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Chicago Fire FC beats Cruz Azul 2-1, reaches quarters

8/14/2026

26 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Chicago Fire Advances

Chicago Fire FC defeated Cruz Azul 2-1 on August 13, 2026, advancing to the Leagues Cup quarterfinals.
South African winger Puso Dithejane scored both goals, including the 90+3 minute winner.
Goalkeeper Chris Brady made four saves, tying Cruz Azul’s Kevin Mier for sixth among Phase One netminders.
The win secured Chicago as the top MLS seed, guaranteeing at least a second-place finish overall.

Summary

Austin FC Clash

Austin FC meets Club América in a Leagues Cup match.
It will air on iHeart Radio’s Alt 97.5 and Univision’s TUDN Radio Austin.
Myrto Uzuni’s hat-trick moved him to second on Austin FC’s three-goal list.
Brad Stuver seeks a third straight shutout while both teams hold Phase-One records that could clinch a quarter-final spot.
Final is set for Sept. 6, with top three qualifying for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.

History

Historical Context

MLS launched its first cross-border club tournament, the SuperLiga, in July 2005 with eight teams—including Chicago Fire and Mexico’s Cruz Azul—competing for a $5 million prize pool. The event built on MLS’s 1993 founding, 2002 World Cup surge and 2005 expansion that added Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA, and it set the stage for today’s MLS-Liga MX Leagues Cup rivalry.

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Chicago Fire Advances

Chicago Fire FC defeated Cruz Azul 2-1 on August 13, 2026, advancing to the Leagues Cup quarterfinals.
South African winger Puso Dithejane scored both goals, including the 90+3 minute winner.
Goalkeeper Chris Brady made four saves, tying Cruz Azul’s Kevin Mier for sixth among Phase One netminders.
The win secured Chicago as the top MLS seed, guaranteeing at least a second-place finish overall.

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