Montréal vs Chicago Fire: Overview

In a commanding display of efficiency and tactical prowess, "Chicago Fire FC" secured a convincing 2-0 victory over "CF Montréal" at Stade Saputo on a warm Saturday evening in the MLS. The visitors demonstrated why they've become road warriors this season, claiming their seventh away win of the 2025 campaign in front of a disappointed home crowd of 16,500.

From the opening whistle, Chicago's counter-attacking strategy proved effective against a Montréal side struggling to find form. The breakthrough came in the 13th minute when Hugo Cuypers capitalized on a rebound after a shot struck the post, giving the Fire an early advantage they would never relinquish. Despite Montréal's attempts to equalize, they lacked the clinical finishing touch that has plagued them throughout the season.

The second half saw Chicago double their lead when Jack Elliott rose highest to head home a perfectly delivered corner from Philip Zinckernagel in the 54th minute. This assist extended Zinckernagel's remarkable streak to ten consecutive away matches with either a goal or assist—a new MLS record that underscores his value to the Fire's attack.

For Montréal, this defeat extends their troubling form, leaving them near the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 3-15-6 record. Chicago, meanwhile, improves to 9-9-5, solidifying their position in the playoff hunt as the second half of the MLS season intensifies. The CF Montréal Chicago Fire FC match highlighted the contrasting trajectories of two teams at different points in their development cycle, with one building momentum and the other searching for answers.

We weren't clinical enough in the final third, and against teams like Chicago, you pay for those missed opportunities. I can't fault the effort from the players, but we need to find solutions quickly. Joel [Waterman] reaching that milestone with the club is a bright spot on a difficult night for us.

— Marco Donadel, CF Montréal Head Coach

The boys executed our game plan perfectly today. We knew Montréal would try to control possession at home, but we stayed disciplined and struck at the right moments. Philip [Zinckernagel] continues to amaze me with his consistency, especially away from home. That's ten straight road games with a contribution—remarkable in this league.

— Gregg Berhalter, Chicago Fire FC Head Coach

It's a special feeling to extend this record, but honestly, I'm more pleased with the three points. We're building something important here, and results like this on the road show our character. The delivery for Elliott's goal just felt right as soon as it left my foot.

— Philip Zinckernagel, Chicago Fire FC Midfielder

Personal milestones mean little when the team is struggling. We created chances but lacked that finishing touch. The fans deserve better, and we need to deliver. We'll keep working and fighting to turn this around.

— Joel Waterman, CF Montréal Defender

Chicago's road form has been exceptional this season. They've mastered the art of absorbing pressure and striking with precision. Montréal is struggling to find their identity, and it shows in their inability to convert chances into goals. The gap in efficiency was evident tonight.

— Patrice Bernier, MLS Analyst and Former Montréal Player

Possession: CF Montréal 58% - 42% Chicago Fire FC

Shots (On Target): CF Montréal 15 (4) - 9 (5) Chicago Fire FC

Corners: CF Montréal 7 - 4 Chicago Fire FC

Fouls: CF Montréal 11 - 14 Chicago Fire FC

Yellow Cards: CF Montréal 2 (Waterman 35', Piette 67') - Chicago Fire FC 3 (Gutman 41', Zinckernagel 72', Rogers 88')

Red Cards: None

Individual Performance Highlights:

• Philip Zinckernagel (Chicago): 1 assist, 3 key passes, 2 shots, 89% passing accuracy
• Hugo Cuypers (Chicago): 1 goal, 3 shots, 2 on target, 24 successful pressures
• Jonathan Sirois (Montréal): 3 saves, 2 high claims, 94% passing accuracy
• Joel Waterman (Montréal): 7 clearances, 4 interceptions, 92% passing accuracy, surpassed Adam Braz for most minutes by a field player in club history
• Chris Brady (Chicago): 4 saves, 2 punches, clean sheet

The CF Montréal Chicago Fire FC statistics reveal an interesting contrast between possession and efficiency. While the home side controlled the ball and generated more shooting opportunities, Chicago's clinical approach resulted in a higher percentage of shots on target and, crucially, two goals. The visitors' defensive discipline, anchored by Elliott and Rogers, limited Montréal to mostly speculative attempts despite their territorial advantage. This efficient performance exemplifies Chicago's approach to away matches in the MLS this season.

13' GOAL (0-1) – Chicago breaks the deadlock against the run of play. A swift counter-attack sees Gutiérrez release Haile-Selassie down the right. His powerful shot strikes the post, but Hugo Cuypers reacts quickest to slam the rebound past Sirois.

35' YELLOW CARD – Joel Waterman (Montréal) enters the referee's book after a tactical foul on Cuypers to stop a promising attack.

41' YELLOW CARD – Andrew Gutman (Chicago) cautioned for a late challenge on Sealy near the touchline.

45+2' CHANCE – Prince-Osei Owusu comes agonizingly close to equalizing for Montréal, but his header from Petrasso's cross glances just wide of Brady's far post.

54' GOAL (0-2) – Chicago doubles their advantage. Philip Zinckernagel delivers a pinpoint corner, and Jack Elliott rises above the Montréal defense to power a header into the top corner, giving Sirois no chance.

67' TACTICAL SHIFT – Montréal coach Marco Donadel makes a double substitution and switches from a 4-3-3 to a more attacking 3-4-3 formation in search of a way back into the match.

72' YELLOW CARD – Philip Zinckernagel (Chicago) booked for time-wasting as the Fire look to protect their lead.

78' CHANCE – Dante Sealy nearly pulls one back for Montréal with a curling effort from 20 yards that Brady tips onto the crossbar with a spectacular save.

88' YELLOW CARD – Samuel Rogers (Chicago) receives a caution for a cynical foul on Synchuk, stopping a promising counter-attack.

The CF Montréal Chicago Fire FC chronicle shows how the visitors executed their game plan with precision, striking at key moments while frustrating the home side's attempts to build momentum. Chicago's defensive organization after taking the lead exemplified their road game management, consistently maintaining their shape while looking dangerous on the counter.

The CF Montréal versus Chicago Fire FC history has been characterized by competitive and often tight contests, with this latest chapter marking an important away victory for the Fire. Prior to this match, the all-time MLS confrontation record stood at 9 wins for Montréal, 8 for Chicago, and 7 draws.

Historically, Montréal has enjoyed success at Stade Saputo against Chicago, winning 6 of their previous 11 home matches against the Fire before this encounter. However, Chicago has now won consecutive games at the venue for the first time, having also claimed a 1-0 victory in their previous visit in October 2024.

Key individual battles shaped the outcome of this match. Chicago's central defensive pairing of Jack Elliott and Samuel Rogers effectively neutralized Montréal striker Prince-Osei Owusu, limiting him to just two shots despite his recent good form. In midfield, Brian Gutiérrez consistently outdueled Samuel Piette in transition moments, creating numerical advantages that Montréal struggled to contain.

The tactical confrontation between coaches was equally fascinating. Berhalter's pragmatic approach focused on defensive solidity and quick transitions proved more effective than Donadel's possession-based philosophy. Chicago's willingness to cede possession while maintaining defensive shape exposed Montréal's difficulties in breaking down organized defenses—a recurring theme in their MLS campaign.

This result continues a shifting trend in the rivalry, with Chicago now having won three of the last four meetings after a previous period of Montréal dominance. As both teams continue their contrasting journeys through the 2025 MLS season, this confrontation may be remembered as a significant indicator of their respective trajectories.