Visiting Chicago Fire scorch struggling CF Montreal 2-0
Montreal (3-15-6) remains on pace to complete their worst season in the club's 32-year history.
Montreal controlled the rhythm of the Major League Soccer match in the opening stages as Chicago (9-9-5) settled into a defensive block and looked to hit back on the counter, using that 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 find any breakthrough.
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.
Thursdays
Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.
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.
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
Canada's Stakusic bows out of NBO with opening-round loss to Cristian
Canada's Marina Stakusic put up a valiant effort, but ultimately fell to Romania's Jaqueline Cristian 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the opening round of the National Bank Open on Sunday. The 142nd-ranked Stakusic, in her fourth appearance at the NBO, was making her main draw debut in Montreal after bowing out in the second round of last year's tournament, held in Toronto. The 20-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., got off to a strong start, breaking Cristian in the Romanian's very first service game to go up 2-0 in the opening set. The Canadian broke her opponent again in the eighth game to take the opening set 6-2. Cristian wasted little time, however, getting on the board in the second set, breaking Stakusic at love in the opening game. The Romanian, currently ranked a career-high 49th in the WTA rankings, would go on to break her opponent twice more as she evened the match at a set apiece. The third set played out almost identically to that of the second, with Cristian taking the opening game on Stakusic's serve. The Bucharest native then broke twice more on her way to her first-ever win in her first career appearance at the NBO. Cristian will now play Czechia's Linda Noskova in the second round. Noskova, the 20th seed of the tournament, is coming off a runner-up finish at the Prague Open, where she lost Saturday to compatriot Marie Bouzkova in three sets. Stakusic set the table for what promises to be a busy day for Canadians on Montreal's Centre Court. Highly-touted 18-year-old Victoria Mboko is set to make her main draw debut at the National Bank Open later this afternoon against Australia's Kimberly Birrell. Toronto's Mboko has had a breakout 2025 season on tour, qualifying for both the French Open and Wimbledon, where she reached the third and second round, respectively. Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., will open up the night session against two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova. The 25-year-old Canadian, who won the NBO in Toronto in 2019, is coming off a strong showing at the Hopman Cup last week in Italy, as she teamed up with Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime to capture the exhibition team tournament. Andreescu won all three of her singles matches in straight sets, dropping only nine games at the competition. Action concludes on Centre Court with Vancouver's Rebecca Marino taking on French qualifier Elsa Jacquemot. The 34-year-old Marino has struggled this season, winning just one WTA Tour-level match all season. Sunday marks the start of a revamped 12-day, 96-player format, which will notably see the top 32 seeds receive automatic byes into the tournament's second round. Action continues daily at IGA Stadium through until the final, set for Aug. 7.
National Post
3 hours ago
- National Post
Canada's Stakusic bows out of NBO with first-round loss to Cristian
MONTREAL — Canada's Marina Stakusic put up a valiant effort, but ultimately fell to Romania's Jaqueline Cristian 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the opening round of the National Bank Open on Sunday. Article content The 142nd-ranked Stakusic, in her fourth appearance at the NBO, was making her main draw debut in Montreal after bowing out in the second round of last year's tournament, held in Toronto. Article content Article content Article content The 20-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., got off to a strong start, breaking Cristian in the Romanian's very first service game to go up 2-0 in the opening set. The Canadian broke her opponent again in the eighth game to take the opening set 6-2. Article content Cristian wasted little time, however, getting on the board in the second set, breaking Stakusic at love in the opening game. The Romanian, currently ranked a career-high 49th in the WTA rankings, would go on to break her opponent twice more as she evened the match at a set apiece. Article content The third set played out almost identically to that of the second, with Cristian taking the opening game on Stakusic's serve. The Bucharest native then broke twice more on her way to her first-ever win in her first career appearance at the NBO. Article content Cristian will now play Czechia's Linda Noskova in the second round. Noskova, the 20th seed of the tournament, is coming off a runner-up finish at the Prague Open, where she lost Saturday to compatriot Marie Bouzkova in three sets. Article content Stakusic set the table for what promises to be a busy day for Canadians on Montreal's Centre Court. Article content Highly-touted 18-year-old Victoria Mboko is set to make her main draw debut at the National Bank Open later this afternoon against Australia's Kimberly Birrell. Toronto's Mboko has had a breakout 2025 season on tour, qualifying for both the French Open and Wimbledon, where she reached the third and second round, respectively. Article content Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., will open up the night session against two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova. The 25-year-old Canadian, who won the NBO in Toronto in 2019, is coming off a strong showing at the Hopman Cup last week in Italy, as she teamed up with Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime to capture the exhibition team tournament. Andreescu won all three of her singles matches in straight sets, dropping only nine games at the competition. Article content Action concludes on Centre Court with Vancouver's Rebecca Marino taking on French qualifier Elsa Jacquemot. The 34-year-old Marino has struggled this season, winning just one WTA Tour-level match all season. Article content
CTV News
5 hours ago
- CTV News
Quebec's Eugenie Bouchard set to play final tournament at National Bank Open
Montreal Watch Quebec's Eugenie Bouchard is set to play her final tournament at the National Bank Open on Monday, as the premier Montreal tennis tournament begins.
