Chicago Fire Secures Playoff Spot Despite Lewandowski Slump

Chicago Fire secured a place in the Major League Soccer playoffs for a second consecutive season despite losing two straight matches, while Robert Lewandowski continued to struggle in front of goal. The Chicago club qualified after Orlando City defeated D.C. United in a concurrent fixture, but its recent performances prompted ESPN to lower its position in the MLS Power Rankings from fifth to sixth.

According to reports published by Interia Sport and PolskieRadio24.pl on October 19 and 20, Chicago lost 1-3 to Philadelphia Union before suffering a 0-1 defeat against New England Revolution. Lewandowski, the 38-year-old Polish international, failed to score in either game, extending his league drought to six consecutive appearances.

Chicago had won its previous two matches against Vancouver Whitecaps, 3-1, and New York Red Bulls, 2-1, following Lewandowski's return from international duty. Despite the subsequent defeats, the team secured another postseason appearance, marking its first consecutive playoff qualifications since 2008 and 2009.

ESPN's latest MLS Power Rankings kept Nashville SC at the top. Inter Miami climbed to second after beating Atlanta United 3-1 for its third consecutive victory, while St. Louis City SC dropped to third. Chicago remained among the Eastern Conference's stronger teams despite its recent setbacks.

In its assessment, ESPN highlighted Chicago's defeats against Philadelphia and New England while expressing confidence that the team could learn from the losses before the postseason.

"Although they are still one of the stronger teams in the East, the Fire had to acknowledge the superiority of two opponents from the same conference, Philadelphia and New England, losing both matches. After Saturday's 0-1 defeat to the Revs, the team will certainly draw lessons that will be useful in the playoffs," ESPN wrote in its explanation of the ranking.

Lewandowski's individual scoring drought has also attracted attention from Polish football commentators and supporters. According to Sportowe Fakty, his last MLS goal came against Inter Miami in September, and he had gone six league matches without scoring while recording one assist during that stretch.

The Polish striker had scored six goals in his first nine MLS appearances for Chicago, according to PolskieRadio24.pl. His subsequent run without a goal included matches against New England Revolution, Nashville SC, Vancouver Whitecaps, New York City FC, Philadelphia Union and another meeting with New England. His appearance against Vancouver produced an assist rather than a goal.

Chicago's attacking performance against New England illustrated the team's difficulties converting chances. According to PolskieRadio24.pl, Fire recorded 19 shots compared with five for their opponents, but lost 0-1. Lewandowski played the entire match and attempted three shots, with one on target.

Head coach Gregg Berhalter had previously defended the forward, emphasizing the need for teammates to deliver the ball to him in better scoring positions. The coach also described Chicago's intensity and performance against New England positively, despite the result.

Mateusz Borek, a Polish sports journalist speaking on Kanal Sportowy's Moc Futbolu program, offered a different perspective on Lewandowski's adjustment to MLS. He argued that the striker was accustomed to playing alongside higher-quality teammates and could not expect to dominate matches individually simply because he had moved to the United States.

"A struggle for dollars. Lewandowski was accustomed to a completely different level of football and a different quality of players. He will not have that here.

He has to earn it himself. Anyone who thought Lewy would come to Chicago and, just because it is the United States rather than Spain, pick up the ball, dribble past five players and score was mistaken. He was always more of a player who excelled at complementing a particular system," Borek said.

Chicago's next scheduled match is an away game against Atlanta United on October 25. The fixture offers Lewandowski another opportunity to end his scoring drought as Fire prepares for the MLS postseason.