Dithejane Credits Lewandowski After Scoring Three Goals For Chicago Fire
South African international Puso Dithejane says the arrival of former Barcelona and Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski at Chicago Fire has been beneficial to his composure and finishing inside the penalty box.
The former TS Galaxy attacker has been on fire over the past week, netting three times for the MLS side. He joined the club in the January transfer window alongside former Orlando Pirates defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi.
While Mbokazi settled in quickly, it took time for Dithejane to find his rhythm in North America. However, in a matter of days, he scored thrice, including a goal in Thursday’s 2–1 victory over Orlando City.
Dithejane controlled the ball superbly inside the box before slotting it into the far corner. Lewandowski, who arrived from Barcelona a few months ago, added the second goal from the penalty spot to secure all three points for Chicago.
The victory moves Chicago Fire up to third in the MLS Eastern Conference with 35 points from 19 matches.
Just six days prior, Dithejane scored twice in the Concacaf Leagues Cup against Mexican side Cruz Azul. The victory over Cruz Azul marked Chicago Fire’s first-ever knockout-stage win against a Liga MX opponent in the modern Concacaf Leagues Cup format.
“For me, Lewandowski has been helping me with my finishing,” Dithejane said. “He advises me on finding space and staying relaxed inside the box. That is how we learn from legends like him.”
This win extends Chicago’s streak to six consecutive victories across all competitions—a level of success the club hasn’t experienced in decades.
Dithejane, who previously came close to joining Mamelodi Sundowns, offered insight into the team’s locker room environment.
“The vibes are great,” Dithejane said. “Every player wants to win. Our mentality is aligned, and that is why we go into every match focused on winning.”
Reflecting on his strong run of form and scoring three goals in a single week, he added: “For me, it’s special. I’ve been working hard in training because I want to score goals and help the team win.
“We reminded ourselves that we have a busy schedule ahead, and we drilled it into our minds that we have to win all those matches. Our mentality has to be right heading into every game.”
