Chivas drops ICC opener to Italian power Fiorentina

The International Champions Cup got underway today at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois as Mexican darling Chivas de Guadalajara faced Italian Serie A powerhouse Fiorentina.

After a slow start from both squads, Chivas took the lead on a shot attempt from about 25 yards out from Javier Lopez. La Chofis‘ shot deflected off Federico Ceccherini’s foot which sent the ball on a different trajectory, and Bartlomiej Dragowski was unable to save the chance which got Chivas ahead.

Fiorentina, however, wasted no time and scored the equalizer only three minutes later. Aleksa Terzic’s free-kick found a running Giovanni Simeone inside the box, and the Italian striker was able to head the ball into the back of the net.

Only one minute later, Fiorentina nearly took the lead as Simeone had a second shot attempt saved by a diving Toño Rodriguez.

A handball in the 35th minute inside the 18-yard box allowed Chivas to take the lead after the referee called on a penalty kick in favor of the Mexican squad. However, Alan Pulido’s attempt was among one of the worst you’ll ever see. The Guadalajara striker stepped towards the ball using several hops before stopping and kicking the ball straight to Dragowski’s direction.

The teams went to lockers tied 1-1, but Fiorentina came out firing on all cylinders in the second half and in minute 52 they were able to score the go-ahead goal. Marco Benassi shot the ball on a volley attempt which was saved by Rodriguez, but then on the rebound, Riccardo Sottil scored a turnaround shot from inside the box that beat the Chivas keeper.

With Guadalajara down by one goal, Tomas Boy decided to make three substitutions in the 61st minute. Chivas goalkeeper, Toño Rodriguez, Jesus Molina, and Oribe Peralta all made way for fresh players in hopes of giving Chivas a chance to react.

The modifications didn’t provide any boost for the team from Guadalajara as Fiorentina maintained control of the game and in the 70th-minute Dusan Vlahovic had a shot attempt hit the crossbar as Raúl Gudiño made his first intervention of the game.

Just two minutes later, Gudiño would be forced to make another save and keep Chivas down by only one goal after Vlahovic got off another shot attempt.

Chivas nearly equalized in minute 79. Michael Perez had his team’s best shot opportunity but Dragowski made a spectacular diving save to keep the Italian squad up in the scoreboard.

Despite only playing 30 minutes, Gudiño showed once again why he’s Chivas’ starting goalkeeper as three minutes later he would have another save during a Fiorentina attack. Gudiño finished the game with four saves.

Chivas made four additional subs, and Tomas Boy pushed his lines up in the last 10 minutes of the game, but in the end, the Italian team proved to be too much for the Mexicans, and Chivas ends up dropping their first game in the ICC.