Visiting Fire scorch struggling CF Montreal, who are on historic pace

MONTREAL - Hugo Cuypers and Jack Elliott scored for Chicago, and CF Montreal lost its 15th game of the season, falling 2-0 to the Fire in Major League Soccer action at Stade Saputo on Saturday.

Montreal (3-15-6) remains on track to record its worst season in the club’s 32-year history. In a scenario that has become all too familiar for Montreal, Chicago’s only two shots on goal made all the difference. Despite the gap in scoring chances, the home team left with no points once again.

"There is frustration because we know that with a bit of luck in these three games, we could have seven points and we are here with one,” said interim head coach Marco Donadel.

“We played with courage on the ball and without the ball. I hope that everyone understood that we gave everything on the field, because I don’t know if we can do anything more than this."

Montreal controlled the pace of the match in the opening stages as Chicago (9-9-5) settled into a defensive block and looked to counterattack, using that approach to open the scoring in the 13th minute.

After escaping from several Montreal chances without conceding, two quick passes forward led to Leonardo Barroso breaking away and hitting the post, leaving Cuypers to mop up the rebound.

Montreal’s response for the remainder of the first half was a microcosm of its season as the squad continued to dominate the ball and pin the Fire back, but could not produce any offence.

“I feel like we’re always a half-second too late or too early … This is football sometimes and you wonder when you’re going to get a break from it and it’s going to go your way for once,” said Montreal's Caden Clark.

“It’s really just trying to get us on the same page on the same day, and I feel that has been our struggle this year.”

To make matters worse, Fabian Herbers exited the game with what appeared to be an injury for the fourth time this season. Herbers has already missed a dozen games this season due to a variety of injuries.

Chicago wasted no time doubling its lead in the opening 10 minutes of the second half when Elliott managed to get on the end of a corner and fire home a header.

“(Scores) on paper don’t tell the whole story. You could do so well for 89 minutes, but one moment here, one moment there, and that’ll cost you three points,” said Montreal defender Brandan Craig. “I think we deserved a little bit more than what we got, and I feel like that’s been the story recently with us.”

Chicago managed to control the rest of the game rather comfortably, with Montreal getting little more than glancing chances. This is Montreal’s first game without a goal since May 31 against the New England Revolution.

Off the pitch, the ever-vocal “Collectif Impact Montréal” supporters group staged a protest during the match to show their displeasure with the club’s occupation of Major League Soccer’s basement.

Replacing the banner behind the net where their group's name is usually illustrated, were the words “It’s already vacation time!” in French. Additionally, the supporters wore festive beach shirts and leis, were seen throwing beach balls around in the stands while the game was being played, and sang chants at the expense of everyone, from the players to the ownership.

UP NEXT

Chicago: Hosts New York Red Bulls on Saturday, July 26.

Montreal: Visits the New England Revolution on Friday, July 25.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 19, 2025.