The Chicago Fire outscored the Columbus Crew 3-2 in a preseason scrimmage today at Field 2 of the IMG Academies, in Bradenton, Fla. Fire forward Chris Rolfe opened scoring in the 14th minute, while forward Tomasz Frankowski added two goals in the 28th and 30th minutes. Crew midfielders Robbie Rogers and Eddie Gaven scored in the 26th and 50th minutes respectively, but the tallies were not enough to overtake the Fire's lead.
Chicago opened scoring in the 14th minute when midfielder Justin Mapp received the ball on the left side of the field and carried it toward the left corner. Under pressure, Mapp sent a cross towards Rolfe on the opposite side of the box. The ball appeared to be too high for a shot, but Rolfe stretched to connect and one-timed the ball into the opposite side of the net, past Crew goalkeeper Will Hesmer.
The Crew leveled the score in the 26th minute of play as Rogers received a ball from defender Chad Marshall and capitalized on an open shot from the middle of the box, sending the ball into the lower left corner of the net.
The Fire answered in the 28th minute as midfielder Diego Gutierrez sent a pass to Rolfe on the right side of the box, in front of the goal. Rolfe slipped a second pass back across the net to Frankowski positioned just off the left goal post. Frankowski one-timed a shot with his left foot placing the ball into the net for the one-goal advantage.
Frankowski struck again in the 30th minute to give Chicago a two-goal advantage that held through the half. Mapp carried the ball deep into the left corner before sending an arching service to Frankowski positioned in the box just right of center. Frankowski connected with the ball - redirecting it with his left foot back across the net into the upper left corner.
Columbus midfielder Eddie Gaven tallied the lone goal of the second half, receiving a ball from midfielder Duncan Oughton in the middle of the box. Fire rookie goalkeeper Dominic Cervi came off his line and Gaven lofted a shot over him and just under the crossbar to bring the final score to Chicago 3, Columbus 2.
The Fire will continue training at the IMG Academies for the remainder of the week. Chicago returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 16, against the Kansas City Wizards at 9:00 a.m. CT.
Fire Lineup (4-4-2): GK-Jon Busch (Dominic Cervi 30, Melford James Jr. 60), D-Diego Gutierrez (Brian Plotkin 45), D-Wilman Conde (Daniel Woolard 45), D-Bakary Soumare (Austin Washington 45), D-Bruno Menezes (Tim Regan 45), M-Justin Mapp (Mike Banner 45), M-Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Kai Kasiguran 45), M-Logan Pause (Tim Conway 45), M-Chris Rolfe (Calen Carr 45), F-Chad Barrett (Floyd Franks 45), F-Tomasz Frankowski (Dwight Barnett 45)
Crew Lineup (4-4-2): GK-Will Hesmer (Andy Gruenebaum 45), D-Frankie Hejduk (Jed Zayner 45), D-Danny O'Rourke (Ezra Hendrickson 45), D-Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Andy Iro 45), D-Alejandro Moreno (Leonard Griffin 45), M-Chad Marshall (Brad Evans 45) , M-Brian Carroll (Duncan Oughton 45), M-Robbie Rogers (Stefani Miglioranzi 45), M-Sandro Silva (Eddie Gaven 45), F-Lars Ricken (Guillermo Barros Schelotto 45) , F-Roman Friedle (Emmanuel Ekpo 45).
Scoring Summary:
CHI - Chris Rolfe 1 (Justin Mapp 1) 14'
CLB - Robbie Rogers (Chad Marshall) 26'
CHI - Tomasz Frankowski 1 (Chris Rolfe 1, Diego Gutierrez 1) 28'
CHI - Tomasz Frankowski 2 (Justin Mapp 2) 30'
CLB - Eddie Gaven (Jed Zayner) 50'
Misconduct Summary:
CHI - Bruno Menezes (Caution) 4'
Referee: Richard Heron
Referee's Assistants: Peter Balciunas, Peter Manikowski
4th Official: None
Weather: Cloudy, 65 Degrees
