BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - The Chicago Fire Reserves secured a 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution Reserves on Sunday morning at the Toyota Park practice field. John Thorrington scored the game-winning goal, a penalty kick, in the 81st minute to give the win to the Fire.
Neither team was able to generate much of an attack on the day, both squads trying to gain continued possession in the midfield on the hot and humid morning. Both teams relied on long balls over the defenses, where Chicago had an edge in speed but was unable to convert, hitting the post or crossbar six times and sending clear chances high of frame four more times.
Thorrington set up the Fire's first goal in the 40th minute, sending Brian Plotkin in out of the midfield. Plotkin ripped a shot from near the edge of the penalty area, beating Revs goalkeeper Doug Warren and hitting the left post. The ball then caromed across the face of the goal and in after it kicked off the right post.
After Chicago took a 1-0 lead into the half, New England's Sainey Nyassi scored his second reserve-division goal in as many games, knotting the score in the 63rd minute. After taking a through ball from Andy Dorman, Nyassi worked around his defender and beat Fire substitute keeper Nick Noble to the far post.
Chicago took the attack to the Revs more as the second half wound down, generating a penalty kick in the 80th minute when Thorrington broke loose down the right wing alone on Warren. Warren came out off his line to smother the ball, but Thorrington went down and referee Michael Kennedy whistled for a penalty kick. Thorrington stepped up for the attempt, burying his shot to Warren's right into the side netting.
Warren ended the day with eight saves, suffering his first reserve loss of the year. Fire keepers Jon Busch and Noble split the game, each playing one half. Noble had Chicago's only saves on the day, making three in the second half.
The Revolution reserves (6-4-1, 19 pts.) will play their final match of the season on Sunday, Oct. 14, when they host the Columbus reserves at the Gillette Stadium practice fields at 10 a.m. Chicago (2-6-3, 9 pts.) still has one reserve game remaining.
New England Revolution Reserves at Chicago Fire Reserves
October 7, 2007 - Toyota Park Practice Field (Bridgeview, Ill.)
Scoring Summary
CHI - Brian Plotkin (John Thorrington) 40
NE - Sainey Nyassi (Andy Dorman) 63
CHI - John Thorrington (penalty kick) 81
New England Revolution Reserves - Doug Warren, Amaechi Igwe, Gary Flood, Marshall Leonard ©, Sainey Nyassi (Adam Cristman 78), Kyle Helton, Miguel Gonzalez, Bryan Byrne (Willie Sims 58), Andy Dorman, Abdoulie Mansally, Chris Loftus
Substitutes Not Used: Brad Knighton
Chicago Fire Reserves - Jon Busch (Nick Noble 46), Daniel Woolard, Landy Mattison (David Henning 84), Nelson Akwari, Mike Banner, Bakary Soumary © (David Bulow 70), Bruno Menezes (Jamaal Sutton 58), Brian Plotkin, John Thorrington, Calen Carr (Danny Zwerling 82), Floyd Franks (Kenniel Martin 73)
Substitutes Not Used: None
Misconduct Summary:
NE - Bryan Bryne (caution) 4
CHI - John Thorrington (caution) 37
CHI - Brian Plotkin (caution) 47
NE - Marshall Leonard (caution) 85
Referee: Michael Kennedy
Referee's Assistants: Peter Manikowski (SAR), Alex Mavrosthalasitis (JAR)
Fourth Official: Victor Herrera
