Fire continue preseason with 0-0 draw against Guadalajara all-star squad

CHICAGO - The Chicago Fire continued the second leg of its 2006 preseason schedule this afternoon with a 0-0 draw against a Guadalajara All-Star squad this afternoon at Universidad de Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Mexico. The draw was the second in the Fire's seven-match exhibition schedule to date and pushed Chicago's preseason record to 4-1-2.

The Fire would create the bulk of the chances during the match, but the Guadalajara Select team's goalkeeper would be up to the task, saving all of the Fire's attempts on goal. Fire midfielder John Thorrington made his preseason debut as a member of Head Coach Dave Sarachan's starting line-up, and his header in the 25th minute would nearly put the "Men in Red" on the board. Fire forward Chad Barrett and midfielder Justin Mapp would bookend chances around the halftime whistle, but Barrett's chance in the 40th minute and Mapp's in the 47th minute would both be stopped.

Barrett would have another quality effort in the 67th minute, and although his shot beat the 'keeper it could not beat the crossbar, the chance rattling off the woodwork to keep the match scoreless. Chicago would continue to pressure in the game's final quarter-hour, but chances from forward Calen Carr in the 75th minute, Barrett in the 80th minute and back-to-back shots from Carr and midfielder Floyd Franks in the 83rd minute would all go for naught.

The Fire will have one training session on Sunday during the morning before heading to Guadalajara's Jalisco Stadium to take in a contest between two of Mexico's biggest and most successful clubs, CD Guadalajara (Chivas) and Club America. The Fire's next contest south of the border will come on Tuesday, Feb. 28 when the squad takes on Mexican First Division squad Tecos in Sayula, Mexico at 11:00 a.m. CT.

Scoring Summary:
Fire - None
Guadalajara All-Stars - None

Fire Lineup (3-4-3): Matt Pickens (David Mahoney 46); Jim Curtin (Jeff Curtin 57), C.J. Brown (Dasan Robinson 57), Jack Stewart (Jordan Russolillo 57); John Thorrington (Floyd Franks 46), Logan Pause (Terry Alvino 46), Brian Plotkin (Scott Buete 46), Ivan Guerrero (Brian Plotkin 57); Calen Carr, Chad Barrett, Justin Mapp (Gustavo 57).