Jorge Ruvalcaba, Cade Cowell, and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting each found the net as the New York Red Bulls secured a 3-1 win over the Chicago Fire on Saturday, handing the Fire their second consecutive home defeat.
Goalkeeper Ethan Horvath made three saves for the Red Bulls (4-5-3, 15 points), who snapped both a two-game scoring drought and a five-match winless run in MLS play.
Hugo Cuypers pulled one back for Chicago (5-4-2, 17 points) in the 87th minute, but the Fire have now lost momentum after a five-game unbeaten streak.
The matchup also featured a notable coaching duel, as New York rookie head coach Michael Bradley defeated his former U.S. men’s national team boss Gregg Berhalter, now guiding Chicago. Bradley played for the USMNT from 2006 to 2019, with Berhalter as his coach during his final season.
Chicago’s Chris Brady recorded just one save on the night, and he has now conceded nine goals over the last four games. That comes after he posted clean sheets in four of the Fire’s first seven matches this season.
The first half was largely stagnant, with Chicago holding 59% possession but failing to register a shot on goal until the 44th minute.
New York capitalized on their next possession in the 45th minute. The Fire defense gave Emil Forsberg and Ruvalcaba too much space on the left side of the box. Ruvalcaba one-timed a pass from Forsberg to set himself up for a right-footed blast into the top-right corner, his fourth goal of the season and a 1-0 lead.
Just four minutes into the second half, the Red Bulls struck again through a quick transition. Ronald Donkor dribbled from beyond midfield and fed Cade Cowell, who made an inside run. Cowell received the ball on the right side of the box and fired a low shot past the onrushing Brady for his first goal as a Red Bull, making it 2-0.
New York defender Dylan Nealis made a crucial intervention in the 67th minute, blocking two Chicago shots. He denied a looping left-footed effort from Puso Dithejane that floated over Horvath, as Nealis raced to the goal line and cleared the ball over the crossbar.
In the 81st minute, Choupo-Moting converted a penalty kick into the left side of the net after Brady fouled Adri Mehmeti inside the box.
Cuypers, who entered the match tied for the league lead with 10 goals, scored in the 87th minute on a rebound after Horvath saved his initial shot. It was his seventh goal in Chicago’s last four matches.
