Chicago City Wire

Chicago Fire FC faced a 3-1 defeat in extra time against Minnesota United FC on Tuesday night at Allianz Field, leading to their elimination from the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Brian Gutiérrez opened the scoring with a penalty, marking his first goal of the tournament.

The game turned challenging for Chicago when defender Omar González received a red card in the 27th minute. Shortly after, Philip Zinckernagel won a penalty which Gutiérrez converted, giving Chicago an early lead.

Minnesota capitalized on their numerical advantage shortly after halftime. Anthony Markanich assisted Robin Lod for the equalizer three minutes into the second half.

Goalkeeper Chris Brady's performance kept Chicago in contention during regular time with seven saves. However, Kelvin Yeboah's goal five minutes into extra time put Minnesota ahead. Later, Yeboah secured victory by converting a penalty kick.

Despite Chicago's efforts to find an equalizer, they were unable to overcome Minnesota’s defense. This result means Minnesota advances to the semifinals of the Open Cup for only the second time in their history.

Looking ahead, Chicago Fire FC will host San Diego FC at Soldier Field in an inaugural matchup broadcasted globally and locally.

This match was significant as it marked several firsts and milestones for both teams within the competition context. It was also notable for various player contributions and substitutions following tactical changes due to early challenges in gameplay dynamics.