CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Sept. 26, 2026) – Chicago Fire FC (12-8-6, 42 points) earned a 1-0 win against Charlotte FC (12-8-7, 43 points) Saturday night at Bank of America Stadium.
Johan Gómez scored his first MLS goal and his first game-winner for the Men in Red while Josh Cohen made his first start and earned his first shutout for the Fire. Chicago remains in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, with one game in hand against fourth-place Charlotte.
After taking six shots on goal in the first half, the Fire broke through in the 58th minute. Philip Zinckernagel sent a corner kick from the left side into the box, where it bounced off a scrum of players and fell to the top of the six-yard box. Gómez didn’t hesitate to strike, and he sent the ball through traffic just inside the right post.
NEXT MATCH: Chicago returns to the lakefront for a three-game homestand that begins with a postponed match from Matchday 16. The Fire play host to the Vancouver Whitecaps on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m. CT at Soldier Field. The match will be broadcast globally on Apple TV, and transmitted locally on wlsam.com in English and TUDN Chicago 106.7-HD2 and Uforia by TREBEL app in Spanish.
Match Notes:
- Mbekezeli Mbokazi returned to the field for the first time since the 2-1 victory over Toronto FC on May 23 – his last match before representing South Africa at FIFA World Cup 2026.
- Josh Cohen earned his first MLS clean sheet in his first appearance in any competition with Chicago. The goalkeeper filled in for Chris Brady, who missed his first game of the season while on international duty with the U.S Men’s National Team.
- Johan Gómez started for the second time in the last three matches, scoring his first goal – and first game winner – for the Chicago Fire in the 58th minute.
- Brady, defender Noah Allen (Greece U-21); midfielders Robin Lod (Finland), Anzor Mekvabishvili (Georgia) and Robert Turdean (United States U-17); and forwards Puso Dithejane (South Africa) and Robert Lewandowski (Poland) are currently on international duty with their respective national teams and are unavailable for selection.
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Box Score:
Charlotte FC 0:1 Chicago Fire FC
Goals:
CHI - Gómez (1) (WATCH) 58’
Discipline:
CHI - Oregel Jr. (Caution) 23’
CLT - Diani (Caution) 34’
CLT - Biel (Caution) 38’
CHI - Poreba (Caution) 81’
CLT - Westwood (Caution) 82’
CLT - Ream (Caution) 90+8’
CLT - Ream (Second Yellow, Ejection) 90+9’
Chicago Fire FC: GK Cohen, D Dean, D Elliott (capt.), D Mbokazi (Rogers, 80’), D Barroso (Gutman, 75’), M Zinckernagel, M Oregel Jr. (M. Pineda, 75’), M D’Avilla, M Bamba (M Poreba, 80’), F Gómez, F Haile-Selassie
Subs not used: GK Gal, M O. Pineda, M Williams, F Boltz
Head Coach: Gregg Berhalter
Charlotte FC: GK Kahlina, D Cleary (Byrne, 81’), D Ream, D Kessler, D Toffolo (Richmond, 81’), M Biel, M Westwood (capt.), M De La Torre (Bronico, 70’), M Diani (D Schnegg, 70’), M Sain-Maximin, F Goodwin (Smalls, 49’)
Subs not used: GK Miller, D Privett, M Coulibaly, D Agyemang
Head Coach: Dean Smith
Stats Summary: CLT / CHI
Shots: 9 / 18
Shots on Goal: 2 / 9
Saves: 8 / 1
Passing Accuracy: 82.7% / 87.6%
Corners: 4 / 6
Fouls: 14 / 15
Offsides: 3 / 0
Possession: 45.1% / 54.9%
Venue: Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, N.C.)
Attendance: 31,011
Referee: Chris Penso
Assistant Referees: Justin Howard, Austin Holt
Fourth Official: Matthew Corrigan
VAR: Kevin Stott
AVAR: Claudiu Badea
