Well, that was fun.
The Men in Red do it again. Another late-game comeback with a goal in stoppage time to win it.
This time it was Designated Player Hugo Cuypers playing the role of the hero, but it was a team effort that gave the Fire an edge over a stunned Philadelphia side.
With the excitement of the match and three important points deservedly at the forefront of everyone’s attention, there are few statistics and storylines you might’ve missed.
But that’s why I’m here. So, here is an inside look into the numbers after yet another ‘Stunner at Soldier Field.’
A record-breaking performance
Wednesday was the 15th time in Club history that the Fire scored a stoppage time game-winning goal to seal a victory. The last time notably being Kellyn Acosta’s mind-blowing winner earlier this season vs. Montréal (You can read more about that one here).
The last time the Club had multiple stoppage time game-winning goals was back in 2011, when the Fire defeated D.C. United and the Columbus Crew in stoppage time in the same season.
The heroes then – Diego Chaves and Cristian Nazarit. In 2024, it’s Cuypers and Acosta getting it done for the Men in Red.
Furthermore, the Chicago Fire now have two multi-goal comeback victories in 2024, marking the first season in Club history in which the team has accomplished such a feat.
"We pushed the game with the changes we made and then we found a way to come back," said Head Coach Frank Klopas. "And I think with every goal, there was a lot of momentum. We gained a lot of confidence and energy and I think the crowd got into it, which [was a] huge help."
With the win, the Fire joined the Portland Timbers as the only teams in MLS to have multiple comebacks of that nature this season. But Chicago has an impressive number to show the fury and chaos in which they came back for the win.
10. As in 10 minutes.
Wednesday was the first time in Chicago Fire history that the Club scored three goals in 10 minutes to win a match -- 82nd, 89th, and 90+2nd.
Hugo is here
Excited yet?
Cuypers recorded his first career MLS brace on Wednesday night. With his two goals, the Belgian striker has six goals in his last six games. Prior to the June 29 contest against the Seattle Sounders, Cuypers had scored goals in four consecutive matches, a feat previously achieved by Robert Berić in 2020.
Speaking of connections between Cuypers and Berić, with his ninth goal of the season, the newly-acquired DP has the second-most goals since the start of the 2020 season, and he is on pace to surpass. Berić’s 12-goal output in 2020.
Maren Magic
How about the recent form from Maren Haile-Selassie?
After scoring the opening tally for Chicago Fire FC on Wednesday, Haile-Selassie has goals in four-straight matches and joins Cuypers as the only players to achieve the feat this season.
To go even further, the Swiss winger becomes just the ninth player in Chicago Fire FC history to score in four straight.
Lost in the fold is that Haile-Selassie also has a career-high six assists this season for the Men in Red, which ties him for the team lead alongside midfielder Fabian Herbers in 2024.
With five goals in the 2024 campaign, Haile-Selassie is just one goal away from matching his entire output for 2023. As a reminder, his six goals in 2023 won him the Fire’s Golden Boot award last season.
Given his current form, it wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone if the Swiss midfielder surpassed his single-season career high.
“I know my quality, I know my strengths, with the technique, with runs in behind,” said Haile-Selassie. “Now it's about scoring more goals and, you know, making the most out of every chance.”
All in all, these are the games that can really turn a season around.
Momentum shifters, season changers, whatever cliché you’d like to use, all that matters now for Chicago is Sunday night in the Bay Area.
The offense remains in strong form, perhaps the best in recent memory. With San Jose conceding the most goals in the League to this point, Sunday serves as another chance for the Fire to climb up the standings.
It was a night to remember at Soldier Field.
It was yet another ‘Stunner at Soldier.’
