5 Things We Learned: Chicago Fire vs. Nashville SC

The Chicago Fire's home field misery continued on Saturday, this time at the hands of red-hot Nashville SC. After a promising first half where both teams exchanged chances, Nashville broke through in the second half, with Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge providing the goals from their only two shots on target of the half.

Here are five things we learned from the game at Soldier Field this weekend.

1. This home slump needs to be figured out

Typically, a team that wins just one from seven games at home is a historically bad one sitting at the basement of the table. The Fire certainly aren't that, as they've made up for that lack of home results with an impressive run on the road, but they still really need to figure out why it is they can't win at Soldier Field.

On the road, the Fire have had several attacking outbursts. It happened last week against D.C. United, and it happened two weeks ago when they jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first half hour in Orlando. Yet, the Fire have yet to manage to score more than two in a game at home all season, and this time out, they failed to score altogether and suffered their first home shutout loss under Gregg Berhalter.

It's impossible to pinpoint why this is, and Berhalter also lost for a solution to this. Whatever it is, the Fire need to figure it out quickly, as their next two matches will both be at home, followed closely by a crucial late-summer homestand against New York Red Bulls, LAFC, and St. Louis City that could make or break their season heading into the all-important final stretch.

2. Goalkeeper is a concern without Brady

Jeff Gal made his third career MLS start in goal, and it didn't go nearly as well as the previous two. It's the second game of what's set to be a five-match stint between the sticks, and it raised some red flags for the remaining three.

For one, Gal looks fairly out of his depth as an MLS starter in the month-long absence of Chris Brady. The 32-year-old was signed two years ago to be a third-string keeper, and he's pretty solid for that level of expectation, but the Fire's decision not to sign a #2 goalkeeper in the offseason has thrust him into a more important role.

After a (truly meaningless) mistake against D.C. United last week wiped away the Fire's clean sheet, the second goal against Nashville could also reasonably be partially pointed toward Gal. Surridge's finish was mid-height in the middle of the goal, making it the second successive game where an error has directly resulted in conceding a goal. He also looked uncomfortable at times and almost made a mess of what should have been a pretty routine first half save on Surridge – his only save of the night.

Once again – Gal isn't a terrible MLS-level backup keeper and would be an exceptional third-choice. Nonetheless, the position will be a liability as long as Brady is away with the national team, and it is quite possible that the Fire did not plan for this inevitability when they opted not to sign a new backup.

3. New DP shouldn't be a winger

It's no secret that the Fire are actively searching for a third Designated Player this summer transfer window, and there are a number of profiles that Berhalter and Co. are looking at. The performances of Maren Haile-Selassie and Philip Zinckernagel in recent weeks, however, strongly indicate that winger is not a position that needs any more starpower.

Zinckernagel, of course, has been the biggest revelation this season among all 15 of the new signings this season, notching seven goals and five assists from the right side. Jonathan Bamba, the lone DP signing of 2025, has also been solid from the left side, even if he's lacked end product. And the return of Haile-Selassie to the XI in the last two matches has proven that the Fire have three quality wingers, and given the limited number of DP slots in MLS, there's no reason to sign another player there.

Against Nashville, Haile-Selassie was one of the Fire's best players and looked extremely dangerous on the ball. Despite his lack of significant minutes in 2025, his tactical awareness under Berhalter has looked on point, and he excellent drifted into the midfield and combined with teammates throughout the first half last night.

While Zinckernagel certainly isn't being moved out of the starting lineup, Haile-Selassie continues to show he's a very serviceable deputy and first attacking substitute off the bench... while it is increasingly evident that a high-level DP would be better served being a central midfielder.

4. Center back remains a question

Omar González got 90 minutes for the second successive game last night, but it's evident that he's not a preferred option at center back week in and week out. Unfortunately for Berhalter, he had no other choice, as there was not a single center back on the bench against Nashville.

Christopher Cupps would have started his game, but he's set to miss at least three weeks after he sustained an injury in a U-17 national team friendly against Japan. Carlos Terán remains out with a lengthy injury, while Sam Rogers is also battling fitness issues of his own. Finally, Mauricio Pineda is also theoretically an option but was withdrawn at halftime with yet another injury, leaving, according to Berhalter, Sam Williams and Djé D'Avilla as the next options at the position.

In his runout, González showed signs that despite all the hard work he's done this season and his terrific work ethic, he probably shouldn't be getting any minutes beyond short cameos late in games. He's lost a step when facing off against attackers and lost his mark inside the penalty box on several occasions. His leadership and professionalism is a plus for the team, but he doesn't have the same quality on the field that he used to.

Berhalter hinted in the press conference that center back could potentially be a position the team looks to strengthen in this summer, especially since there doesn't appear to be a ready, proven, and healthy partner for Jack Elliott. 17-year-old Cupps could be that, and is perfectly capable with a limitless upside, but he's out for now, and the coaching staff have been trying to integrate him slowly. If the team can move Terán this summer, as rumored, and replace him with a more consistent, starting-level option, it will be a huge boost.

5. Bamba is missing his finishing boots

The main reason the Fire were shut out on Saturday was not any exceptional defensive work from Nashville but rather a lack of a finishing touch in front of goal, particularly in the first half. Bamba, despite overall having a pretty decent game and finding lots of good attacking positions, was also most responsible for not putting the ball in the back of the net.

Specifically, the Frenchman was on the end of the Fire's three biggest chances of the game. He missed the target from close range twice in the first half, including one that was initially called offside but would have stood as a goal had VAR intervened. Again, in the second half, his shot, which could have reduced the deficit to one with more than 15 minutes to play, flashed wide.

Again – Bamba has been good in his first half-season in Chicago. He has repeatedly shown his quality on the ball and, in flashes, has looked like the player he's capable of being at his best. He's also been more closely marked than his other attacking teammates, making things in the final third more difficult. But in games like against Nashville – similarly to against Inter Miami in April – he needs to deliver in the big moments and in front of goal, where he can be a difference-maker and game-decider.