South African defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi missed Chicago Fire’s 2-2 draw against Orlando City on Wednesday night after receiving a suspension for accumulating five yellow cards during the Major League Soccer (MLS) season.

The Bafana Bafana international was unavailable for the encounter after the MLS confirmed his suspension and imposed a $250 fine, equivalent to approximately R4,166. His absence meant he could only watch from the sidelines as Chicago Fire fought to recover from a two-goal deficit at Soldier Field.

The suspension came at an important stage of the season, with Chicago Fire preparing for the MLS Cup Playoffs. The club has already secured its place in the postseason and is looking to maintain momentum in its remaining regular-season fixtures.

Orlando City made a strong start to Wednesday’s encounter, taking a 2-0 lead and putting the hosts under pressure. With Mbokazi unavailable, Chicago had to find a way to respond against an opponent determined to secure a positive result.

However, Chicago Fire showed resilience to fight their way back into the contest. Jonathan Bamba played a key role in the comeback, scoring one goal before providing the assist for Maren Haile-Selassie to find the net and level the score at 2-2.

The result allowed Chicago to claim a point after trailing by two goals, although the team will also reflect on the opportunity to collect all three points in front of its supporters.

Another South African, Puso Dithejane, featured in the encounter after coming on as a late substitute. His appearance provided another opportunity for the young player to contribute as Chicago continued its preparations for the decisive stage of the campaign.

With two regular-season matches remaining, Chicago Fire sit fourth in the Eastern Conference standings and have already confirmed their qualification for the MLS Cup Playoffs. Their focus will now be on finishing the regular season strongly and building confidence ahead of the knockout stage.

Mbokazi’s suspension is an unwanted setback as the club approaches the postseason, particularly given the importance of squad availability during the closing weeks of the campaign. However, the defender will have an opportunity to return once he has served his suspension, subject to the club’s selection decisions.

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