Chicago Fire FC (0-0-1, 1 point) earned a point on the road in the Club’s first match of the season with a 2-2 tie against the Philadelphia Union (0-0-1, 1 point) on Saturday night at Subaru Park.
Midfielder Brian Gutiérrez scored the opening goal of the game, becoming the Club’s first Homegrown Player to score in the season opener and the second-youngest player to score the Fire’s opening goal of the season at 20 years, 252 days. Gutiérrez was assisted by Fabian Herbers, with the two then trading places for the team’s second goal. Herbers’ goal against his former team was his second-consecutive in a season opener for the Fire.
Gutiérrez opened his 2024 scoring account in the 39th minute. Xherdan Shaqiri received the ball and held off his defender, slotting the ball to the left. Herbers then sent the pass further left with one touch, placing it onto the path of Gutiérrez. The Chicago native collected the pass and took a couple touches forward, sending a powerful shot from just outside the 18-yard box that went just under the crossbar and into the back of the net.
Philadelphia appeared to level the score just after the beginning of the second half, but the goal was called back due to Daniel Gazdag being offside. Mikael Uhre scored for the home side in the 55th minute to level the match.
Chicago once again pulled ahead in the 81st minute when Herbers and Gutiérrez once again connected in front of the net. Maren Haile-Selassie sent a ball to goal that goalkeeper Oliver Semmle dove to save, sending the rebound into the box. Gutiérrez passed it to his left to Herbers with one touch, and he took a controlling touch before sending it past Semmle.
As the end-to-end action continued, the Union scored the game-tying goal in the second minute of stoppage time by way of Daniel Gazdag, resulting in a hard-fought point for both teams.
NEXT MATCH: Chicago will host 2023 MLS Supporters’ Shield winners FC Cincinnati on March 2 at Soldier Field. Scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. CT on MLS Season Pass, the match against Cincinnati will mark the earliest home opener in Chicago Fire history, occurring two days prior to the Club’s 2023 opener. The match will also be transmitted locally via WLS-AM 890 and Latino Media Network channels.
Social: Twitter - @chicagofire, @vamosfire (Hashtags: #CF97 #VamosFire) | Instagram - @chicagofire | Facebook
Notes:
- Designated Player Hugo Cuypers and defender Allan Arigoni made their Chicago Fire and Major League Soccer debuts, along with earning their first career MLS starts.
- Also making their Fire debuts were defenders Andrew Gutman, Chase Gasper, and midfielder Kellyn Acosta. Gasper entered the match in the fifth minute for an injured Gutman, and Acosta replaced captain Xherdan Shaqiri in the 73rd minute.
- Swiss midfielder and four-time FIFA World Cup veteran Shaqiri was named team captain and wore the armband for the 11th time as a member of the Chicago Fire.
- With his goal, Brian Gutiérrez became the first Homegrown Player to score in the Club’s season opener, and the second Homegrown player to score the first goal of the season for the Fire (Harry Shipp - March 22, 2015 vs. San Jose Earthquakes).
- Fabian Herbers scored in back-to-back season openers for the Chicago Fire, having registered the tying goal against NYCFC in the Club’s 2023 opening game.
- Goalkeeper Bryan Dowd (left lower leg), defender Carlos Terán (right upper leg), midfielder Javier Casas Jr. (left lower leg) and forward Victor Bezerra (right upper leg) were not available for tonight’s match.
Box Score:
Philadelphia Union 2:2 Chicago Fire FC
Goals:
CHI - Gutiérrez (1) (Herbers, 1) (WATCH) 39’
PHI - Uhre (1) (Sullivan, 1) (WATCH) 55’
CHI - Herbers (1) (Gutiérrez 1) (WATCH) 81’
PHI - Gazdag (1) (Martinez 1) (WATCH) 90+2’
Discipline:
CHI - Pineda (Yellow Card) 45’
CHI - Brady (Yellow Card) 69’
Chicago Fire FC: GK Brady, D Arigoni, D Pineda, D Czichos, D Gutman (Gasper, 5’, Dean, 73’), M Herbers, M Giménez, M Haile-Selassie, M Shaqiri (capt.) (Acosta, 73’), M Gutiérrez (Navarro, 88’), F Cuypers (Barlow, 88’)
Subs not used: GK Richey, D Omsberg, M Mueller, D Koutsias
PHI: GK Semmle, D Glesnes (capt.), D Lowe, D Harriel, D Wagner, M Martinez, M Gazdag, M McGlynn (Bedoya, 79’), M Sullivan, F Uhre, F Carranza
Subs not used: GK Trent, D Elliott, D Mbaizo, M Bueno, M Rafanello, F Anderson, F Baribo, F Donovan
Stats Summary: PHI / CHI
Shots: 13 / 10
Shots on Goal: 5 / 4
Saves: 2 / 3
Passing Accuracy: 82% / 79%
Corners: 10 / 3
Fouls: 13 / 12
Offsides: 4 / 1
Possession: 55.4% / 44.6%
Referee: Muhammad Hassan
Assistant Referees: Bryan Conetta, Seun Yinka-Kehinde
Fourth Official: Kyle Johnston
VAR: Mark Geiger
Chicago Fire FC Head Coach Frank Klopas
On the result and the team’s performance against the Philadelphia Union…
“Yeah, I think I feel really good about the point. I felt that our team showed a lot of character and great spirit, team spirit. And you know, that's what I told the group after the game. I mean, they are down a little bit, obviously, because they felt that they left points on the table but that's a good feeling to have. They are disappointed that we didn't get all three points but to be fair, you know, in the end, they had some chances. We had a big chance, also, in the end to win the game.
Difficult place to play, but I'm proud of our guys. I think they came out. We got a point to start the season in a positive way, and now we just have to, you know, have a safe trip back, regroup and get ready for our home opener.”
On Brian Gutiérrez’s growth…
“I think it's great to see and good to take that initiative. It's something that we've talked to him about, that he needs to have a bigger impact in the final third with his ability and quality. It's great to see him taking that initiative and taking shots from the outside and finishing plays, because I think he has that ability to do so. He needs to do it more often and he needs to have that kind of impact in games, and it was great. I'm really happy for him.
As you can see, I've been with him now over four years and I've seen his growth. This is a big step for us and one of the things that we talked to him about from last year, one is just runs off the ball, getting in good spots and obviously just taking more initiative on himself and finishing plays off. It was great to see that tonight. Fantastic goal.”
On the referees…
“Why are you guys trying to get me in trouble? Look, I think that they did their best. I think the referee was good. You know, a little bit in the end with the time, it was eight minutes extra, we played until 11. But overall I think the guys did a very, very good job, and that's the only thing I can say. We're happy with them. They are professionals and they did their best and I think they did a good job.”
On Chase Gasper’s performance after coming on early in the match…
“Yeah, he started, it was difficult for him because the game started and now, you know, right away, you've got to come in the game. He hasn't had an opportunity to warm up a little bit. I thought he did really well coming into the game. And then obviously, he doesn't have the, I would say, the game fitness, yet. He's improving all the time. So you can just see it, like, late in the game as he got a little bit more fatigued, and you know, we had to make that sub.
But I think coming in in a difficult moment, I felt he did a really good job, and he just needs to get more minutes to get his full fitness, and we know that. He's a pro and an experienced guy, and I thought he came in and did a good job.”
On the performance of new Fire players…
“Yeah, with the new players, I think they have improved the team – a much-improved team – and you can just see, for me, the competition has helped in every position. I think that they are very good players.
I think [Allan] Arigoni has been here longer with us, so you can see he's going to keep improving within every match. Hugo [Cuypers] is a very good player. He's been fit. He really didn't miss much, and he came in one week with us, and I think with his ability, he came in right away and, I think, ready to contribute. With Kellyn [Acosta], it was important to get him minutes, and he's getting sharper every day, and I think another week, we should get him, maybe not a hundred percent, but close to that.
So I'm extremely happy with all those guys. Gastón [Giménez] had a very good game. And overall it was a very good team performance. Because you don't come here to get – you get a point; we thought it was a really good performance from the group, and that's what we got tonight.”
Chicago Fire FC Midfielder Brian Gutiérrez
On his first half goal…
“Yeah, I stayed wide. I was waiting for the ball. Luckily I got the ball, and Fabi [Fabian Herbers] flicking it towards me. I saw a gap in between, what was it, [Jose] Martinez and the other center back, [Jakob] Glesnes, and so I went between the gap and tried to cut again, cut inside. I just didn't think about it. I just said, why not shoot it and I shoot it. Honestly it was a great goal, and more to come, for sure.”
On the second goal from Fabian Herbers…
“Yeah, it was a good buildup by me and Kellyn and Maren [Haile-Selassie], a good buildup. I just followed the play and I think that helped me out the most. I saw the keeper, he punched it out, little rebounds in the box. I thought I saw Fabi in the corner of my left eye. And I thought he was in a better position than I am, because the ball – it was coming with the spin – and so I thought he was in a better position. And thankfully we got that goal.”
On taking more shots this season…
“Yeah, for sure. I think that's my goal, taking more chances, being more of a threat. Yeah, obviously I need to take more shots, like I said, and I think why not have a shot every game. I think, like you said, you're going to see more of that out of me this season and hopefully more goals, as well.”
On the team’s performance and how the new players are fitting in…
“Yeah, like I said, I think the players that they brought in, I think [they were good signings] for us. I think that's what we needed, good depth, and I think, yeah, I think we are more of a unit and more united. I think we all are fighting for a starting spot, which is great. You want that good competition on the team, and I think you're going to see a lot of excitement towards the season and the home opener. And every home game and every away game, we're always going to fight for the three points and I think that's the mentality of the team this year.”
On his performance and his desire to be called up to the United States National Team…
“Like I always say in the interviews, I try to always do the best on the field with the Club, and towards that, towards doing good on the field with the Club, I think everything will implement itself, and yeah, obviously will hopefully get a call from him [U.S. Men’s National Team Head Coach Gregg Berhalter]. We'll see what happens.”