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)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)