Philadelphia Union Wins Playoff Shootout Against Chicago Fire After 2-2 Draw

The Philadelphia Union and Chicago Fire faced off in the first round of the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs at Subaru Park, with the match ending in a dramatic 2-2 draw. Philadelphia, the Supporters' Shield winners, took a 2-0 lead in the second half through goals from Indiana Vassilev and Milan Iloski, but Chicago mounted a late comeback with goals from Jonathan Bamba and Jack Elliott to equalize deep into stoppage time. The Union, known for their defensive strength and home form, entered the playoffs as favorites, while Chicago relied on their offensive trio, including Hugo Cuypers and Philip Zinckernagel, to challenge Philadelphia. The game was marked by intense physicality and a late scuffle resulting in a red card for Chicago's Sergio Oregel Jr. Fans could watch the match live on Apple TV+, FS1, and other streaming platforms, with the series set as a best-of-three. Both teams showed strong offensive and defensive stats during the regular season, setting up an exciting playoff series.