Match Report(W13): D.C. United 1-3 Chicago Fire FC
- elclasicohonduras
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Washington, D.C. -
D.C. United entered Wednesday night riding strong momentum, unbeaten in five consecutive matches with two wins and three draws. Facing a Chicago Fire FC side coming off a home defeat against the New York Red Bulls, the Black-and-Red looked poised to continue their positive run after a dominant first-half performance.
René Weiler’s side controlled the early stages and created the better opportunities before halftime, forcing Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady into several important saves.
D.C. United’s first major chance arrived when Louis Munteanu cut in from the right side of the box and unleashed a low right-footed effort that Brady pushed away at the bottom right corner. Minutes later, in the 30th minute, Jackson Hopkins tested Brady again with a powerful strike from the center of the area, but the Chicago goalkeeper reacted quickly to tip the attempt over the bar.The persistence finally paid off in the 41st minute. Louis Munteanu delivered a dangerous ball into the box that found Tai Baribo, who calmly finished with his left foot into the bottom-left corner to give D.C. United a deserved 1-0 lead heading into halftime. The goal marked Baribo’s seventh of the season and continued his productive attacking partnership with Munteanu.
At the break, D.C. United looked comfortable and organized after controlling much of the opening 45 minutes.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the second half as Chicago Fire FC began to take control territorially and push numbers forward.
The visitors found their equalizer in the 62nd minute when Robin Lod rose in the center of the box and headed home a cross from Philip Zinckernagel to make it 1-1.
Chicago’s pressure continued to grow, and controversy followed shortly after when the Fire were awarded a questionable penalty after a challenge involving Markovic and Dithejane inside the penalty area.
Sean Johnson delivered a huge moment for the Black-and-Red in the 71st minute, diving low to his left to save Zinckernagel’s penalty and temporarily preserve the deadlock. But Chicago capitalized moments later from the set-piece sequence.
Forward Hugo Cuypers reacted quickest inside the six-yard box and finished from close range to give Chicago a 2-1 advantage.
D.C. United attempted to respond late, but Chicago remained dangerous on the counterattack and sealed the result in the 87th minute. Substitute Maren Haile-Selassie cut inside from the left side of the box and curled a left-footed strike into the top-right corner following another set-piece situation, extending the lead to 3-1.
The defeat dropped D.C. United to a 2-3-0 home record during the 2026 MLS season despite another strong first-half display.
Historically, the Black-and-Red still hold the edge in the all-time regular season series against Chicago Fire FC with a 28-25-22 record, including a 19-12-7 advantage at home.
Rene's post match quotes:
On what changed in the second half
“Chicago tied the game a little bit out of the blue with a nice action, nice header. We had this situation for the penalty kick and then it was difficult with the weather against a strong team. They changed the three players, brought in new power. We felt it and at the end it was difficult to come back.”
On the first-time partnership between Baribo and Munteanu
“It was the first time they played together. So they created this chance and scored this first goal. When Baribo went out we lead the game 1-0 so they did a good job together.”
Biggest headline quote — on Herrera wanting to leave
“Herrera wants to leave. So that is a fact and he told us that.”
Why Marovic started instead
“I gave the chance to Marovic because he has the future. He’s a young guy with a good mentality.”
On expectations after the recent unbeaten stretch
“Some people are surprised that we lost now this game. What do you think now? We are overnight a top team? We have to play on our boundaries every game.”
Three Points
Baribo Keeps Producing: Forward Tai Baribo scored his seventh goal of the season in the 41st minute, finishing off an assist from Louis Munteanu.
Munteanu’s Influence Continues: Louis Munteanu recorded his first assist of the season while registering three shots on target and winning three ground duels across 90 minutes played.
Peglow’s Midfield Work Rate: Midfielder João Peglow delivered a strong all-around performance, winning seven ground duels and recording seven recoveries in midfield.
Starting XIs
D.C. United (4-4-2)
Johnson; Markovic, Bartlett, Rowles, Kurokawa; Hopkins (Murrell 87’), Servania, Peltola, Peglow; Louis, Baribo (Stroud 64’)
Unused Substitutes: Bono, Antley, Clark, Turner, Kijima, Farr, Herrera
Head Coach: René Weiler
Chicago Fire FC
Brady; Dean, Elliot, Mbokazi, Gutman; Pineda, D’Avilla; Lod (Haile-Selassie 63’), Zinckernagel (Mueller 90+4’), Cuypers (Shokalook 90+4’), Bamba (Dithejane 63’)
Unused Substitutes: Rogers, Radojevic, Waterman, Borso, Cohen
Head Coach: Gregg Berhalter
Scoring Summary
D.C. United
Baribo (41’) — Assisted by Louis Munteanu
Chicago Fire FC
Lod (62’) — Assisted by Zinckernagel
Cuypers (71’)
Haile-Selassie (87’)
Booking Summary
D.C. United
None
Chicago Fire FC
D’Avilla (19’) — Yellow Card
Bamba (48’) — Yellow Card
Elliot (75’) — Yellow Card
Dean (89’) — Yellow Card
Gutman (90+6’) — Yellow Card
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