BRIDGEVIEW, IL - The Chicago Fire Reserves (1-5-2 5 pts.) beat the New York Red Bulls Reserves (4-3-0 12 pts.) 2-1 in a Major League Soccer Reserve match today at TOYOTA PARK. Forward Floyd Franks supplied the first goal of the match in the tenth minute, while midfielder Mike Banner notched the game-winning goal in the 64th minute for the "Men in Red". The Red Bulls got on the board with a penalty kick taken by forward Jarrod Laventure in the 70th minute.
The Fire opened scoring in the 23rd minute of play, as forward Calen Carr sent a ball across the top of the 18-yard box to Franks. After taking a touch, Franks sent a curling ball towards the goal that pinged off the cross bar, deflecting down and was ruled a goal.
The Fire doubled their lead in the 64th minute as Banner took a touch around the New York defense on the end line to the left of the goal. Banner slipped a shot between the near post and Red Bulls goalkeeper Jon Conway for the game-winning tally.
A yellow card issued to Fire defender Bakary Soumare for unsporting behavior in the 68th minute gave New York a penalty kick opportunity. Jarred Laventure lined up for the kick and sent a hard ball to the left of second-half Fire substitute goalkeeper Nick Noble and into the net to bring the score to 2-1 in the 70th minute.
The Red Bulls looked to tie the match in the 76th minute as New York midfielder Markus Schopp sent a cross from the deep right corner onto the head of forward John Wolyniec positioned just off the left post. Chicago's Noble stretched to keep the redirected effort from sailing into the left upper 90. The ball was eventually knocked out of play by the Fire defense.
A scramble in front of the Fire goal after a left-side Red Bull corner kick gave New York a last minute scoring chance, but the Fire defensive line was able to clear the ball from danger to maintain the one goal lead until the final whistle.
Note: The Red Bulls were forced to play third-string goalkeeper Danny Cepero as a field player after defender Kevin Goldthwaite went down with a knee injury in the first half.
Fire Reserves Lineup: GK-Jon Busch (Nick Noble 46), D-Bruno Menezes, D-Daniel Woolard, D-Bakary Soumare, M-Landy Mattison, M-John Thorrington (Daniel Zwerling 80), M-Brian Plotkin (captain), M-David Bulow (David Henning 85), M-Mike Banner, F-Calen Carr (Tim Velten 67), F-Floyd Franks.
Red Bulls Reserves Lineup: GK-Jon Conway (captain), D-Kevin Goldthwaite (Danny Cepero 46), D-Hunter Freeman, D-Blake Camp, D-Randi Patterson, M-Red Niziolek, M-Mike Magee, M-Sal Caccavale, M-Markus Schopp, F-John Wolyniec, F-Jerrod Laventure.
Scoring Summary
CHI - Floyd Franks (Calen Carr) 23'
CHI - Mike Banner (UA) 64'
NY - Jarrod Laventure (PK) 70'
Misconduct Summary
NY - Markus Schopp (caution) 60'
CHI - Bakary Soumare (caution) 68'
NY - Hunter Freeman (caution) 86'
Referee: Jose Gesundheit
Referee's Assistants:Victor Herrera, Miguel Penduro
4th Official: Don Dellavia
Attendance: 40
Time of Game: 1:52
Weather: Sunny, 68 degrees
