CHICAGO, Ill. — The Fire’s effort was improved, but not enough to emerge victorious against Nashville.

Fresh off a 7-1 victory, the Chicago Fire came home for the first time since May 10th to host Nashville SC in the final match of the first half of their season. The Fire were hoping to turn the energy of the second-ever seven-goal performance in team history into a win at home. Doing so would also wash away the stain from the last meeting between the two teams, when Nashville defeated Chicago 7-2.  It wasn't to be, however.

Both teams went into the match facing several challenges related to the games being played during the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and right on the heels of the June international break. Nashville lost two key starters to the regional tournament: Attacker Jacob Shaffelburg, who was key to Nashville’s ability to get behind the Fire’s lines during the last meetup, is playing with the Canadian Men’s National Team. Star center-back Walker Zimmerman is serving with the U.S. Men’s National Team. Backup goalkeeper Xavier Valdez is also in the tournament, playing with the Dominican Republic.

The Fire, meanwhile, made do without Chris Brady in net for the second game  in a row, putting veteran Jeff Gal in his traditional place. The Fire also faced significant absences elsewhere: Philip Zinckernagel, whose performance this season makes him a strong candidate for team MVP at the season’s midpoint, was out for a prearranged personal matter. Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter’s side also faced a number of injuries, most significantly at center-back, where Christopher Cupps, Sam Rogers and Carlos Terán are all out with with knocks ranging from short to long term.

Before the match, Jack Elliott and Hugo Cuypers were both listed as questionable, but both, ultimately, were in the Starting XI and played the full 90 minutes. Brian Gutiérrez and Mauricio Pineda returned to the starting lineup – the latter from suspension for yellow card accumulation; the former after spending the first half against D.C. United last week on the bench following his second suspension on the year. The two joined Sergio Oregel Jr., reuniting the team's all-homegrown midfield that has become a hallmark of the team's 2025 campaign. Omar González was given his second-straight start alongside Elliott. Jonathan Dean, whose performance has grown significantly this season, kept his place in the Starting XI.

From kickoff, you wouldn’t have known that the scoreline from the team's last meetup. The Fire had the first shot of the game in the third minute, off the foot of Brian Gutiérrez, followed up a minute later with an effort of his own, but neither counted in the one sense that matters.

The Fire continued to press through the first half. In the 19th minute, Gutiérrez won the the ball in a gaggle of Nashville players and got a pass off to Jonathan Bamba, who, despite a great look on Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis’s net, sent the shot wide. The effort was convincing enough for the Fire’s goal horn to start wailing, but was soon cut off when it was clear the shot had missed the target.

Throughout the half, the Fire looked primed to get their first lead against Nashville since their 1-0 win over the team on July 8, 2023, but the goal never came.  "I think we weren't good enough in decisive moments," Berhalter told reporters after the match. "I think we played a good match. I think there were really good moments in the match, but in the deciding moments, in the penalty boxes, we weren't good enough."

Nashville grew into the game over the course of the half and had looks of their own, but neither team seemed able to truly gain the momentum or upper hand and both teams returned to their locker rooms at half still searching for their first goal.

At the restart, Kellyn Acosta came on for Mauricio Pineda in the midfield for the Fire, while the visitors brought on Andy Nájar for Josh Bauer – the Honduran right-back having been a Fire-killer in the past.

Whether because of the changes or something else, the visitors came out the stronger team in the second half.

In the 55th minute, the Fire gave the ball to Nájar who crossed the ball to Hany Mukhtar in the box. The 2022 MLS MVP made no mistake in sending it past Gal, putting the visitors up 1-0.

Looking for an equalizer Berhalter took to his bench, bringing on Leonardo Barroso for Dean in the 66th minute. Six minutes later, the Fire head coach, who switched to playing out of a 4-4-2 formation in the second half, took off Haile-Selassie for Tom Barlow who had just completed the first hat trick for the Fire in nearly eight years last week.

The next goal, however, was Nashville’s. In the 75th minute, Nashville recovered the ball deep in the Fire’s end and were able to work the ball to Hany Mukthar at the top of the box who sent it in to striker Sam Surridge, who had been given time and space despite being surrounded by a sea of red. The English journeyman, therefore, had little trouble in directing it into the Fire’s net. Nashville two, with the Fire still looking for their first of the evening.

The game was ultimately a significantly improved effort but not an improved result from the previous meeting between the two teams,. For the 26,942 in attendance, it was a decent spectacle but a bitter ending, with the team still looking for just their second win of the season after seven games. "I’m concerned, of course I am," Berhalter said of the team's form at Soldier Field. "Home games, you have to win, particularly in the MLS, to have a chance. We gotta get better. I think our fans deserve better results."

The Fire’s first half of the season ends with 25 points and a record of 7W-4D-6L. The Fire have already matched their 2024 win total, and are just five points off their points total for the previous season, but remain, for the time being, in 10th place and out of a postseason spot – the duality showing both how far the Fire have come in 2025 and how far they remain from the aspirations that the team has set for the club.

The Fire’s next game is at home, on June 25th against the Philadelphia Union.

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