BUFFALO GROVE, IL (Sunday, September 24, 2006) - The Chicago Fire Reserves (4-4-2, 14 pts.) scored a brace in the first half and once more in the second to secure a 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy Reserves (2-5-2, 8 pts.) Sunday morning at the Schwaben Athletic Club in Buffalo Grove, IL. Chicago forward Ryan Johnson put the home side up 1-0 in the 29th minute and was followed by a goal late in the first half from forward Calen Carr in the 45th minute to give the home side a 2-0 advantage going into halftime. Fire midfielder Floyd Franks chipped a shot over Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin in the 59th minute to give the game its final tally in a 3-0 win for Chicago.
The half opened with Chicago working the ball on the ground, as Los Angeles sent more service over the top in the early stages. The Galaxy had the better of possession at the start of the game, with Chicago playing more in its own half in the first 20 minutes. Soon after, the Fire began to press into the attacking third as it worked toward the game's first goal.
Fire forward Calen Carr brought down a long ball out of the back from goalkeeper David Mahoney with his right foot in the 23rd minute, setting himself up for a volley but his strike failed him as the shot rolled right to Galaxy goalie Steve Cronin. Fire forward Ryan Johnson nearly put the home side up in the 28th minute, out-hustling an L.A. defender to take a crack from 20 yards out that curled just over the crossbar. Johnson made no mistake just a minute later as he juked past Galaxy defender Kyle Veris and finished with a hard curler over the head of Cronin and in the net for a 1-0 Fire lead.
Chicago continued to pressure the Galaxy defense leading up to the 37th minute, as Fire defender Jordan Russolillo worked his way into the offensive third and cut past his defender and unleashed a low strike that is punched out by Cronin. Galaxy forward Herculez Gomez found himself behind the Fire defense at the top of the 18-yard box in the 40th minute, ripping a shot that forced onrushing Mahoney to make a low, diving save to clear the ball from danger. The Fire soon doubled its lead in the 45th minute, as a freekick attempt from rookie Fire midfielder Brian Plotkin from 35 yards connected with the head of forward Calen Carr, who redirected the service with a flick header to beat Cronin for the second time on the day. Fire lead 2-0 at the end of the half.
The second half saw the first caution of the match, as a foul on Carr from Galaxy defender Andy O' Shay in the 49th minute saw referee Hidajet Tica reach for his pocket. Second half Fire substitute Angel Rivillo nearly added to the Chicago lead in 52nd minute off a strike from 20 yards out that forced Cronin to make an acrobatic save that kept the ball from upper right corner of the net. The Fire got its third goal in the 59th minute courtesy of a Rivillo pass that found a streaking Floyd Franks, who broke free from his defender and chipped a shot from 10 yards to beat Cronin.
Both sides opted to clear their benches as the half wore on, with the Fire maintaining offensive pressure in the Galaxy's half. Each side exchanged possession in the midfield as the final 10 minutes winded down, but neither could break through equally stingy defensive efforts down the stretch. Today's victory is the second-straight win for the Chicago Fire Reserves, who conclude the 2006 MLS Reserve Division season on Sunday, October 8 (9:00 a.m. CT) against the Columbus Crew Reserves in Columbus, OH.
Scoring Summary:
CHI - Ryan Johnson (Unassisted) 29
CHI - Calen Carr (Brian Plotkin) 45
CHI - Floyd Franks (Angel Rivillo) 59
Chicago Fire Reserves (4-4-2) - David Mahoney, Leonard Griffin, Jim Curtin (David Henning 76), Jordan Russolillo, Alex Ughiohve, Logan Pause (Angel Rivillo 45), Brian Plotkin (Mike Schmidt 72), Ivan Guerrero (Adam Ruud 45), Floyd Franks, Calen Carr (Johnny Torres 62), Ryan Johnson.
SUBS NOT USED: Pete Dzubay.
L.A. Galaxy Reserves (4-3-3) - Steve Cronin, Quavas Kirk (Lawrence Smalls 45), Kyle Veris, Andy O' Shay, Mike Randolf (Eric Bertsche 79), Nathan Sturgis (Stoian Mladenov 45), Stefani Miglioranzi (Jeff Heckman 72), Mike Enfield, Josh Hansen, Herculez Gomez (Ante Cop 72), Josh Gardner.
SUBS NOT USED: None.
Misconduct Summary:
LA - Andy O' Shay (Caution) 49
LA - Herculez Gomez (Caution) 67
Referee: Hidajet Tica
Referee's Assistants: Peter Manikowski, Landis Wiley
4th Official: Peter Balciunas
Attendance: 25
Weather: Cloudy, 62 degrees
