BRADENTON, FLA. - The Chicago Fire tied Dorados de Sinaloa 1-1 tonight in front of a sold out crowd at Estadio Banorte, in Culiacan, Mexico. The Fire opened scoring with a goal from forward Chad Barrett in the 22nd minute, but the Dorados attack leveled the score in the 41st minute off a goal courtesy of forward Lucas Silva. Dorados is currently undefeated in league play and sit at the top to the Primera Division "A" table.
In the 22nd minute of play Chad Barrett received a pass from forward Tomasz Frankowski off a free kick from just past midfield. Barrett carried the ball up the right side of the field and sent a hard shot into the upper right corner, past goalkeeper Tomas Adriano to give the Fire a one goal lead.
The Fire nearly doubled that lead when in the 26th minute, midfielder Chris Rolfe passed the ball from the center of the field to midfielder Cuauhtémoc Blanco, who slipped the ball back to Rolfe in the middle. Rolfe took a hard shot that sailed over the crossbar, and out of play.
The Fire attack had another opportunity in the 30th minute as Rolfe sent a pass to Frankowski in the middle, who in turn passed the ball off to midfielder Justin Mapp on the left side of the box. Mapp's left footed shot sailed over the crossbar as well, as the Fire held at a one goal advantage.
Dorados leveled the score in the 41st minute as Juan Carlos Zaragoza carried the ball up the right side of the pitch and sent a cross from deep in the right corner into the box and onto the head of Silva, positioned off the left post. Silva sent the header back across the goal, tucking the ball just inside the opposite right post to give Dorados the tying tally.
In the 67 minute, forward Andy Herron received a red card, placing the Fire down a man for the remainder of the half. Despite playing with only 10 players on the field, the Fire continued to attack however had to settle for a well fought 1-1 tie at the final whistle.
The Fire will train in Culiacan until Saturday, when the team travels to Aguascalientes, Mexico, to face Mexican side Necaxa on March, 4 at 8:30 p.m.
Fire Lineup (4-4-2): GK- Jon Busch (Dominic Cervi 67), D-Brian Plotkin (Mike Banner), D-Diego Gutierrez, D-Bakary Soumare, D-Austin Washington (Peter Lowry 83), M-Justin Mapp, M-Logan Pause (Tim Conway 73), M-Chris Rolfe (Steven Marlet 67), Cuauhtémoc Blanco, F-Chad Barrett (Andy Herron 63), F-Tomasz Frankowski (Floyd Franks 52).
Dorados Lineup (3-4-3): GK-Tomas Adriano, D-Juan Zaragoza, D-David Henríquez, D-Aldo Polo, M-Cesar Gradito, M-Luis Padilla, M-Aurelio Molino, M-Lucas Silva, F-Daniel Osorno, F-Bardo Fierros, F-Mauro Gerk.
Scoring Summary
CHI - Chad Barrett (Tomasz Frankowski) 52
TOR - Lucas Silva (Juan Carlos Zaragoza) 41
Misconduct Summary
CHI - Andy Herron (Ejection) 67
CHI - Floyd Franks (Caution) 86
Attendance: 20,000
