Chicago Fire 4 — CF Montreal 3 | “We took something away from my guys”

CF Montreal thought about making a big move in Chicago, another one at the start of the season. Then, like a gust in the Windy City, everything collapsed.

The CFM led 3-1 until the 84^e minute. He ultimately lost 4-3, conceding two goals late in stoppage time.

What happened ?

Let’s try to retrace the course of events at this crazy end of the match.

It all started with an elbow from Raheem Edwards towards Georgios Koutsias in the area in the 82nd^e minute. This error earned him a red card, and prompted the official to award a penalty in favor of the Fire. Brian Gutierrez made it 3-2 two minutes later, leading to a wild end to the match.

Defending 10 against 11, Montreal conceded the equalizing goal in the 95th^e, on the first in MLS of Belgian Hugo Cuypers. Until then, we remain within the realm of the conceivable.

But it was Chicago’s fourth goal that was completely out of the ordinary. Midfielder Kellyn Acosta, from his own defensive zone, sent a ball using the song A little higher, a little further to inspire its trajectory. Jonathan Sirois, too advanced, was completely foiled, both by the shot and by the intense blowing of the wind.

4-3, Chicago. Montrealers’ perfect shot turned into a first return to reality this season.

“My reading [du match]”I’m proud of the guys,” said Laurent Courtois straight away when asked to comment on the result at a press conference.

“But there are external events that still make it complicated. »

“Hard to swallow”

What are they ?

We must here focus our attention on the referees who officiated this match… and all those in MLS since the start of the calendar. This is because officials from the Professional Referees Organization (PRO), who usually manage matches on the Garber circuit, are currently locked out. They were unable to agree with the league on the terms of a new collective agreement before the 2024 season.

Thus, MLS temporarily employs replacement referees. On Saturday, the first official was DeShun Beard, a referee mainly accustomed to the USL, the second North American division, before this season in the first division.

We’re talking to you about this today because questionable decisions played a big role in this meeting between Chicago and Montreal. Let Laurent Courtois explain to you what displeased him.

“It happens that you make a mistake,” he said. I don’t want to go too far, I’m afraid it will get worse. But 22 minutes of added time [sur les deux mi-temps]. A red card for the goalkeeper [adverse] which is not given. Touchdowns, [les joueurs] come to the field. On one of the goals [encaissés], there wasn’t even a corner. It’s piling up. The first goal we concede is offside! »

Zorro wins

And yet, for a long time, the history of this meeting had not been written by the wind, nor by the referees, nor by the Fire: no, the story was that of Matías Cóccaro. It only took Montreal Zorro 15 minutes before he put his signature on this match.

Cóccaro forced his opponents to make a mistake early in the first half, which resulted in two penalties in quick succession. Shots that he made himself in the 8th^e and the 12^e minute. Just like that, Montreal was leading 2-0.

By playing his pest role to perfection, the Uruguayan even allowed himself a yellow card in the 15th^e minute. The Fire players did not know how to contain the one who was boiling in Cóccaro at the start of the match.

“We know Matí, what he can do,” underlined Courtois. He brings something different, he is obsessed with the goal. He has a special flair. Afterwards, there is still a lot of work to be done on the fitness, on the ability to repeat efforts, and to be connected tactically and defensively. »

“We keep our heads held high”

The appearance of the match then recalled that of previous meetings for the CFM: after an intense start, the visitors let the locals play the game. This resulted in more than 60% possession for Chicago in the first half. The Fire took very little advantage at this time, coming up against a solid defensive block from Montreal.

Until Maren Haile-Selassie came into the area, receiving a long and beautiful lobbed pass from Rafael Czichos from the central circle, and beat Jonathan Sirois for the 2-1 net, late in stoppage time .

The second half initially looked the same. The Fire even started to get closer and closer to Jonathan Sirois’ cage. Laurent Courtois then made changes that seemed saving: he replaced Bryce Duke, who had another difficult outing, with Dominic Iankov, and Ruan for Raheem Edwards.

Five minutes later, at the 70^eIankov handed the ball to Martínez on a short pass in the area, who nicely passed it back to him with a backheel, allowing the Impact number 8 to score his first goal in MLS.

“We keep our heads high, we didn’t have a bad match,” said Mathieu Choinière. […] Circumstances meant that we lost this match at the last minute. »

Called to comment on Edwards’ foul in the 82^e which was the decisive moment of the meeting, Choinière confirmed that the left back “apologized” to his teammates in the locker room.

“We are all behind him,” he said. He shouldn’t worry about it. We will help him move forward. »

Samuel Piette had the same speech about his compatriot Jonathan Sirois, partially at fault on the Fire’s winning goal, and with whom he will fly to Texas on Sunday to join the Canadian team.

“I told Jo: “you saved us as much today as in previous matches, time and time again,” said the CFM captain. […] A guard, you pay for your mistake in cash. This is the reality of a goalkeeper. It hurts, but Jo shouldn’t take it too hard. »

Moreover, Piette wanted to take as much positive as possible from this heartbreaking defeat.

“It may be funny to say, but a match like that where we don’t go for three points is very good learning. »