday night.
The Fire don’t have a midweek match to worry about, they can focus on the upcoming match against the struggling Atlanta United. This was a statement win for the Fire, considering the opponent’s momentum and the injuries, this is one of the teams signature wins under the Berhalter era, plus a little history made on the night also.
Notes:
- Philip Zinckernagel tallied the fastest goal in Fire history at 17 seconds, a full eight seconds faster than Jamar Beasley (2001) and Domini Oduro (2012). His first goal of the season was also the 10th fastest in league history, one second off eighth-place Conor Casey (Colorado, 2009) and Pedro Vite (Vancouver, 2023).
- Homegrown goalkeeper Chris Brady recorded the 20th shutout of his regular season career and third of the season. Brady recorded four saves in a Man-of-the-Match performance that also gave the Fire their first win against Nashville since July 8, 2023.
- Fresh off a call-up to the South Africa Men’s National Team, Mbekezeli Mbokazi anchored the backline throughout all 90 minutes of the match. He was paired with captain Jack Elliott from the start before 17-year-old center back Christopher Cupps filled in for Elliott in the 62nd minute, contributing to the team’s third shutout of the year.
- One match after recording his second game-winning goal of the season, winger Jonathan Bamba recorded his first game-winning assist of 2026 setting up Zinckernagel’s goal. It was also midfielder Anton Salétros’ first game-winning assist, as he set up Bamba’s cross to Zinckernagel seconds into the game.
- Jason Shokalook entered the match in place of Maren Haile-Selassie in the 81st minute, recording his fourth career appearance with the Fire. However, this was Shokalook’s first appearance at Soldier Field, having made his MLS debut in Washington, D.C. in 2025 and two other appearances on the road this season.
- Forward Hugo Cuypers (Head); midfielders Chris Mueller (Not Due to Injury) and André Franco (Lower Body); and defender Sam Rogers (Lower Body) were unavailable for selection on Saturday. Defender Joel Waterman was a late scratch during pre-game warmups and became unavailable for selection shortly before the match.
| NEXT MATCH: Chicago will continue their home stand for an Eastern Conference clash against Atlanta United FC on Saturday, April 11. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT and the match will be broadcast globally on Apple TV and transmitted locally on wlsam.com |
