Chicago Fire FC Dominates San Jose Earthquakes 5-1 in Invitational

INDIO, Calif. (Feb. 12, 2025) – Chicago Fire FC decisively defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 5-1 in their third match of the 2025 Coachella Valley Invitational at the Empire Polo Grounds on Wednesday morning.

Jonathan Bamba and Brian Gutiérrez each scored two goals during the match, while Philip Zinckernagel notched his first goal and assisted two others, contributing significantly to the Fire’s early lead.

The scoring opened in the fifth minute with a penalty kick converted by Bamba after he was taken down in the box following a give-and-go with Gutiérrez. Bamba’s shot went near the right post, giving Chicago a quick 1-0 advantage.

Eight minutes later, the Fire doubled their lead. Zinckernagel capitalized on a turnover in the San Jose box, passing to Oregel, who set up Gutiérrez for a powerful strike into the net.

Just three minutes after Gutiérrez’s goal, Chicago struck again. Zinckernagel propelled another attack down the left flank, receiving the ball from Bamba before returning it to Zinckernagel, who rounded the goalkeeper to score on an empty net.

The Fire continued their offensive push, and in the 27th minute, Gutiérrez earned his second goal of the match, converting a penalty kick after Zinckernagel was fouled in the box, extending Chicago’s lead to 4-0.

In the closing stages of the first half, Zinckernagel delivered his second assist, setting up Bamba in the 34th minute for Bamba’s second goal, finalizing the half at 5-0.

Following halftime, both teams made extensive substitutions. However, San Jose’s forward Chicho Arango managed to find the back of the net in the 56th minute with a powerful shot into the upper corner after securing the ball from a throw-in, bringing the final score to 5-1.

“We came out strong today and set the tone early,” said Fire head coach. “The players showed great teamwork, and we’re excited to see this level of performance as we prepare for the regular season.”

The matchup was a part of the preseason tournament as teams gear up for the MLS regular season kicks off later this month.

Chicago Fire FC is set to continue its preseason preparations with upcoming matches against other teams in the tournament, while the San Jose Earthquakes will look to regroup before their next game.

For official updates, fans can follow Chicago Fire on social media: Twitter – @chicagofire; Instagram – @chicagofire; Facebook.