BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (July 31, 2023) – Chicago Fire FC tied Club Puebla 1-1 at SeatGeek Stadium on Monday night to advance to the Leagues Cup 2023 Round of 32. Due to the match finishing in a tie, the two teams went to kicks from the penalty spot that went to 10 rounds before Puebla prevailed to earn the extra point.
With the result, Chicago finishes atop Group Central 2 with four points and will host Club América, who finished in second place in Group Central 1 with three points.
The Fire started with energy and began attacking from the outset, getting a dangerous opportunity in the third minute. A miscleared ball fell to Gastón Giménez at the top of the box and he sent in a low pass for Fabian Herbers who hit a one-time shot that goalkeeper Jesús Rodríguez reacted to swat and redirect. The ball hit the underside of the crossbar before bouncing back out onto the field and eventually being cleared of danger.
Midfielder Jairo Torres replaced Fabian Herbers at halftime and immediately put the team on the offensive as Shaqiri sent a long ball up from midfielder that the young Mexican brought down and directed toward goal. With a defender on him, Torres held the ball before managing a shot that J. Rodríguez directed wide left of the net.
Chicago appeared to get the go-ahead goal in the 66th minute when Homegrown midfielder Brian Gutiérrez entered the match and just one minute later had a goal called offside.
Puebla responded with a goal in the 74th minute when a miscommunication by the Fire defense left Brayan Angulo with time and space outside for a mid-range shot that went into the upper left corner. Three minutes later, Puebla’s Carlos Baltazar was sent off from the match with a red card. On the ensuing free kick in the 79th minute, Shaqiri sent a low, driven ball that was deflected slightly enough to catch J. Rodríguez wrong-footed, where he could only watch the goal roll into the left side of the goal to tie the game.
NEXT MATCH: The Fire advance to the Round of 32 in Leagues Cup 2023 and will face Liga MX side Club América on Friday, August 4 at SeatGeek Stadium. Additional information on kick off time, broadcast information and tickets to be announced.
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Notes:
- Chicago Fire FC Head Coach Frank Klopas made four changes to the starting XI that earned three points against Minnesota United on July 27 at Allianz Field.
- Xherdan Shaqiri donned the captain’s armband against Puebla, and scored his second goal of Leagues Cup 2023.
- Ivorian midfielder Ousmane Doumbia made his first start in a Fire shirt. The skillful midfielder played his first minutes for the Chicago Fire against Minnesota after joining the team from sister club FC Lugano earlier this month.
- Goalkeeper Chris Brady returned to the net for his first taste of Leagues Cup 2023 action.
Box Score:
Chicago Fire FC 1 (9) : (10) 1 Club Puebla
Penalty kicks:
Chicago Fire: Czichos (saved), Shaqiri (scored), Gutiérrez (scored), Przybyłko (scored), Pineda (scored), Aceves (scored), Torres (scored), Doumbia (scored), Terán (scored), Brady (scored), Czichos (missed)
Puebla: Mancuello (scored), Álvarez (saved), Barragan (scored), Ferrareis (scored), Angulo (scored), Silva (scored), Velasco (scored), Olmedo (scored), González (scored), I. Rodríguez (scored), Mancuello (scored)
Discipline:
PUE - de Buen (Yellow Card) 52’
CHI - Terán (Yellow Card) 71’
PUE - Baltazar (Red Card - Ejection) 77’
CHI - Brady (Yellow Card) 90+3’
Chicago Fire FC: GK Brady, D Souquet (Dean, 66’), D Terán, D Pineda, D Aceves, M Doumbia, M Giménez, M Haile-Selassie, (M Gutiérrez, 66’) M Shaqiri (capt.), M Herbers (Torres, 46’), F Koutsias (Przybyłko, 66’)
Subs not used: GK Gal, GK Richey, D Burks, D Czichos, D M. Navarro, M Monis, M F. Navarro, F M. Rodríguez
Club Puebla: GK Rodríguez, D Olmedo, M de Buen (González, 61’) , M Álvarez, M Arce (Baltazar, 61’), M Mancuello (capt.), F Martínez, D L. García (Ferrareis, 61’), M Robles (Velasco, 72’), D Silva, D Angulo
Subs not used: GK Gómez, GK Fraga, M Orona, M Herrera, M Aguilar, M Zago, F Barragán, F E. García
Stats Summary: CHI / PUE
Shots: 21 / 14
Shots on Goal: 9 / 5
Saves: 4 / 7
Passing Accuracy: 85.0% / 84.3%
Corners: 14 / 7
Fouls: 12 / 10
Offsides: 1 / 2
Possession: 48% / 52%
Attendance: 12,169
Referee: Jesús Rafael López Valle
Assistant Referees: Michel Alejandro Morales Morales, Oscar Yahir Barriga Castro
Fourth Official: *Randy Encarnación Solano
VAR: Benjamin Pineda
Assistant VAR: *Jorge Abraham Camacho Peregrina
