North America: Chicago is on its way to the playoffs thanks to Shaqiri’s double

The Chicago Fire won 4-1 over Inter Miami thanks to two goals from Xherdan Shaqiri and qualified for the MLS playoffs with two rounds left in the season.

Shaqiri scored 1-0 in front of 62,000 spectators shortly after the end of the first half, and secured a 4-1 win less than 20 minutes before the end. These are the Swiss international’s fourth and fifth goals this season in the North American Soccer League (MLS), and his first since mid-July. The goals that made the scores 2-1 and 3-1 were also scored by Swiss player and former FCZ, Zamax and Lugano player Marine Haile Selassie.

Chicago ranks eighth in the Eastern Conference with 40 points. The top seven qualify directly for the playoffs, and eighth place plays against ninth place for the last place. New York City, ranked tenth, is two points behind Chicago with two rounds to go.

With Miami, which had to do without the injured Lionel Messi for the fourth time in a row, remaining a direct contender in the playoffs. Florida is five points behind, and still has one more game to play.

sda