Chicago Fire Defeat Galaxy 2-1, Snap Nine-Match Winless Streak

The Chicago Fire finally scored multiple goals in a match and it was enough to defeat the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 on a rainy night at Soldier Field.

Goals from club-record signing Hugo Cuypers and Homegrown attacker Brian Gutiérrez gave the Fire the comeback victory at home.

The win snaps a nine-match winless streak for the Fire overall and a 13-match winless streak against the Galaxy going back to August 1, 2010.

Chicago (3-6-8, 15 points) has now won more matches (2) against Western Conference opposition than they have Eastern Conference foes (1).

Los Angeles took an early lead and the Fire looked like they were going to be their own worst enemy once again. Maya Yoshida’s header hit off Rafael Czichos’ arm in the fifth minute and, after a VAR check, the Galaxy were awarded a spot kick that Riqui Puig slotted into the corner of the net to put his side up 1-0.

The Fire had a whole lot of nothing going forward until they finally registered their first shot in the 32nd minute, one that turned fortunes in their favor for the rest of the match.

Brian Gutiérrez had the ball near midfield and played it to Maren Haile-Selassie near the edge of the Galaxy’s penalty area. Haile-Selassie’s pass was deflected directly to the sliding Hugo Cuypers, who knocked the ball in the back of the net to tie the match at one.

The goal is the fifth of the season for Cuypers and he’s now contributed a goal contribution in each of the last three matches.

The Galaxy had multiple chances to regain the lead after halftime but they weren’t able to break the deadlock before the Fire took the 2-1 advantage for good in the 61st minute.

Brian Gutiérrez intercepted a pass from Edwin Cerrillo near midfield and made the long run towards the Los Angeles penalty area. Gutiérrez pulled up from 22 yards and hit a right-footed effort that bounced off the left goalpost, the right goalpost and into the net - sending the home crowd into a state of euphoria after over a month of footballing ineptitude from their side.

The Galaxy brought on Dejan Joveljic just before Gutiérrez scored to bolster their attack and it worked well despite the team not finding that equalizing goal. Joveljic’s best chance came in the 69th minute after being set up by Mark Delgado but Chris Brady saved the effort from the Galaxy’s number nine and the follow up from Julián Aude, which wound up as the best opportunities for Los Angeles after they went down 2-1.

The Fire’s win is their third of the season and all of them have come at Soldier Field. The Fire scored multiple goals for the first time since April 6, their last win before they went without one for nine matches.

Match Observations

The Fire had another disastrous start at Soldier Field and went down 1-0 in the seventh minute because of it. Maya Yoshida’s header in the fifth minute bounced off the arm of Rafael Czichos and, after a VAR check, a penalty kick was awarded to the Galaxy. Riqui Puig stepped up and buried his shot in the corner past the diving Chris Brady to put the Fire in an early hole at Soldier Field.

Chicago scored on their first shot of the match, tying the match at one in the 32nd minute. Brian Gutiérrez began with the ball near midfield before finding Maren Haile-Selassie near the Galaxy’s penalty area. Haile-Selassie’s pass was deflected and Brian Gutiérrez appeared to get a touch on the ball before it fell to Hugo Cuypers, whose sliding effort hit the back of the net for his second goal of the week. Cuypers was brought in to score “clean-up” goals and he did a wonderful job of leaving his feet to tap in the loose ball.

The Fire had one final chance before halftime and nearly took the lead on the final touch of the first 45. Hugo Cuypers had the ball on the right side and changed fields with a cross to Brian Gutiérrez on the opposite side of the Galaxy’s penalty area. Gutiérrez’s shot across the face of the goal flew just wide of the Galaxy’s net, sending the match into halftime tied at one.

Maren Haile-Selassie had a chance to get things going in the second half but failed to hit the target with his effort in the 47th minute. The Fire’s attack worked its way up the right side and Haile-Selassie got the ball in the middle of the pitch with space, but his shot went wide of the Galaxy’s goal.

The Galaxy should have scored in the 48th minute. Gabriel Pec brough the ball down the left flank and into the Fire’s penalty area before playing a pass to Mark Delgado in the center of the pitch. Delgado’s first touch found Jonathan Pérez on the right but his effort completely missed the target, sparing Chicago from another deficit.

Brian Gutiérrez put the Chicago Fire on his back in the 61st minute and gave his side the 2-1 lead in style. Gutiérrez intercepted a pass from Edwin Cerrillo near midfield and proceeded to take the ball all the way to the edge of the Galaxy’s penalty area on his own. Gutiérrez hit a right-footed strike from 22 yards that bounced off both posts and into the LA net, giving the Fire their first lead at Soldier Field since April 6. He credited the team’s focus on Riqui Puig for helping set him up to make the interception.

“[Puig] drops really far,” said Gutiérrez. “He has a free-roam role and honestly you just have to hold him. He’s a really good player, a quality player, but we were trying to do the best and I thought we held him off enough to help us get the win.”

Chris Brady was called into action in the 69th minute and made two massive saves to maintain his side’s 2-1 lead. Mark Delgado played a perfect one-touch to Dejan Joveljic on his left and the Galaxy’s number nine hammered a shot on goal that was parried away by Brady. Julián Aude’s follow up was hit right at Brady, who had no problem denying the second effort and turning away the Galaxy despite the pressure to his backline.

“There were a lot of guys in front of me and the ball came sort of at me, sort of at the side and tried to parry it away to a good spot and unfortunately, I didn’t, but I was able to save the second one,” said Brady. “I felt good about staying alive mentally throughout the full game, so I wasn't too worried about it.”

Fire head coach Frank Klopas was thrilled to see his team play with a level of confidence that had been fleeting in 2024.

“It's just good to see a lot of guys play with a lot of confidence and belief,” said Klopas. “And a big one, we talked about [Brian Gutiérrez], who is huge. He continues to grow within every game. He's putting the team and moments on his shoulder. He can make the difference, that's for sure. He's great. Really great to watch on the eye, for the fans. But as a coach sometimes you don't look [at] that because you want production; but now he's doing the production also, which is great to see. Because he can, he has the quality.”

What’s On Tap Next?

The Fire will be back in action after the international break when they travel to Toronto FC on July 15. The match is scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m CT and will be broadcast on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.

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