The Fire had possession but struggled to create chances in a 2-1 loss where they weren’t able to find ways to break through D.C.’s compact defense and physical play.
The game mirrors the result from about a year ago, when the Fire couldn’t find a way to hold on to a lead against D.C. United at home. This time, however, rather than D.C. salvaging a draw off a late play, the visitors found a way to win.
Throughout the young season, Fire Head Coach Gregg Berhalter has been forced to juggle lineups around player availability as injuries have kept the team from fielding a first-choice starting XI throughout the year. Although this game was no exception: Andrew Gutman – an ironman for the Fire in 2025 – has still been still unable to make his debut for the 2026 season, André Franco is also out with a long-term injury until the summer.
Past that, however, the Fire did appear to catch a number of lucky breaks: Leonardo Barroso, who left the Fire’s last game with an injury, was fit to return, as was Hugo Cuypers, who was unavailable for the Fire’s game last week in Columbus, with both making the Starting XI. Djé D’Avilla and Robin Lod both returned to the starting lineup for the first time since the season opener in Houston. Jonathan Dean also returned after a one-game red card suspension. Berhalter lined the Fire up in a 4-3-3 formation that served as the team’s primary for most of the 2025 season, with Robin Lod nominally starting at the right wing and Philip Zinckernagel playing as a left midfielder.
D.C. United were also without several key players, starting with team-record signing Louis Munteanu, who denying the young player an opportunity at his first MLS start after several appearances off the bench. Veteran right back Aarón Herrera missed the game, as did Hakim Karamoko and Gabriel Segal, though those two young players were unlikely to be major factors in the game. D.C. Head Coach René Weiller kept his team playing out of a 4-4-2 with Tai Baribo, who had been lethal against the Fire in the game that ended their postseason last year, joined by Gabriel Pirani as the twin strikers.
After a period early on when the Fire struggled to complete passes, the team began to grow into the game. In the eighth minute, good work from Robin Lod and Philip Zinckernagel got the ball to Jonathan Bamba into the box with time and space, but the French winger ultimately wasted the opportunity.
In the 19th minute, Brady made the decision to go well off his line to punch the ball away, but instead, sent it directly to Baribo. It took a last-ditch clearance from Fire captain Jack Elliott to keep the game level and his former Philadelphia Union teammate off the scoresheet. D.C. were able to keep the attack going and a series of shots from in or near the box ensued. Ultimately, however, only Baribo’s was on target, and calls for a handball on the last attempt of that attack were unheeded by referee Sergii Demianchuk.
A few minutes later, Zinckernagel went down in the box. Two D.C. players were near him, and he did well to turn, but regardless of what happened, the Dane fell and looked to Demianchuk for a foul – just to be told that he would be receiving a yellow card for simulation. Ten minutes later, D.C.’s Jackson Hopkins took Jonathan Bamba out (Lucas Bartlett also fouled Zinckernagel on the play) in a play that was reviewed for a red, but once again a yellow prevailed.
Throughout the first half, the Fire had the better chances – but D.C. had the best chance, when Baribo’s shot ended up in the back of Brady’s net off of a corner. On review, however, D.C.’s Jackson Hopkins was found to have screened Brady from an offside position, and the goal was disallowed.
Although the Fire had a few looks on goal late in the half, both teams returned to the tunnel at half level at 0-0 with a single shot on target to their credit.
Neither coach made changes on the restart, and early in the second half, the Fire once again had the bulk of possession and were able to advance the ball against D.C., but once again, they had difficulty finding the final pass and the final shot was elusive.
With the Fire clearly lacking the spark they needed to break the deadlock, Berhalter looked to his bench, bringing on Maren Haile-Selassie, Mauricio Pineda and Joel Waterman for Lod, D’Avilla and Elliott with about 25 minutes to go.
Shortly after, the Fire looked like they might be gaining the upper hand, with several attempts on net, culminating in a shot by Anton Salétros that sailed to the left of the net. Even if it wasn’t yet decisive, it felt like the Fire might finally be in a position where they could turn possession into sustained pressure and pressure into chances.
Then, in the 74th minute, play stopped after what looked like an innocuous throw-in on the sideline֫. Shortly before, the Fire had taken a shot that sailed wide of D.C.'s net, which at the time was in front of the Fire supporters. Play resumed, with the ball going out for throw-ins along the east touchline, but Baribo seemed intent on getting Demianchuk's attention. Shortly after, the referee called the coaches together.
No explanation or announcement was made in-stadium. Asked about the event after the game, officials said in response to a pool reporter’s question that “there was a reported discriminatory slur, made by an unidentified spectator, directed towards” Israeli international Tai Baribo.
The striker joined D.C. United in the offseason but was a member of the Philadelphia Union last year, scoring an early brace and going 85 minutes in the 3-0 Fire loss that ended Chicago's season. With the game's outcome all but out of doubt, that contest last November was marred by an anti-gay chant coming from individuals in the Supporter's Section that caused the game to be temporarily halted.
The slur used in this match was not identified. After the game, Berhalter said he was told the report was that the slur came from a single spectator.
A few minutes after play resumed, the Fire finally broke through – though it was from the penalty spot, when Hopkins had a handball in the six-yard box. Cuypers converted from the spot, putting the Fire ahead in the 81st minute. The goal was the Fire’s first since stoppage time at Soldier Field two weeks ago.
The lead wouldn’t last, and D.C.’s Matti Peltola leveled the game with a shot from the top of the box just three minutes later. The Fire went from feeling like they might be fortunate to get three points to having to settle for a single point at home – the same position they were in after facing D.C. early last year.
The night wasn’t over, however. Just before the end of regulation, a D.C. shot contacted Dean and went out. After a roughly six minute review, it was found to have been a handball, giving D.C. their own shot from the spot. Baribo, rapidly becoming a Fire killer, sent in the dagger, sending the shot past Brady and making the score 2-1 for D.C. United.
Despite the game going through nearly 17 minutes of total stoppage time, the Fire couldn’t break through again, giving D.C. their second win of the season and the Fire their second defeat as the team falls to 1W-1D-2L after four games.
The Fire’s next opponent is the Philadelphia Union, whose physical, direct play ended the Fire’s season a year ago. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30PM next Saturday.
