The Chicago Fire (10-6-5 35 pts.) fell to los Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz Sunday 3-1 in an international exhibition match played in Veracruz, Mexico. Cuauhtémoc Blanco opened scoring in the 16th minute of play but Veracruz equalized the score in the 41st minute with a goal from Alejandro Leyva. Veracruz midfielder Enrique Seccafien scored the game-winning goal in the 55th minute, while an own goal by Chicago defender Lider Marmol gave Veracruz the insurance goal.
Blanco tallied the Fire's lone goal in the 16th minute after receiving a cross from midfielder Marco Pappa. The Fire nearly doubled the score in the 33rd minute as Stephen King took a hard shot from 25-yards out. King's shot deflected off a Veracruz defender and sailed just wide of the right post.
Veracruz leveled the score late in the first half off a set piece as midfielder Alejandro Corona sent a freekick cross into the middle of the box for Leyva who redirected the ball into the net for the equalizer.
The home team took the lead in the second half when Seccafien sent a shot into the lower right corner of the goal past Noble diving to his left.
In the 84th minute, Marmol attempted to clear a cross at the top of the six-yard box, but instead deflected the ball into the net for an own goal.
The Fire are 1-1-1 in international exhibition matches in 2008.
The Fire return to MLS action on Sunday August 31, as the team travels to Houston to face the Dynamo at Robertson Stadium (6 p.m. CT, My50).
Fire Lineup (4-4-2): GK- Nick Noble (Tyler Kettering 75), D-Austin Washington (Drew Degurian 60), D-Dasan Robinson, D-Lider Marmol, D-Marco Pappa (Landy Mattison 45), Justin Mapp (Patrick Healey 45), M-Cuauhtémoc Blanco (captain) (Peter Lowry 80), M-Stephen King (Trevor Mceacheron 67), M-Kai Kasiguran (Shintaro Harrada 30), M-Mike Banner, F-Andy Herron (Angel Rivillo 60), F- Andy Herron.
Veracruz Lineup (3-5-2): GK-Sergio Garcia, D-Ricardo Munguia (Octavio Mira 45), D-Erik Espinosa, D-Peter Thelemaque, M-Miguel Layun (Hugo Garcia 45) M-Enrique Seccafien (Carlos Carino 79), M-Alejandro Corona (Paulo Cesar Chavez 79), M-Franz Torres (Miguel Valdez 45), M-Nicolas Olivera, F-Alejandro Leyva, F-Martin Garcia (Ariel Gonzalez 50).
Scoring Summary
CHI - Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Marco Pappa) 16'
VCZ - Alejandro Leyva (Alejandro Corona) 41'
VCZ - Enrique Seccafien (UA) 55'
VCZ - Lider Marmol (own goal) 84'
Misconduct Summary
CHI - Dasan Robinson (caution, reckless foul) 18'
VCZ - Nicolas Olivera (caution, tactical foul) 44'
