New York City 3-1 Chicago Fire: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
MLS · Saturday 25 July 2026 · Yankee Stadium, New York City · referee R. Montero · full time
Full time: New York City 3-1 Chicago Fire
New York City 3-1 Chicago Fire: New York City took the points in MLS on Saturday 25 July 2026 at Yankee Stadium. The goals: Nicolás Fernández Mercau 10', Joel Waterman 21', Agustín Ojeda 29', Malachi Jones 41'.
How New York City won it
New York City struck first through Nicolás Fernández Mercau in the 10th minute. Chicago Fire levelled at 1-1 in the 21st minute through Joel Waterman. Agustín Ojeda made it 2-1 to New York City in the 29th minute, set up by Andrés Perea. Malachi Jones made it 3-1 to New York City in the 41st minute, set up by Agustín Ojeda.
It was 3-1 at half-time, and nothing changed after the break.
The referee, R. Montero, showed 4 yellow cards: 1 to New York City and 3 to Chicago Fire.
New York City: P. Jansen, 4-1-4-1 · Chicago Fire: G. Berhalter, 4-4-2.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Why it went this way
On the day the expected goals were 1.43 for New York City and 1.61 for Chicago Fire.
New York City scored about 1.6 more than their chances were worth: clinical finishing, or a goalkeeper having a bad day.
New York City had 3 shots on target, Chicago Fire 5.
Chicago Fire had 54% of the ball, but New York City took the points.
Where the two sides stood before this match
New York City came into it with 31 MLS matches played, scoring 1.4 and conceding 1.4 a match, with 1.51 expected goals for and 1.43 against, and had won 26% of their matches.
Chicago Fire came into it with 31 MLS matches played, scoring 1.8 and conceding 1.5 a match, with 1.80 expected goals for and 1.48 against, and had won 48% of their matches.
New York City vs Chicago Fire: the match in numbers
| New York City | Match statistics | Chicago Fire |
|---|---|---|
| 46% | Ball possession | 54% |
| 1.43 | Expected goals (xG) | 1.61 |
| 11 | Total shots | 9 |
| 3 | Shots on target | 5 |
| 3 | Big chances | 3 |
| 434 | Total passes | 500 |
| 80% | Pass accuracy | 81% |
| 1 | Corners | 2 |
| 8 | Fouls | 16 |
| 5 | Offsides | 1 |
| 20 | Tackles | 21 |
| 4 | Saves | 0 |
| 1 | Yellow cards | 3 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Agustín Ojeda (New York City), rated 7.9 by Sportmonks, with 1 goal, 1 assist.
New York City
- Agustín Ojeda 7.9 1 goal, 1 assist
- Nicolás Fernández Mercau 7.7 1 goal
- Andrés Perea 7.6 1 assist
- Malachi Jones 7.1 1 goal
- Tayvon Gray 7.0
Chicago Fire
- Joel Waterman 7.3 1 goal
- Anton Salétros 6.9
- Philip Zinckernagel 6.9
- Jonathan Dean 6.9
- Jonathan Bamba 6.7
The lowest-rated starter was Chris Brady at 5.7. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- New York City: New York City vs Atlanta United Wednesday 28 October 2026 · MLS
- Chicago Fire: Chicago Fire vs Orlando City Thursday 29 October 2026 · MLS
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about New York City vs Chicago Fire
What was the score in New York City vs Chicago Fire?
New York City 3-1 Chicago Fire (half-time 3-1), MLS, Saturday 25 July 2026.
Who scored in New York City vs Chicago Fire?
Nicolás Fernández Mercau 10', Joel Waterman 21', Agustín Ojeda 29', Malachi Jones 41'.
Did Moneyball predict New York City vs Chicago Fire correctly?
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Who was man of the match in New York City vs Chicago Fire?
Agustín Ojeda, rated 7.9 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed New York City vs Chicago Fire?
R. Montero.
Every match, before and after
Moneyball Odds writes a preview with its estimate before every match of Europe's top five leagues and the European cups, then marks it against the result, hits and misses alike.
Moneyball Odds is a statistical analysis site, not a bookmaker. No model predicts football reliably. For readers aged 18 and over.