Walk-Off Point: New York City FC 2, Chicago Fire 2

QUEENS, N.Y. — As the Chicago Fire’s MLS return at New York City FC reached its conclusion, it seemed that the Men in Red would leave Citi Field empty-handed. But in 16 dramatic minutes, everything flipped on its head.

Late goals from team leaders Hugo Cuypers and Brian Gutiérrez provided the boost the team needed to overturn what seemed like an insurmountable 2-0 deficit and rescued a valuable point with the 2-2 result.

“I think the one thing for me is that this team has not given up,” Klopas said. “I think that some games have gotten out of control a little bit where you're pushing the game and down in a 2-0 lead, you have to take risks… but we got rewarded with that risk, and the guys, it was a huge belief and they fought extremely hard and big confidence in the room.”

The aforementioned lengthy break gave head coach Frank Klopas the opportunity to refresh his starting eleven. Every player but Chase Gasper and Fabian Herbers had returned to fitness, though new addition Ari Lassiter did miss out through yellow card accumulation, meaning his debut will have to wait until next week against Miami.

That rejuvenated team did not translate into the game’s opening minutes. NYCFC immediately began threatened from the first whistle, and after three minutes, Chris Brady was already forced to make an impressive save. The hosts provided further chances that Arnaud Souquet and Carlos Terán thwarted in the first 12 minutes, and it seemed like only a matter of time before they took the lead.

After 15 minutes, that breakthrough came, it was well-deserved. Costa Rican forward Alonso Martínez found plenty of space inside the penalty box, making things incredibly difficult for Brady; he smashed the ball into the net, opening the scoring early.

Seven minutes later, chaos ensued in front of the Fire net; the defenders were scattered all over the place, and despite the limited dimensions of the below-regulation size pitch, Martínez again managed to find space and score inexplicably. Brady was again left stranded by his back line and NYCFC doubled their advantage.

Though Santi Rodríguez’s goal, which would have extended the tally to three, was disallowed, NYC were dominant for the entirety of the first half. They did not capitalize on opportunities that would have put the game truly beyond all doubt. However, the Fire were unable to make them pay for that, and things went from bad to worse when Terán fell injured just before the break.

Terán, unable to continue, was replaced by Tobias Salquist at halftime. It wasn’t the only change; Allan Arigoni was replaced by Chris Mueller as the team abandoned the 3-5-2 for a 4-2-3-1. Salquist’s introduction calmed things down after a hectic first half, and New York’s momentum slowed, allowing the Fire to slowly grow into the game.

The second half started much slower than the first – New York still had more possession – but with more stability in Chicago’s back line, there wasn’t much that they could do going forward. Klopas made a triple change in the 72nd minute, introducing Justin Reynolds, Fede Navarro, and Georgios Koutsias in a gamble that would almost immediately pay off.

Six minutes later, Salquist marched into the opposing half with possession and laid the ball off for Hugo Cuypers. The Designated Player did what he was paid to do, and powered by sheer determination, he blasted the ball into the top corner from just outside the box. In-form goalkeeper Matt Freese, who had hardly been challenged to that point, had no chance.

Cuypers’ strike opened things up in the final minutes, and it was all to play for. Reynolds’ introduction at left back proved to be a game-changer, even though it was only his second MLS appearance. He brought energy and pace to his position, which was needed after Andrew Gutman, returning from a long injury layoff, faded in the second half. The Fire continued to pile on the pressure as the game entered stoppage time.

Then, three minutes into the extra period, they were finally rewarded. An attempted cross from Rafa Czichos was blocked by the arm of Tayvon Gray, handing the Fire a golden opportunity to secure an unlikely point. With the world on his shoulders, 21-year-old homegrown star Brian Gutiérrez stepped up to the plate, and he buried it for his seventh goal of the season.

Gutiérrez, who has had to fight for even spot minutes in his natural #10 position over the last two and a half seasons due to the presence of DP Xherdan Shaqiri, has come into his own this summer, and yet another clutch goal and performance further solidifies his status as one of the top young midfielders in North America. The now-permanent absence of Shaqiri seems to have provided a mental boost, and his ice-cold finish silenced any doubters and earned an important point, regardless of how faint the Fire’s playoff hopes may now be.

“[Guti had] huge confidence to pick up the ball there on the spot in a difficult moment and get the tying goal,” Klopas said. “I wasn't able to look.”

“I think Guti can improve and be a bigger factor over 90 minutes for sure. But it was great to see him get the goal and the way he came more into the game in the second half.”

Now just three points out of a playoff spot, the Fire will return home next week in a huge test against high-flying Inter Miami – who already secured a playoff spot tonight by cruising to a comfortable 2-0 win over second-placed Cincinnati.