Major League Soccer Regular Season - 17
New York City FC 3 - 1 FT Chicago Fire
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
11' N. Mercau
J. Waterman 21'
29' A. Ojeda (A. Perea)
41' M. Jones (A. Ojeda)
HT
↓ M. Haile-Selassie ↑R. Lewandowski 46'
↓ L. Barroso ↑J. Dean 46'
D. D'Avilla 51'
62' N. Mercau
↓ D. D'Avilla ↑M. Pineda 63'
69' ↓ M. Jones ↑B. Traore
↓ V. Radojevic ↑A. Gutman 71'
↓ R. Lod ↑P. Dithejane 71'
J. Waterman 77'
P. Dithejane 80'
85' ↓ Talles Magno ↑H. Wolf
85' ↓ J. Shore ↑A. Farnos
90'+2 ↓ A. Ojeda ↑M. Ilenic
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
New York City FC
Goalkeepers
Matthew Freese 
PROVOCATEUR
1
Fouls Won
1
Fouls Won
1
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
Tayvon Gray 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
4
Tackles
55%
Duel Win %
Thiago Martins 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
James Sands
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
4
Tackles
67%
Duel Win %
Nico Cavallo
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
67%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
Jonathan Shore
LATE SHIFT
5
Late Mins
5
Late Mins
85
Total Mins
85
Entry
Agustin Ojeda 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Nicolás Fernández
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Andrés Perea
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Malachi Jones
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Forwards
Talles Magno
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
BENCH
Tomás Romero 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Max Murray
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mitja Ilenič
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
2
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Máximo Carrizo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kevin Pierre
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bénie Traoré
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
25
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Arnau Farnos
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hannes Wolf
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Seymour Garfield-Reid
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Chicago Fire
Goalkeepers
Chris Brady 
SIEVE
0%
Save %
0%
Save %
3
Conceded
0
Saves
Defenders
Leonardo Barroso
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Joel Waterman
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Jack Elliott
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Viktor Radojević
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
71
Entry
Midfielders
Anton Salétros 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Dje Tah D'Avilla
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
63
Total Mins
63
Entry
Robin Lod
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
71
Entry
Forwards
Philip Zinckernagel
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Maren Haile-Selassie
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Jonathan Bamba
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
Josh Cohen
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Jonathan Dean
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
49
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Andrew Gutman
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Samuel Rogers
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mauricio Pineda
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Sergio Oregel
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Puso Dithejane
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jason Shokalook
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Robert Lewandowski
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
49
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09/14/2025 | Chicago Fire | 1 - 3 | New York City FC | Major League Soccer | Soldier Field |
| 05/25/2025 | New York City FC | 3 - 1 | Chicago Fire | Major League Soccer | Yankee Stadium |
| 08/24/2024 | New York City FC | 2 - 2 | Chicago Fire | Major League Soccer | Citi Field |
| 07/14/2024 | Chicago Fire | 0 - 0 | New York City FC | Major League Soccer | Soldier Field |
| 10/22/2023 | New York City FC | 1 - 0 | Chicago Fire | Major League Soccer | Citi Field |
| 03/05/2023 | Chicago Fire | 1 - 1 | New York City FC | Major League Soccer | Soldier Field |
| 08/21/2022 | Chicago Fire | 0 - 2 | New York City FC | Major League Soccer | SeatGeek Stadium |
| 05/22/2022 | New York City FC | 1 - 0 | Chicago Fire | Major League Soccer | Citi Field |
| 10/27/2021 | New York City FC | 1 - 0 | Chicago Fire | Major League Soccer | Yankee Stadium |
| 09/30/2021 | Chicago Fire | 2 - 0 | New York City FC | Major League Soccer | SeatGeek Stadium |
09/14/2025
05/25/2025
08/24/2024
07/14/2024
10/22/2023
03/05/2023
08/21/2022
05/22/2022
10/27/2021
09/30/2021
New York City FC Win
Chicago Fire Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 14 GD: +18
P: 12 GD: +11
P: 14 GD: +8
P: 14 GD: +4
P: 14 GD: +4
P: 13 GD: +7
P: 13 GD: +2
P: 14 GD: -1
P: 15 GD: -10
P: 14 GD: -13
P: 13 GD: -1
P: 15 GD: -6
P: 14 GD: -9
P: 12 GD: -5
P: 15 GD: -9
League Standings
| Pos | Team | P | Pts | GF | GA | GD | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville SC | 18 | 40 | 35 | 14 | +21 | |
| 2 | Inter Miami | 18 | 38 | 45 | 32 | +13 | |
| 3 | New England Revolution | 17 | 30 | 28 | 21 | +7 | |
| 4 | Chicago Fire | 17 | 29 | 32 | 23 | +9 | |
| 5 | New York City FC | 18 | 26 | 31 | 24 | +7 | |
| 6 | FC Cincinnati | 18 | 26 | 45 | 44 | +1 | |
| 7 | Charlotte | 18 | 25 | 29 | 27 | +2 | |
| 8 | New York Red Bulls | 18 | 25 | 29 | 39 | -10 | |
| 9 | DC United | 18 | 23 | 26 | 29 | -3 | |
| 10 | Orlando City SC | 18 | 20 | 30 | 47 | -17 | |
| 11 | Columbus Crew | 18 | 20 | 26 | 28 | -2 | |
| 12 | Toronto FC | 18 | 17 | 24 | 32 | -8 | |
| 13 | Philadelphia Union | 18 | 16 | 25 | 33 | -8 | |
| 14 | CF Montreal | 18 | 16 | 24 | 35 | -11 | |
| 15 | Atlanta United FC | 18 | 12 | 19 | 33 | -14 |
P: 18 GD: +21
P: 18 GD: +13
P: 17 GD: +7
P: 17 GD: +9
P: 18 GD: +7
P: 18 GD: +1
P: 18 GD: +2
P: 18 GD: -10
P: 18 GD: -3
P: 18 GD: -17
P: 18 GD: -2
P: 18 GD: -8
P: 18 GD: -8
P: 18 GD: -11
P: 18 GD: -14
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
A First-Half Blitz Sinks Chicago at Yankee Stadium
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 48/100. A relentless opening forty-five minutes completely flipped the script as New York City pulled off a stunning upset over a high-flying Chicago side.
Opening Act
The Intensity at Yankee Stadium was palpable from the opening whistle as the home side sought an early advantage. They found it quickly when N. Mercau set the tone with a brilliant 11th-minute opener, instantly rewarding the home crowd. However, the visitors refused to fold. Despite playing away, the Chicago Fire pushed forward and found their response just ten minutes later. J. Waterman breached the defensive line to level the score at 1-1, injecting real drama into the contest. The Balance of the match swung wildly during this period, with end-to-end action suggesting a drawn-out tactical slugfest was on the horizon as both midfields fought to assert their authority on the game.
The Pivot
While the visitors edged possession at 53 percent across the match, the turning point arrived through sheer attacking efficiency from the home ranks. In the 29th minute, A. Ojeda stepped up to restore the lead, finishing off a sharp move orchestrated by A. Perea. This goal dramatically increased the Upset Factor, leaving the visitors reeling. Before Chicago could reorganize their shape, New York struck the decisive blow. Just four minutes before the halftime whistle, Ojeda turned provider, carving open the defense to find M. Jones. His clinical finish made it 3-1, capping off a blistering 12-minute window that completely derailed Chicago’s game plan and cemented New York's dominance in the final third.
Resolution
The second half proved to be a stark contrast to the first, as the New York City FC backline effectively shut down any hopes of a dramatic comeback. The high Stakes for the visitors, who desperately needed points to maintain their push near the top of the standings, forced them to commit bodies forward. Yet, despite registering five shots on target over the course of the match, Chicago could not find a way past a resolute home defense that tallied four crucial saves. This victory provides a massive boost for New York in the middle of the table, proving they can dismantle top-tier opposition when their attacking pieces click into gear.
Key Questions
What made Nicolás Fernández the Man of the Match?
He set the tone with a crucial 11th-minute opening goal and orchestrated the midfield tempo during a dominant first-half display that secured the victory.
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.
Playoff Positioning Heats Up at Yankee Stadium
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 73/100. A perfectly balanced encounter promises fireworks as Chicago Fire tries to solidify their top-three status against a home side desperate to close the gap.
The Setup
When Chicago Fire travel to Yankee Stadium on July 25, 2026, to face New York City FC, the top-four picture will be front and center. The visitors arrive in third place with 26 points, boasting an impressive away record that bolsters their strong Form rating. The hosts sit in eighth with 19 points, eager to climb the Major League Soccer standings. A modest Stakes rating underscores the mid-season timing, but do not look past the sheer firepower on display. With the home side netting heavily and Chicago matching them stride for stride, an off-the-charts Balance rating highlights how evenly matched this clash truly is.
Key Battle
This matchup features a fantastic clash of high-performing Stars. Keep a close eye on Nicolás Fernández pulling the strings for the home side against Chicago's ruthless frontman, Hugo Cuypers. Fernández has been an absolute assist king lately, setting up teammates at will, while Cuypers operates as a pure goal machine. Whichever talisman stamps their authority on the game will likely tilt the scales.
Our Prediction
Our expected outcome is a thrilling 2-2 draw. New York City FC holds a very slight edge on home turf, but Chicago's pedigree as away specialists makes them incredibly tough to beat. With both sides consistently finding the back of the net, expect an end-to-end game where neither defense can quite shut the door.