CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Chicago Fire are finally victorious once again. A scrappy 1-0 victory in the Queen City is their first in over a month across all competitions.
Mbekezeli Mbokazi's return stole the headlines pre-game. The South African national team defender had not played since the World Cup and had not featured in MLS since May 23rd, as a thigh injury sustained on July 21st kept him out for two months. Mbokazi started at left center back, restoring stability to a backline that has been struggling for the past month.
Three players also made their first appearances on the bench: 2025 SuperDraft pick Dean Boltz, as well as Fire II players Brody Williams and Oscar Pineda.
The Fire started in a 4-2-4 that folded into an aggressive 4-1-4-1 in possession. Jonathan Bamba's first start in a month provided a boost on the left, and it nearly led to the opening goal in the 18th minute when the Frenchman rattled the post.
Johan Gómez, making his second career MLS start and first as the Fire's main center forward in the absence of Robert Lewandowski, had a few early chances. The late-August addition had two shots saved in the first half-hour as the visitors struggled to make Kristian Kahlina work.
Mbokazi's presence also added immediate help. In the 28th minute, the Bafana Bafana star had a major intervention, keeping the score 0-0.
A muted atmosphere at a mostly empty Bank of America Stadium did not help what was already a slow-paced encounter between two teams missing key pieces due to the international break. Things remained goalless at halftime.
The first Fire chance of the second half came in the 57th minute, when Maren Haile-Selassie teed up Bamba in the penalty area. However, Bamba, still low on confidence in front of goal despite an otherwise solid outing, hesitated and the shot was blocked.
Nonetheless, the ensuing corner kick delivered the goods. Charlotte failed to defend the ensuing havoc after Philip Zinckernagel's cross dropped around the penalty spot, and Gómez knocked it into the net with a helpful Luca de la Torre deflection.
Less than a minute later, Charlotte thought they had tied the game straight from kickoff. Their first attack after going behind resulted in some goalmouth chaos, culminating with Tyger Smalls tapping the ball into an empty net. However, the game would remain 1-0, as the goal was overturned for offside.
Although they survived the biggest scare, Charlotte did make things uncomfortable for the Fire. In the 73rd minute, the hosts seemed like they would surely force the ball into the net again. However, Mbokazi, back like he never left, arrived just in time to keep the ball out of the net. The South African's night came to an end after 80 solid minutes of action.
The result keeps the Fire in 5th place in the Eastern Conference, but they are now just one point behind Charlotte. They will face the Vancouver Whitecaps next on the opposite end of the ongoing international break.
Starting XI (4-2-4) — Cohen (7); Barroso (5), Mbokazi (8), Elliott (7.5), Dean (7.5); D'Avilla (7.5), Oregel Jr. (7.5); Bamba (6.5), Haile-Selassie (7), Gómez (7.5), Zinckernagel (7)
Substitutes — Gutman, Pineda, Rogers, Poreba
