BRADENTON, FLA. --
The Chicago Fire kicked off their 2009 campaign with a 5-0 win in a preseason scrimmage against the University of Central Florida (UCF) on Field 1 of the IMG Academies facility in Bradenton, Fla. The Fire played varied lineups in three separate 30-minute intervals.
The Fire opened scoring in the 25th minute with a goal courtesy of Brian McBride. Defender Gonzalo Segares fed a ball to midfielder Justin Mapp, who made a cross from the left corner into the right side of the box. McBride placed a header just inside the left post for the game-winning goal.
The Fire doubled the lead in the 31st minute as Stefan Dimitrov fought through a crowd of UCF players just outside the six-yard box and placed the ball into the back of the net.
Dimitrov tallied the Fire's third goal of the match in the 51st minute. MLS draftee Richard Jata played a through ball from the center of the field to Dimitrov, who chipped a ball over the head of the UCF goalkeeper from 30 yards out for a second goal in the game.
The Fire added two goals in the final four minutes of the match. In the 87th minute Michel Moungue received a cross from Roland Paul Bebey Kingue just off the right post and directed the ball into the goal. In the final minute of the game, defender Dasan Robinson slipped a ball to Idrissa Kone who netted the Fire's fifth and final goal of the match.
The Fire will next face the Kansas City Wizards in a preseason scrimmage on Feb. 4 at the IMG Academies. Kickoff is at 9 a.m. CT.
Chicago Fire: GK-Nick Noble, D-Tim Ward, D-Bakary Soumare, D-CJ Brown, D-Gonzalo Segares, M-Mike Banner, M-Logan Pause M-Peter Lowry, M-Justin Mapp, F-Patrick Nyarko, F-Brian McBride.
30': GK-Tyler Kettering, D-Tim Ward, D-Dasan Robinson, D-Bakary Soumare, D-Roland Paul Bebey King, M-Mike Banner (Michel Moungue 45'), M-Baggio Husidic, M-Peter Lowry, M-Austin Washington, F-Richard Jata, F-Stefan Dimitrov.
60': GK-Joe Nasco, D- Roland Paul Bebey Kingue, D-Igor Lozo, D-Dasan Robinson, D-Daniel Woolard, M-Michel Moungue, M-Baggio Husidic, M-Gerson dos Santos, M-Austin Washington, F- Robson Chavez Santana, F-Idrissa Kone.
Scoring Summary:
CHI - Brian McBride 1 (Justin Mapp 1) 25
CHI - Stefan Dimitrov 1 (UA) 31
CHI - Stefan Dimitrov 2 (Richard Jata 1) 51
CHI - Michel Moungue 1 (Roland Paul Bebey Kingue 1) 87
CHI - Idrissa Kone 1 (Dasan Robinson 1) 89
