The Chicago Fire made life hard for themselves for 76 minutes at Citi Field before scoring twice in the final 13 minutes to share the points with NYCFC after a 2-2 draw.
Hugo Cuypers scored in open play and Brian Gutiérrez secured a point for the Fire from the penalty spot in second half stoppage time, ensuring Chicago wouldn’t start their final nine-match stretch of the season (all against Eastern Conference Foes) with a loss.
It looked like the Fire were going to go home with nothing after they continued to make life hard for themselves in the early going, conceding two preventable goals before 22 minutes had elapsed.
Alonso Martínez started the scoring in the 15th minute after Kellyn Acosta gave him far too much space at the edge of Chicago’s penalty area. Martínez tried to go to his left but found nowhere to go, cut to his right and hit a perfect shot into the far corner of the Fire’s net to put his side up 1-0.
Martínez made it 2-0 in the 22nd after more poor defending from the Fire. Santiago Rodriguez hit a cross that Keaton Parks deflected over to Martínez, who had all the time in the world to roof the shot as he doubled his side’s lead in Queens.
The Fire’s lone first half scoring chance came from Allan Arigoni, who was subbed off at halftime, but Matt Freese saved that shot with his face to keep it 2-0 at the break.
The match was trending towards New York easily collecting three points before the Fire began to turn things around in the 77th minute.
Hugo Cuypers started things off after collecting a pass from Tobias Salquist, cutting to his left and hitting a divine left-footed drive into the corner of NYCFC’s net to cut the deficit in half.
The stars aligned for the Fire in second half stoppage time after Rafael Czichos hit a corner directly into the arm of Tayvon Gray while inside his own penalty area, earning Chicago a penalty kick with moments remaining in the match. Brian Gutiérrez stepped up to the spot and tied the match with his sixth goal of the season.
The result snaps a three-match losing streak for the Fire in all competitions ahead of hosting Inter Miami at Soldier Field on August 31.
Match Observations
Chris Brady was forced into action less than three minutes after kickoff following a NYCFC corner kick. Hannes Wolf hit a perfect cross to the opposite side of Chicago’s penalty area that Alonso Martínez directed on goal. Fortunately for the Fire, Chris Brady held his ground and parried out of play and Chicago was able to turn away New York early.
The Fire were not confident with the ball in the early portion of the match and it showed on their counterattack in the 14th minute. Maren Haile-Selassie had the ball and made a run down the right side to the edge of NYCFC’s penalty area. The Swiss winger had a moment where he could have played the ball to Hugo Cuypers in the 18, but he abstained and then also held off from making the pass to Allan Arigoni on the overlapping run to his right. The Fire then had to play the ball back and ended up losing possession near midfield after wasting away a great transition opportunity due to some hesitation from Haile-Selassie.
Chicago went down a goal in the 14th minute after Kellyn Acosta allowed Alonso Martínez far too much time and space with the ball at the edge of the Fire’s 18. Maxi Moralez played a simple pass to Martínez on his right and Acosta allowed the attacker to go to his left and his right before finally taking his shot. Martínez’s effort was hit perfectly into the corner of the net, giving Chris Brady zero chance of making the save, but the space Acosta gave Martínez allowed everything to happen.
The defending got even worse for the Fire as they went down 2-0 in the 22nd minute thanks to Alonso Martínez. Santiago Rodriguez made a run down the right flank and hit a cross into the penalty area that was deflected by a sliding Keaton Parks. The loose ball fell to a wide-open Martínez, who roofed his effort to secure his first-half brace at Soldier Field. The ball was loose for multiple seconds in Chicago’s penalty area before Martínez hit his shot, but Fire defenders collected the ball and New York doubled their lead with ease.
The Fire’s Swiss connection of Maren Haile-Selassie and Allan Arigoni did well to create down the right side in the 33rd minute, generating the Fire’s first shot on goal of the match as a result. Haile-Selassie brought the ball to the edge of NYCFC’s penalty area before playing it to Arigoni on the overlap. Arigoni’s effort was goalbound but Matt Freese’s face got in the way, denying the wingback’s shot.
Carlos Terán’s injury issues continued to hamper the defender in New York. Terán, who was making his first appearance since leaving the Fire’s 2-1 loss to Seattle on June 29, went down in the 40th minute and was grabbing at his right hip after what appeared to be a non-contact injury. Terán made it back on the pitch but was removed from the match at halftime. Frank Klopas said post-match that he didn’t think the injury was “anything serious.”
Chicago went into halftime down 2-0 but guess what? They doubled NYCFC’s expected goals 1.0 to 0.5, according to MLS. Both sides had six shots before halftime but NYCFC had three on-target efforts to only one from Chicago.
The Fire were very close to going down three goals in the 54th minute. NYCFC took a corner shot and the ball eventually made its way to Tayvon Gray at the edge of Chicago’s penalty area. The right back hit something between a shot and a cross that flew inches wide of the far post, just past the outstretched Santiago Rodriguez.
Chicago finally got on the board in the 77th minute and it was thanks to a sensational strike from Hugo Cuypers. Tobias Salquist played a solid longball to Cuypers, who collected the pass
Cuypers cut to his left at the edge of NYCFC’s 18, took a few dribbles and then hit a gorgeous left-footed effort that curled perfectly into the far corner of the host’s net and cut Chicago’s deficit in half. The goal is the tenth for Chicago’s number nine, making him the first double digit goalscorer for the Fire since Robert Berić in 2020.
The Fire managed to steal a point at Citi Field in second half stoppage time. Rafael Czichos was attempting a cross but the ball hit the arm of Tayvon Gray, making it easy for referee Malik Badawi to award the Fire a penalty kick. Brian Gutiérrez stepped up to the spot and buried his effort from 12 yards, securing the result for his side with his sixth MLS goal of 2024.
Chicago Fire head coach Frank Klopas said post-match that he felt the need to make two subs at halftime after conceding preventable goals.
“The way we started, we weren't getting much with our wingbacks at certain moments,” said Klopas. “So we came in at halftime. I still feel the goals we gave up again, I think it's preventable goals, that's for sure, but we came in and we needed to look forward in how we can correct certain things. We made two subs. We changed formation, and I think then we started getting more into the game, definitely.
“We started to find a rhythm. You know, I think the guys really push hard. All the subs that came in, I think really helped, and the mentality of the group was such that, like I said, it's never, ever give up, and we didn't. We found a way to come back.
“It's a massive point. We need to get points. It would have been extremely difficult now to walk away with nothing from here. Where we are, we need to continue to pick up points in every game.”
Tobias Salquist came on for the injured Carlos Terán at halftime and assisted Hugo Cuypers’ 77th minute goal. The defender loved what he saw on the goal from his number nine.
“It was a great goal by Hugo [Cuypers],” said Salquist. “[Arnaud Souquet] passed the ball and I was like, it was not meant to go to me but I took it and I saw Hugo and I played him and he scored a good goal. Nothing more in that.”
What’s On Tap Next?
The Fire will be back at Soldier Field when they host Inter Miami on August 31. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.
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