Toronto FC (5W-7L-11T, 26 points) extended their unbeaten run to six matches with an action-packed 4-4 draw against Chicago Fire FC (11W-6L-5T, 38 points) on Saturday evening, highlighted by Josh Sargent’s first MLS hat-trick and Derrick Etienne Jr.’s dramatic stoppage-time equalizer in an eight-goal thriller at BMO Field.
TFC Head Coach Robin Fraser made a pair of changes from last Saturday’s 1-1 draw against New York City FC with Kobe Franklin and Derrick Etienne Jr. making way for Matheus Pereira and Dániel Sallói.
Chicago Fire opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Philip Zinckernagel’s corner fell to Maren Haile-Selassie, whose effort from the top of the box took a deflection and found the back of the net.
The hosts responded in the 27th minute as Josh Sargent expertly controlled Djordje Mihailovic’s clipped pass into the box before drilling a left-footed effort home to draw his side level.
The 27th minute equalizer marked Sargent’s fifth goal and Mihailovic’s sixth goal contribution (two goals, four assists) of the 2026 MLS season.
The Reds capitalized on their momentum to take a deserved lead when Mihailovic’s attempted shot following a quick corner routine deflected into the path of Sargent, who instinctively volleyed home to make it 2-1.
Chicago restored parity four minutes into the second half when Zinckernagel’s low cross was inadvertently turned into his own net by Walker Zimmerman in the 49th minute.
TFC restored their advantage when Mihailovic deftly controlled a clearance before laying the ball off to Sargent, who found the bottom corner beyond goalkeeper Chris Brady with a powerful, well-placed effort from outside the box.
The 54th minute strike marked the American striker’s first MLS hat-trick for TFC, making him the fifth player in club history to score three goals in a single MLS match.
The visitors responded with two goals in the space of five second-half minutes, as Haile-Selassie completed his brace in the 58th minute before Robert Lewandowski got on the scoresheet five minutes later.
New club signing Lewis Morgan entered the action for Theo Corbeanu in the 64th minute to make his club debut after recently joining the Reds on September 2.
Seeking an equalizer in the closing stages, the Reds drew level in dramatic fashion in stoppage time when a swift break saw Alonso Coello and Dániel Sallói combine to find substitute Derrick Etienne Jr., who cut in from the left before unleashing a curling effort into the top corner.
The 92nd minute equalizer marked Etienne Jr.’s seventh MLS goal contribution (four goals, three assists) for the Reds, while Sallói extended his run of recording a goal involvement to five consecutive MLS matches.
Neither side could find a late winner as the two Eastern Conference rivals settled for a point apiece following a 4-4 thriller by the lake shore.
Toronto FC conclude their three-game homestand when Nashville SC come to town on Wednesday, September 9. Kick-off from BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast globally in English and Spanish on Apple TV.
LINEUPS
TORONTO FC – Luka Gavran; Richie Laryea (C), Walker Zimmerman, Benjamín Kuscevic, Matheus Pereira (Jackson Gilman 55’); Markus Cimermancic (Emilio Aristizáball 79’), Alonso Coello, Theo Corbeanu (Lewis Morgan 64’), Djordje Mihailovic (Derrick Etienne Jr. 78’), Dániel Sallói; Josh Sargent
Substitutes Not Used: William Yarbrough, Zane Monlouis, Nicksoen Gomis, Kobe Franklin, Raheem Edwards
CHICAGO FIRE FC – Chris Brady; Jonathan Dean, Sam Rogers (Noah Allen 45’), Jack Elliott (C), Andrew Gutman; Anton Saletros, Dje D’Avilla (Mauricio Pineda 78’), Maren Haile-Selassie (Sergio Oregel Jr. 78’); Philip Zinckernagel (Johan Gomez 89’), Puso Dithejane (Robin Lod 64’), Robert Lewandowski
Substitutes Not Used: Josh Cohen, Leonardo Barroso, David Poreba, Sam Williams
MEDIA NOTES
- Josh Sargent scored his first hat-trick for Toronto FC, becoming the fifth player in club history to score three goals in a single Major League Soccer match following Sebastian Giovinco, Justin Morrow, Ayo Akinola and Federico Bernardeschi.
- Djordje Mihailovic and Alonso Coello recorded two assists in a single match for the first time in their TFC careers.
- With his assist on Josh Sargent’s 27th minute goal, Coello recorded his 10th assist for the Reds.
- With his assist on Josh Sargent’s 54th minute goal, Mihailovic has now recorded 15 goal contributions (six goals, nine assists) since joining Toronto FC in August 2025.
- Dániel Sallói has now recorded a goal contribution (two goals, three assists) in five consecutive Major Soccer League matches.
- Lewis Morgan made his TFC debut as a 64th minute substitute, becoming the 15th player to debut for the Reds this season.
- Alonso Coello made his 100th Major League Soccer appearance for the Toronto FC.
