The Chicago Fire Reserves (5-4-3, 18 pts.) mirrored their first-team brethren's performance last night by scoring first before allowing the Columbus Crew Reserves (4-6-1, 13 pts.) to answer back with two consecutive goals, giving the Crew Reserves a 2-1 victory in MLS Reserve Division action at Lake Forest Academy in Lake Forest, IL this afternoon.
Fire forward Andy Rosenband would open the scoring with a goal in the 9th minute, a game in which the "Men in Red" looked to put the Crew on the defensive side of things for the majority of play with a possible first-place finish in the Reserve Division on the line. The Crew would play counter-attacking ball to perfection, with former-Fire forward John Wolyniec taking advantage of opportunities in the 23rd and 32nd minutes to put Columbus ahead at the end of the first half. The second half would be an even affair, with chippy play in midfield negating few clear scoring opportunities from both sides to keep the 2-1 scoreline in favor of Columbus.
Knowing that a win would put the Fire Reserves in contention for the Reserve Division championship, the Chicago club would start the first half strong, having the majority of possession and playing an attacking style that put Columbus on the defensive for much of the first 45 minutes. Things would open up well for the "Men in Red," scoring just nine minutes into the match, a Rosenband strike from eight yards out finding the right side of net to put the home side up 1-0. The Crew would almost respond with a goal of their own just five minutes later, the referee calling offside what would have been a goal for the visitors.
Fire midfielder Will Johnson would make his mark on the game in the 22nd minute, a strong strike from 23 yards out heading towards the upper right corner of the Columbus net, but Crew rookie goalkeeper Bill Gaudette was able to make the save. Just one minute later, Crew defender Mark Schulte sent a pass into the box for Wolyniec, who saw an onrushing Fire goalkeeper Clint Baumstark. Baumstark tried to take the ball off the forward's feet, but Wolyniec was able to slip the ball around the diving keeper to tie the game, 1-1.
Three minutes later in the 26th minute, rookie Fire midfielder Will John freed forward Andy Herron for a one-on-one with Gaudette, but his shot went straight into the keeper's hands. With play starting to open up for both teams, Fire defender Samuel Caballero made a costly mistake by misplaying a 50-50 ball, which Wolyniec collected at midfield and ran straight toward goal with two Fire defenders trailing. Baumstark once again came off his line to make the save, but Wolyniec again went low and slotted a ball around the 'keeper to give the Crew a 2-1 lead.
Wolyniec once again gave the Fire problems around the 66th minute, settling a ball at the top of the 18 and dishing a short ball in the box for Crew forward Knox Cameron, whose crack from 10 yards out went right into the hands of Baumstark. Perhaps the fire best shot in a chippy second half of play came from midfielder Hemir Niebles, who found space and got off a knuckling shot from 18 yards that forced Gaudette to make a quick reactionary save. The final minutes of the second half would see the Crew hold possession of play, with its final chance on goal coming in the 90+ minute, a shot from 25 yards out from midfielder Jeff Matteo that forced Baumstark to make a stretching save to tip the ball over the crossbar.
With this afternoon's result the second-place Fire Reserves saw their chances of claiming the inaugural MLS Reserve Division title disappear, as today's loss in the season finale brought Chicago's record to 5-4-3 (18 pts.), placing them still one point behind the league-leading New England Revolution. While the Crew Reserves, whose record improved to 4-6-1 with today's win, are out of title contention, the squad still has one game remaining, as it will close out its first season of Reserve Division play next Sunday at D.C. United, who is tied alongside the Fire for second place. As of Sunday, Fire forward Chad Barrett finished the 2005 Reserve Division as the league's scoring leader with eight goals in his nine Reserves appearances, tying him for first-place along with Real Salt Lake's Dante Washington.
Scoring Summary:
CHI - Andy Rosenband 2 (unassisted) 9
CLB - John Wolyniec 1 (Schulte 1) 23
CLB - John Wolyniec 2 (unassisted) 32
Chicago Fire Reserves (4-4-2) - GK-Clint Baumstark, D-Jack Stewart, D-Jared Montz, D-Samuel Caballero, D-Tony Sanneh, M-Kenneth Robinson (Ryan Futagaki 73), M-Omar McFarlane (Hemir Niebles 53), M-Will John (Taylor McCool 66), M-Will Johnson (David Henning 87), F-Andy Rosenband, F-Andy Herron.
Substitutes Not Used: Kris Cherry, Adam Jones
Columbus Crew Reserves (3-5-2) - GK-Bill Gaudette, D-Mark Schulte, D-Chris Brunt, D-Derek Smith, M-Glen Sullivan (Domenic Mediate 45) (Jeremy Parkins 87), M-Jeff Matteo, M-Freddy Juarez, M-Bret Jones, M-Stephen Armstrong (Knox Cameron 46), F-John Wolyniec, F-Luis Gallardo.
Substitutes Not Used: Jonny Walker
Misconduct Summary:
CHI - Will Johnson (caution) 41
CLB - Derek Smith (caution) 85
Referee: Jose Gesundheit
Referee's Assistants: Peter Balciunas, Peter Manitowski
4th Official: Tim Deters
Attendance: 30
Weather: Cloudy, 59 degrees
