Revolution clinch playoff berth after 2-2 draw with Fire

Tomas Chancalay and Carles Gil scored for New England, while Brian Gutierrez and Gaston Gimenez replied for host Chicago as the two sides played to a 2-2 draw on Saturday at Soldier Field.

With D.C. United's 5-3 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, New England officially clinched a playoff berth. The point earned in the draw moves Chicago two points back of the playoff line in the Eastern Conference.

New England (13-6-10, 49 points) is now unbeaten in its last 10 meetings, with Chicago posting a 3-0-7 record against the Fire dating back to the 2019 season. Chicago (8-12-10, 34 points) saw its winless streak stretch to seven straight MLS regular-season games (0-5-2), with their last victory coming against Toronto FC on July 15.

Gimenez gave Chicago its first lead of the match in the 54th minute, beating Earl Edwards Jr. with a strike from the edge of the box for his first goal of the season.

The Revs responded five minutes later as Gil's shot from just outside the area deflected off Chicago defender Miguel Navarro past Chris Brady, for his team-leading ninth of the season.

Chancalay and Gutierrez exchanged goals a minute apart in the opening 45.

New England opened the scoring in the 17th minute with Chancalay's right-footed strike beating Brady for his third of the season.

The Fire responded when Gutierrez redirected a Jonathan Dean through ball past Edwards for his second goal of the season. The goal ended Chicago's five-game goalless drought.

The two sides played to a 3-3 draw at Gillette Stadium on May 27 in their only other MLS regular-season meeting.

Up next, Chicago travels to New York for a match against the Red Bulls next Saturday, while the Revs host Charlotte.