Charlotte FCvsChicago Fire FC
CLT 1/CHI 2
Things to say
Chicago Fire beat Charlotte FC 2-1 at Soldier Field to move to 9-2-6.
01
opener
Fire got it done at home, 2-1 over Charlotte. Scrappy one, but they took their chances. Soldier Field's finally giving them something to cheer about.
02
key player
Lewandowski led the line with four shots. Guy's a menace in the box even at this stage of his career.
03
hot take
Charlotte outshot them eight to four with Pep Biel and still walked away with nothing. That's just profligate finishing.
04
deep cut
Joel Waterman was everywhere at the back, fourteen defensive interventions and 64 accurate passes. Unsung guy who kept them in it.
05
exit
Fire are proper in the mix now. Curious to see if they can keep this run going.
The recap
Chicago Fire took this one 2-1 at Soldier Field and it was Lewandowski leading the line with four shots, always a threat. Charlotte actually threw more at the goal, with Pep Biel firing eight of his own, but Kahlina's three saves in net couldn't stop the Fire from finding the net twice.
Joel Waterman was an absolute wall at the back for Chicago, racking up 14 defensive interventions to snuff out wave after wave. Charlotte will feel hard done by given how much they pushed, but the Fire took their chances and that's the whole game.