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Chicago Fire's Jonathan Bamba (19) hugs teammate Jonathan Dean, back, after Bamba scored a goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Vancouver Whitecaps Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
By The Canadian Press

Fire too hot to handle in 3-1 win over Whitecaps

Oct 6, 2026 | 9:04 PM

CHICAGO (AP) — Philip Zinckernagel scored early in the second half, Maren Haile-Selassie had a late goal and an assist, and the Chicago Fire beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 on Tuesday night in a matchup of former Bayern Munich teammates Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Müller.

Lewandowski and Müller spent eight seasons together at Bayern from 2014-22. The stars were supposed to reunite in Major League Soccer months ago before wildfires postponed the highly anticipated matchup.

Lewandowski’s unselfish pass to a wide-open Haile-Selassie at the back post capped the scoring in the 88th minute. Lewandowski, who returned to Chicago early from international duty with Poland after a yellow-card suspension ruled him out of Monday’s match, has six goals and three assists through his first 12 MLS appearances.

Chicago (13-8-6) moved past Charlotte into fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings. The top four finishers earn home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Vancouver (15-7-5) remains atop the Western Conference with 50 points, three ahead of St. Louis and Dallas.

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Jonathan Bamba opened the scoring in the ninth minute for his first goal since March 21. The Fire’s designated player dribbled to the top of the 18-yard box and bent a shot past goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka.

Zinckernagel finished a nice give-and-go with Haile-Selassie to make it 2-0 in the 50th. Zinckernagel’s first goal since May came after he missed a penalty kick in the first half.

Vancouver defender Mathias Laborda scored in the 73rd by heading in Oliver Larraz’s corner kick.

UP NEXT

Whitecaps: Visit LAFC on Saturday.

Fire: Host New York City FC on Saturday.

___

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

The Associated Press



by The Canadian Press

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