Chicago Fire FC defeat Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 behind goals from three different goalscorers

Chicago Fire FC held their ground at home as they were the far better side throughout their Tuesday night contest at Soldier Field and defeated Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 that was rescheduled from July 16 due to air quality issues.

The Chicago Fire (13-6-8, 45 points, 4th in Eastern Conference) went up 1-0 in the ninth minute of the match thanks to Jonathan Bamba’s first goal since March and never surrendered the lead against the current team atop the MLS Western Conference table while having three different starters find the back of the net.

The win is the second consecutive victory for the Chicago Fire during the international window despite being without several contributors over the last few weeks, including starting goalkeeper Chris Brady.

Chicago was boosted by the return of Robert Lewandowski and Puso Dithejane from international duty with Poland and South Africa, respectively, as both came off the bench to contribute to the win. Anton Salétros also started and played the entire first half in his first appearance since suffering an injury on September 9.

Backup goalkeeper Josh Cohen did enough as he made one save while conceding one, which is the only goal he gave up during his 180 minutes as the starter with Chris Brady away with the United States Men’s National Team.

Jonathan Bamba opened up the scoring in the ninth minute when he carried the ball along the edge of Vancouver’s penalty area and was looking for someone to pass the ball to before deciding to take the shot on himself and firing the effort into the corner of the net. The goal was the first for Bamba since March and only the third for the Fire’s Designated Player in 2026.

Bamba’s strong play continued as he won the Chicago Fire a penalty kick in the 25th minute after a forcing handball from Mathías Laborda in Vancouver’s penalty area. Unfortunately for Chicago, Philip Zinckernagel’s effort from 12 yards rang off the inside of the post and Vancouver was able to hold onto the one-goal deficit entering the second half.

Zinckernagel would finally get his first MLS goal since May 16 to cap off some great passing from the Fire in Vancouver’s half of the field. Leonardo Barroso played the ball to Zinckernagel in the middle of the field and Chicago’s MLS All-Star played it to Maren Haile-Selassie, who immediately went back to Zinckernagel and the Fire’s number 11 made it look simple as he made it 2-0 in the 50th minute.

Chicago would concede after a questionable corner kick was awarded to Vancouver when Mathías Laborda scored on a header from Oliver Larraz’s cross in the 75th minute.

Robert Lewandowski came off the bench to a round of applause from the home crowd at Soldier Field and contributed the primary assist on the match-sealing goal for the Chicago Fire in the 88th minute. Puso Dithejane, who scored his first senior international goal with South Africa in Cairo two days ago, found Dje D’Avilla in the middle of the field in enough space that the Fire’s midfielder was able to play a solid feed toward Vancouver’s penalty area. Johan Gómez, who did incredibly well as the high-pressing striker alongside Maren Haile-Selassie in the starting lineup, knocked the ball into the path of Lewandowski and the Fire’s number nine decided to play the ball to the wide open Haile-Selassie who scored his ninth MLS goal of the season to seal his side’s 13th win of the campaign.

Chicago’s coaching staff was happy with the win and three-goal output in a match where they had over three expected goals.

“It was a very, very strong performance against a very good team,” Chicago Fire FC director of football and head coach Gregg Berhalter said. “We knew what they bring. We know the physicality, the intensity that they bring to the game. We know their pressing is very good, and we matched it, and for most of the game, exceeded it.

Our pressure was excellent. We put their goalie under a ton of pressure early in the game. Deservedly got the lead, and then had an opportunity for the 2-0, but unfortunately didn’t get it with a missed penalty. But really, the first half went exactly as planned.

“A couple of adjustments in the second half to be a little bit more compact defensively, and we didn’t give them much. They ended up getting the set-piece goal, but it was a very strong performance by the team. Very good competing, unselfish play. You see the third goal, Robert [Lewandowski]’s pass to Maren – that’s the type of play that our attackers can produce. Beautiful second goal as well.

“So overall, happy with the performance, and now our focus is on Saturday at home.”

The Chicago Fire’s locker room was encouraged by a second consecutive win against a top team in Major League Soccer.

“[It was a] really good win,” Philip Zinckernagel said. “I love the performance today. I think we could have scored a lot of goals. Even taking away the penalty, I think we could have scored three in the first half, maybe four, which pleases me.

“I don’t mind that we miss chances and that not everything goes perfect, but I hate when we play games without creating stuff. The positive is today we created a lot, and in the end, we get three goals, which is really, really good. For me, obviously, it’s been a few games without goals, and yeah, with missing a penalty.”

The missed penalty kick was frustrating for Zinckernagel, who knows he should’ve had more than a single goal against Vancouver

“I mean, not really to be honest. Like missing a penalty is kind of 50/50. I maybe hit it too well today. It actually gave me a little bit of a boost, it maybe boosted my energy a little bit because I was so close, I was like, I’m gonna score now. Maybe if I scored the penalty, it would have been a little bit more relaxed.

“I don’t know, but anyway, I scored and we won, and I think I could have scored a hat trick today, which is something that I really like because that means that we’re creating chances and I’m getting in good situations and I can only blame myself, which is positive.”

Robert Lewandowski eschewed the open shot in the 88th minute in favor of finding the wide-open Maren Haile-Selassie, who appreciated the chance to add his name to the scoresheet against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

“It was probably one of the easiest goals in my career,” Haile-Selassie said. “It was a great team play too. It was a great pass and then Robert [Lewandowski], very unselfish, who then saw me and it was an easy tap-in. It was a great team performance overall. Scored 3-1, the result was a little bit more [of] how the game went – 2-1 would have been a little bit too close, so 3-1 shows how the game went.”

Starting 11: Josh Cohen (GK), Leonardo Barroso, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Jack Elliott (C), Jonathan Dean, Dje D’Avilla, Anton Salétros, Jonathan Bamba, Philip Zinckernagel, Maren Haile-Selassie, Johan Gómez

Substitution at 46;: Mauricio Pineda on for Anton Salétros

Substitution at 76’: Puso Dithejane and Robert Lewandowski on for Philip Zinckernagel and Jonathan Bamba

Substitution at 90+3’: David Poreba on for Johan Gómez

Unused Subs: Jeff Gal (GK), Sam Rogers, Andrew Gutman, Andreas Hanche-Olsen, Sergio Oregel Jr.

This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.