May 16, 2026
Early Zinckernagel goal puts Chicago Fire over CF Montreal at Stade Saputo
An early goal from Philip Zinckernagel set the tone as the Chicago Fire and Joel Waterman, in his return to his former grounds, edge out CF Montreal but a two goal margin.
Waterman, of course, had spent five years as a member of CF Montreal, where he was a fan favorite at Stade Saputo before being sent to the Chicago Fire in August on 2025. Waterman will also be part of the Canadian international squad at the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup – but tonight, he was playing in the wrong color jersey.
See Also: CF Montreal and Portland Timbers draw at Stade Saputo
Zinckernagel had quite the night at Stade Saputo. He came close to opening the scoring in just the 8th minute, hitting a right footed shot from just outside the box that sailed just wide of the top right corner. Earned a second golden chance just minutes later when he cracked another shot from the middle of the box that went just wide on the left side, as he was consistently a problem for Montreal’s back line.
In the 13th minute, Zinckernagel found himself alone in the center of the box, much like the chance to missed ten minutes earlier, only this time he placed his shot low and to the right, tucking the ball just inside the right post, giving the Chicago Fire and well earned early lead that CF Montreal didn’t have much of a response to.
Montreal had a golden chance to equalize right before the half, when Ivan Jaime cracked a bullet of a shot high towards goal, for Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady was up for the challenge, and pushed the ball up and over the crossbar.
In added time, Wikelman Carmona had another beautiful chance off of a set play that he smashed toward goal, curling the ball around the wall but again, a diving Brady was perfectly placed to once again parry the ball away.
In the 64th minute, Noah Streit had a good chance on goal, but again, Brady was there to prevent Montreal from equalizing. A minute later, Brayan Vera had a wonderful crack a goal from distance and yet again Brady made a diving save to once more keep his side in the lead. Brady was playing like a man possessed and CF Montreal’s players and fans could hardly believe it.
In the 67th minute, Zinckernagel again would take a bite out of CF Montreal, this time setting up Hugo Cuypers whose marker marker double Chicago’s advantage. Montreal were caught presser hard to find away to beat Bady, and Zinckernagel used great vision, to send the ball forward into space, into the path of a rushing Cuypers who carried the ball into the box and slotted in cross box into the lower bottom corner of the net, beyond an out-stretched Thomas Gillier.
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Chicago’s second goal changed the tempo of the game, as all the momentum now swung their way and Montreal looked frustrated, confused and deflated. Brady’s heroics had come back to pay dividends for Chicago, in a match that Montreal deserved to at least earn a point in. Sometimes, the beautiful game is a cruel, cruel beast.
Next, CF Montreal will travel to Washington to take on DC United on May 23rd, while Chicago will return home to welcome Toronto FC on the same day, and then the MLS will pause to make way for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
