RECAP: Chicago Fire Run Riot in Road Victory Over DC United, 7-1
The Chicago Fire stormed into the nation’s capital on Saturday night and came away with a victory they won’t forget soon.
The Men in Red exploded for seven goals against Eastern Conference rivals DC United, earning an emphatic 7-1 victory.
Both teams came in shorthanded, what with injuries and an ongoing international window, and it was Chicago who handled the situation in stellar fashion.
A good season just got even better.
Fire Offense Gets Rolling Early
It was utter domination from start to finish for the Fire. Just eight minutes in, Maren Haile-Selassie got the visitors on the board, opening his 2025 account in the process. The Swiss winger latched on to a precise ball from Jonathan Dean, rolling a first-time shot into the bottom corner of the net. He nearly sealed an early brace in the 14th minute, after Philip Zinckernagel’s strike deflected off the post and landed straight at the legs of Haile-Selassie. The latter’s rebounded effort was saved by Luis Barraza.
Chicago didn’t dwell on the missed opportunity for too long. Twenty-three minutes in, Zinckernagel spotted the run of Jonathan Bamba from just inside the attacking half and sent a precise through ball into the path of the Ivorian. Bamba took two touches to shrug off his marker before knocking a low finish into the far corner of the goal.
It was in the 30th minute that Tom Barlow first stamped his authority on the game. The striker, a replacement for the injured Hugo Cuypers, made it 3-0 with a well-taken one-on-one goal. Andrew Gutman had previously picked out Barlow with an inch-perfect lofted pass from well inside the Fire’s half.
DC United controlled the game for a brief period after the third goal, but it didn’t last. On the stroke of halftime, Bamba played in Haile-Selassie, who passed to Barlow near the penalty spot. Once again, the talisman made no mistake, beating Barraza with a right-footed shot. The goal was Barlow’s second of the night and secured a commanding 4-0 halftime lead for the Fire.
DC United’s Nightmare Continues
The hosts were surely hoping for a respite from the Fire onslaught after halftime. Unfortunately for them, the Men in Red refused to back down. Zinckernagel, already heavily involved in the first half, got in on the goalscoring fun. With 56 minutes on the clock, the Danish superstar scored perhaps the best goal of the night, finding the far corner from just outside the box. That strike made it five goals on the night for the Fire, as well as five in the last five games for Zinckernagel.
So suffocating was the Fire attack that DC United only managed to get on the board after a goalkeeping error. Just shy of the hour mark, Dominique Badji dispossessed goalkeeper Jeff Gal, a stand-in for Chris Brady, and scored on an empty goal. Gal had looked confident before the error, but he will be forced to wait for his first official MLS clean sheet.
At this point in the game, it had already been a dream evening for Barlow, whose playing opportunities are usually limited to a few minutes off the bench in MLS games. In the 65th minute, however, things got even better for the striker. Leonardo Barroso had a shot saved, but the deflection was met with a left-footed volley strike from Barlow that found the back of the net. In scoring his third goal of the game, Barlow completed his first career hat trick.
Perhaps motivated by the memory of an earlier 7-2 loss to Nashville SC, the Fire went hunting for a seventh goal. They got it in stoppage time through Brian Gutierrez. Debutant Jason Shokalook provided a lovely assist. Shokalook, a part of the Chicago Fire II squad, had been signed to a short-term contract for the game and was only substituted on in the 76th minute.
Fire Trending in the Right Direction
It’s been an up-and-down season for the Fire so far. This game will undoubtedly go down as a high point.
Given the constant availability issues in the squad, it’s been difficult to take too much away from the varying results the team has put up.
One thing is certain, however: Chicago drew 2-2 with DC United just three months ago. Triumphing 7-1 on the road against the same team is a clear hint of progress.
“I think they really outplayed us in the first game at home,” head coach Gregg Berhalter said after the win.
“We wanted revenge from that game, and I think the guys did a great job. You could see from the beginning that we were really dangerous when we won the ball.”
To the surprise of nobody, Berhalter had plenty of praise for the star of the show, Tom Barlow.
“Every day, he comes with the same mindset to work hard and wait for his opportunity,” Berhalter said.
“He did a great job. The whole club, the whole staff, and all the players are really happy for him.”
Barlow, on the other hand, will need some time to process his perfect performance.
“I don’t know, I don’t think it’s still really hit me,” Barlow said post-game.
“It was fun to come in and contribute tonight. Getting my first start of the year, I was excited. And then to get three goals and the win is kind of the cherry on top.”
More Debts to Settle for Chicago
The Fire’s impressive attacking output has propelled them to 9th place in the conference standings with a game in hand. This seven-goal outing couldn’t have come at a better time, with Chicago’s next game being a rematch against Nashville. Losing 7-2 to the Tennessee side won’t haunt the Men in Red as much after the win in DC, but revenge will still certainly be on their minds.
That game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 14th, at Soldier Field, as Berhalter’s men look to keep the momentum rolling.
PHOTO: Amber Searls/Imagn Images
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