Chicago Fire FC midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri, defender Rafael Czichos and midfielder Brian Gutiérrez were named to the MLS Team of the Matchday (TOTM) for Matchday 12 following stellar individual and collective performances in Saturday afternoon’s 1-0 win against St. Louis CITY SC.
Shaqiri’s performance against St. Louis earned him inclusion in the TOTM’s first XI. The Swiss midfielder wore the captain’s armband as he started in his third-straight match and delivered his first assist of the season. Shaqiri continues to gain match fitness following an injury spell, but it was his ball from a set play that created the game-winning goal, finding the space for Czichos to finish.
Czichos started the game on the bench, coming on for an injured Carlos Terán in the 34th minute. Just four minutes later, the German defender joined the Fire attack as Shaqiri and Gutiérrez lined up for a free kick. He was in the right place, making the run and stretching his left leg to get on the end of Shaqiri’s cross. It was Czichos’s second goal of the season, and he was selected to the Team of the Matchday bench for his effort.
Gutiérrez was also named to the Team of the Matchday bench following his performance against St. Louis. The young Chicagoan played 89 minutes and led the team in duels won (12), tackles won (5) and entries into the final third (8).
The Fire will travel to The Queen City to face Charlotte FC at 6:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, May 17 at Bank of America Stadium. The match will be broadcast on Apple TV+, streamed in English on wlsam.com, and transmitted locally in Spanish on TUDN 1200 AM.
