After dropping their first match in 2024 Leagues Cup group play, Chicago Fire FC is in the unenviable position of having to collect points against one of the tougher LIGA MX opponents in Toluca FC to avoid elimination.
The group 4 West match Thursday at SeatGeek Stadium will be an energized sea of Red — with shades of Chicago Fire and Toluca — in this first ever competitive meeting between the sides.
“I expect the crowd to wear all red," Fire coach Frank Klopas joked. "People watching the game won’t know if they are supporting the Fire or Toluca.”
Eliminated in the round of 16 in penalties by Minnesota United last year, Los Diablos Rojos have set a very high bar for this year’s edition.
“The guarantee here is that Toluca is going to play to win,” said coach Renato Paiva at the pre-match press conference. “We are seeing the competitiveness and how difficult it is to win (in the Leagues Cup). Our outlook for each game is the same: The best players will play. Whether they are 17 or 30, the coaching staff will select the players that give Toluca the best chance to win.”
In his second campaign with the club, Paiva has led Toluca to an undefeated start to the LIGA MX season, sitting in fifth place after two wins and two draws.
Los Diablos Rojos added quality players to a club that was already thick with talent. Mexico international Jesús Gallardo brings two World Cup’s worth of experience at left back, and Portuguese striker João Dias Fernandes — better known to the world as Paulinho — has already paid dividends with three goals in the Apertura campaign.
Combine these with the midfield creativity of Alexis Vega, Marcel Ruiz, and Uruguayan International Maxi Araujo, it would not be a surprise for Toluca to make a deep run in the Leagues Cup.
With seven players out with injury, and another four bitten by the illness bug prior to the match, Chicago only dressed 18 of a maximum 23 players for their group West 4 match against Sporting Kansas City, including a couple of players who made their first team debuts: Jaylen Shannon and Christian Koffi.
An early goal by Georgios Koutsias gave Chicago hope, but SKC answered with two goals to take the maximum points.
With a must-win game looming, Fire midfielder Kellyn Acosta relishes the moment.
“This is what we train for," Acosta said. "It is a big moment for us. It is a way where we can dig deep and find out what we are truly made of. It is a great opportunity that can propel us in the right direction with a positive result.”
Keep on eye on
Toluca’s unselfishness. Los Diablos Rojos pride themselves in team play. Thirteen players scored at least one goal in the Clausura season.
Chicago Fire’s rotation. Coach Frank Klopas expects to get back players that sat out the KC loss. Unfortunately, Xherdan Shaqiri, who rejoined the squad on Monday, will not be one of them.
Players to watch
Tiago Volpi – Toluca’s Brazilian goalie has a knack for PK’s— scoring them. He has 15 in his career, including two in last year’s Leagues Cup.
Brian Gutierrez – Chicago’s home-grown product set up their loan goal against Sporting KC and completed 87 percent of his passes in the loss.
