Thrillingly close: Chicago Fire 0, Inter Miami 0
CHICAGO, Ill. — A crowd of 62,358 came to Chicago’s lakefront to see the Fire take on Inter Miami. The record-breaking crowd saw everything but a goal, as the teams finished the match with a 0-0 draw as the Fire remained undefeated – but still searching for their first win – at home in 2025.
Those in attendance that came to see Lionel Messi play were not left wanting as the Argentine star made his first competitive appearance at Soldier Field since Copa America Centenario in 2016. He anchored a mostly first-choice lineup for the visitors, including longtime teammates Sergio Busquets and Luis Suárez. Rotating just four players on Miami’s squad is a notable choice considering Miami’s schedule having played three games in the past week in a half between league and continental play. With his performance tonight, 37-year-old Messi has played 360 minutes in the past 10 days.
The Fire once again tied a team record with five academy products in their starting lineup, including Brian Gutiérrez who returned to the lineup for the first time since March 15th against Toronto. He anchored an all-Fire homegrown midfield including Sergio Oregel and Mauricio Pineda. The trio played ahead of an injury-depleted defense that forced Fire Head Coach Gregg Berhalter to get creative, Omari Glasgow at right-back.
In the opening minutes, Miami put on the performance that the thousands in the crowd wearing pink hoped to see, pressuring the Fire’s makeshift defense and forcing goalkeeper Chris Brady to be sharp. Barely two minutes in, Pineda earned a yellow for a late tackle on Miami’s Benjamin Cremaschi, setting an early tone for the game.
Just a minute later, Carlos Terán gave the ball away to Cremaschi who passed it to Messi. He curled a ball in from distance, forcing Brady to parry it above his net for the first save of the game. A few minutes later, Cremaschi again had a dangerous cross, but this time, Jack Elliott, back in the lineup after missing the previous game, saw it to safety.
After that, the home team started growing into the game. In the 7th minute, Brian Gutiérrez tested Oscar Ustari twice with shots off set pieces, but neither was on target, with one blocked and the second going wide of the net. The host’s first shot on target was Pineda’s in the 26th minute, but it was a weak chance from outside the box.
Although Miami registered two shots by the fifth minute of the game, they didn’t register their third until stoppage time, with a quick play that saw the ball work its way from Ustari to Suárez bearing in on net in just two passes, and ultimately the Fire outshot Miami nine to three in the first half. Referee Jon Freemon issued a total of five cards in the first half, all yellows, two to the Fire and other three to the visitors, showing the intense nature of the game.
Neither team made substitutions at half – a surprise for Miami, given the visibly tired legs and mental lapses coming from the team that had already played three games in the preceding nine days.
On the restart, Miami once again had the first look on net, but the Fire had the first big chance when Hugo Cuypers recovered the ball, playing it to Bamba who crossed it back to him – but the Belgian striker was a step off pace and couldn’t connect with it.
The next action of the match was Miami’s – and Messi’s. Jack Elliott received a yellow in the 64th minute, giving Messi a free kick just outside the penalty . “You’re holding your breath” Gregg Berhalter said after the match, “because it almost feels like a penalty kick when he gets those opportunities. You’re like, ‘this is a goal.’”
It wasn’t, though, as Brady got a tip on the ball to in from Messi to see it wide. The Fire soon responded on the other end, but also couldn’t break through, as opportunities from Gutiérrez and Maren Haile-Selassie became weak shots that Usuri handled without undue difficulty. Still, it began to feel like the Fire were ready to break through. Then the Fire did it again, giving Messi a second free kick from inches from the first spot because Sergio Oregel received a booking. This time, however, Messi’s shot went wide.
That set up a furious final last ten minutes, that saw both sides get chances, including another free kick opportunity from Messi that went off the post and a dangerous shot from Bamba that Ustari parried to Maren Haile-Selassie who couldn’t bury the opportunity.
Ultimately, the Fire had the better chances on the night but had to settle for the team’s first clean of the year as they kept Miami’s potent offense off the scoresheet for the first time in league play in 2025. Despite getting in dangerous areas, they weren’t able to punish Miami with the chances they created.
