CHICAGO (Sept. 25, 2023) – Chicago Fire FC Homegrown midfielder Brian Gutiérrez has been named to the MLS Team of the Matchday bench for Matchday 34 following his performance in the 2-2 draw against the New England Revolution on Saturday at Soldier Field.
Gutiérrez, 20, was involved in both of Chicago’s goals against New England, scoring his second goal of the season and assisting on the Fire’s second goal of the match. After recording his team-leading ninth assist, Gutiérrez is now one of two players aged 22 or younger with nine or more assists in the League this season, joining Atlanta United attacking midfielder Thiago Almada who leads MLS with 16 assists.
Against New England, Gutiérrez tied the match just one minute after Tomás Chancalay opened the scoring for the visitors. Defender Jonathan Dean ran down a pass from Ousmane Doumbia on the right flank and sent a ball into the box. Dean’s pass was just behind the Fire attackers running into space, but Gutiérrez was able to connect with it and hit a first-time shot into the bottom left corner.
Gutiérrez followed up his goal with his ninth assist of the season in the 54th minute, holding onto a ball from striker Kei Kamara in the box while three defenders rushed in. Gutiérrez slipped the ball up to the top of the 18-yard box, where midfielder Gastón Giménez lined up and expertly placed his attempt inside the far post, just past the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr.
With four matches remaining in the regular season, the Fire’s next League fixture against the New York Red Bulls will be a pivotal contest in the race to the playoffs, as both teams are two points behind D.C. United for ninth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.
