Xherdan Shaqiri’s 25-yard free kick took a deflection and flew into the net in the 79th minute, lifting the Chicago Fire to a 1-1 draw with 10-man Puebla at Bridgeview, Ill., and a berth in the round of 32 at the League Cup.
Puebla wound up prevailing 2-1 in a penalty shootout, but that result was meaningless in terms of the tournament’s big picture.
The Fire, who won their previous match in the Central 2 Group, needed either a win or a penalty-shootout loss to advance. Puebla lost both of their matches in the competition that features every team from Major League Soccer and Mexico’s Liga MX.
Chicago topped the group, and they will oppose Club America later in the week in the round of 32. Minnesota United (1-1-0) finished second in the Central 2 Group, next will face the Columbus Crew.
The top two teams in each of 15 three-team groups advance to the knockout stage. Every group match featured a winner and a loser, with teams getting three points for a regulation victory, two points for a penalty-shootout win and one point for a penalty-shootout loss. Reigning MLS champion Los Angeles FC and reigning Liga MX Apetura champion Pachuca received byes into the round of 32.
The Fire’s key goal came moments after Carlos Baltazar received a red card for a tackle on the back of Shaquiri’s ankle.
Puebla had taken the lead on Brayan Angulo’s goal in the 74th minute.
Crew 4, Club America 1
Cucho Hernandez scored twice as host Columbus pulled away for a win a match that determined the top spot in the Central 1 group.
Both Columbus and Club America beat St. Louis City in an earlier match, meaning both teams had clinched advancing ahead of the Monday contest.
Kevin Alvarez put the America on top in the 29th minute, and Hernandez tied the match in the 41st.
After halftime, the Crew got the go-ahead goal from Hernandez on a 69th-minute penalty kick, then sealed the victory on tallies from Christian Ramirez in the 81st minute and Steven Moreira in second-half stoppage time.
–Field Level Media