Xherdan Shaqiri delivered a flawless response to taunting from Minnesota United goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair during a Leagues Cup match on Thursday night.
Having previously played for renowned clubs like Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan, Shaqiri now finds himself across the Atlantic, representing Chicago Fire.
In February 2022, he joined the club as a designated player, becoming their most expensive signing ever.
In the recent thrilling encounter at Allianz Field, Shaqiri showcased his composure and skill, helping his team secure a 3-2 victory over Minnesota.
The Swiss international demonstrated that he possesses nerves of steel when it matters most.
In a match where Fire was trailing 1-0 due to Bongokuhle Hlongwane’s first goal of the night, Xherdan Shaqiri joined the action as a substitute in the 65th minute.
Shortly after, the visitors were awarded a penalty when Brian Gutierrez was fouled inside the penalty area.
Shaqiri stepped up to take the crucial spot-kick, but he faced a tough mental challenge as Minnesota United goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair attempted to disrupt his focus with mind games.
Chirping between Xherdan Shaqiri and Dayne St. Clair before Shaqiri buries the penalty 👀 pic.twitter.com/TlQCcAEiLX
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) July 28, 2023
Despite the mind games from Dayne St. Clair, the 26-year-old Xherdan Shaqiri remained composed.
As he lined up to take the penalty, he was caught on camera mouthing the words “you have no balls” to the former Stoke City player, attempting to throw him off his game.
However, Shaqiri channeled his inner Emiliano Martinez, who is known for his mental strength, and confidently converted the penalty, calmly sending St. Clair the wrong way.
The Swiss international’s nerves of steel prevailed, and he showed that he could handle the pressure with ease.
The 31-year-old, who hails from Kosovo, then decided to laugh back at the goalkeeper. St.Clair fell completely silent as Shaqiri grabbed the ball and sprinted back to the halfway line.
Xherdan Shaqiri levels it up from the penalty spot. #CF97 pic.twitter.com/lXEcudoK1a
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 28, 2023
After Bongokuhle Hlongwane scored his second goal of the night, putting Minnesota United back in the lead, Arnaud Souquet stepped up for Chicago Fire and leveled the score again in the 79th minute.
However, the match took a dramatic turn when veteran striker Kei Kamara, known for scoring for 10 different teams in the MLS, found the net in the 83rd minute, securing the winning goal against his former team.
To celebrate his crucial contribution, the 38-year-old Kamara went to the stands and took a picture with a supporter from the opposition team, adding a heartwarming touch to the victory.
Next up, Chicago Fire will face Liga MX side Puebla in their second game of the Leagues Cup on Tuesday, 1st August.