PBP: Fire invade Montreal for football and Poutine 5.16.26 3:30 pm Apple TV

2-0!

 

Maybe, maybe not. If it had been Zinck instead of them - pass it!

 

3PTS!
Clean sheet!
Monster game from Brady!
Hugo continues his streak!
Zinck key to the attack, as usual!
Waterman exceeded expectations at CDM
And TLB returned to form!

 

Brady for World Cup!

 

If you're Chris Brady, this is the kind of game that gets you to the world cup. Bravo

 

MOTM

 

Not just the number of saves but the quality of them!

 

FotMob


Sofascore


The latter closer matches my eye…and it was the quantity + quality of saves that gives Brady MOTM over Zinck

 

After a Fire win, it is worth noting the Fire have acquired some young players during last 18 months with lots of upside potential and already exhibiting skills the team needs. Not saying they are finished products yet by any means but a little playing time and some patience and Presto! you have a quality player who fits the teams needs.
TLB, Radojevic, Barroso, D’Villa and Dithejane are names that immediately come to mind.

 

“The U22 Initiative allows MLS clubs to sign age 22 and younger players to lucrative contracts at a reduced budget charge, decreasing the risk associated with acquiring or retaining players who are still approaching their prime.”

 

He was a hell of a player today.

 

Radojevic, TLB, Cupps, and Barroso could be the back line for Brady for a long time. That would be something to see. Probably will not happen since TLB and Brady will likely leave MLS sooner rather than later, but you see what kind of stability is possible when the veterans hang up the boots.

 

Brady was damn good! I rather liked Waterman out there at cdm in front of Mbo and Elliot. I'd like to see more of that and I thought Pineda was fine too.

 

Waterman did the thing that has been missing…CDM connecting with the back line!

 

The current thinking says DMs should be significant offensive contributors.
It is sometimes forgotten that the most important DM duties are defensive in nature. A DM who is extra strong defensively and makes modest passes to teammates, not the opponents, may be all the Fire needs.
It would be a plus and very fashionable to have a DM making substantial offensive contributions but first things first….

 

Fought adversity and finished the week +6 💪 #cf97 pic.twitter.com/RdwI4eVauG

— Chicago Fire FC (@ChicagoFire) May 17, 2026

 

I was awake at 5:30, although I didn't watch much cause I was only up while in the ER (kind of a false alarm, I'm mostly okay) and I immediately went to sleep when I got home at around halftime (Once again, I heard a Cuypers goal while trying to sleep). I watched the Apple recap instead of the whole game, but man Maren is a guy still. And we all thought he'd be gone this season. I'll also say that Radojevic really does seem to be having a better time right now than Gutman, I don't know what's up with Gutman but he's been struggling the past month. Also, Puso's really gotten so much better than he was earlier in the season. It's sorta like watching Duran's development back when he first got here.

 

Happy Birthday.

 

I agree. It's been a long time since we had bench guys that could be starters on other teams. I forget we have injured starters. It's really nice.