Chicago Fire Draw Florida Gulf Coast 2-2 in First Preseason Match
February 17, 2011 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release
AVE MARIA, FL (Feb. 17, 2011) - The Chicago Fire drew 2-2 with Florida Gulf Coast University Thursday night at Ave Maria University Soccer Field to open up the side's 2011 preseason. Playing three 30-minute intervals, midfielder Marco Pappa and defender Kwame Watson-Siriboe tallied for the Fire in the draw.
The first period saw the Men in Red barrage Florida Gulf Coast 'keeper Adam Glick's goal, with the net minder stopping several early efforts, keeping the score knotted at 0-0 heading into the second frame.
Chicago Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos inserted an entirely new lineup for the following interval and was rewarded when Marco Pappa opened the scoring in the 35th minute. Starting the play from the left side of midfield, the Guatemalan international switched fields, playing Bratislav Ristic charging up the right. The Serbian midfielder struck a low pinpoint pass to Pappa who powered a hard shot to the low left corner to put the game at 1-0.
Pappa chipped in on the second effort as well, sending a looping corner kick in from the right which Kwame Watson-Siriboe rose up to head into the top left corner of Florida Gulf Coast net on 48 minutes.
Entering the third interval, de los Cobos made wholesale changes again and the Fire saw their lead slip away when Eagles midfielder Andres Navas sent a powerful low blast past substitute goalkeeper Alec Dufty in the 65th minute.
Florida Gulf Coast equalized from the penalty spot in the 76th minute after the referee judged that trialist Eric Ustruck had committed a foul in the area. Striker Scotty Harrison put the spot kick to the right of Dufty to equalize the match.
The team will next play a double header with MLS foe New York Red Bulls on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, FL with matches scheduled for 10 AM and 12 PM CT.
The Fire host Opening Day at TOYOTA PARK against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, March 26 at 3:00 PM CT. Chicago Fire Season Tickets and single game tickets are available by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE (657-3473), via Ticketmaster or by heading to the club's official website at Chicago-Fire.com . The Men in Red will begin their 14th MLS season during "First Kick" week when they travel to Dallas to challenge Brimstone Cup rivals and MLS Cup runners up FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park on Saturday, March 19 at 7:30 PM CT.
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