Major League Soccer Regular Season - 7

Chicago Fire 1 - 0 FT Atlanta United FC

Soldier Field

Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching

Futmetrix Verdict
25
FT
Sun, Apr 12
Chicago Fire
1-0
Atlanta United FC
⚡ Intensity 15
⚖️ Balance 24
🏆 Stakes 67
🎲 Upset 0
Early strike secures gritty Chicago shutout.

Soldier Field Stand: Early Strike Enough for the Fire

Skip It Futmetrix Score: 25/100. Our verdict is that a brilliant early breakthrough forced a desperate, high-volume chase that ultimately fell flat, making this a game for defensive purists rather than the neutral fan.

Fast Start in the Windy City

The home side wasted absolutely no time asserting their authority on the Soldier Field turf. With high Stakes in the early-season positioning, Chicago Fire looked to solidify their grip on second place in the standings. Their aggressive opening paid off almost immediately. In the 13th minute, J. Bamba carved out a pocket of space and delivered a precise pass to M. Haile-Selassie, who made no mistake with the finish. That swift strike completely shattered the initial tactical Balance of the contest. Instead of a cautious feeling-out process, the early opener forced the visitors out of their shell, setting the stage for what would become a relentless, one-sided barrage for the remainder of the game.

A Barrage Without Bite

After falling behind, Atlanta United FC shifted gears and edged possession with 54 percent of the ball. The Intensity dialed up significantly as the visitors threw men forward, turning the match into a half-field siege. A combined 35 shots were attempted on the day, with Atlanta alone taking 18 of them. They applied massive set-piece pressure, piling up an astonishing 11 corner kicks. Yet, despite camping out in the final third, their finishing lacked the necessary precision. Time and again, promising build-up play fizzled out or was fired off target. The sheer volume of chances looked dangerous on paper, but the lack of a clinical edge kept the visitors frustrated as the clock ticked down.

Locking Down the Shutout

With Atlanta pouring forward, the Fire had to rely entirely on their defensive resilience to see out the result. Goalkeeper Chris Brady was a standout, producing four crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet when called upon. In front of him, Mbekezeli Mbokazi put on a man-of-the-match performance, anchoring the backline and clearing countless dangerous crosses. The home side absorbed the pressure, showing incredible discipline to protect their narrow advantage. The gritty 1-0 victory keeps Chicago firmly entrenched near the top of the table with 10 points. Conversely, the result deepens the early-season woes for Atlanta, leaving them stranded in 12th place as they search for answers in the final third.

Key Questions

What does this mean for Chicago Fire's season?

This gritty shutout victory keeps them near the top of the standings, cementing their strong early-season form and proving their defensive resilience.

What is the Futmetrix Score?

The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.

Match Statistics

Possession
46%
54%
Chicago Fire 46%
Atlanta United FC 54%
Shots
17
18
Chicago Fire 17
Atlanta United FC 18
Shots on Target
3
5
Chicago Fire 3
Atlanta United FC 5
Expected Goals (xG)
2.25
1.26
Chicago Fire 2.25
Atlanta United FC 1.26
Passes
448
537
Chicago Fire 448
Atlanta United FC 537
Pass Accuracy
83%
88%
Chicago Fire 83%
Atlanta United FC 88%
Corners
5
11
Chicago Fire 5
Atlanta United FC 11
Fouls
12
5
Chicago Fire 12
Atlanta United FC 5
Yellow Cards
2
1
Chicago Fire 2
Atlanta United FC 1
Red Cards
0
0
Chicago Fire 0
Atlanta United FC 0

Match Events

T. Jacob 🟨 3'
8' 🟨 P. Zinckernagel
13' M. Haile-Selassie (J. Bamba)
HT
49' 🟨 L. Barroso
C. Sanchez S. Alzate 🔄 66'
68' 🔄 L. Barroso J. Dean
68' 🔄 D. D'Avilla M. Pineda
E. Baez P. Amador 🔄 78'
E. Latte Lath C. Togashi 🔄 78'
S. Lobjanidze L. Brennan 🔄 78'
89' 🔄 J. Bamba P. Dithejane
89' 🔄 P. Zinckernagel J. Shokalook
M. Galarza A. Fortune 🔄 89'
FT

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

Chicago Fire

Goalkeepers
Chris Brady
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Leonardo Barroso
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
68
Total Mins
68
Entry
Jack Elliott
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Mbekezeli Mbokazi
SHIELD
SHIELD
4
Blocks
4
Blocks
1
Interceptions
1
Tackles
Andrew Gutman
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
27%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Philip Zinckernagel
BRUISER
BRUISER
3
Fouls
3
Fouls
Yellow
Cards
2
Tackles
Anton Salétros
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dje Tah D'Avilla
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
68
Total Mins
68
Entry
Jonathan Bamba
PROVIDER
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
7.3
Rating
Forwards
Robin Lod
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Maren Haile-Selassie
SNIPER
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
BENCH
Josh Cohen
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Joel Waterman
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mauricio Pineda
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jonathan Dean
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Viktor Radojević
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
David Poreba
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sergio Oregel
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Puso Dithejane
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
5
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jason Shokalook
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
5
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Atlanta United FC

Goalkeepers
Lucas Hoyos
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Tomás Jacob
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Stian Gregersen
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
100%
Duel Win %
Enea Mihaj
MAGNET
MAGNET
93
Activity
93
Activity
82
Passes
11
Duels
Elías Báez
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
71%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
Cooper Sanchez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
Tristan Muyumba
MAGNET
MAGNET
72
Activity
72
Activity
60
Passes
12
Duels
Matías Galarza
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
42%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Saba Lobjanidze
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
12
Late Mins
12
Late Mins
78
Total Mins
78
Entry
Emmanuel Latte Lath
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
12
Late Mins
12
Late Mins
78
Total Mins
78
Entry
Miguel Almirón
MAGNET
MAGNET
49
Activity
49
Activity
43
Passes
6
Duels
BENCH
Jayden Hibbert
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Juan Berrocal
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Matthew Edwards
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ronald Hernández
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pedro Amador
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ajani Fortune
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
5
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Steven Alzate
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Luke Brennan
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Cayman Togashi
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
07/16/2025 Atlanta United FC 2 - 2 Chicago Fire Major League Soccer Mercedes-Benz Stadium
05/10/2025 Chicago Fire 2 - 1 Atlanta United FC Major League Soccer Soldier Field
04/28/2024 Chicago Fire 0 - 0 Atlanta United FC Major League Soccer Soldier Field
03/31/2024 Atlanta United FC 3 - 0 Chicago Fire Major League Soccer Mercedes-Benz Stadium
05/21/2023 Chicago Fire 3 - 3 Atlanta United FC Major League Soccer Soldier Field
04/23/2023 Atlanta United FC 2 - 1 Chicago Fire Major League Soccer Mercedes-Benz Stadium
07/30/2022 Chicago Fire 0 - 0 Atlanta United FC Major League Soccer Soldier Field
05/07/2022 Atlanta United FC 4 - 1 Chicago Fire Major League Soccer Mercedes-Benz Stadium
07/04/2021 Chicago Fire 3 - 0 Atlanta United FC Major League Soccer Soldier Field
04/25/2021 Atlanta United FC 3 - 1 Chicago Fire Major League Soccer Mercedes-Benz Stadium
07/16/2025
Major League Soccer Mercedes-Benz Stadium
05/10/2025
Major League Soccer Soldier Field
04/28/2024
Major League Soccer Soldier Field
03/31/2024
Major League Soccer Mercedes-Benz Stadium
05/21/2023
Major League Soccer Soldier Field
04/23/2023
Major League Soccer Mercedes-Benz Stadium
07/30/2022
Major League Soccer Soldier Field
05/07/2022
Major League Soccer Mercedes-Benz Stadium
07/04/2021
Major League Soccer Soldier Field
04/25/2021
Major League Soccer Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Chicago Fire Win
Atlanta United FC Win
Draw

League Standings

Pos Team P Pts GF GA GD Form
1 Chicago Fire 6 13 8 3 +5 WChicago Fire 1 - 0 Atlanta United FC (12-04-2026)WChicago Fire 1 - 0 Nashville SC (05-04-2026)WPhiladelphia Union 1 - 2 Chicago Fire (21-03-2026)LChicago Fire 1 - 2 DC United (15-03-2026)DColumbus Crew 0 - 0 Chicago Fire (08-03-2026)
2 Nashville SC 5 12 12 3 +9 WCharlotte 1 - 2 Nashville SC (11-04-2026)LChicago Fire 1 - 0 Nashville SC (05-04-2026)WNashville SC 5 - 0 Orlando City SC (21-03-2026)WColumbus Crew 0 - 1 Nashville SC (14-03-2026)WNashville SC 4 - 1 New England Revolution (22-02-2026)
3 Inter Miami 5 11 11 7 +4 DInter Miami 2 - 2 New York Red Bulls (11-04-2026)WNew York City FC 2 - 3 Inter Miami (22-03-2026)DCharlotte 0 - 0 Inter Miami (14-03-2026)WDC United 1 - 2 Inter Miami (07-03-2026)WOrlando City SC 2 - 4 Inter Miami (02-03-2026)
4 New York Red Bulls 7 11 11 15 -4 DInter Miami 2 - 2 New York Red Bulls (11-04-2026)WNew York Red Bulls 4 - 2 FC Cincinnati (04-04-2026)LCharlotte 6 - 1 New York Red Bulls (21-03-2026)DToronto FC 1 - 1 New York Red Bulls (14-03-2026)LNew York Red Bulls 0 - 3 CF Montreal (08-03-2026)
5 New England Revolution 5 9 11 6 +5 WNew England Revolution 1 - 0 DC United (11-04-2026)WNew England Revolution 3 - 0 CF Montreal (04-04-2026)WNew England Revolution 6 - 1 FC Cincinnati (15-03-2026)LNew York Red Bulls 1 - 0 New England Revolution (28-02-2026)LNashville SC 4 - 1 New England Revolution (22-02-2026)
6 Toronto FC 4 8 5 3 +2 DToronto FC 1 - 1 FC Cincinnati (11-04-2026)WToronto FC 2 - 1 Columbus Crew (21-03-2026)DToronto FC 1 - 1 New York Red Bulls (14-03-2026)WFC Cincinnati 0 - 1 Toronto FC (08-03-2026)
7 Charlotte 4 7 9 4 +5 LCharlotte 1 - 2 Nashville SC (11-04-2026)WCharlotte 2 - 1 Philadelphia Union (04-04-2026)WCharlotte 6 - 1 New York Red Bulls (21-03-2026)DCharlotte 0 - 0 Inter Miami (14-03-2026)
8 DC United 5 7 4 4 0 LNew England Revolution 1 - 0 DC United (11-04-2026)DAtlanta United FC 0 - 0 DC United (21-03-2026)WChicago Fire 1 - 2 DC United (15-03-2026)LDC United 1 - 2 Inter Miami (07-03-2026)WDC United 1 - 0 Philadelphia Union (22-02-2026)
9 FC Cincinnati 6 7 10 15 -5 DToronto FC 1 - 1 FC Cincinnati (11-04-2026)LNew York Red Bulls 4 - 2 FC Cincinnati (04-04-2026)WFC Cincinnati 4 - 3 CF Montreal (22-03-2026)LNew England Revolution 6 - 1 FC Cincinnati (15-03-2026)LFC Cincinnati 0 - 1 Toronto FC (08-03-2026)
10 New York City FC 3 6 9 4 +5 LNew York City FC 2 - 3 Inter Miami (22-03-2026)WNew York City FC 5 - 0 Orlando City SC (07-03-2026)WPhiladelphia Union 1 - 2 New York City FC (01-03-2026)
11 Columbus Crew 5 5 5 5 0 DColumbus Crew 1 - 1 Orlando City SC (12-04-2026)WAtlanta United FC 1 - 3 Columbus Crew (04-04-2026)LToronto FC 2 - 1 Columbus Crew (21-03-2026)LColumbus Crew 0 - 1 Nashville SC (14-03-2026)DColumbus Crew 0 - 0 Chicago Fire (08-03-2026)
12 Atlanta United FC 5 4 4 7 -3 LChicago Fire 1 - 0 Atlanta United FC (12-04-2026)LAtlanta United FC 1 - 3 Columbus Crew (04-04-2026)DAtlanta United FC 0 - 0 DC United (21-03-2026)WAtlanta United FC 3 - 1 Philadelphia Union (14-03-2026)LFC Cincinnati 2 - 0 Atlanta United FC (21-02-2026)
13 Orlando City SC 6 4 6 18 -12 DColumbus Crew 1 - 1 Orlando City SC (12-04-2026)LNashville SC 5 - 0 Orlando City SC (21-03-2026)WOrlando City SC 2 - 1 CF Montreal (14-03-2026)LNew York City FC 5 - 0 Orlando City SC (07-03-2026)LOrlando City SC 2 - 4 Inter Miami (02-03-2026)
14 Philadelphia Union 6 3 6 11 -5 WCF Montreal 1 - 2 Philadelphia Union (11-04-2026)LCharlotte 2 - 1 Philadelphia Union (04-04-2026)LPhiladelphia Union 1 - 2 Chicago Fire (21-03-2026)LAtlanta United FC 3 - 1 Philadelphia Union (14-03-2026)LPhiladelphia Union 1 - 2 New York City FC (01-03-2026)
15 CF Montreal 6 3 8 14 -6 LCF Montreal 1 - 2 Philadelphia Union (11-04-2026)LNew England Revolution 3 - 0 CF Montreal (04-04-2026)LFC Cincinnati 4 - 3 CF Montreal (22-03-2026)LOrlando City SC 2 - 1 CF Montreal (14-03-2026)WNew York Red Bulls 0 - 3 CF Montreal (08-03-2026)