The two sides entered the contest level on 53 points, and after a cautious first half, MacDonald stepped forward to score twice in the span of 13 minutes.
The Fire have won five of its last seven games, while New York drops to fourth in the East with only one victory in four matches.
Neither goalkeeper was really tested in the first half as Dax McCarty missed the target with New York’s best chance and the Fire’s Alvaro Fernandez headed over the net from seven yards.
The opening goal arrived in the 65th minute when Chris Rolfe cut the New York defense open with a pass in midfield that released MacDonald into the penalty area, where he slotted his shot past goalkeeper Luis Robles.
Kenny Cooper narrowly turned a header past the right post as the Red Bulls tried to equalize, but only eight minutes later, the Fire made it 2-0.
Dan Paladini played provider on the second goal with a well-weighted pass to MacDonald, who managed to stay onside before rolling his shot beyond the reach of Robles.
Source: Chicago Tribune