Chicago Fire Beat Colorado Rapids 4-2 as Bamba Scores Twice in Six Goal Game

The Chicago Fire beat the Colorado Rapids 4-2 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado, on Saturday night, October 31, 2026. Jonathan Bamba scored twice for Chicago, and Robert Lewandowski and Puso Dithejane added late goals in an MLS regular season match that kicked off at 8:30 PM CDT.

Colorado scored first. Morgan Whittaker opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, his third goal in three straight games, to give the home team a 1-0 lead. Chicago levelled before the break. Bamba equalised in the 41st minute, and the teams went in at half time tied 1-1. Colorado held its lead for 19 minutes, from the 22nd minute to the 41st, before Bamba brought Chicago back into the match with four minutes left in the first half.

Bamba puts Chicago in front, Aaronson answers

Bamba scored his second goal in the 56th minute, assisted by Jonathan Dean, to put Chicago ahead 2-1. It was the first Chicago lead of the night, after the visitors had trailed in the first half and then levelled once. The lead lasted two minutes. Paxten Aaronson equalised for Colorado in the 58th minute, assisted by Georgi Minoungou, to make it 2-2 and set up a wide open final half hour. Four of the six goals in the match came in the second half, two for each team before Chicago scored the last two goals of the night without reply.

The match statistics show how even the game was for long stretches. In SokaLive accounting, Colorado had 57 percent possession to Chicago's 43 percent, and both teams had 14 shots. Chicago put six shots on target to Colorado's four. Colorado had five corners to Chicago's six, and Colorado committed 11 fouls to Chicago's 13.

Late goals settle it for Berhalter's team

Lewandowski put Chicago back in front in the 74th minute, assisted by Philip Zinckernagel, to make it 3-2. Dithejane sealed the win in the 88th minute, assisted by Lewandowski, for the final 4-2 score. Lewandowski finished the night with a goal and an assist, scoring the third Chicago goal and then setting up the fourth. Gregg Berhalter is Chicago's head coach, named as coach in the Soccerzz recap of the match. The scoring ran in a clear order on the night: Whittaker for Colorado, two goals from Bamba either side of half time, Aaronson for Colorado, and then the late pair from Lewandowski and Dithejane that took the game away from the home team in the final 16 minutes.

Chicago climbed to fifth place with the win in SokaLive accounting. Colorado had entered the match needing a win for its playoff scenarios, according to USA Today reporting noted in the match coverage, and the loss ends that win route. The result on its own does not settle Colorado's final playoff position, which depended on other results.

Next, Chicago Fire will host Columbus Crew, while Colorado Rapids visit FC Dallas, according to the Soccerzz fixture listing.