Kansas City, Kan. (July 28, 2024) – Chicago Fire FC opened their 2024 Leagues Cup campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Sporting Kansas City on Sunday night at Children’s Mercy Park.
The Fire took the lead in the 22nd minute when 20-year-old Greek forward Georgios Koutsias finished a perfectly placed pass from Homegrown midfielder Brian Gutiérrez. The goal marked Koutsias’ first across all competitions for the Fire this season, while Gutiérrez tallied his fourth assist in 2024.
Sporting KC managed to equalize just before halftime when defender Robert Castellanos headed in a free kick from midfielder Rémi Walter at the back post in the 39th minute. The home side added another goal late in the second half when forward Willy Agada scored a diving header to seal the victory for Kansas City in the 76th minute.
With 11 players unavailable for tonight’s match, the Fire’s matchday squad featured a mixture of experience and young talent, including three Chicago Fire FC II players.
Defender Jaylen Shannon became the first-ever Fire II player to start for the Fire. Shannon, 24, played 55 minutes in his debut appearance for the First Team before being replaced by Fire II winger Omari Glasgow due to injury. Additionally, Fire II winger Christian Koffi earned his first career appearance for the Men in Red when he replaced forward Tom Barlow in the 62nd minute.
NEXT MATCH: Chicago will host Liga MX side Deportivo Toluca F.C. in the Club’s second and final group stage match of the 2024 Leagues Cup on Thursday, Aug. 1 at SeatGeek Stadium. Beginning at 8:00 p.m. CT, the match will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass. Tickets to attend the match against Toluca are available for purchase here.
Notes:
- The 2-1 defeat snapped a two-game winning streak for the Fire against Sporting Kansas City. Chicago’s record against Sporting Kansas City across all competitions now stands at 28-22-13.
- With his goal, forward Georgios Koutsias scored the third-fastest goal by a Fire player across all competitions in 2024.
- Koutsias now has four career goals across all competitions for the Fire.
- With an assist, midfielder Brian Gutiérrez has nine goal contributions across all competitions this season (five goals, four assists).
- Gutiérrez’s nine goal contributions rank as the third-most on the team across all competitions this season, with forward Hugo Cuypers and winger Maren Haile-Selassie tied for the team lead (11).
- Defender Andrew Gutman made his first appearance for the Fire since May 29 after recovering from an injury. The Chicagoland native now has nine appearances across all competitions for the Fire.
- Defenders Allan Arigoni (not due to injury), Rafael Czichos (illness), Jonathan Dean (leg), Chase Gasper (leg), Carlos Terán (illness), Wyatt Omsberg (leg); defender/midfielder Mauricio Pineda (head); midfielders Chris Mueller (illness), Justin Reynolds (illness) and Xherdan Shaqiri (not due to injury); and forward Hugo Cuypers (not due to injury) were unavailable for tonight’s match.
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Box Score:Sporting Kansas City 2:1 Chicago Fire FC
Goals:
CHI – Koutsias (Gutiérrez) (WATCH) 22’
SKC – Castellanos (Walter) (WATCH) 39’
SKC – Agada (Afrifa) (WATCH) 76’
Discipline:
CHI – Shannon (Yellow Card) 53’
Chicago Fire FC: GK Richey, D Souquet (Gutman, 79’), D Salquist, D Shannon (Glasgow, 56’), M Haile-Selassie, M Herbers, M Gutiérrez, M Giménez (capt.), M Acosta, F Barlow (Koffi, 62’), F Koutsias
Subs not used: GK Brady, GK Gal, M Navarro, M Casas Jr.
Sporting Kansas City: GK Melia (capt.), D Fontás (Voloder, 73’), D Castellanos, M Radoja, M Leibold (Bassong, 81’), M Thommy, M Walter, F Salloi, F Shelton, F Agada, F Afrifa (Vargas, 84’)
Subs not used: GK Schewe, D Rosero, D Ndenbe, D Rindov, M Flores, M Tschantret, M Cruz
Stats Summary: SKC / CHIShots: 17 / 9
Shots on Goal: 6 / 5
Saves: 4 / 4
Passing Accuracy: 84.2% / 78.3%
Corners: 4 / 2
Fouls: 12 / 10
Offsides: 0 / 1
Possession: 58% / 42%
Attendance: 14,047
Referee: Rubiel Vázquez
Assistant Referees: Nick Uranga, Kyle Atkins
Fourth Official: Alyssa Nichols
VAR: Benjamin Pineda, Shirley Perello
