Chicago falls to Colorado in final pre-season tuneup

Story courtesy Chicago Fire Communications

RIDGELAND, Miss. (March 22, 2007) – The Chicago Fire finished their 2008 preseason with a 0-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids Saturday afternoon at M&F Bank Stadium in Ridgeland, Miss. After a scoreless first half, Rapids defender Stephen Keel tallied the lone goal of the match in the 86th minute.

Colorado nearly had the game’s first goal in the 13th minute when Rapids midfielder Christian Gomez took a freekick from the left corner of play. Gomez’s effort pinged off the crossbar and out of play for a goal kick. The Rapids continued to put pressure on Chicago as Rapids forward Omar Cummings took a shot from six yards out in the 17th minute that forced Fire goalkeeper John Busch to make a quick kick save.

The Fire offense came alive after 20 minutes of play. In the 24th minute, midfielder Cuauhtémoc Blanco took a short corner kick that popped out of the 18-yard box to defender Gonzalo Segares. Segares took and touch and his shot from 22 yards out went wide right of the frame. A foul on Fire defender Brandon Prideaux in the 28th minute forced him to leave the game for medical attention to his face and he returned a few minutes later.

Colorado threatened to score again in the 35th minute when a cross from the right wing connected with the head of Cummings and redirected off the crossbar and out of bounds for a goal kick. Fire defender C.J. Brown was shaken up on the play and was substituted out for defender Diego Gutierrez in the 37th minute.

The Fire nearly broke through in the 44th minute, as midfielder Chris Rolfe dribbled past two defenders and ripped a shot from eight yards out to force a tip-save by Rapids goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul.

Neither side made any substitutions during halftime. In the 60th minute, a Chicago breakaway started by Blanco freed forward Tomasz Frankowski with just Coundoul to bear, but Frankowski took a heavy touch that went right to the Rapids goalkeeper.

The Fire conceded a freekick to Colorado in the 72nd minute, roughly 25 yards from goal. The ensuing service into the Fire penalty area was headed just wide right of goal by Rapids forward Herculez Gomez. Two minutes later, Fire forward Andy Herron had Chicago’s best chance of the second half when he settled a ball and ripped a shot from 10 yards out, forcing Coundoul to make yet another tip-save over the bar.

Fire defender Bakary Soumare was cautioned for a reckless foul in the 85th minute, setting up a Colorado freekick 35 yards from Chicago’s goal. Rapids defender Jose Burciaga Jr. sent a ball into the box that was redirected with a 10-yard header by defender Stephen Keel into the back of the net to give the Rapids a 1-0 win.

The Chicago Fire will begin their 2008 MLS Regular Season on the road Saturday, March 29, against Real Salt Lake at Rice-Eccles Stadium (5:00 CT, My50).

Fire Lineup: GK-Jon Busch, D-Gonzalo Segares, D-Bakary Soumare, D-C.J. Brown (Diego Gutierrez 37), D-Brandon Prideaux (Austin Washington 76), M-Justin Mapp, M-Logan Pause, M-Chris Rolfe (John Thorrington 66), M-Cuauhtémoc Blanco, F-Tomasz Frankowski (Andy Herron 66), F-Calen Carr (Stephen King 82).

Rapids Lineup: GK-Bouna Coundoul, D-Jose Burciaga Jr., D-Facundo Erpen, D-Stephen Keel, D-Kosuke Kimura (Dan Gargan 70), M-Terry Cooke, M-John DiRaimondo, M-Christian Gomez (Herculez Gomez 62), M-Nick LaBrocca (Pablo Mastroeni 82), M-Ciaran O’Brien, F-Omar Cummings.

Scoring Summary
CHI – Stephen Keel (Jose Burciaga Jr.) 86'

Misconduct Summary
CHI – Cuauhtémoc Blanco (caution, dissent) 52’
COL – Facundo Erpen (caution, reckless foul) 81’
CHI – Bakary Soumare (caution, reckless foul) 85’

Referee: Lee Suckle
Referee's Assistants: Peter Balciunas, Jim Conlee
4th Official: Thai Huynh
Attendance: 4,110
Weather: Sunny, 72 degrees