5 Things We Learned: Chicago Fire vs. Atlanta United
The Chicago Fire are finally back to winning ways, and it's difficult to understate how long they've been waiting for this one. Not only is it the team's first win since mid-March, but it's also Gregg Berhalter's first win at Soldier Field as a coach or player and just the team's second win at their home stadium since July 3rd of last year.
Here are five things we learned from the exciting 2-1 win over Atlanta United on Saturday.
1. The "7-2" didn't phase the Fire
It would have been expected that many players' heads would drop after giving up a touchdown in a huge loss to Nashville SC a few weeks ago. That didn't happen. Instead, the team has responded well in their next two MLS matches, picking up an important point in a 0-0 draw down a man for roughly an hour of play, before finding a much-needed win a week later. Those two MLS results also sandwiched a routine 4-0 win over Detroit City in the U.S. Open Cup; an expected result, sure, but a confidence-building performance nonetheless.
Furthermore, the fact that the Fire finally got a league win on home turf will also be a key building block. Their next five games will all be on the road, so it will be quite some time before they get to play in front of their home fans again. The burden of still not having a home win seemed to weigh on some of the players in the last few games at Soldier Field, and that is no longer a pressure they directly have to face even if they should still be winning all of their home games.
Overall, though, the response in the last two weeks has been excellent. A shout-out goes to Sam Rogers, who, despite his abysmal performance in the 7-2 loss that saw him replaced by 16-year-old Christopher Cupps against Orlando, got the nod against Atlanta. While it was his own goal that prevented the Fire from keeping a clean sheet, he made a couple of big stops defensively and did not look low on confidence despite the events of the last few weeks.
2. Hugo Cuypers is worth every penny
When the Fire signed Hugo Cuypers at the start of last season, it wasn't cheap. And while he was the club's first double-digit goalscorer in years last season, he wasn't exactly finding consistency week after week. Now he is, and in his second season in Chicago, is now leading the MLS Golden Boot race with eight goals already, including one from the spot against Atlanta.
This last week has reaffirmed what we already knew about Cuypers' quality, but his continued goalscoring consistency this season has now placed him firmly in the conversation among MLS' top center forwards. He's been a leader in this team, too, embracing his role as a member of the Fire's leadership council and working with his younger teammates. His good relationship with young star midfielder Brian Gutiérrez was also on display yesterday; both have perfect penalty records with the club and have divided responsibilities this season, but there have never been any disputes like we've seen in years past (see Robert Berić and Álvaro Medran).
As he chases the Golden Boot now, Cuypers will hope his teammates can continue providing the service they have so far this season – something that was lacking in 2024. If things continue the way they are right now he'll be in the discussion right up until Decision Day.
3. Omari Glasgow is a right back now
Truthfully, Omari Glasgow's first impressions on the MLS stage this season were not exactly earthshaking. But a substitute appearance at right back against the New York Red Bulls just over a month ago seems to have been a turning point, as he's looked like a completely different player since then.
Saturday was no different. Three days after scoring his first goal for the Chicago Fire first team, he notched his first assist, marking his first official goal involvement in MLS. This run also comes off the back of impressive performances defensively, including playing a crucial role in shutting out Inter Miami a few weeks ago. It's clear that despite coming up as a right back, Glasgow's skillset is better suited to the right back position, and with Maren Haile-Selassie healthy and Chris Mueller likely on the way back soon, too, it's difficult to imagine Glasgow playing anywhere but as a member of the back line.
Indeed, the all-time leading Guyanese goalscorer has now positioned himself to be a regular part of the first team rotation, even if his opportunities early in the season emerged out of necessity. He was expected to be a depth player, rotating between the first team and the second team. Now, he's made himself invaluable – even if it's not where on the field he had perhaps expected.
4. The "Solutions" work
Throughout his time with the U.S. Men's National Team, Gregg Berhalter often referred to his substitutes as "solutions" rather than merely subs. Observing the Fire's wins this season tells you why. Players coming off the bench have scored in three of the Fire's four victories in 2025, and substitutes have been heavily involved in making all four possible.
Like against FC Dallas in week 3, where a 78th minute double introduction of Tom Barlow and Leo Barroso flipped that game on its head, the 81st minute triple substitution that saw Romingue Kouamé, Maren Haile-Selassie, and Omari Glasgow enter against Atlanta was also crucial in determining the outcome. All three "solutions" were involved in the game-winning goal, as Haile-Selassie set up Glasgow, who got the assist for Kouamé. The goalscorer, speaking with MIR97 Media after the match, said that Berhalter provided specific instructions to the trio to "make sure they add something," and that's exactly what they did.
Terminology aside, it's clear that Berhalter is an infinitely better in-game Tinkerman than other recent Fire coaches over the last five years. On numerous occasions, his solutions have altered the outcomes for the better... and that's something Fire fans have been longing for for quite some time.
5. Chicago might have some extra help now
It's been a special week for Chicago, and that's putting it lightly. We've seen and heard the number 14 – or XIV – around the city more than ever before in the last few days in light of the election of the new Holy Father, so it was intriguing when the Fire opened the scoring yesterday in – you guessed it – the 14th minute. Berhalter even joked that it could be a sign of "divine intervention" when I brought it up postgame.
Will a higher power help guide Chicago to an MLS Cup? Will the Fire ever lose again? Nobody on our staff knows the answer to those questions. But what is certain is that a page has been turned after nearly two months without a win, and even if you want to credit this win to a stroke of divine providence endowed upon the city of Chicago, it might be just the boost they need to set themselves up well for a difficult road stretch to come.
