Cupps Stellar in Soldier Field Debut

CHICAGO, Ill. — After conceding ten goals in their last two games, the Chicago Fire searched for a defensive answer. They have found one in the form of 16-year-old Christopher Cupps.

Cupps, who made his first Major League Soccer start this weekend, has been one of the top prospects in the Fire organization for a while and has exceeded expectations at every level he's played at. Now, he's already breaking through into the first team, becoming the youngest player to start an MLS game in club history.

“It’s a special moment,” Cupps told MIR97 Media postgame. "I joined the club when I was probably eight or nine, and rising through the ranks. Last year, I was in the stadium watching guys like Carlos Terán, so obviously it’s a special moment. I know what it’s like to be a fan, and now I know what it’s like to be a player.”

With Terán set to miss several months of action, it is fitting that Cupps now seems to have established himself as being in the lead of the race to be his replacement. Even more impressive, he's beating out World Cup veteran Omar González and Sam Rogers, who are 20 and 9 years older than him, respectively.

“How many center backs have started at 16 years old and get a shutout down a man,” Head Coach Gregg Berhalter said after the match. “I mean, come on!”

Extraordinary Circumstances

The Fire's recent defensive woes prompted a hunt for new ideas, including outside-the-box ones like starting the second-youngest player on the roster in a position often occupied by veterans. Cupps was not initially offered a professional contract over the winter and had committed to play Division 1 soccer at the University of Notre Dame, but was then called into Gregg Berhalter's first preseason camp in January — a Florida stint that accelerated his trajectory to the first team.

“What we saw from Chris in preseason was outstanding,” Berhalter said. “We got glimpses of that time period where we said, Okay, this kid can play, he's an exciting player.”

“The second thing is, when you give up 10 goals in two games, everyone's job is in jeopardy. And so when you look at the backline, no one's safe. We have to look to make changes and in our mind, it was a good opportunity, in front of our home fans, to give him a run out. And again, really, really pleased with his performance, and he showed a lot of confidence hanging in there, playing a good game.”

Cupps' performance turned heads not just in Chicago but around the country. It was a nearly impeccable outing, as he recorded impressive stats including a 97% passing accuracy, 2 accurate long balls, 12 clearances, 3 passes into the final third, and most importantly, a clean sheet.

The shutout was made even more impressive by the fact that the Fire had to defend with just ten men for roughly an hour; goalkeeper Chris Brady was sent off in the 36th minute, meaning Berhalter's team had to be creative, and the back line had to adapt quickly.

“We defend with our life, and just get our bodies behind the ball, and then get numbers in the box,” Cupps said. “Obviously, things will happen, free kicks, long shots, things we can’t really control, but it doesn’t affect you, and you just keep going.”

Ahead of Schedule

It's been no secret for years that Cupps had all the tools to be a top center back prospect. But his rapid development over the last 12 months has enhanced that narrative even further as he continues to progress at an unexpectedly fast pace.

Last week's heavy 7-2 loss in Nashville was, by all accounts, a disaster for the Fire. But as the minutes ticked away, it presented Berhalter with a golden opportunity to get Cupps on the field in MLS for the first time, as he introduced him for a 15-minute cameo at the end. He did enough in that appearance and in training during the week to earn enough trust from Berhalter to give the teenager a start, making club history in the process.

“Last week, it was a tough result for the team, and we know that,” Cupps said. “Coach Gregg gave me an opportunity, kind of in a no-pressure situation, the game was lost at that point. I was able to just feel out the game, and so this week when I came in, I felt comfortable, I felt ready.”

With the debut out of the way, even if it came months in advance of when it was expected to come, it motivated the boss to take it one step further — it worked.

“We have to talk about his performance and his bravery,” Berhalter said of Cupps. “Think about a young kid coming in after losing 7-2 and the pressure on him to perform. And the way he performed today was not perfect, but it was, in my mind, it was outstanding. It was a great starting debut in front of the home fans.”

History in the Making

Cupps becoming the club's youngest-ever starter at 16 years and 342 days isn't the only piece of history the Fire made. It was the first time in the club's existence that six academy graduates were included in the starting XI for an MLS game. Given the introduction of backup keeper Jeff Gal off the bench for an unlikely and long-overdue league debut, it was also the first time that seven Chicagoland natives featured for the club.

“I think that’s the identity of the Fire, and for the future, we want to be representative of Chicago,” Cupps said. “We all have roots in different parts of Chicago, and we’re going to bring that to the team on the field. I think that brings us together more than anything.”

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In addition to Cupps, Chris Brady, Andrew Gutman, Sergio Oregel, Mauricio Pineda, and Brian Gutiérrez all got nods from the start. Although Brady was sent off late in the first half for an unlucky foul outside the penalty box, it was a proud night for the academy contingent; Oregel was arguably the Fire's man of the match, putting in a complete midfield shift for one of his best performances of the season so far.

Oregel had an unlikely opportunity at the start of the year when injuries and a strong preseason thrust him into the XI for the first games of the season. Less than three months on, and he's a key player for the first team. Cupps will be hoping to experience something similar, but for now, the center back who's mature beyond his years has the chance to enjoy yet another milestone in his young career that he's checked off before his 17th birthday.

“My family is here tonight, so I’ll have some fun with them,” Cupps said. “But I think each time you reach a milestone or a failure, I just kind of reflect, and you just chase the next one, because that’s what it's about. It’s not really about reaching the milestone; it’s about the process that you take, and that’s what I love the most.”