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Hugo Cuypers was the catalyst for the Chicago Fire’s three-goal explosion after the 80th minute of their 3-1 victory over FC Dallas and Major League Soccer has recognized his contributions from the Fire’s first win of the 2025 MLS season.
Cuypers is in the starting 11 for MLS’ Team of the Matchday for Matchday 3 after assisting Andrew Gutman’s 82nd-minute goal and then securing all three points for the Fire when he won and subsequently scored from a penalty kick in second-half stoppage time.
The goal was the third of the season for Cuypers, who was on the Team of the Matchday bench for Matchday 2 after scoring twice for the Fire in their home opener against DC United.
While Chicago’s club-record signing was at the center of the Fire’s late offensive explosion at Toyota Stadium, it was his defending that earned praise from Chicago’s director of football and head coach Gregg Berhalter.
“Hugo, in the beginning of the game - for a large part of the game, was really good leading the line in our defensive structure,” Berhalter said after his first win as head coach of the Fire. “We were very compact, very difficult to break down. They resorted to a lot of diagonal balls. They couldn't play between our lines. And a big part of that was Hugo's positioning and movement.”
What’s On Tap Next?
The Fire will be in Canada next on March 15 to face off against Toronto FC. The match is scheduled to kick off at 1:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.
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Tottenham face dressing room ‘revolt’ after Ange Postecoglou sack news; huge summer ahead
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Aaron Boone Makes Feelings Clear After Yankees’ Big Trade
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