Chicago Fire 3-2 New England Player Ratings: André Franco 9/10 Rated as Five-Goal Thriller Ends in Narrow Home Victory 3-2

What a chaotic and thrilling encounter in the Major League Soccer. Chicago Fire stormed out of the gates. They looked completely dominant for over an hour. It felt like the match was over before it really began. New England seemed to be caught completely cold. Jonathan Bamba scored within two minutes to set the tone. Then Philip Zinckernagel added a stunner from distance. At 2-0 inside ten minutes, we thought it was a done deal. When Hugo Cuypers slotted home the third, it looked like a comfortable stroll. However, New England showed incredible heart to fight back. A goal from Peyton Miller gave them a glimmer of hope. Then, a late penalty converted by Carles Gil made for a nail-biting finish. Here are the Chicago Fire vs New England player ratings.

Chicago Fire Player Ratings vs New England

Here are the Chicago Fire player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Chris Brady - 6.5: He made four crucial saves, including three from inside the box. However he also conceded two goals late on. We noticed he received a yellow card for time-wasting, which shows the pressure they were under. A decent performance overall, but not a clean sheet.

Defenders

Jack Elliott - 7.0: The captain led from the back with authority. He was solid, making seven clearances and winning his duels. He even had a header on target. From our perspective, he kept the backline organized for most of the game.

Sam Rogers - 7.0: A very composed performance before his injury. His passing was crisp and accurate, helping build from the back. He made three important interceptions. It was a real shame to see him forced off late in the match.

Andrew Gutman - 6.5: A mixed bag from the fullback. He was active down the flank but also got caught offside. What stood out to us was his missed big chance; he should have scored. Defensively he was okay, but he could have offered more going forward.

Jonathan Dean - 8.0: A fantastic defensive display. He was a rock on the right side. We saw him make an incredible nine successful duels out of twelve attempts. He also chipped in with seven clearances. An absolute workhorse performance.

Midfielders

André Franco - 9.0: Simply sensational and our Man of the Match. He was the architect of this victory. With two assists and five key passes, he ran the show. He was unplayable for large parts of the game. His vision and creativity were on another level entirely. Truly our highest-rated player.

Brian Gutiérrez - 8.0: Another creative spark in the midfield. He provided a brilliant assist and was constantly looking for killer through balls. His link-up play with the forwards was a joy to watch. He was a real handful for the opposition before being subbed.

Djé D'Avilla - 8.0: The unsung hero in midfield. His defensive work was immense. He won 11 duels and made four tackles, shielding the defense effectively. He completely dominated the middle of the park. From our perspective, his work allowed the creative players to flourish.

Forwards

Hugo Cuypers - 7.5: Got his goal with a tidy finish to make it 3-0. As a striker, that's his primary job done. He also worked hard for the team, though he did miss a big chance earlier. A very solid performance from the frontman.

Philip Zinckernagel - 8.5: Scored an absolute screamer from outside the box. What a hit that was. Beyond the goal, his work rate was phenomenal, with 12 ball recoveries. He was a constant threat with his dribbling and crossing. An outstanding all-around performance.

Jonathan Bamba - 7.5: He set the tone with a very early goal. His pace and directness caused problems from the start. He was a constant outlet on the left. It was a great contribution to get the team off to a flying start.

Substitutes

Sergio Oregel - 6.0: Came on for the brilliant Franco. He kept things tidy but didn't have the same impact. A steady if unspectacular cameo.

Maren Haile-Selassie - 6.0: Replaced Bamba and had a couple of runs. He missed a decent chance to add a fourth. Looked lively but lacked the final product.

Tom Barlow - 6.0: Came on for Cuypers late on to provide fresh legs. Didn't have much time to influence the game.

Kellyn Acosta - 6.0: Brought on to shore up the midfield. Helped see out the frantic final minutes. A professional job.

Omar González - 4.5: A disastrous cameo. He came on and almost immediately conceded a penalty. It put his team under immense pressure for no reason. A moment he will want to forget.

Manager

Gregg Berhalter - 7.0: His team started like a house on fire, and his tactics worked perfectly for 75 minutes. The commanding lead was a testament to his game plan. However, the late collapse will be a major concern for him. They got the win, but it was far more stressful than it needed to be.

New England Player Ratings vs Chicago Fire

Here are the New England player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Matt Turner - 6.5: It's hard to praise a keeper who conceded three goals. But he also made four saves, some of which were excellent. Without him, Chicago could have scored five or six. He did what he could behind a very shaky defense.

Defenders

Brayan Ceballos - 5.0: A very difficult night for the center-back. He looked lost during the early onslaught. He also picked up a yellow card for a poor challenge. From our perspective he struggled with the movement of Chicago's attackers.

Tanner Beason - 5.5: He made a few clearances and interceptions but was ultimately part of a defense that was torn apart. He was subbed late on. Not his finest hour, as he struggled to contain the home side's fluid attacks.

Ilay Feingold - 5.5: Had a tough time before being substituted. The game seemed to pass him by. He wasn't able to get a foothold against the relentless pressure. A forgettable performance.

Peyton Miller - 6.5: He scored a goal to give his team some hope, which was a huge positive. Defensively, however, he was part of a unit that struggled badly. A strange performance with a big high and many lows.

Midfielders

Jackson Yueill - 5.5: He was largely anonymous in the midfield battle. He failed to make any real impact on the game. He was rightly substituted as his team needed more presence in the middle.

Ignatius Ganago - 5.0: Worked hard but his end product was severely lacking. He missed a big chance that could have changed the game. From our perspective, it was a frustrating night for him where nothing quite came off.

Luca Langoni - 6.0: Showed flashes of creativity with a few key passes. He did create one big chance. However, he also lost possession far too often. An inconsistent performance before he was taken off.

Alhassan Yusuf - 6.0: A very busy player who fought for everything. He won eight duels but was also dribbled past six times. This tells the story of a player who was everywhere but often bypassed. A warrior's effort with mixed results.

Forwards

Tomás Chancalay - 7.5: The brightest spark for the visitors by a mile. He provided an assist and created two big chances. He looked like the only player capable of making something happen. A great individual performance in a losing effort.

Carles Gil - 7.0: The captain tried to drag his team back into the match. He scored his penalty with composure under pressure. He was always looking to create but was often isolated. His quality was still evident throughout.

Substitutes

Wyatt Omsberg - 6.0: Came on and was steady enough at the back. The game was more stretched by then.

Allan Oyirwoth - 6.0: Added some energy to the midfield but couldn't change the game's outcome.

Brandon Bye - 6.0: Brought on to offer an outlet on the wing. Didn't see much of the ball.

Will Sands - 6.5: Made a significant impact by winning the late penalty. His direct run caused the error. A very effective cameo.

Manager

Caleb Porter - 5.5: His team looked completely unprepared for Chicago's fast start. The game was lost in the first 15 minutes. While the late comeback showed spirit, the initial tactical setup was clearly wrong. He needs to figure out why his team starts so slowly.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is André Franco