Categories: Columbus CrewLeagues CupLiga MxMLS

Dithejane double puts Fire in Leagues Cup quarters

Photo: Leslie Smith

Cruz Azul 1-2 Chicago Fire FC

BRIDGEVIEW, IL—A pair of goals from Puso Dithejane sent the Fire to the top of the MLS group in Leagues Cup and a quarterfinals date with Monterrey (and Hugo Cuypers) at the expense of Cruz Azul, 2-1. The reigning Concacaf champions are eliminated from the competition with the regulation loss and Monterrey pipped them for the fourth and final slot on goals scored. The Fire were the only MLS team to earn maximum points in Phase One and the second alongside Club Léon.

It was a very physical affair in which neither side gained an advantage after the first half, though Chris Brady did well to deny Gabriel Fernandez on a headed shot in the ninth minute. Omar Campos had sent a couple low crosses in front of goal that should have been finished off, but evaded the reach of their intended targets.

The second saw more of the same until the 67th minute. Philip Zinckernagel’s blocked shot came to the feet of Dithejane and he beat Kevin Mier near post for the opening score. Both LAFC and Monterrey had the keenest eyes on this match as one of them would be eliminated if their fellow league mate won in regulation and both would eliminated if it went to penalties.

That latter scenario looked to be the case after Nicolas Ibanez equalized in the 83rd minute after gettin a flick-on from Jose Paradela. However, five minutes (which ultimately became eight) was more than enough for the Fire to nab a winner in stoppage time and eliminate both Cruz Azul and LAFC in the process.

Andrew Gutman made a run down the flank and laid off the ball for Anton Saletros. Saletros then sent a thru-ball to Maren Haile-Selassie into the box with Cruz Azul short of numbers defensively. Haile-Selassie then fed Dithejane who finished for the match winner.

“We see [Puso’s work rate] every day in training,” said Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter. “We see what he does. When we came back from the World Cup break – you know, he had a chance to go home – we played a couple of friendly games, we were training, and every day he’s scoring goals in training. We knew that he’s onto something here. We played two friendly games. He scored in both of those games, and he just keeps going. He’s a dynamic player and gets in good spots. He still needs to develop; he still has a long way to go, but there’s a ton of potential in him,and really happy for him. He was the Coach’s Man of the Match.”

Berhalter didn’t mind the backdrop of a hostile pro-Cruz Azul crowd (who were listed as the home team on Thursday).

“It’s that word again, right? That we’re talking about ‘hostile’,” said Berhalter. “I don’t think it’s hostile. I think it’s amazing. It’s a celebration. Who wouldn’t want to play in front of a crowd like that? They were reacting to both our goals, their goals, chances – to me, that’s what ideally we would be playing in front of every week. The picture I have right there [points to mural]. That’s what it would ideally be like: Soldier Field filled up with people screaming, cheering, and reacting to the game. I think it was an amazing atmosphere. I thank all the fans who came out, Cruz Azul fans, Chicago Fire fans, all of them.”

It’s back to league play on Sunday for the Fire where they go back to Soldier Field to host Portland Timbers. Kickoff is at 5pm on Apple TV. The Leagues Cup quarterfinals will be played during the period of August 25-27.

Quarterfinals:
Chicago Fire FC (MLS1) vs. CF Monterrey (LMX4)
Club America (LMX2) vs. Columbus Crew (MLS3)
Club Léon (LMX1) vs. Real Salt Lake (MLS4)
Austin FC (MLS2) vs. Toluca (LMX3)

Photos by Leslie Smith

SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Puso Dithejane (unassisted) 67
CAZ-Nicolas Ibanez (Paradela) 81
CHI-Puso Dithehane (Haile-Selassie) 90+3

BOOKING SUMMARY:
CAZ-Willer Ditta (caution, dissent) 17
CHI-Puso Dithejane (caution, reckless foul) 31
CHI-Mauricio Pineda (caution, tactical foul) 88
CHI-Dje D’Avilla (caution, tactical foul) 90+6

CRUZ AZUL (5-3-2): #23-Kevin Mier; #3-Omar Campos, #33-Gonzalo Piovi (#18-Luka Romero 44), #5-Jesus Orozco, #4-Willer Ditta, #16-Jeremy Marquez; #19-Carlos Rodriguez (#214-Mateo Levy 90+5), #6-Erik Lira, #8-Agusto Palavecino; #21-Gabriel Fernandez (#7-Nicolas Ibanez 77), #20-Jose Paradela

Subs not used: #1-Andres Gudino, #30-Emmanuel Ochoa, #32-Cristian Jimenez, #10-Andres Montano, #12-Alan Montes, #49-Jesus Diaz, #17-Amaury Garcia, #66-Jose Suarez

CHICAGO FIRE (4-3-3): #1-Chris Brady; #15-Andrew Gutman, #3-Jack Elliott, #6-Joel Waterman, #24-Jonathan Dean; #35-Sergio Oregel Jr. (#22-Mauricio Pineda 79), #42-Dje D’Avilla, #6-Anton Saletros; #12-Puso Dithejane (#29-David Poreba 90+7), #9-Robert Lewandowski (#17-Robin Lod 68), #11-Philip Zinckernagel (#7-Maren Haile-Selassie 68)

Subs not used: #25-Jeff Gal, #44-Josh Cohen, #29-David Poreba, #5-Sam Rogers, #38-Christopher Cupps, #20-Jason Shokalook, #2-Leonardo Barroso, #37-Robert Turdean, #14-Viktor Radojevic

TOTAL SHOTS: CAZ 0-0 CHI
SHOTS ON GOAL: CAZ 0-0 CHI
FOULS: CAZ 0-0 CHI
OFFSIDES: CAZ 0-0 CHI
CORNER KICKS: CAZ 0-0 CHI
SAVES: CAZ 0-0 CHI

Referee: Pierre Luc-Lauziere
Assistant Referees: Stefan Tanaka-Freundt, Gerard-Kader Lewis
Fourth Official: Steven Madrigal
VAR: Lukasz Szpala
AVAR: Benjamin Whitty
Attendance: 18,567
Man of the Match: Puso Dithejane (CHI)