Copyright NBC 5 Chicago
Chicago Fire FC is headed to the Eastern Conference quarterfinals after a massive game from Hugo Cuypers against Orlando City Wednesday. Brian Gutierrez got the scoring started for the Fire early in the second half when he scored in the 48th minute, and Cuypers, the team’s leading scorer in the regular season, notched a brace in his first playoff action for Chicago as they collected a 3-1 victory on Wednesday. The two teams played a scoreless first half at Seat Geek Stadium, but the Fire quickly jumped on top in the second half as Gutierrez, who grew up rooting for the Fire in suburban Berwyn, collected a cross from Jonathan Dean and fired a shot into the bottom left corner of the net, giving Chicago a 1-0 lead. After Chris Brady made a save in the 55th minute, the Fire quickly added an insurance goal, as Cuypers collected a ball from in close and deposited it into the net, putting Chicago in front 2-0. The Fire had several more close calls, including a shot off the post by Gutierrez, and they finally found paydirt again 10 minutes later. Philip Zinckernagel, who led the Fire with 15 assists in the regular season, notched another one as he fed Cuypers on the break, and the scoring machine did not miss as he knocked home a shot across the goal and into the back of the net, giving Chicago a three-goal advantage. Tyrese Spicer added a late goal for Orlando, but it wasn’t enough as Chicago captured the win and advanced in the postseason. The Fire have now advanced to the conference quarterfinals, where they will take on the top-seeded Philadelphia Union on Sunday in the City of Brotherly Love. Kick-off is set for 3:30 p.m. Central time, with the game airing on Apple TV and FS1. Sports The best-of-three series will come back to Chicago on Saturday, November 1, with more details to come on that game.
