BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (Sept. 28, 2024) – Chicago Fire FC (7-16-9, 30 points) came from behind to tie 1-1 with Toronto FC (11-17-4, 37 points) on Saturday night at SeatGeek Stadium.
With the result, the Fire were eliminated from playoff contention with two matches remaining in the regular season.
Toronto struck first in first-half stoppage time when video review determined that a penalty kick should be awarded to Toronto. Prince Owusu stepped up to the spot and sent it into the lower right corner in the fourth minute of first half stoppage time.
Chicago tied the match in the 84th minute when Ariel Lassiter sent a ball across the goalmouth in the 85th minute. Jonathan Dean followed the play, connecting with the ball at the far post to score his first career MLS goal.
NEXT MATCH: Chicago heads to the Queen City for a midweek encounter with Charlotte FC on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at Bank of America Stadium. The match is scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass, and transmitted locally in Spanish on WRTO 1200 AM and in English on wlsam.com.
Notes:
- Justin Reynolds recorded his first career MLS start on Saturday night. The South Loop, Chicago, native recorded 75 minutes of action in his sixth appearance as a member of the Men in Red. At 20 years, 55 days, Reynolds is the sixth youngest player to record a start for the Fire since 2021.
- Justin Reynolds, alongside his older brother Andre, are the only Homegrown siblings to record starts as members of Chicago Fire FC.
- Jonathan Dean entered the match in the 75th minute for Reynolds, scoring his first MLS goal in the 85th minute for the Men in Red.
- With his assist, Ariel Lassiter recorded his eighth assist of the 2024 campaign, and his first as a member of the Chicago Fire.
- Chris Brady started in his single-season record 31st regular season match. With 31 games played this season, Brady tied former Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson for the third-most appearances by a netminder in a single season. Brady’s 99 saves this season are also a new single-season record for the Naperville, Ill., native.
- Kellyn Acosta tied his single-season career high in regular season games played with 32. His 32 games played with the Fire in 2024 are tied with his rookie season (2016) and his first season with LAFC (2022).
- Defenders Chase Gasper (leg), Andrew Gutman (leg) and Carlos Terán (leg) were unavailable for tonight’s match. Winger Maren Haile-Selassie was also unavailable, as he and his partner Christina are anticipating the birth of their first child.
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Box Score:Toronto FC 1:1 Chicago Fire FC
Discipline:
CHI - Giménez (Yellow Card) 17’
TOR - Osorio (Yellow Card) 45+11’
CHI - Acosta (Yellow Card) 58’
TOR - O’Neill (Yellow Card) 60’
TOR - Johnson (Yellow Card) 83’
CHI - Czichos (Yellow Card) 90+1’
CHI - Omsberg (Yellow Card) 90+3’
Chicago Fire FC: GK Brady, D Souquet (Arigoni, 60’), D Czichos, D Omsberg, D Reynolds (Dean, 75’), M Herbers (Mueller, 60’), M Acosta, M Giménez (capt.), F Cuypers (Barlow, 75’), F Lassiter, F Koutsias (Gutiérrez, 60’)
Subs not used: GK Richey, D Pineda, D Salquist, M Navarro
Toronto FC: GK Johnson, D Long, D long, D Rosted, D Franklin (Spicer, 88’) D Petretta (O’Neill, 46’), M Longstaff (Insigne, 88’), M Coello (Thompson, 61’), M Osorio (capt.), F Bernardeschi, F Laryea, F Owusu (Kerr, 61’)
Subs not used: GK Gavran, D Edwards, D Mabika, M Servania
Stats Summary: TOR / CHIShots: 6 / 6
Shots on Goal: 3 / 2
Saves: 1 / 2
Passing Accuracy: 86.3% / 80.7%
Corners: 1 / 2
Fouls: 15 / 14
Offsides: 1 / 0
Possession: 53.5% / 46.5%
Attendance: 16,097
Referee: Ricardo Montero
Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell, Brian Dunn
Fourth Official: Victor Rivas
VAR: Daniel Radford
AVAR: Claudiu Badea
