Chivas USA and the Chicago Fire recorded exhibition victories against MLS competition in the latest action from preseason training camps.
Chivas USA won for the second time in the preseason, but first against an MLS opponent, defeating the New York Red Bulls 1-0 on Tuesday afternoon in Carson, Calif. Then on Wednesday morning, the Chicago Fire defeated the Columbus Crew in Bradenton, Fla.
Chivas USA 1, New York Red Bulls 0
In their first preseason match of 2008, the Red Bulls dropped a 1-0 decision to Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center Track and Field Stadium. It was the second preseason victory for Chivas, who defeated UCLA last Saturday.
Forward Ante Razov put Chivas USA up for good after hitting a low left-footed shot inside the far post in the fourth minute of action, his second goal in as many preseason matches. Goalkeeper Brad Guzan was able to keep the Red Bulls attack at bay, playing the entire 90 minutes in goal for Chivas USA.
New York Red Bulls (3-5-2; first half): Jon Conway; Scott Palguta, Jeff Parke, Carlos Mendes; Marshall Leonard, Seth Stammler, Dema Kovalenko, Dane Richards, Claudio Reyna; Juan Pablo Angel, Diego Serna.
(second half): Zach Thornton; Mateus Anjos, Eric Brunner, Chris Leitch; Danleigh Borman, David Roth, Sinisa Ubiparipovich, Luke Sassano, Michael Palacio, John Wolyniec, Chris Megaloudis.
Chivas USA (4-4-2; first half): Brad Guzan; Alex Zotinca, Claudio Suarez, Jim Curtin, Jorge Flores; Sacha Kljestan, Jesse Marsch, Marko Muslin, John Cunliffe; Ante Razov, Atiba Harris.
(second half): Brad Guzan; Zach Flores, Mike Munoz, Marko Muslin, Jorge Flores; El-Hadj Cisse (Nick Blanco 77), Kraig Chiles, Dan Paladini, Keith Savage; Justin Braun, Chukwudi Chijinju.
Chicago Fire 3, Columbus Crew 2
A pair of goals from Tomasz Frankowski gave the Fire a 3-2 victory against the Crew at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla.
Fire forward Chris Rolfe gave Chicago an early lead after scoring the in 14th minute of play, but Robbie Rogers brought the Crew level in the 26th minute.
Frankowski immediately responded though for the Fire, scoring twice in three minutes (28th and 30th). Eddie Gaven pulled a goal back for the Crew five minutes into the second half, but it wasn't enough.
Chicago Fire (4-4-2): Jon Busch (Dominic Cervi 30, Melford James Jr. 60); Diego Gutierrez (Brian Plotkin 46), Wilman Conde (Daniel Woolard 46), Bakary Soumare (Austin Washington 46), Bruno Menezes (Tim Regan 46); Justin Mapp (Mike Banner 46), Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Kai Kasiguran 46), Logan Pause (Tim Conway 46), Chris Rolfe (Calen Carr 46); Chad Barrett (Floyd Franks 46), Tomasz Frankowski (Dwight Barnett 46)
Columbus Crew (4-4-2): Will Hesmer (Andy Gruenebaum 46); Frankie Hejduk (Jed Zayner 46), Danny O'Rourke (Ezra Hendrickson 46), Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Andy Iro 46), Alejandro Moreno (Leonard Griffin 46); Chad Marshall (Brad Evans 46), Brian Carroll (Duncan Oughton 46), Robbie Rogers (Stefani Miglioranzi 46), Sandro Silva (Eddie Gaven 46); Lars Ricken (Guillermo Barros Schelotto 46), Roman Friedle (Emmanuel Ekpo 46).
