Chicago Fire FC beat Toronto FC 4-1 to extend unbeaten run to four matches

Chicago Fire FC beat Toronto FC 4-1 to extend unbeaten run to four matches

Toronto, Ontario (June 15, 2024) – Chicago Fire FC (4-8-6, 18 points) earned its first road victory of the season by defeating Toronto FC (7-8-3, 24 points) 4-1 Saturday night at BMO Field .

The Men in Red received goals from four different players – forwards Hugo Cuypers and Maren Haile-Selassie, defender Allan Arigoni and defender/midfielder Mauricio Pineda – as the Club extended their unbeaten run to four matches this season MLS regular (2-0). -2). The result also marked the second time the Fire had scored four goals in a game this season.

The Fire created several shots on goal early and often throughout the game against Toronto. After a close opportunity from Cuypers in the eighth minute, Chicago followed up with another dangerous opportunity just two minutes later when Arigoni cut inside and hit a curling left-footed effort that beat goalkeeper Luka Gavran , but passed just over the target.

Moments later, the Fire continued to put pressure on Toronto's backline and nearly scored twice in a span of two minutes. In the 16th minute, midfielder Kellyn Acosta and Haile-Selassise combined on a short corner, creating space for Acosta to curl a well-placed cross to an unmarked Cuypers who narrowly missed inside the first post with a first volley. Two minutes later, after receiving the ball on the left wing, Haile-Selassié confidently cut in with his right foot and hit a powerful shot on target, which was denied by another powerful save from Gavran.

Chicago finally found the first goal in the 41st minute on a header from Haile-Selassie. The Fire pressed Toronto deep in their own half and midfielder Fabian Herbers managed to win the ball, before crossing into the box for the Swiss striker, who made no mistake with his header to give Chicago leads 1-0 before halftime. .

However, the Fire's lead was short-lived as Toronto managed to equalize just three minutes later when home goalkeeper Chris Brady was unable to keep out midfielder Lorenzo Insigne's deflected right-footed shot.

Despite conceding a goal just before the break, the Fire continued their good play in the second half and added two goals in three minutes to take a two-goal lead. In the 57th minute, Cuypers dispossessed defender Kevin Long on the right wing and charged towards goal. The Belgian striker held off his defender and carefully curled a well-placed left-footed strike into the far corner to score his sixth of the season.

Shortly after, the Fire scored their third goal after regaining the ball again deep in Toronto's half. After playing a give-and-go with Haile-Selassie, home midfielder Brian Gutiérrez sent the ball to the edge of the penalty area for defender/midfielder Mauricio Pineda, who placed his shot perfectly into the far right corner with a powerful strike. to secure his first of the campaign.

Chicago added its fourth and final goal of the game when Arigoni received a pass from Herbers on the right wing. Arigoni carried the ball forward and cut inside with his left foot, curling his shot past Gavran and into the far corner to complete the Fire's scoring.

NEXT MATCH: Chicago will play its second of three straight road games when the team visits Orlando City SC on Saturday, June 22. Kickoff at INTER&Co Stadium is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT. The match will be broadcast worldwide on MLS Season Pass and transmitted locally via wlsam.com (English) and WRTO 1200 AM (Spanish).

Social: Twitter – @Chicago Fire, @vamosfire (Hashtags: #CF97 #VamosFire) | Instagram – @chicagofire | Facebook

• The Fire's regular season record against Toronto FC now stands at 12-14-12.
• Tonight's victory marked the Fire's first victory in Toronto since 2012.
• With the victory, the Fire are now four consecutive league matches unbeaten – their longest unbeaten streak in 2024.
• During this stretch, striker Hugo Cuypers has led the way for the Fire in the attacking third with four goals scored in the last four matches (three goals, one assist).
• After this victory, Chicago rose to 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings and is now only two points away from the playoff line.
• This result marks Chicago's first road win of 2024 (1-3-5, 8 points), with the Fire also scoring four or more goals on the road for the first time since October 20, 2021.
• Cuypers now leads the team with six goals in 18 matches played (18 starts) in his first MLS season with the Fire.
• Winger Maren Haile-Selassie scored her second goal of the season.
• With two assists tonight, midfielder Fabian Herbers now has four in 2024, tying his career record for assists in a single season with the Fire.
• Herbers is also now tied with Haile-Selassie for the most assists on the team this season.
• Defender Allan Arigoni scored his first career goal for the Fire, while defender/midfielder Mauricio Pineda scored his first goal of the season.
• With Arigoni and Pineda each finding the back of the net, Chicago has now received goals from nine different players in 2024.
• Pineda started for the fourth straight time this season and for the 99th time in his career. He is now one start away from becoming the first local player to reach 100 starts for the Men in Red.
• With his start tonight, defender Carlos Terán made his 73rd appearance for the Fire, tying former Fire defender Wilman Conde for the most appearances by a player of Colombian descent in the history of the Fire. Club.
• Defender Wyatt Omsberg made his first appearance of the season when he entered the match for Terán in the 73rd minute.
• Midfielder Javier Casas made his first appearance of the season, replacing Herbers in second-half stoppage time.

The score of the box:Toronto FC 1:4 Chicago Fire FC

Goals:
CHI – Hailé-Sélassié (2) (Herbers, 3) (WATCH) 41'
TOR – Badge (5) (Petretta, 3) (WATCH) 44'
CHI – Cuypers (6) (WATCH) 57’
CHI – Pineda (1) (Gutiérrez, 3) (WATCH) 60'
CHI – Arigoni (1) (Herbers, 4) (WATCH) 89'

Chicago Fire FC: GK Brady, D Arigoni, D Terán (Omsberg, 73'), D Pineda, M Souquet, M Acosta (Giménez, 73'), M Herbers © (Casas, 90+3''), M Dean, F Gutiérrez, F Cuypers (Koutsias, 84'), F Haile-Selassie (Barlow, 73')

Unused submarines: GK Richey, D Konincks, M Mueller

TOR: GK Gavran, D Long, D Petretta (Mailula, 84'), D Rosted (Thompson, 63'), M Marshall-Ruty (Mabika, 69'), M Longstaff, M Coello (Franklin, 63'), M Flores, F Etiennne Jr., F Insigne ©, F Kerr (Owusu, 63')

Unused subs: GK Ranjitsingh, M Cimermancic, M Ayari

Summary of statistics: TFC / CHIShots: 16/15
Shots on goal: 6/8
Saves: 4/5
Pass accuracy: 88% / 80%
Corners: 5/5
Fouls: 7/12
Offside: 1/1
Ownership: 60% / 40%

Arbitrator: Pierre-Luc Lauzière
Assistant referees: Gérard-Kader Lebuis, André PIckler
Fourth official: Mathieu Souaré
VAR: Jair Marrufo, Logan Brown

Summary of statistics:
TFC/CHI Shots: 16/15
Shots on goal: 6/8
Saves: 4/5
Passage accuracy: 88% / 80%
Corners: 5/5
Fouls: 7/12
Offside: 1/1
Ownership: 60% / 40%