BRADENTON, Fla. - The Chicago Fire continued its 2008 preseason with a 2-1 win against the University of South Florida at Field 6 of the IMG Academies facility in Bradenton, Fla. The Fire played varied lineups in three separate 30-minute intervals, with the team wearing its traditional all-red kits. After going down a goal in the 48th minute, goals from Fire forward Floyd Franks (49') and rookie midfielder Zach Pope (80') secured the 2-1 victory.
The first period began at a quick pace, with Chicago keeping the majority of possession. The strong wind was a factor from the start and forced both teams to keep the ball low and on the ground. In the 10th minute, Fire attacker Cuauhtémoc Blanco took a short freekick from the right side of play to defender Bruno Menezes for a 25-yard strike that went wide right of the frame.
South Florida had its first good chance of the first session in the 12th minute. After breaking down the Fire defense, a USF forward took a right-footed shot from 18 yards out, but the attempt went wide left of goal. Chicago countered six minutes later with a quick attack that went through midfielder Justin Mapp, forward Chris Rolfe, and then to Patrick Nyarko, whose close-ranged shot was blocked by the USF goalkeeper and the rebound eventually secured.
After the 30-minute mark, the Fire pushed the attack deep into the South Florida half and forced the Bulls to defend for the following ten minutes of play. In the 41st minute, forward Floyd Franks sent low cross into the box that found forward Tomasz Frankowski just outside the six-yard box. Frankowski laid off a pass for midfielder Mike Banner, but the ensuing shot went high over the crossbar.
South Florida struck first in the 48th minute, as a through-ball found Bernardo Anor behind the Fire defense. The USF forward's strike was tipped by diving Chicago goalkeeper Dominic Cervi, but still rolled into the back of the net. Defender Tim Regan was substituted out for Austin Washington shortly after. The lead lasted less than a minute though, as midfielder Mike Banner sent a cross into the box, and rookie midfielder Peter Lowry's header from 12 yards out found Franks near the goal for point-blank range redirect into the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1 in the 49th minute.
The third 30-minute period saw more strong offensive play from Chicago that kept USF defending in its own half. In the 74th minute, Pope's corner found forward Chad Barrett in the box, but the headed attempt went just right of the frame. Pope got the go-ahead goal in the 80th minute when rookie midfielder Stephen King settled the ball 8 yards from goal and laid it off for the left winger. Pope ripped a 30-yard blast into the upper right corner to give the Fire the late lead and the eventual 2-1 victory.
Chicago Fire: GK-Nick Noble, D-Daniel Woolard, D-Wilman Conde, D-Tim Regan, D-Bruno Menezes, M-Justin Mapp, M-Bakary Soumare, M-Calen Carr, M-Cuauhtémoc Blanco, F-Patrick Nyarko, F-Chris Rolfe.
30': GK-Dominic Cervi, D-Diego Gutierrez, D-Tim Regan (Austin Washington 48), D-Steve Bode, D-Osei Telesford, M-Mike Banner, M-Logan Pause, M-Peter Lowry, M-Kei Kasiguran, F-Floyd Franks, F-Tomasz Frankowski.
60': GK-Medford James Jr., D-Brian Plotkin, D-Austin Washington, D-Jeff Curtin, D-Iradj Farahmand, M-Zach Pope, M-Tim Conway, M-Adrian Bumbut, M-Stephen King, F-Chad Barrett, F-Dwight Barnett.
Scoring Summary:
USF - Bernardo Anor (N/A) 48'
CHI - Floyd Franks 2 (Peter Lowry 1, Mike Banner 1) 49'
CHI - Zach Pope 1 (Stephen King 1) 80'
Referee: Daryl Shore (first 30'), Paul Denton (30'-90')
Referee Assistants: Alex Bowers, Mike Jeffries (first 60'), Ted Unkle, Christina Ibanez (60'-90')
Attendance: 82
Weather: Sunny, 60 degrees
