New Season Kicks Off with Scoreless Draw
The scoreless draw highlights the competitive nature of the preseason tournament, with both teams showing promise ahead of the new season. The Fire and Timbers will look to build on their performances, with the Timbers seeking to capitalize on their clean sheet and the Fire aiming to find their scoring touch.
Chicago Fire FC and Portland Timbers played to a 0-0 draw in their second match of the Coachella Valley Invitational, with both teams creating scoring opportunities but failing to find the back of the net. Designated Player Jonathan Bamba made his preseason debut for the Fire, creating chances on the left wing, while goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau made a crucial save to deny Brian Gutiérrez a goal.
The Fire started strong, with Andrew Gutman finding Brian Gutiérrez for a header opportunity, but the Timbers' defense held firm. In the second half, both teams made several substitutions, with Ariel Lassiter nearly scoring for Portland and Claudio Cassano creating a one-on-one opportunity for the Fire. Despite the scoreless draw, both teams showed promising signs, with the Fire's backline holding strong against the Timbers' high press.
The match also saw the debut of Omar González, who played in his first game as an official member of the Chicago Fire. Goalkeepers Chris Brady and Jeff Gal split the shutout, and midfielder Kellyn Acosta wore the armband for the second straight CVI match. The Timbers, on the other hand, kept a clean sheet for the first time in the 2025 preseason, with goalkeepers Maxime Crépeau and James Pantemis making key saves.
The draw sets the stage for the teams' upcoming matches, with the Timbers facing San Diego FC on February 12 and the Fire looking to build on their preseason performances. The New England Revolution, meanwhile, will host Hartford Athletic in their final preseason match on Saturday, unveiling their new "Eastern White Pine" kit inspired by the Flag of New England.
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