CARSON, CA - The Chicago Fire kicked off the match portion of its Southern California training camp in fine fashion this morning, using a pair of goals from forward Calen Carr and another tally from D/M Leonard Griffin to defeat the MetroStars 3-0 in a scrimmage at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA. The goals for Carr, the Fire's first round selection in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft, were his team-high fourth and fifth of the preseason and helped the "Men in Red" push their 2006 spring training record to 5-1-4.
"Over the course of 90 minutes, I thought this was our best effort as a team so far this spring," said Fire Head Coach Dave Sarachan. "We really made it hard for the MetroStars to keep the ball and were more efficient and better with the ball ourselves. The way we were able to finish some of our chances was impressive as well, and we could have had a couple more. There's still a good deal of improving to do, but this was a great way to start things off here in Los Angeles."
Chicago's midfield would be the key to the match, as the group of five's constant pressure on the ball forced the MetroStars into an endless array of turnovers that resulted in numerous chances. The first major opportunity came from veteran Diego Gutierrez in the 10th minute, when he intercepted a pass at the midfield stripe and finished a lengthy run by sending a low shot from 15 yards wide of the right post. The Fire midfield also showed the ability to create its own chances, with the combo of John Thorrington, Logan Pause and Carr crafting a nice build-up in the 14th minute that gave Thorrington a wide open shot in the middle of the field from 20 yards out, which he pushed just wide of the right post.
The work would pay off in the 17th minute with Carr's first goal of the match. Thorrington picked off a pass and made a run up the center of the field before dishing to Gutierrez outside the right edge of the penalty area. Gutierrez, making his return to the field today after suffering a knee injury during the Fire's Florida camp in February, worked the ball to the endline before crossing back to Carr, who was wide open in the left side of the area. The rookie had time to take two touches before rocketing a shot from nine yards that put Chicago up 1-0.
The MetroStars' only quality chances of the half would be created from set pieces, the first coming in the 33rd minute when midfielder Amado Guevara's corner kick to the far left post was headed down by midfielder Eddie Gaven, but Fire netminder Matt Pickens was on the spot to gather the chance. Three minutes later the Fire would have a golden opportunity to double its lead when midfielder Floyd Franks' pressure in the final third resulted in a turnover, but the rookie's chip shot from just outside the area sailed over both MetroStars goalkeeper Jon Conway and the crossbar. The MetroStars evening of the run of play in the final 15 minutes of the half would result in two more quality chances, but Pickens dove low to his left to turn away forward Seth Stammler's cross-turned-shot in the 41st minute and defender Taylor Graham's clear header from 12 yards out a corner kick in the 44th minute went just high of goal.
The Fire took back the run of play in the second half right from the opening whistle, and the work paid off just five minutes in with Carr's second tally. It was another errant pass from the MetroStars backfield resulting in the chance, with Fire midfielder Ivan Guerrero collecting the ball near midfield before playing Carr into the left side of the area with a perfect through ball. Carr would calmly finish, putting a high shot past Conway and into the upper right corner from 10 yards out to double the Fire's advantage. Fire back-up 'keeper David Mahoney would do well to keep the lead at two goals five minutes later, doing well to work across the face of his goal to meet Guevara's volley from eight yards at the left post.
The Fire would finish the day's scoring in the 59th minute when Griffin scored his first marker of the preseason. Fire trialist Gustavo Napoles would garner an assist on the play by finding Franks in the right corner, where he fought off a MetroStars defender and sent a cross towards the penalty spot. Griffin sized up the pass and got behind his MetroStars marker, heading the ball into the top of goal from 10 yards out to give Chicago a commanding 3-0 lead. Napoles would have two more chances to pad the Fire's lead in the last quarter-hour, but the former Chivas playmaker's 20-yard shot in the 76th minute sailed high and his five-hole attempt off a 2-on-1 breakaway with fellow trialist Aiden Nurse in the 80th minute was saved by Conway.
The Fire will resume its camp with a pair of practices on Thursday at The Home Depot Center, the second of which should feature the first spring training appearance for midfielder Thiago. The Brazilian playmaker, who scored six goals and added seven assists in his first season with the Fire last year, will arrive in Los Angeles in the morning and will work to be available for the Fire's next exhibition match, which takes place this Saturday, Mar. 11 against Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center (10:00 a.m. local, 12:00 p.m. CT).
Scoring Summary:
CHI - Calen Carr (Diego Gutierrez, John Thorrington) 17
CHI - Calen Carr (Ivan Guerrero) 50
CHI - Leonard Griffin (Floyd Franks, Gustavo Napoles) 59
Discipline Summary:
CHI - Logan Pause (caution) 67
Fire Lineup (3-5-2): Matt Pickens (David Mahoney 46); C.J. Brown (Dasan Robinson 60), Jim Curtin (Jeff Curtin 64), Jack Stewart; John Thorrington (Leonard Griffin 46), Logan Pause, Diego Gutierrez (Gustavo Napoles 46), Floyd Franks (Aiden Nurse 60), Ivan Guerrero (Brian Plotkin 53); Calen Carr (Jordan Russolillo 64), Chad Barrett (Jim Curtin 74).
MetroStars Line-up (3-5-2): Jon Conway; Peter Canero, Taylor Graham, Steve Jolley; Eddie Gaven, Joe Vide (Ellie Ikongu 60), Adrian Serioux (Blake Camp 60), Amado Guevara (David Arvizu 74), Chris Henderson; Seth Stammler (Marvell Wynne), Mike Magee (Thiago Martins 46).
