Denis Bouanga scores a late penalty kick, helping LAFC draw level with Chicago Fire at 2-2.
Chicago Fire and LAFC Battle to a Thrilling Draw
In a closely contested match, the Chicago Fire and Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) played out a 2-2 draw at SeatGeek Stadium. The result saw the Fire maintain their hold on the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, while LAFC, currently in sixth place in the Western Conference, have at least two games in hand on all teams above them.
The encounter marked the third meeting between the clubs, with Chicago winning the first encounter in 2018. The second match between the sides ended in a 0-0 draw in 2019.
Chicago Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady was the star of the show, saving four shots during the match. Brady's heroics were crucial in keeping the scores level, as LAFC pressed for the winning goal in the latter stages of the game.
The first goal of the game came in the 11th minute, when defender Carlos Terán scored his first of the season for Chicago Fire. Terán's goal was set up by Philip Zinckernagel, who provided the assist.
LAFC responded in the 19th minute through Ryan Hollingshead, who scored his second goal of the season. Hollingshead's goal was assisted by David Martínez.
Denis Bouanga levelled the scores for LAFC in the 81st minute, converting a penalty kick after being fouled by Terán. Bouanga's goal was his 14th of the season.
Chicago Fire fought back and took the lead again in the 70th minute, with Jonathan Bamba scoring his fourth goal of the season.
The match ended all square, with both sides taking a point each. The result leaves Chicago Fire still in contention for a postseason spot, a position they have not held since 2017.
Looking ahead, Chicago Fire will host St. Louis City on Saturday, while LAFC will take on the New England Revolution. Hugo Lloris made one save for LAFC during the match, while Brady saved four shots for Chicago Fire.
It was a thrilling encounter between two evenly matched sides, and both teams will be hoping to secure all three points when they meet again in the future.
[1] Link to 2025 match results [2] Link to Son Heung-min's MLS debut for LAFC
The next encounter between the Chicago Fire and LAFC could hold the destination of a playoff spot, as both teams aim for a win in their upcoming matches. Sports enthusiasts can keep up-to-date with the standings and news on the MLS soccer season by visiting sports websites. [1] [2]
