Hugo Cuypers scores winner late in 1st half as Fire defeat Toronto 2-1

TORONTO (AP) — Hugo Cuypers scored the go-ahead goal right before halftime and Chris Brady made it stand up for the Chicago Fire in a 2-1 victory over FC Toronto on Saturday.

Cuypers took a pass from rookie defender Leonardo Barroso in the 44th minute and scored for the fourth time this season to give the Fire (2-1-1) a 2-1 lead. It was the first assist for Barroso.

Toronto (0-3-1) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute on a goal by Deandre Kerr. Federico Bernardeschi and Jonathan Osorio both picked up their second assist on Kerr's first netter of the campaign.

Chicago pulled even in the 30th minute when defender Andrew Gutman took a pass from rookie midfielder Jonathan Bamba and scored his second goal of the season and the 13th of his career. Bamba has three assists in four matches — all starts.

Brady had one save in goal for Chicago, which improved to 13-14-13 all time versus Toronto.

Sean Johnson saved two shots for Toronto.

Toronto travels to play the defending Eastern Conference-champion New York Red Bulls on Saturday in search of its first victory of the season. Chicago travels to play the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday in the second leg of a three-match road trip.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

Toronto FC forward Deandre Kerr (29) looks on as Chicago Fire defender Jack Elliott (3) goes down chasing the ball during first half MLS soccer action in Toronto, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Chicago Fire defender Jack Elliott (3) goes down as he vies for the ball with Toronto FC forward Deandre Kerr (29) during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Toronto, Saturday, March 15, 2025. T(Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto FC forward Tyrese Spicer (16) and Chicago Fire defender Leonardo Barroso (2) vie for the ball during second half MLS soccer action in Toronto, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Chicago Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady, right, makes a save against a shot by Toronto FC forward Federico Bernardeschi, left, during first-half MLS soccer match action in Toronto, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Chicago Fire forward Hugo Cuypers (9) takes a shot on goal under pressure from Toronto FC's Lazar Stefanovic (76) during second half MLS soccer action in Toronto, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Chicago Fire forward Omari Glasgow (26) pulls on Toronto FC midfielder Kosi Thompson (6) jersey as he chases the ball during the second half of an MLS soccer game in Toronto, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto FC forward Federico Bernardeschi (10) pressures as Chicago Fire forward Omari Glasgow (26) moves the ball during the second half of an MLS soccer game in Toronto, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto FC midfielder Deybi Flores (20) gets the header over Chicago Fire midfielder Sergio Oregel (35) during the second half of an MLS soccer game in Toronto, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto FC midfielder Kosi Thompson (6) tries to stop Chicago Fire forward Omari Glasgow (26) as he gets a shot away during the second half of an MLS soccer game in Toronto, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Josh Berry raced to the first Cup Series victory of his career, taking NASCAR's oldest team to victory lane Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Berry, in his first season driving the famed No. 21 for Wood Brothers Racing, had the first victory for a Ford team through five races this season. William Byron opened the year with a Daytona 500 victory in a Chevrolet and Christopher Bell in a Toyota won the next three races.

Berry, meanwhile, had to run down Daniel Suarez following a restart with 19 laps remaining to take control. Although Harrison Burton won at Daytona last summer for the Wood Brothers, Berry's victory is the first not at a superspeedway since Ryan Blaney won for the team in 2017 at Pocono.

It was the 101st victory for the organization spanning 20 drivers.

Suarez in a Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing finished second, followed by Ryan Preece in a Ford for RFK Racing. Byron was fourth for Hendrick Motorsports, followed by Ross Chastain of Trackhouse, Austin Cindric of Team Penske and Alex Bowman of Hendrick.

AJ Allmendinger of Kaulig Racing was eighth and Hendrick drivers Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott rounded out the top 10.

Joey Logano had late control of the race until Las Vegas native Noah Gragson hit the wall with 25 laps remaining to bring out the ninth caution of the race. Berry was in second when the caution came out and second behind Suarez on the restart.

Berry won in his 53rd Cup race and just his fifth race with the Wood Brothers, the team that signed him when Stewart-Haas Racing shuttered at the end of last season.

The 34-year-old Tennessee driver was a 40-1 underdog to win Sunday's race and his win put the Wood Brothers back into the playoffs for a second consecutive season.

Bell came to Las Vegas on a three-race winning streak with an opportunity to become the first driver since Jimmie Johnson in 2007 to win four consecutive Cup races.

But his chance to extend his streak was stymied when Joe Gibbs Racing had to change the throttle body on the No. 20 Toyota after Bell qualified 13th and the penalty dropped him to the back of the field for the start of the race.

He never recovered in what was an overall subpar day for the four-driver JGR contingent.

Bell, who complained about the handling of his car most of the race, finished a team-high 12th. Only eight drivers have won four straight Cup races in the modern era of NASCAR that began in 1972.

Chase Briscoe was 17th and Ty Gibbs, who rolled a sprint car Saturday night at the dirt track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, finished 22nd. Denny Hamlin, winner of more than $200,000 over two nights of playing slots in the Las Vegas casino, couldn't convert his luck to the track and finished 25th.

The Cup Series races next Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, a track that had been in the playoff rotation the last three years but has now been moved to a spring race. Tyler Reddick won last October and Bell won in 2023.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Drivers restart racing after a yellow flag during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Kyle Larson drives during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Josh Berry celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Christopher Bell speaks after his win in a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)