BRIDGEVIEW, IL - The Chicago Fire Reserves (2-3-1, 7 pts.) fell in 2006 Reserve Division action by a score of 2-3 against the D.C. United Reserves (4-1-1, 13 pts.) Sunday, July 23 at TOYOTA PARK in Bridgeview, IL. The Fire went down a goal in the 16th minute courtesy of a D.C. United forward Alecko Eskandarian freekick strike, but the Fire answered back just nine minutes later as forward Calen Carr headed home a tying goal in the 25th minute. A goal from forward Matt Nickell in the 72nd minute gave D.C. the lead, followed quickly by a tally from D.C. forward Jamil Walker to put the game further out of reach for Chicago. Fire forward Chad Barrett earned a wonderful goal off his volley in the 86th minute, but it would prove too little, too late as the Fire Reserves dropped its first-ever Reserve Division contest at TOYOTA PARK.
The first half of play was an even affair, with both sides finding attacking space for entertaining end-to-end action. Just as he had done in the previous evening's first-team contest, Alecko Eskandarian once again tallied for his D.C. side, ripping a 20 yard freekick cracker in the 16th minute through the Fire's defensive wall and into the back of the net to give the away side a one-goal lead. Nine minutes later the "Men in Red" got its equalizer, as Calen Carr netted his fourth Reserve Division goal of the season in the 25th minute by heading home a Justin Mapp cross to tie things at 1-1 before the halftime whistle.
Midway through the second half D.C. took majority of possession, forcing Chicago to play a more defensive style. That offensive pressure from United paid off in the 72nd minute as Matt Nickell gave the "Black and Red" a go-ahead strike, followed by a goal from forward Jamil Walker in the 75th minute to give United a 1-3 advantage. Forward Chad Barrett brought the game closer at 2-3 in the 86th minute as he received a well-flighted Angel Rivillo service, turned, and finished from 12 yards out with a one-time volley off the hop past Rimando. Chicago fought to grab a point from the match as it created numerous opportunities in the final five minutes of play, but the hometown side wouldn't be able to catch up to D.C. in the end as time expired.
Chicago Fire Reserves (4-4-2) - GK-Matt Pickens, D-Jim Curtin (Johnny Torres 68), D-Leonard Griffin, D-Logan Pause (Alex Ughiovhe 45), D-Tony Sanneh (Angel Rivillo 45), M-Justin Mapp, M-Brian Plotkin, M-Jared Montz, M-Floyd Franks, F-Chad Barrett, F-Calen Carr.
SUBS NOT USED: David Mahoney, Jack Stewart.
D.C. United Reserves (3-5-2) - GK-Nick Rimando, D-David Stokes, D-Devon McTavish, D-John Wilson, M-Rod Dyachenko, M-Justin Moose, M-Jeff Carroll, M-Santino Quaranta, M-Domenic Mediate (Andy Metcalf 38), F-Alecko Eskandarian (Matt Nickell 45), F-Jamil Walker (Judah Cooks 82).
SUBS NOT USED: Ryan McIntosh, Clyde Simms.
Scoring Summary:
DCU - Alecko Eskandarian 1 (Unassisted) 16
CHI - Calen Carr 4 (Justin Mapp 2) 25
DCU - Matt Nickell 3 (Andy Metcalf 1) 72
DCU - Jamil Walker 2 (Matt Nickell 3) 75
CHI - Chad Barrett 2 (Angel Rivillo 1) 86
Misconduct Summary:
CHI - Jim Curtin 1 (caution, Handball) 15
CHI - Brian Plotkin 1 (caution, Handball) 68
Referee: Ricardo Salazar
Referee's Assistants: Jose Gesundheit, Mark Gorak
4th Official: George Ghawi
Venue: TOYOTA PARK
Attendance: 64; Weather: Sunny, 72 degrees.
All Statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.
