Brian Gutierrez didn’t quite do a Lambeau Leap.
It was more like SeatGeek Salutation.
The Burbank native and Reavis graduate grew up watching Chicago Fire games in Bridgeview.
He was in the stands when SeatGeek Stadium was known as Toyota Park and he was fond of the 2017 team, led by Bastian Schweinsteiger, which was the last team to make it to the MLS playoffs.
“The 2017 squad stood really stood out to me,” he said. “I had more of a sense of watching them more. Obviously watching Basti play every game was incredible. The composure and the intelligence of play on the ball — it was fun to watch.”
On Oct. 22, the 22-year-old homegrown Fire midfielder did something even “Basti” couldn’t do — he scored MLS playoff goal in a Fire uniform.
Gutierrez became the first Fire player to score a postseason goal since 2012 and Chicago went on to win the Eastern Conference wild-card game, 3-1 over Orlando City SC in front of an announced crowd of 13,783.
After he broke the ice in the 47th minute of the second half, Gutierrez and a few teammates hopped a small advertising barrier and hugged some of the fans in the north stands.
“It was an incredible feeling,” Gutierrez said. “I was once in those stands. I’ve always wanted to do that growing up. And picturing it as a kid, I mean, finally doing that today was incredible.”
Hugo Cuypers added goals in the 57th and 67th minutes, Peter Zinckernagel racked up two assists and Jonathan Dean and Jonathan Bamba had one assist each.
After the third goal of the night, Fire fans chanted “We want more!”
They will get more.
The win gives the Fire another chance to play in Bridgeview.
They open the best-of-three opening-round series against top-seed Philadelphia in a short turnaround game at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 26. The series comes back to the Chicago area at SeatGeek Stadium Nov. 1 as the Fire’s regular home, Soldier Field, will be occupied by the Ireland-All Blacks Gallagher Cup rugby match.
If a third game is needed, the series will head back to Philadelphia Nov. 8 at a time to be determined.
The wild-card win ended a few dry spells for the franchise.
It was the Fire’s first playoff game since 2017, and its first postseason win since 2009. Cuypers’ brace was the first multi-goal playoff game for a Fire player since 2005.
Zinckernagel became the first Fire player with multiple assists in a playoff game since 2007. Their 25 shots was the most in their playoff history.
The Fire is 4-0-1 at its second home in Bridgeview so far in 2025, which includes two wins and a tie during the MLS regular season and a victory in the U.S. Open Cup.
The stadium may receive its share of knocks from critics, but even with a weeknight crowd that didn’t pack the stadium, it was rocking.
“When I signed here last year, there was a lot of talk about the city, about the fans being behind us and I think that’s exactly what they did from the first minute,” Cuypers said. “There was a huge atmosphere right from the start of the game and then when we scored that first one, they really pushed us.
“Honestly, there were only a few moments when I felt tired because you had so much energy and so much adrenaline and (the fans) really helped us get that win.”