Chicago Fire FC Comes from Behind to Defeat CF Montréal 4-3 at Soldier Field

March 16, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Chicago Fire FC News Release

Chicago Fire FC reacts after a late winner against CF Montréal
(Chicago Fire FC)

CHICAGO – Chicago Fire FC (1-2-1, 4 points) came from behind with three goals in 15 minutes, including two in second-half stoppage time, to defeat CF Montréal (2-1-1, 7 points) 4-3 and earn their first win of the season on Saturday afternoon at Soldier Field. Head Coach Frank Klopas became just the third manager to reach 50 victories in Chicago Fire history when midfielder Kellyn Acosta scored the game-winner from inside his own half to notch his first goal for the Fire in the 90+9th minute of play.

Designated Player Hugo Cuypers and midfielders Brian Gutiérrez and Maren Haile-Selassie each found the back of the net, marking the first goals of the 2024 season for Cuypers and Haile-Selassie. Haile-Selassie struck just before halftime to make the score 2-1 and cut into Montréal’s lead. With the Fire trailing 3-1 late in the match, Gutiérrez provided the team’s second goal, converting from the penalty spot in the 84th minute, before Cuypers found the equalizer in the 90+5th minute of play.

With Cuypers’ game-tying goal and Acosta’s game-winning finish in the 90+9th minute, the Fire became the first team in MLS history to score both a game-tying and game-winning goal in the 95th minute or later. Additionally, the Fire became the first team in MLS history to win a match in regulation after scoring two-or-more-goals in the 84th minute or later.

The last time the Fire overcame a two-goal deficit to win was against the Colorado Rapids on Aug. 23, 2009 at SeatGeek Stadium. With his goal in the final minute of today’s contest, Acosta etched his name in Fire history, tallying the latest game-winning finish during regulation of an MLS regular season match.

Montréal got off to an early start in the match, scoring twice in the first 12 minutes of play. Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady made a key save in the second minute of the match but in the play leading up to the ensuing clearance, the Video Assistant Referee judged a Chicago foul to be a penalty kick in favor of the visitors. Forward Matias Coccaro scored the penalty for the first goal of the match in the eighth minute. Two minutes later, the referee once again pointed to the penalty spot and Coccaro scored his second penalty-kick goal of the match.

The referee signaled a minimum of 10 minutes of stoppage time at the end of the second half and in the 45+8th…