Cruz Azul 1:2 Chicago Fire: Leagues Cup Match Result

Match report

Chicago Fire defeated Cruz Azul 2-1 in the Group Stage of the League Cup on Thursday night. The visitors finished with all three points after a dramatic finish that saw Puso Dithejane score twice in stoppage time. N. Ibanez had given the away side an early lead in the second half, but it was the Argentine who completed the turnaround.

W. Ditta and Willer Ditta both picked up yellow cards in the opening exchanges, before Puso Dithejane was cautioned at the half-hour mark. The first substitution came at 44 minutes when G. Piovi was replaced on the home side. Chicago Fire made two changes at the hour mark, bringing on R. Lewandowski and P. Zinckernagel.

P. Dithejane opened the scoring in the 67th minute and N. Ibanez doubled the advantage six minutes later. Mauricio Pineda received two yellow cards in quick succession at 88 and 89 minutes, but it was too late for Cruz Azul. Dithejane then struck twice in the dying moments — first at 90 minutes, then again at 90+3 — to complete his hat-trick.

The statistics told a familiar story of missed opportunities. Both sides held 50 per cent possession, but Chicago Fire were more clinical with their chances. They created four big chances compared to one for the hosts, and their shot accuracy of 45 per cent was significantly better than Cruz Azul's 29 per cent.

Cruz Azul registered 76 attacks to Chicago Fire's 80, but the difference came in conversion. Five shots on target for each side produced three goals for the visitors and only one for the hosts. The away side also managed more successful dribbles, with six compared to four.

The result extends Chicago Fire's recent form, which has included victories over Santos Laguna and Necaxa in their last two outings. Cruz Azul, meanwhile, dropped points after consecutive wins against New York City and Philadelphia Union. The Group Stage continues with both sides still to be determined in their final positioning.

Prepared from match data

Key numbers

Possession, % 50 – 50

Shots on target 5 – 5

Shots off target 6 – 3

Big chances 1 – 4

🟨 17' W. Ditta — Yellow card 🟨 18' Willer Ditta — Yellow card 🟨 31' Puso Dithejane — Yellow card ⇄ 44' G. Piovi — Substitution ⚽ 67' P. Dithejane — Goal ⇄ 68' R. Lewandowski — Substitution ⇄ 68' P. Zinckernagel — Substitution ⇄ 78' G. Fernandez — Substitution ⇄ 79' S. Oregel — Substitution ⚽ 81' N. Ibanez — Goal 🟨 88' Mauricio Pineda — Yellow card 🟨 89' M. Pineda — Yellow card ⚽ 90' P. Dithejane — Goal ⚽ 90+3' P. Dithejane — Goal ⇄ 90+5' C. Rodriguez — Substitution 🟨 90+7' Yellow card ⇄ 90+7' P. Dithejane — Substitution 🟨 90+8' Yellow card

Match events

17' Cruz Azul Yellow card W. Ditta
18' Cruz Azul Yellow card Willer Ditta
31' Chicago Fire Yellow card Puso Dithejane
44' Cruz Azul Substitution G. Piovi off: L. Romero
67' Chicago Fire Goal P. Dithejane
68' Chicago Fire Substitution R. Lewandowski off: R. Lod
68' Chicago Fire Substitution P. Zinckernagel off: M. Haile-Selassie
78' Cruz Azul Substitution G. Fernandez off: N. Ibanez
79' Chicago Fire Substitution S. Oregel off: M. Pineda
81' Cruz Azul Goal N. Ibanez assist: J. Paradela
88' Chicago Fire Yellow card Mauricio Pineda
89' Chicago Fire Yellow card M. Pineda
90' Chicago Fire Goal P. Dithejane assist: M. Haile-Selassie
90+3' Chicago Fire Goal P. Dithejane assist: M. Haile-Selassie
90+5' Cruz Azul Substitution C. Rodriguez off: M. Levy
90+7' Cruz Azul Yellow card
90+7' Chicago Fire Substitution P. Dithejane off: D. Poreba
90+8' Chicago Fire Yellow card

Statistics

50 Possession, % 50

5 Shots on target 5

6 Shots off target 3

1 Big chances 4

76 Attacks 80

5 Corners 4

13 Fouls 16

14 Free kicks 12

3 Offsides 2

1 Yellow cards 2

0 Red cards 0

3 Goal kicks 9

15 Throw-ins 15

All statistics

11/1385% Aerial duels 2/1315%

58 Backward passes 55

6 Blocked shots 3

16 Clearances 26

5/1338% Crosses 6/1443%

4/850% Dribbles 6/1346%

64 Failed passes 55

3 Goalkeeper saves 4

4 Interceptions 6

13 Key passes 10

30/4665% Long passes 19/3554%

64 Passes into the final third 52

199 Passes in the opposition half 168

241 Passes in own half 264

0.29 Shot accuracy 0.45

9 Shots from outside the box 1

8 Shots inside the box 10

12/1486% Tackles 4/667%

427 Total passes 418

Recent form

Cruz Azul

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Recent matches

All team matches

Chicago Fire

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