Chicago Fire’s Kellyn Acosta scores PRAYER from midfield to pull out 4-3 win over CF Montreal in stoppage time after trailing 3-1 in the 82nd minute… but did he get help from the wind?

Chicago’s ‘Windy City’ nickname was not the result of any actual gusts of wind, but rather the reputation of 19th-century politicians for being profit-hungry blowhards. Just don’t tell CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois, who fell victim to a strong halftime breeze en route to a stunning collapse against the Fire in Chicago on Saturday.

Kellyn Acosta delivered a wind-assisted, tying goal from midfield in the final moments of second-half stoppage time as Chicago scored twice after 90 minutes for a stunning 4-3 victory over visiting CF Montreal.

Down 3-1, Chicago (1-2-1, 4 points) began its rally when Montreal understudy and ex-Fire defender Raheem Edwards drew a red card for an apparently violent elbow in the 82nd minute, reducing his team for 10 people.

Homegrown midfielder Brian Gutierrez converted from the penalty spot two minutes later for the Fire (1-2-1, 4 points) before Hugo Cuypers leveled the score at 3-3 with a strike through traffic in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Four minutes later, Acosta delivered his heroics when he appeared to send the ball forward from midfield. The bent ball was helped by a strong lakeside wind and carried past the outstretched arms of Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.

CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois reacts after allowing a game-winning goal

The ball found the back of the net to set off a wild celebration on the pitch and in the stands.

The surreal finish overshadowed Montreal’s two successful penalties from Matias Coccaro in the first half. Dominik Yankov added a goal for Montreal after a brilliant pass from Josef Martinez extended the lead to 3-1 in the 70th minute.

Montreal (2-1-1, 7 points) caught an early break when video review determined that Chicago’s Chase Gasper, on the backswing of his foot, made enough contact in the box on a chasing Coccaro to warrant a foul and the game’s first penalty kick.

Four goalkeeper Chris Brady got a hand on Coccaro’s eighth-minute penalty, but not enough to keep it out of the net.

Four minutes later, Coccaro was again awarded a penalty when he was fouled from behind by Fire’s Tobias Salquist. The Chicago defender drew a yellow and Coccaro then converted his second penalty attempt to shock the home supporters.

Chicago broke through at the tip of the break, taking advantage of the extended stoppage time. Maren Haile-Selassie got behind Montreal’s back-line to receive a long pass from Rafael Czichos, then side-winked the ball past Sirois to give Chicago life into the break.