Credit: Twitter
Chicago Fire’s Xherdan Shaqiri led his team to a commanding 3-0 victory over CF Montréal on Wednesday evening in the Major League Soccer 2023. Taking charge in the 33rd minute, he skillfully executed a free kick, delivering a pass to Maren Haile-Selassie for a setup, and then beautifully curled the ball into the top corner of the net, leaving goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois helpless. This exceptional goal showcased the player's immense talent and added to his impressive tally of 3 goals and 4 assists in 17 games this season.
The momentous strike serves as a reminder of the numerous highlight-reel performances the player has accumulated throughout his illustrious career. Having represented Switzerland in four World Cup tournaments, the midfielder joined Chicago Fire FC as their record-signing two winters ago. Prior to that, he had honed his skills at esteemed European clubs such as Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan. Shaqiri was a cult hero at Anfield, as he helped the iconic club lift a premier league and champions league title.
The other goals in the 3-0 romp came from Haile-Selassie (assisted by Shaqiri) and Gutierrez, as Chicago have now won four of their last five games. The team will host a struggling Toronto FC over the weekend.
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Shaqiri is a fan favorite in America
Since arriving in the MLS in 2022 for a Chicago Fire club record fee of $7.5 million, the former Swiss international has become a favorite among Chicago fans. The midfielder had 7 goals in 29 games for the club last season and has added a creative level to his game this year by recording 3 assists in the league. Chicago Fire will be looking to qualify for MLS playoffs this season and build on a mediocre overall 24th-place finish last year.
Their opponents Montreal have faced a tough start to the season, struggling to find the back of the net in the majority of their away matches. Out of the 12 road games played so far, they have been shut out in nine, resulting in a record of 1 win, 9 losses, and 2 draws. Throughout the season, Montreal has managed to score a mere four goals in away games.