Karol Swiderski scored two goals and provided an assist in Charlotte FC’s three-goal first half that led to a 4-3 win over Chicago Fire on Wednesday.

The result allowed Charlotte (12-11-9, 45 points) to secure a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Junior Urso and Liel Abada also scored for Charlotte, which has seven points in its last three games.

Charlotte FC, a franchise in its third season, has reached its highest point total and will play beyond the regular season for the second consecutive year.

Swiderski has scored five goals in eight games this season. This was the first time in 2024 that he scored more than one goal, although he has now recorded six two-goal games in his three MLS seasons. He has been Charlotte’s leading scorer in each of the last two seasons.

Chicago (7-17-9, 30 points), playing its first game since being eliminated from the playoffs, got a first-half goal from Fabian Herbers and second-half goals from Kellyn Acosta and Tom Barlow. The Fire are on a four-game winning streak (0-3-1).

Swiderski’s first goal came in the eighth minute after an assist from Pep Biel, who played a pass back to Swiderski.

In the 25th minute, Herbers converted a header to equalize for the Fire.

Five minutes later, when Charlotte took the lead again with Urso’s first goal of the season, Biel had another assist with a pinpoint shot, allowing Urso to score with a header.

Then, in injury time of the first half, Swiderski scored again. After receiving a cross from Nathan Byrne and standing between two Chicago players, he headed the ball into the net for a 3-1 lead.

In the 58th minute, Swiderski set up Abada’s sixth goal of the season. Abada has scored two goals in three games and his relentless pursuit of rebounding the ball from players in the penalty area has paid off.

Acosta’s third goal of the season was his first since the end of May. It happened in the 67th minute, with an assist from Frederico Navarro.

Chicago’s Chris Mueller set up Barlow’s goal in second-half stoppage time.

–Field level media