Toronto FC vs Chicago Fire
Thrilling 4-4 draw at Toronto FC
J. Sargent's hat-trick meets Chicago Fire's late fightback in a goal fest
Toronto FC and Chicago Fire served up a pulsating 4-4 draw in Major League Soccer, with J. Sargent starring for the hosts by netting a hat-trick including a crucial 90+2' goal. Chicago Fire fought back fiercely, with M. Haile-Selassie scoring twice and R. Lewandowski adding another, while an own goal from W. Zimmerman also contributed to the high-scoring affair. This result defied Fipster's high-confidence prediction of a 3-2 home win, proving that this match was far too close to call.
Fipster’s pre-match call
Predicted
3-2 Toronto FC win
Actual
4–4
Outcome probability
Toronto FC and Chicago Fire are set for an exciting MLS encounter that promises goals and drama. Both teams boast potent attacking options, making this a fixture to watch for fans craving end-to-end action.
Match factors
Toronto FC's Dániel Sallói leads in scoring and creativity
Sallói has 5 goals and 3 assists this season, above league average for midfielders, driving Toronto's attack
Chicago Fire's Hugo Cuypers is a prolific goal scorer
Cuypers scored 13 goals in 11 games, significantly above league average striker output
Zinckernagel's creativity boosts Chicago Fire's attacking threat
With 7 assists and strong recent form, Zinckernagel is key to unlocking defenses
Toronto FC's home scoring streak supports predicted win
Toronto FC has scored in last 5 home games, showing strong attacking momentum
No confirmed injuries for either team maintains full attacking options
Both teams have no confirmed outs, ensuring key scorers and assisters are available
The context
This match is part of the MLS regular season, round 23. Historically, these sides have met 20 times, with Toronto FC winning 8, Chicago Fire 6, and 6 draws. Their head-to-head clashes average over three goals per game, highlighting the attacking nature of their meetings.
Key insights
D. Sallói
Toronto FC
Leads Toronto FC in goals and assists this season, driving their attack with 5 goals and 3 assists.
Major League Soccer 26/275 goals and 3 assists in 19 apps, 0.26 goals/game, 0.16 assists/game
H. Cuypers
Chicago Fire
Prolific scorer with 13 goals in 11 games, central to Chicago Fire's goal threat.
Major League Soccer 26/2713 goals in 11 apps, 1.18 goals/game
P. Zinckernagel
Chicago Fire
Top assister for Chicago Fire with 7 assists, key creative playmaker.
Major League Soccer 26/277 assists in 19 apps, 0.37 assists/game
Analysis
Toronto FC's attacking midfielder Dániel Sallói leads his team with 5 goals and 3 assists this season, playing a pivotal role in their offensive play, especially at home. Meanwhile, Chicago Fire's Hugo Cuypers is a goal-scoring machine with 13 goals in just 11 games, making him a constant threat. Chicago's creative midfielder P. Zinckernagel, with 7 assists, adds to their attacking threat. Toronto FC's recent home scoring streak and full attacking options give them a slight edge, but Chicago Fire's firepower ensures this will be a tight contest.
Key facts
- 1.Toronto FC have won 8 of 20 head-to-head matches against Chicago Fire.
- 2.Chicago Fire have won 6 of their 20 meetings with Toronto FC.
- 3.Their head-to-head matches average 3.3 goals per game.
- 4.Dániel Sallói leads Toronto FC with 5 goals and 3 assists this season.
- 5.Hugo Cuypers has scored 13 goals in 11 games for Chicago Fire.
- 6.P. Zinckernagel tops Chicago Fire's assists chart with 7 this season.
- 7.Toronto FC have scored in their last 5 home games.
- 8.No confirmed injuries for either team, so full attacking options are available.
Prediction
We expect Toronto FC to take a narrow lead into halftime with a 2-1 scoreline, maintaining their momentum to clinch a 3-2 victory by fulltime. The match should be a high-scoring affair with both teams finding the net multiple times, but Toronto's home advantage and key players' form should see them through.
Player Insights
Standout players Fipster expects to impact the match — curated highlights, not full squad lists
Home — Toronto FC
Away — Chicago Fire
The verdict
In what promises to be a thrilling MLS fixture, Toronto FC's attacking prowess and home form are likely to just outpace Chicago Fire's potent strike force. Expect goals, excitement, and a narrow win for the home side.
Form as the teams went into this match — excludes this result and anything since.
Team Comparison
Season shape — attack, defence, form, clean sheets & win rate
Home vs Away comparison
Goal difference in each of the last few fixtures — above the line is a net win, below is a net loss
Season comparison
Goals scored & conceded, goal difference and clean sheets across the season
Halftime Performance
What each side does once the whistle goes for half time
Streaks
Recent-form runs — each side’s most-recent game meets in the middle
Head to Head
Haile-Selassie
Rogers
Yellow Card
Sargent
Assist: Mihailović
Cimermancic
Yellow Card
Sargent
Rogers
Zimmerman (OG)
Sargent
Assist: Mihailović
Pereira
Haile-Selassie
Assist: Lewandowski
Lewandowski
Assist: Zinckernagel
Dithejane
Corbeanu
Haile-Selassie
D'Avilla
Cimermancic
Mihailović
Lod
Yellow Card
Zinckernagel
Etienne
Assist: Sallói
Kuscevic
Yellow Card
Match Statistics
Toronto FC
4-2-3-1Starting XI
- 1L. GavranG
- 3Matheus PereiraD
- 7T. CorbeanuM
- 9J. SargentF
- 10D. MihailovićM
- 13B. KuscevicD
- 14Alonso CoelloM
- 20D. SallóiM
- 22R. LaryeaD
- 25W. ZimmermanD
- 71M. CimermancicM
Substitutes
- 11D. EtienneF
- 12Z. MonlouisD
- 15N. GomisD
- 17Emilio Aristizábal ChavarriagaF
- 19K. FranklinD
- 23W. YarbroughG
- 38J. GilmanD
- 44R. EdwardsD
- 90L. MorganF
Chicago Fire
4-3-3Starting XI
- 1C. BradyG
- 3J. ElliottD
- 5S. RogersD
- 6A. SalétrosM
- 7M. Haile-SelassieM
- 9R. LewandowskiF
- 11P. ZinckernagelF
- 12P. DithejaneF
- 15A. GutmanD
- 24J. DeanD
- 42T. D'AvillaM
Substitutes
- 2Leonardo BarrosoD
- 17R. LodM
- 22M. PinedaD
- 29D. PorębaM
- 32N. AllenD
- 35S. OregelM
- 44J. CohenG
- 47Samuel WilliamsM
Toronto FC
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Sargent | F | 90 | 9.6 | 3 | — | 7 | 5 | — | 1/1 |
| D. Mihailović | M | 79 | 8.3 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 4 | 1/1 |
| D. Etienne | F | 11 | 8.2 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | — | — |
| L. Morgan | F | 26 | 6.9 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1/1 |
| Alonso Coello | M | 90 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — |
| Emilio Aristizábal Chavarriaga | F | 11 | 6.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| D. Sallói | M | 90 | 6.4 | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — |
| M. Cimermancic | M | 79 | 6.4 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1/1 |
| T. Corbeanu | M | 64 | 6.1 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | — |
| L. Gavran | G | 90 | 6.1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| B. Kuscevic | D | 90 | 6.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| R. Laryea | D | 90 | 6.0 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| J. Gilman | D | 35 | 5.7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Matheus Pereira | D | 55 | 5.6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| W. Zimmerman | D | 90 | 5.5 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — |
| R. Edwards | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Z. Monlouis | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| N. Gomis | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| K. Franklin | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| W. Yarbrough | G | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Chicago Fire
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. Haile-Selassie | M | 77 | 9.2 | 2 | — | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1/1 |
| R. Lewandowski | F | 90 | 8.7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — |
| P. Dithejane | F | 64 | 6.9 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 0/2 |
| P. Zinckernagel | F | 89 | 6.7 | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2/4 |
| C. Brady | G | 90 | 6.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| T. D'Avilla | M | 78 | 6.4 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| J. Elliott | D | 90 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| A. Gutman | D | 90 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| J. Dean | D | 90 | 6.1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1/2 |
| N. Allen | D | 44 | 6.1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| A. Salétros | M | 90 | 6.0 | — | — | 2 | — | 3 | — |
| S. Oregel | M | 13 | 5.8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| M. Pineda | D | 12 | 5.7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| S. Rogers | D | 46 | 5.7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| R. Lod | M | 26 | 5.6 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| Samuel Williams | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| D. Poręba | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Leonardo Barroso | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| J. Cohen | G | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |