MLS Golden Boot leader Hugo Cuypers will try to help the Chicago Fire to a second away win in four days in Saturday’s visit to a CF Montreal side that is resurgent under interim manager Philippe Eullaffroy.
Cuypers scored his 12th goal on Wednesday night as the Fire (6-4-2, 20 points) rallied from behind to a 3-1 victory at D.C. United.
The Belgian international has now scored in nine consecutive league matches and enters the weekend one ahead of Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and Dallas’ Petar Musa for the MLS scoring lead.
“For me, the Golden Boot has always been a consequence of the work I put in,” Cuypers said. “Of course I want to win the Golden Boot, that’s out of the question. But it’s not a focus because I know what I have to put in to get there. For me, it’s a reward and a consequence, not a goal, if that makes sense.”
Chicago’s three goals after halftime helped halt a three-match losing skid in all competitions, with all of those defeats coming at home.
A win or draw at Montreal (4-7-1, 13 points) could extend the Fire’s away unbeaten run to six matches in all competitions and five in the league.
But the Canadian side has posted a 3-1-1 record since Eullaffroy took over for the fired Marco Donadel and implemented a slight tactical shift into a 4-3-3 shape.
“I would say the mindset, the atmosphere, the joy — I know I’m repeating myself a little, but those were the things that were crucial to bring back,” Eullaffroy said in French. “And then, secondly, it’s the fact that we managed to change the team’s identity quite rapidly — even if we are still far from where I’d like us to end up.”
Under Eullaffroy, Montreal has been less possession oriented, having the majority of the ball only once in those five matches. A home-heavy schedule has also helped, with Montreal hosting six of eight before MLS breaks for the World Cup from late May through early July.
Striker Daniel Rios has scored his first two goals since his offseason move from Vancouver in Montreal’s last two games, a 2-0 home win over Orlando last Saturday and a 2-2 draw with Portland on Wednesday.
–Field Level Media
