Chicago City Wire

On July 4, 2024, the Chicago Fire secured another dramatic late-game victory at Soldier Field, defeating Philadelphia with a stoppage-time goal. Designated Player Hugo Cuypers emerged as the hero in this match, but it was a collective effort that led to the triumph over a stunned opponent.

Wednesday's game marked the 15th time in club history that the Fire scored a stoppage-time game-winning goal. The last instance occurred earlier this season when Kellyn Acosta delivered a decisive goal against Montréal. Notably, the last time Chicago had multiple stoppage-time game-winning goals in a single season was in 2011.

This year, both Cuypers and Acosta have been instrumental in securing victories for the Fire. The team has achieved two multi-goal comeback victories in 2024, setting a new record for the club.

Head Coach Frank Klopas commented on the team's resilience: "We pushed the game with the changes we made and then we found a way to come back. And I think with every goal, there was a lot of momentum. We gained a lot of confidence and energy and I think the crowd got into it, which [was a] huge help."

The win places Chicago alongside Portland Timbers as the only teams in MLS this season with multiple comebacks of this nature. Remarkably, Wednesday's match saw three goals scored within ten minutes — an unprecedented feat for Chicago Fire.

Cuypers recorded his first career MLS brace during this match, bringing his total to six goals in his last six games. His performance ties him with Robert Berić’s four consecutive matches scoring streak from 2020 and puts him on track to surpass Berić’s 12-goal output from that year.

Maren Haile-Selassie also showcased strong form by scoring in four consecutive matches and tallying six assists this season. He is now one goal away from matching his total output from 2023 when he won the Fire’s Golden Boot award.

Haile-Selassie expressed confidence in his abilities: “I know my quality, I know my strengths, with the technique, with runs in behind,” he said. “Now it's about scoring more goals and making the most out of every chance.”

Looking ahead, Chicago aims to continue their upward trajectory with an upcoming match against San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday night. Given San Jose's defensive struggles this season, it presents another opportunity for Chicago to climb up the standings.

Rudy Hodgson - @rudyhodgson33