Tomasz Frankowski's triumphant show against his former team turned into a scoreless draw Wednesday night, as the Chicago Fire and Wisla Krakow played to a tame result, the Polish team playing a man down for the final 40 minutes.
The biggest events of the opening 45 minutes involving some heavy body blows. In the 29th minute, Chicago's Mike Banner tangled with Wisla's Piotr Brozek. Both players hit the grass pretty hard. Banner bounced up in a minute or two, while Brozek limped off the field with assistance.
Then in the 38th minute Peter Lowry crossed the ball into the box, where a running Calen Carr shot the ball toward goal. Wisla goalkeeper Mariusz Pawelek slid out and collided with Carr. Both players went down on the play. Carr was attended to off the field, but returned shortly after.
The visitors caused some anxious moments for the Fire defense in the 34th minute. Marek Zienczuk rocketed the ball at the net and Fire goalkeeper Nick Noble made a one-handed save, sending the ball back into play. Defender Wilman Conde cleared the ball before another Wisla player got to it. On the corner kick, Cleber de Lima attempted a header, but sent it wide right.
Referee Mark Kadlecik showed a flurry of cards starting in the 51st minute. After a rough tackle on Carr by de Lima, Kadlecik pulled out a yellow. A minute later, Kadlecik showed a yellow to Mauro Cantoro and a red to Junior Diaz for serious foul play. Wisla players chased after the referee. Soon, the referee regained control and play continued.
Despite going down a man, in the 59th minute, Wisla picked up the offensive pressure. Jean Paulista Rodrigues made a run and shot the ball just wide right of the post.
In the 61st minute, the Fire were awarded a freekick. Frankowski and Peter Lowry stood around the ball deciding who would take it. Once the refeee gave the OK, Lowry ran around the ball and Frankowski shot it into the box, but to no avail.
As the crowd chanted for C.J. Brown, the Fire original came off the bench and entered the match in the 64th minute, replacing Banner. Brian Plotkin also made his first appearance of the season, entering the match to start the second half for Logan Pause.
In the 66th minute, the game was briefly postponed as a fan made his way onto the field and was escorted off the field. Another fan was tackled a minute or so later.
Play resumed with the public address announcing no fans on the field in English and Polish for the remainder of the game. Wilman Conde and Brown found themselves booked with yellows in the 75th, 78th and 81st minutes respectfully.
Chicago finished the match with seven shots to Wisla's four. However, Wisla had two on goal, while the Fire had none.
The Fire are now 5-4-3 in international friendlies played in Chicago.
Kathryn L. Knapp is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
