Chicago Fire FC Draws 1-1 Against CF Montréal in Intense Match

CHICAGO (March 29, 2025) – Chicago Fire FC battled to a 1-1 draw against CF Montréal on Saturday night at Soldier Field, with both teams showcasing moments of skill and urgency. Winger Philip Zinckernagel scored for the second consecutive game, contributing to Chicago‘s ongoing quest for points in Major League Soccer.

The Fire took the lead in the 40th minute after a clever sequence of passes. Jonathan Bamba executed a backheel no-look pass to Andrew Gutman, who sent a ball across the box. Zinckernagel arrived just in time to convert from close range, firing into the net to give his team a 1-0 advantage heading into halftime.

<p"Early in the second half, Montréal responded. Just five minutes after the restart, one of their wingbacks, Luca Petrasso, connected with Dante Sealy, who struck a powerful one-time shot to equalize the match at 1-1. This marked Montréal’s first goal since their season opener.

Despite several attempts from both sides, the match saw no further goals. CF Montréal’s improvements would ultimately be countered by Chicago’s resilient defense and a season-high six saves from goalkeeper Chris Brady.

“I thought our guys did well to maintain composure after conceding the goal,” said Chicago Fire FC head coach Frank Klopas. “Chris made some crucial saves and our defensive line stepped up when needed.”

The draw extends Chicago’s unbeaten streak to five consecutive matches, solidifying their position in the Eastern Conference standings with 11 points (3-1-2). Meanwhile, CF Montréal remains at the bottom with only two points, struggling to find their rhythm this season.

The Fire will next travel to face the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, April 5, at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey. The match is set for a 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff and will be available globally on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV, with local broadcasts on WLSAM (English) and Que Buena 105.1 (Spanish).