D.C. United can't keep pace with Chicago Fire in 3-1 loss: Match report
For the second straight match, a halftime lead didn't hold up for United as Chicago's late surge condemned the Black-and-Red to a home loss.
For the second straight week, D.C. United saw a lead against a higher-end Eastern Conference slip away, with the Chicago Fire leaving a drenched Audi Field 3-1 victors.
Tai Baribo marked his first start in three weeks with a goal, but a promising first half for United went for naught as the Fire got goals from Robin Lod, Hugo Cuypers, and Maren Haile-Selassie in the game's final half-hour, condemning D.C. to their first MLS defeat in just over a month.
The first half-hour saw an even balance in terms of opportunities: Jonathan Bamba swerved one shot high, while Philip Zinckernagel's rasping low shot found the outside netting. The biggest threat for United may have come without an actual shot for the stat sheet, as the red-hot Cuypers couldn't make contact with a potential tap-in that found him open at the back post.
On the flip side, João Peglow's close control and persistence created a 15th-minute chance that flew a foot high, while Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady had to be alert on looks from Louis Munteanu and Jackson Hopkins.
Bamba's looping 37th-minute header was a real worry for United, but the home fans would end up with something to cheer four minutes later.
The sequence began innocuously enough, with Nikola Markovic's hopeful ball to Baribo seeing the striker pop his flick-on attempt virtually straight up. However, the 28-year-old stayed on the move while Munteanu held off Jack Elliott, then got his first MLS assist with a nifty backheel that left his strike partner plenty of space to finish.
Clinical from Tai Baribo to put D.C. ahead!
— Soccerwise (@soccerwisehq.bsky.social) May 13, 2026 at 8:31 PM
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With a lead, an uneventful start to the second half suited United just fine. A nearly 50-yard shot from Munteanu forced Brady into an acrobatic 56th-minute save, but beyond that a stop-start spell was working for the hosts.
However, as a band of strong storms moved through the District on the hour mark, Chicago washed away United's unbeaten streak. A 62nd-minute equalizer came after some patient work from the Fire ended with Zinckernagel getting time and space to bend a deep cross into the goalmouth.
United has largely been strong defending in these instances in 2026, but Lod gained position on Markovic and — despite getting spun backwards in mid-air — headed past Johnson from close range.
The situation went from bad to worse in the 69th minute, with Markovic conceding a penalty kick. Substitute Puso Dithejane kept the ball in along the touchline before isolating the stand-in right back, who got a small handful of jersey in two different moments. Dithejane's fall seemed like a separate matter from a jersey grab, but referee Ricardo Fierro was convinced.
United should have escaped the moment without further damage after Johnson's superb save on Zinckernagel's penalty, but from there chaos broke out in the area. Andrew Gutman just barely kept the rebound in play, forcing United's goalkeeper into a kick-save as players from both sides converged. That block bounded straight into Hopkins' chest before falling perfectly for Cuypers to sweep up the mess.
A VAR check over potential encroachment didn't save United, and Johnson had to do very well to deny Dithejane a third on the break. Jared Stroud and Matti Peltola saw decent looks parried away, the first by Brady and the second by Zinckernagel, but in truth D.C.'s lack of attacking depth and variation stood out more than the late chances.
The Fire were able to withstand the Black-and-Red's attempts to flood the box with bodies, and eventually made sure of the result with a late third. Zinckernagel, after being brought down by Peltola, unleashed a knuckling free kick from 30 yards that had eyes for the corner.
Johnson did what he could in the slippery conditions, blocking the shot, but Maren Haile-Selassie won the race to the rebound to finish.
That's three for Chicago! The Fire are flying in the Capital!
— Soccerwise (@soccerwisehq.bsky.social) May 13, 2026 at 9:30 PM
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Hopes of a late comeback fizzled, with Chicago picking up a couple of late yellow cards on fouls and then repelling United's dead-ball menace comfortably.
The loss ended a five-game unbeaten run in MLS play, which had been the longest such stretch for the Black-and-Red since mid-2021. United (4-4-5) wrap up a busy week on Saturday, with St. Louis City SC coming to Audi Field for the first time ever. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Box score — MLS regular season (game 13)
5/13/2026
D.C. United 1 (Baribo 41)
Chicago Fire 3 (Lod 62, Cuypers 71, Haile-Selassie 87)
Lineups:
DCU (442): Sean Johnson; Nikola Markovic, Lucas Bartlett (C), Kye Rowles, Keisuke Kurokawa; Jackson Hopkins (Jacob Murrell 87), Matti Peltola, Brandon Servania, João Peglow; Tai Baribo (Jared Stroud 64), Louis Munteanu
Chicago (4231): Chris Brady; Johnny Dean, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Jack Elliott (C), Andrew Gutman; Mauricio Pineda, Dje D'Avila; Philip Zinckernagel (Chris Mueller 94+), Robin Lod (Maren Haile-Selassie 63), Jonathan Bamba (Puso Dithejane 63); Hugo Cuypers (Jason Shokalook 94+)
Bookings:
DCU - None
Chicago - D'Avila 19, Bamba 48, Elliott 75, Dean 89, Gutman 96+
Referee: Ricardo Fierro
Weather: Partly cloudy before storms, 63°
Attendance: 11,243
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