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Chicago Fire are riding on a winning streak and another home matchup against a team from the east. Fire are climbing up in the rankings and get a struggling Atlanta United team, coming off a loss. Tata Martino’s guys haven’t been able to find the form this season and a carryover from last season’s disappointment is lingering. Fire are without Hugo Cuypers again, but Jack Elliott is back in the starting lineup. Fire catch a break with Alexey Miranchuk being a late scratch pre-game.
A lively start to the match. Both teams playing uptempto and in the attack, but nothing to show for it. The first significant chance for the Fire in the in the 13th minute where a run by Philip Zinckernagel on the right wing lead to a cross inside to Jo Bamba who taps it forward to the striding Maren Haile-Selassie who hits it on target and connects with the back of the net for a 1-0 Fire lead.
Early goal two weeks in a row for Chicago, not quite a record setting one, but an early one nonetheless. The key to the Fire’s success last few games has been the defense, which showed up again in the form of Mbekezeli Mbokazi who bailed out Chris Brady when Brady got too far out of goal and a strike right at the goal was cleared by Mbokazi on the line. That clearly saved a goal. The young South African has been stellar for the Fire this season.
Nearing the end of the half, Andrew Gutman heads the ball nicely and it goes off the right post. The corner after Bamba hits the top of the goal post and the inside line and gets cleared by Atlanta. Two missed unlucky chances by the Fire, but Atlanta will take it and run off to the half down a goal.
Fire have been the better team through the first 45 minutes, but only have one goal to show for it. Two goal post shots and they could have had a comfortable lead, but the Fire games don’t usually go that way. They are missing the scoring of Hugo Cuypers, so they will need someone to step up and carry the load offensively until he’s back.
The second half saw the pace slow down, not matching the output of the first half, for either team. The first major chance for either team came from Gutman who had a clear shot on the goal, but Lucas Hoyos knocks hit away. Great reaction by Hoyos to save that hard shot from Gutman.
Fire worked hard and continued riding the stellar defense to secure another shutout victory. It’s been the Fire’s especially lately. Another three points, and home win against an eastern conference opponent. Brady has been fantastic also during the winning stretch.
Busy week ahead for Chicago, who travel to Detroit to face the USL side for their first round match in the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday night, with a road game in Cincinnati on Saturday.
Star of the Match:
Maren Haile-Selassie has been outstanding this season when he’s gotten playing time and was very impressive scoring a goal and potentially another one in this game, but the work that that Mbekezeli Mbokazi was harrowing. He had a huge clearance again on the goal line. It’s become a thing for him. He’s a physical body in the box with swift reactions and a poise of a veteran. Another key game for Mbokazi.
Notes:
- Winger Maren Haile-Selassie scored his first goal of 2026, and his 14th overall for the Men in Red, set up by Jonathan Bamba who tallied his second assist of the season.
- Homegrown goalkeeper Chris Brady recorded the 21st shutout of his regular season career and fourth of the season. Brady recorded five saves against Atlanta.
- A goal-line save and outstanding defensive performance that included a goal-line clearance earned South African defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi Xerox Man of the Match honors.
- 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.
NEXT MATCH:
Chicago Fire will travel to the Michigan to face USL Championship side Detroit City FC in the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Kickoff at Keyworth Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, April 14, on Paramount+. The Men in Red will then head to Ohio to take on FC Cincinnati on Saturday, April 18. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT and the match will be broadcast globally on Apple TV
