Photo: Leslie Smith
Chicago Fire 0-1 Club America
BRIDGEVIEW, IL—Much like over a decade ago when the Fire played Club America in a friendly, the crowd was mostly cheering for the team in yellow. A sellout crowd of 18,417 saw Club America advance to the Round of 16 in the Leagues Cup over the Fire, 1-0. Los Aguíllas will face Nashville SC who beat FC Cincinnati on penalties.
The first half saw Club America enjoy most of the possession and had most of the opportunities to score. They thought that they did in the 35th minute, but Julian Quiñones’s effort was chalked off due to him being offside.
In the second half, the Fire gained their footing and had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 62nd minute, but Kacper Przybylko would scuff a shot wide on a shot that was easier to score than miss.
One minute later, Club America would make good off a corner as Leonardo Suarez’s cross intended for Alex Zendejas was accidentally headed in by Gaston Gimenez.
Club America would look to hold on for the rest of the match, especially in stoppage time when they were reduced to ten minute four minutes in after Richard Sanchez was sent off for a rash challenge in Brian Gutierrez. However, for all the effort by the Fire, they could not get one shot on target.
Despite the loss, Fire head coach Frank Klopas was proud of the effort put in against one of the biggest clubs in Mexico and in front of a crowd mostly rooting for them—and hoping some of the those Club America fans come back to support the Fire.
“I’m extremely proud of the team the way they competed in this tournament,” said Klopas. “Finishing first, obviously, we were excited to play América because I think, you know, when you play teams like this, you become, also, better and it’s very important to test yourself against a team like that. I felt that we held our own, I felt we created better chances in the second half. And I think that I think our fans could be proud.
“I know there were a lot of América fans that live here in Chicago, but I think they could be proud of the team; when América goes back, they can come and support us. The atmosphere was great. So, I’m extremely proud of the guys. I think, like I said, we represented the Club, the team and the league in the right way. The mentality was great, we just need to have the kind of mentality that we did the second half.”
The Fire now have 15 days before returning to league play when they will host Orlando City SC at Soldier Field. Kickoff is at 7:30pm CT on Apple TV.
For more of Leslie Smith’s photos, please click on the link.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CFA-Gaston Gimenez (own goal) 64
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Miguel Navarro (caution, unsporting behavior) 23
CFA-Kevin Alvarez (caution, unsporting behavior) 23
CHI-Arnaud Souquet (caution, tactical foul) 87
CFA-Richard Sanchez (sent off, serious foul play) 90+4
CHI-Xherdan Shaqiri (caution, delaying a restart) 90+6
CFA-Mauricio Pindea (caution, tactical foul) 90+9
CHICAGO FIRE (4-2-3-1): #34-Chris Brady (#18-Spencer Richey 70); #6-Miguel Navarro, #4-Carlos Teran, #22-Mauricio Pineda, #24-Jonathan Dean (#2-Arnaud Souquet 74); #30-Gaston Gimenez (#31-Federico Navarro 74), #26-Ousmane Doumbia; #10-Xherdan Shaqiri, #20-Jairo Torres (#7-Maren Haile-Selassie 61), #17-Brian Gutierrez; #19-Georgios Koutsias (#11-Kacper Przybylko 61)
Subs not used: #25-Jeffrey Gal, #5-Rafael Czichos, #38-Alex Monis, #3-Alonso Aceves, #21-Fabian Herbers, #27-Kendall Burks
CLUB AMERICA (4-3-3): #1-Luis Malagon; #26-Salvador Reyes (#14-Nestor Araujo 90+7), #4-Sebastian Caceres, #3-Israel Reyes, #5-Kevin Alvarez; #8-Alvaro Fidalgo, #6-Jonathan Dos Santos, #20-Richard Sanchez; #33-Julian Quiñones, #17-Alex Zendejas (#2-Luis Fuentes 87), #32-Leonardo Suarez (#7-Brian Rodriguez 78)
Subs not used: #183-Leonardo Palestina, #27-Oscar Jimenez, #210-Miguel Ramirez, #29-Ramon Juarez, #30-Roman Martinez, #16-Santiago Naveda, #19-Miguel Layun, #23-Emilio Lara, #214-Patricio Salas
EXPECTED GOALS: CHI 0.82-0.52 CFA
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 5-14 CFA
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 0-3 CFA
FOULS: CHI 10-10 CFA
CORNER KICKS: CHI 2-4 CFA
SAVES: CHI 3-0 CFA
Referee: Walter Lopez Castellanos
Assistant Referees: Keytzel Corrales, Helpys Feliz
Fourth Official: Steffon Dewar
VAR: Daneion Parchment
AVAR: Ricardo Montero
Weather: Sunny and 83º
Attendance: 18,417
Man of the Match: Alex Zendejas (CFA)
