CARSON, Calif. - The Los Angeles Galaxy reserves (0-1-0, 0 pts.) opened the 2006 Reserve Division season with a 1-0 loss to the Chicago Fire reserves (1-0-0, 3 pts.) on Sunday morning at The Home Depot Center on the Campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills. Chicago forward Floyd Franks scored the lone goal of the match to earn the Fire their first victory of the Reserve Division season.
In the first half, the Galaxy and Fire traded possession back and forth testing each other's defense, but both sides were unable to break through despite several dangerous opportunities.
The Fire's Nate Jaqua and Calen Carr nearly combined on a few chances but were stopped by the Galaxy's defense. The Galaxy from newcomer Cornell Glen, who used a burst of speed, beat his man on the dribble up the left wing only to his shot go just wide of the far post.
Before the end of the half, tempers flared as Chicago's Jaqua made a tough tackle on Los Angeles' Kyle Veris. Upset with the tackle, Veris confronted Jaqua and brief pushing match ensued before the referee issued each player a caution.
The Fire's Franks scored the game-winner in 65th minute finishing off a skillfully crafted build up from Calen Carr, who beat the Galaxy's Marc Burch and then Nathan Sturgis at the end line. Carr's cross found an open Franks in the six-yard box to head home the goal for the 1-0 lead.
Once again, tempers would rise between the two clubs. For the second time after a hard tackle from the Fire, this time by defender Jack Stewart, resulted in a pushing match as the Galaxy's Memo Gonzalez was upset with the challenge.
Los Angeles was unable to equalize and Chicago would hold on for the 1-0 victory.
Scoring Summary:
CHI - Floyd Franks (Calen Carr) 65
Chicago Fire Reserves - Matt Pickens (David Mahoney 46), Leo Griffin (Vardan Adzemian 87), Jack Stewart, Jeff Curtin, Dason Robinson, John Thorrington (Terry Alvino 66), Brian Plotkin, Jared Montz, Calen Carr, Nate Jaqua (Jordan Russilillo 60), Floyd Franks.
SUBS NOT USED: None
Los Angeles Reserves - Steve Cronin, Kyle Veris, Troy Roberts, Brian Dunseth (Memo Gonzalez 86), Nathan Sturgis, Ned Grabavoy, Marcelo Saragosa, Richard Mupfudze (Daniel Paladini 46), Marc Burch, Cornell Glen (Quavas Kirk 81), Joseph Ngwenya (Mike Enfield 46).
SUBS NOT USED: Steve Gonzalez, Justin Dunst.
Misconduct Summary:
CHI - Leo Griffin (yellow) 14
CHI - John Thorrington (yellow) 24
LA - Steve Cronin (yellow) 27
CHI - Nate Jaqua (yellow) 32
LA - Kyle Veris (yellow) 32
CHI - Jack Stewart (yellow) 85
LA - Memo Gonzalez (yellow) 85
Referee: Josef Batko
Referee's Assistants: Steve Elliott, Ali Hacock
4th Official: Ramon Hernandez
Attendance: 175
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 63 degrees.
