5 Things We Learned: Minnesota United 0, Chicago Fire 3

The Chicago Fire secured one of the most important wins in years last night, stunning Minnesota United 3-0 at Allianz Field. It was a victory with major playoff implications for the Fire, and is a form of revenge against the team that eliminated them from the U.S. Open Cup months prior.

Here are five things we learned.

1. Berhalter’s back five works

While Gregg Berhalter has not been afraid to tinker tactically this season, using different midfield shapes (4-3-3 vs. 4-2-3-1) and in-game adjustments, one thing had been constant prior to last night – the Fire had started every single game with, at least on paper, a traditional back four. That all changed in Minnesota.

The Fire lined up in a 5-2-3 formation, with three natural center backs (Jack Elliott, Joel Waterman, and Sam Rogers) flanked by two wingbacks (Andrew Gutman and Jonathan Dean). This was likely a bid to stifle Minnesota’s own back five, which includes solid attacking wingbacks in the forms of Julian Gressel and Anthony Markanich, and it worked. Waterman, who struggled mightily in his Fire debut last week against New York City FC, looked much more comfortable in a familiar back three and was a threat in possession as well.

One of the other questions coming into the game with the 5-2-3 shape is how the two in midfield would fare. While Djé D’Avilla is indeed a number six and can handle major defensive responsibility, André Franco is not quite that, and struggled in a deep-lying role against NYCFC last week. It was a completely different story this time out, and the duo worked just fine, dominating Minnesota’s duo of Wil Trapp and Owen Gene.

Berhalter has been hesitant to make sweeping tactical changes in any given game, so this is a significant moment in the season. It indicates that his team is the endgame as they seek a playoff spot and are willing to try newer and bolder approaches to accomplish that goal. The back-five may not be back next week against Columbus, but it is another weapon in the Fire’s arsenal and a strategy they can deploy against any future three-backs that they may encounter.

2. The Fire can kill from a dead ball

While last night was a bit of a coming out party for two new Fire acquisitions and a new formation, it reinforced a message the Fire have been sending all year long - this team can strike from a set piece.  It starts from delivery - early in the year Philip Zinckernagel was the lone man taking free kicks and corners for the fire, adding an Olimpico of his own in Atlanta earlier in the year. Now, as André Franco enters the fold, he’s planted his flag as a man who can provide a dangerous delivery with his left foot, giving the Fire options from both sides of the ball.

In 2024 Chicago Fire set piece play was a sad state of affairs to say the least, with only a single goal directly from a dead ball which tied for the least in MLS. This led to a bit of surprise when Berhalter opted to keep set pieces coach Ryan Needs from Frank Klopas’s staff, but that decision is now paying dividends for one of the best attacks in MLS and it is showing on the field. Just zooming in on corner kicks, the Fire are 6-4-1 in games in which they have six or more corners, and just 2-4-2 in games where they have 2 or less.

The Fire currently sit tied for the third most goals directly from a dead ball in MLS with 6, and lead the league in goals from a corner kick, even though they’re in the bottom half of attempts. Add lethal delivery to a lineup already containing Andrew Gutman, Sam Rogers, Jack Elliott, and now Joel Waterman - all of whom win aerial duels at a rate above 55%, you create massive problems from defenses.

Those problems extend outside of deadball scenarios as well. One of the common themes we’ve seen this year is teams freely fouling fire attackers before they can get significant pressure to the box. Now you add that this team has the ability to score from distance on their free kicks and the calculus changes. Defenses will have to balance the Fire’s danger in transition with their ability to create from a dead ball as well.

3. André Franco is here to stay

The most intriguing player for the Fire in the final stretch of the season is undoubtedly Franco, who joined the club in a surprise loan move in August. The Portuguese midfielder arrived knowing that he would at most have eight regular season games to prove his worth, and the early signs were promising in his first start two weeks ago. Franco responded well after a slow night against NYCFC with a man of the match outing against Minnesota, and the decision to take a punt on him now seems like genius.

Specifically, Franco was tasked with being the primary midfield playmaker and ball carrier for the Fire. In a two-man midfield, that’s a big responsibility, and he embraced it, setting the tempo for the entire first half. He was also by far the most involved player in the action from both teams, recording an incredible 108 touches across his 90 minutes, completing 80 passes, and creating three chances.

As mentioned previously, his set pieces were also key in the win, directly resulting in both of the Fire’s first half goals. It’s a new dimension that could give the team more opportunities to get the clinical Philip Zinckernagel on the ball more in advanced situations, given that he won’t be responsible for every set piece like he has been for the bulk of the year. Franco already has three assists in MLS and the highest Expected Assists per 90 in the league.

Now, with four games plus a potential playoff run to play, Franco is well on his way to seeing his purchase option activated. That was not a given when he joined the club, given how low his stock was, but now the Fire have the possibility of getting another top contributor long-term on a TAM deal. Franco has four more games to keep this rolling and further solidify his status.

4. This was a statement win.

Much to Tim’s chagrin, this is the weekend he won’t be writing any of the five things so in his honor we have to mention that this victory likely serves as the signature win for the Fire heading into what they hope will be a fruitful playoff run.

Throughout the 2025 campaign the Fire’s legitimacy as a playoff team and a dark horse contender has been fairly questioned.  Time and time again the Fire would step up to take on a top level opponent and either fail to secure all 3 points - like saw against Miami - or sleepwalk through the majority of a game - as we saw in the recent 4-0 loss to Philadelphia. Now, for the first time since a March 22nd win against a depleted Vancouver Whitecaps side the Fire can say they’ve toppled a shield contender.

Even more than the victory, Saturday night served as a warning shot to the Eastern Conference that the new-look Chicago Fire may have an even newer look as players continue to gel and Gregg Berhalter tinkers with formations and lineups in the final days of the regular season. Suddenly, a team that struggled to stop the leak of goals looks more confident and organized against one of the best run systems in MLS. A team that has struggled to find an offensive spark off the bench now has Brian Gutiérrez waiting in relief should the game need extra momentum going forward.

It also provided a shot of confidence. Maybe the most notable fact of the victory, outside of how lopsided the affair was, is that once again it came on the road. For a team staring down the barrel of a ninth seed wildcard appearance, any playoff magic would need to come away from home (whether that be Soldier Field or SeatGeek). The boost in belief is one that should not be understated for a team lacking in MLS playoff experience, the only regular contributors with serious experience being the captain Jack Elliott and the newest member of the squad Joe Waterman.

For a team looking to exorcise the demons of Chicago Fire’s past adding this pelt to the wall goes a long way in proving they belong not just in the play in, but in the final field of 16 as they try to bring playoff soccer back to Chicago for the first time in almost a decade.

5. The playoff picture is getting clear

The Eastern Conference playoff picture has become incredibly muddled in recent weeks, and there’s no way of knowing what the bracket will remotely look like. From 1st to 10th, no team’s position is set. But for the Fire, it’s now much clear.

New England were eliminated from playoff contention, so now it’s official – it’s a two-horse race between the Chicago Fire and the New York Red Bulls for 9th place. There’s a slim chance the Fire could finish 8th or higher, but keeping things simple and with simply sneaking into the playoffs clearly being the objective at this point, 9th is the most realistic goal.

The Fire are well on their way to that. They have a game in hand over New York, and the Red Bulls play three incredibly difficult opponents (NYCFC, Cincinnati, and Columbus). Now, the Fire know that they are in pole position to play in the wild card, something that would be anything but a given had they lost in Minnesota.

The likely prize? Columbus are now the most likely opponent for the Fire with nearly a 50% probability of a Fire-Crew wild card game at this point. The situation will develop as the coming games progress, but as the crystal ball solidifies, the playoffs are getting much more tangible.