Wizards burn Fire in preseason play

CHICAGO - The Chicago Fire ended its three-week Florida training camp with a 3-1 defeat to the Kansas City Wizards tonight in an exhibition contest at the University of South Florida Soccer Stadium in Tampa, FL. Fire forward Andy Herron scored Chicago's lone goal in the contest's 75th minute, but three unanswered goals by Kansas City in the first hour of the match were too much for the Fire to overcome. With tonight's result, the "Men in Red" ended the Florida portion of their preseason with a 3-2-1 record.

It would be the Wizards who would take a 1-0 lead into the halftime break after former Fire forward Josh Wolff converted a penalty kick against his old side in the 41st minute. The chance from the spot was created when Fire defender Leonard Griffin's clearance from just outside the six-yard box deflected off a player and was corralled by Wizards striker Davy Arnaud, who rifled a shot that deflected off of Fire defender Kelly Gray's arm, drawing a whistle and a point to the spot from the referee. Wolff would bury the chance past Fire 'keeper Zach Thornton to give the Wizards the lead, but the advantage nearly disappeared moments later in the 43rd minute when Fire midfielder Thiago took a crack at goal from 25 yards. The Brazilian playmaker's long-range effort whistled just wide of the left post, leaving the "Men in Red" trailing by a goal at the half.

Arnaud would strike twice in as many minutes early in the second half to ice the game away for Kansas City. In the 51st minute, Arnaud would take a pass from Diego Walsh on a two-on-zero breakaway and easily slot it into the open net past a beaten Matt Pickens. Just a minute later, Arnaud would again beat a Fire offside trap to break in and finish past Pickens, giving Kansas City a 3-0 lead. The Fire would not break through until the 75th minute, when the Fire's pair of Costa Ricans - Herron and defender Gonzalo Segares - would combine to put the Fire on the scoreboard. After stealing the ball from Preki near midfield, Segares would find Herron, who beat two defenders and slotted a shot from 15 yards past Wizards 'keeper Will Hesmer for the Fire's lone tally.

After staying in Tampa on Thursday, the Fire will return to Chicago on Friday for an extended weekend stay in the Windy City before departing for its second leg of the preseason - a 10-day trip to Guadalajara, Mexico - on Tuesday, Mar. 1. The Fire's leading goal scorers in the "Sunshine State" were Nate Jaqua and Chris Rolfe with three tallies each, while four players - Chad Barrett, Will John, Boyzzz Khumalo and Thiago - shared the club lead in assists with two helpers.

Chicago Fire Preseason Notes