Cincinnati vs Fuego de Chicago: Resumen

FC Cincinnati secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Chicago Fire FC in an exciting MLS clash at a packed TQL Stadium on July 5, 2025. Under scorching 88-degree temperatures, the Eastern Conference leaders demonstrated why they remain the team to beat this season, completing a season sweep over their Windy City rivals.

The hosts opened the scoring in the 19th minute through the in-form Evander, who netted his 12th goal of the campaign with a clinical finish after excellent build-up play from Luca Orellano. Cincinnati doubled their advantage five minutes into the second half when Kevin Denkey found the net, benefiting from precise combination play between Evander and veteran striker Kei Kamara.

Chicago Fire showed resilience by pulling one back in the 56th minute through Philip Zinckernagel's impressive strike, his 9th of the season and remarkably his 7th away from home. The Danish midfielder's goal continued his extraordinary run of eight consecutive road matches with goal contributions, placing him joint-second in MLS history for this achievement.

The victory keeps Pat Noonan's side firmly at the summit of the MLS standings with an impressive 42 points from 21 matches (13-5-3), while Gregg Berhalter's Chicago Fire remain in 9th position with a record of 8-8-4 (28 points). For Cincinnati, this marked their league-leading seventh home win of the season, reinforcing TQL Stadium's reputation as one of the most formidable venues in American soccer.

The sellout crowd of 25,513 passionate supporters created an electric atmosphere throughout, celebrating what could prove to be a crucial three points in Cincinnati's championship aspirations.

"This was exactly the type of performance we needed against a dangerous Chicago side. Evander and Kevin were clinical in front of goal, but I was equally impressed with our defensive resilience after conceding. Completing the season sweep against any MLS opponent is significant, and it speaks to the consistency we've developed," stated FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan.

"We showed good character to fight back after going two goals down, but ultimately we didn't create enough quality chances to deserve more from the game. Philip continues to be outstanding for us, especially away from home. We need to build on that fighting spirit as we move forward," reflected Chicago Fire FC coach Gregg Berhalter.

"The connection between our attacking players is getting stronger with each match. Today I was fortunate to both score and assist, but what matters most is maintaining our position at the top of the table," said Evander, who was named Man of the Match for his influential performance.

"Scoring away from home always feels special, especially in front of these passionate Cincinnati fans. While I'm pleased with my personal record, we're disappointed not to take points back to Chicago. We need to be more clinical if we want to climb the table," commented Philip Zinckernagel.

"Cincinnati demonstrated today why they're leading the league. Their efficiency in the final third and organization throughout the pitch makes them favorites for the MLS Cup. Chicago showed promise, but they're still a step below the elite teams in the conference," analyzed former USMNT player and MLS analyst Taylor Twellman on the post-match broadcast.

Possession: FC Cincinnati 54%-46% Chicago Fire FC

Shots (On Target): FC Cincinnati 14 (6) - Chicago Fire FC 11 (4)

Corners: FC Cincinnati 7 - Chicago Fire FC 5

Fouls: FC Cincinnati 9 - Chicago Fire FC 12

Yellow Cards: FC Cincinnati 2 (Matt Miazga 41', Brian Anunga 73') - Chicago Fire FC 3 (Samuel Rogers 36', Mauricio Pineda 52', Jack Elliott 89')

Red Cards: None

Passes (Accuracy): FC Cincinnati 523 (87%) - Chicago Fire FC 447 (83%)

Individual Highlights:

• Evander (CIN): 1 goal, 1 assist, 4 key passes, 91% pass completion
• Kevin Denkey (CIN): 1 goal, 3 shots on target, 2 successful dribbles
• Roman Celentano (CIN): 3 saves, 1 high claim, 92% pass accuracy
• Philip Zinckernagel (CHI): 1 goal, 3 shots, 2 on target, 3 chances created
• Jonathan Bamba (CHI): 1 assist, 5 successful dribbles, 4 key passes
• Jeffrey Gal (CHI): 4 saves, 1 punched clearance

Team Performance Metrics:

• Expected Goals (xG): FC Cincinnati 1.87 - Chicago Fire FC 1.12
• Successful Dribbles: FC Cincinnati 11 - Chicago Fire FC 14
• Interceptions: FC Cincinnati 9 - Chicago Fire FC 7
• Clearances: FC Cincinnati 16 - Chicago Fire FC 21

The statistics highlight FC Cincinnati's control of the match, particularly in possession and chance creation. While Chicago Fire FC showed resilience with slightly more successful dribbles, Cincinnati's superior efficiency in the final third ultimately proved decisive in securing their seventh home victory of the season.

19' GOAL (1-0) - FC Cincinnati break the deadlock through Evander, who finishes clinically from 12 yards after receiving a perfectly weighted pass from Luca Orellano. The Brazilian midfielder's 12th goal of the season sends TQL Stadium into raptures.

36' YELLOW CARD - Chicago's Samuel Rogers enters the referee's book for a tactical foul on Kevin Denkey, halting a promising Cincinnati counter-attack.

41' YELLOW CARD - Cincinnati captain Matt Miazga receives a caution for a late challenge on Hugo Cuypers near the halfway line.

45+2' CHANCE - Chicago nearly equalize just before halftime as Jonathan Bamba's curling effort strikes the crossbar with Celentano beaten.

50' GOAL (2-0) - Kevin Denkey doubles Cincinnati's advantage with a composed finish. Evander finds Kei Kamara with a diagonal pass, who cushions a header into Denkey's path for a first-time strike into the bottom corner.

52' YELLOW CARD - Mauricio Pineda of Chicago Fire is cautioned following a frustrated challenge on Evander.

56' GOAL (2-1) - Chicago pull one back through Philip Zinckernagel, who rifles a shot into the top corner after combining with Andrew Gutman and Jonathan Bamba. His 9th goal of the season and remarkably his 7th away from home.

61' SUBSTITUTION - Chicago Fire make a double change, introducing fresh legs in search of an equalizer.

73' YELLOW CARD - Brian Anunga of Cincinnati is booked for time-wasting.

78' SAVE - Roman Celentano produces a spectacular fingertip save to deny Brian Gutiérrez's long-range effort that was destined for the top corner.

89' YELLOW CARD - Jack Elliott of Chicago receives a yellow card for a cynical foul on Kei Kamara.

90+4' FULL-TIME - Cincinnati hold on for a valuable 2-1 victory, cementing their position at the top of the MLS standings.

This victory extends FC Cincinnati's recent dominance over Chicago Fire FC, completing a season sweep after their earlier 3-1 win at Soldier Field in April. The Orange and Blue have now won five consecutive matches against Chicago, scoring 13 goals while conceding just 4 during this impressive streak.

Historically, the all-time MLS head-to-head record now stands at 8 wins for Cincinnati, 3 for Chicago, and 2 draws. This represents a remarkable turnaround for Cincinnati, who lost their first two encounters with Chicago when they entered MLS in 2019.

Key individual battles shaped the outcome of this contest. Cincinnati captain Matt Miazga largely neutralized Chicago's primary striker Hugo Cuypers, limiting the Belgian to just one shot on target despite his impressive recent form. In midfield, Evander outperformed his opposite number Brian Gutiérrez, contributing both a goal and an assist in a man-of-the-match performance.

The tactical matchup between coaches Pat Noonan and Gregg Berhalter proved fascinating, with Noonan's fluid 4-3-3 formation eventually overcoming Berhalter's more structured 4-2-3-1 approach. Cincinnati's ability to control possession (54%) and create higher quality chances (1.87 xG vs. 1.12 xG) demonstrated their tactical superiority, despite Chicago's late resurgence following Zinckernagel's goal.

Cincinnati's superiority in set-piece situations was also evident, with 7 corners compared to Chicago's 5, creating two clear opportunities from dead-ball scenarios. This continues a trend from previous meetings where Cincinnati's physical presence, particularly through players like Miazga and Kamara, has troubled Chicago's defensive organization on set plays.

As these teams potentially prepare for another meeting in the MLS playoffs later this year, Chicago will need to address their tactical approach against Cincinnati's high-pressing system and find ways to disrupt the league leaders' rhythm if they hope to reverse this concerning head-to-head trend.

Following this crucial victory, FC Cincinnati strengthen their grip at the summit of the MLS standings with an impressive record of 13 wins, 5 losses, and 3 draws, accumulating 42 points from 21 matches. Pat Noonan's side has established a five-point cushion over second-placed Columbus Crew (37 points), putting them in prime position to secure the Supporters' Shield for the second consecutive season.

Meanwhile, Chicago Fire FC remain in 9th place in the Eastern Conference with 28 points from 20 matches (8-8-4), leaving them just outside the playoff positions with a one-point deficit to 8th-placed Nashville SC. Despite their mid-table position, Gregg Berhalter's team is only six points behind 4th-placed New York Red Bulls, illustrating the congested nature of the conference standings.

Cincinnati's league-leading seventh home victory of the season underscores their dominance at TQL Stadium, where they've accumulated 24 of their 42 points. Their impressive +16 goal difference (36 goals scored, 20 conceded) further highlights their status as MLS Cup favorites.

For Chicago, their inconsistent form continues to hamper their playoff aspirations. While they've shown improvement under Berhalter compared to previous seasons, their negative goal difference (-3) suggests they need to enhance their defensive solidity to climb the table. With 14 matches remaining in their regular season campaign, Chicago faces an uphill battle to secure a postseason berth in the competitive Eastern Conference landscape.