Chicago Fire FC Earns Road Point with 2-2 Tie against Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park

Chester, Pa. (Feb. 24, 2024) – 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 Andrew 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 / CHIShots: 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