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February in Chicago and the Chicago Fire are hosting a regular season game! This marks the earliest start to an MLS season, but something the teams and players will have to get used to, as the MLS schedule shift approaches. It’s a predictably cold day on the lakefront with snow flurries in some areas. The crowd of 20,872 showed up in jackets, hats and gloves to root on the home team.
In comes CF Montreal, a team that can handle the cold. It’s another early season home matchup with Montreal, third year in a row they come into town in the first couple weeks of the season. The Fire come off a disappointing second half in Houston, where they gave up two goals and lost the game. This is a game you need to get if you’re Chicago.
The game got off to blazing opening possession for Chicago, where Hugo Cuypers found himself deep in the Montreal box, but failed to utilize the opportunity. From that point on, the Fire kept hold of the ball, but did very little in terms of forming a convincing attack through the first 25 minutes.
In the 26th minute, the Fire fortunes changes. Leo Barroso takes a shot on goal that gets deflected by the diving Montreal keeper Gillier, but bounces right to the charging Jo Bamba, who glides and taps the ball into the back of the net. Fire get their goal and a 1-0 lead.
This is a significant goal for Bamba, who struggled with getting goals last season. This is a good start to the season for the Fire winger, who is looking to move past last seasons struggles.
The Fire held it down and no serious threat from Montreal. Chicago takes a comfortable 1-0 halftime lead. Fire were in control of this game. Minimal opposition from Montreal. The Fire should be able to open it up more in the second half and score at least one more. Given the history between these two teams, expect an interesting and possibly exciting second half.
Montreal pushing a bit more to start the second half. Huge call in the 55th minute. Jonathan Dean’s interference with a potential goal scoring opportunity for Montreal. VAR review confirms that and a straight red card for Dean puts the Fire a man down with over 30 minutes to go. Huge momentum change and big advantage and opportunity for CF Montreal.
Former CF Montreal stalwart Joel Waterman comes on replacing Bamba to shift into a more defensive alignment. Philip Zinckernagel lays out a fantastic ball to the trailing Cuypers who gets a brief one-on-one in the box with a defender leaning on him, but ends up hitting a weak shot at the goalie. Big chance for Fire, one they need to do better with in a second half that they are likely not to get many chances, being a man down.
Interestingly the Fire showed more urgency with a man down. The attack was better than in the first half, and they created more scoring opportunities. On the contrary, Montreal didn’t utilize their one man advantage. Eventually, Chicago did.
In stoppage time Hugo Cuypers was fouled in the penalty box after a counter. Cuypers stepped up and put away softly down the middle for a 2-0 Fire lead, and game clinching goal. But, the Fire weren’t done. Minutes later and deep into stoppage time, Cuypers looped one off the crossbar, but the trailing Robin Lod was right on the spot to follow it up with a nifty tap into the back of the net. That would do it on the day. The Fire come away with a 3-0 win and secure their first points of the season.
Good fight and persistence for the Fire, who could have held on to the 1-0 win, but kept pushing for more, and were rewarded in extra time. Cuypers, Bamba and Lod with goals. This was a nice home opener for the men in red.
MAN OF THE MATCH:
No doubt it was Cuypers who scored a goal and continuously presented danger for Montreal. He drew his penalty, got the PK, and then almost put in another one off the crossbar. He created chances and could have scored more goals. This is his second goal on season. He’s off to a good start.
Notes:
- In his first start and appearance of 2026, winger Jonathan Bamba tallied his first goal of season and sixth in regular season play. The goal was also his second of the game-winning variety in his Major League Soccer career.
- Forward Hugo Cuypers scored his second goal of the season in as many matches. The Belgian striker scored for the first time in back-to-back contests since July 2025, when he tallied against Montréal and Red Bull New York.
- Midfielder Robin Lod entered the match for Philip Zinckernagel six minutes into stoppage time and made his presence known by getting his first goal with Chicago. Lod’s first with the Fire was his 35th all-time in MLS regular season play in his 160th career appearance.
- Homegrown midfielder Mauricio Pineda made his 75th appearance at Soldier Field in the 120th start of his MLS career. Pineda continues to lead all current Fire players with 153 appearances all-time for his hometown club.
- Saturday marked the first time Chicago opened the home portion of the season against Montréal, and the 13th home opener at Soldier Field, compiling a record of 6-2-4 in those matches. The match also marked the first home opener victory in front of fans since 2017.
UP NEXT: Chicago will travel to take on Eastern Conference foes Columbus Crew in a Walmart Saturday Showdown on March 7 at Scott’s Miracle Gro Field. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT and the match will be broadcast globally on Apple TV
