CHICAGO, Ill. (July 17, 2013) – The Chicago Fire defeated the Columbus Crew 5-3 in MLS Reserve League action Wednesday morning at the Toyota Park Practice Field. Strikes from Sherjill MacDonald, Quincy Amarikwa, Maicon Santos, Brendan King and an own goal put the Men in Red ahead as they staved off a late rally from the Crew.
The Fire opened scoring in the 21st minute when MacDonald beat Crew ‘keeper Matt Lampson at the near post to give the Men in Red the 1-0 lead.
Columbus forward Ryan Finley equalized in the 36th minute, putting the ball just past Fire ‘keeper Alec Kann.
On the ensuing kickoff, Amarikwa dribbled the ball downfield as the Fire regained the lead seconds later.
In the 60th minute, Santos was awarded a penalty kick after being taken down in the box. Santos converted his attempt with a rocket to Lampson’s right to give the Fire a 3-1 lead.
King was the next player to find the back of the net in the 74th minute when Yazid Atouba dribbed into the box and played a low, driven cross to King at the top of the six-yard-box. The Naperville, Ill. product’s one-time shot sailed past Lampson to put the Fire up 4-1.
In the 79th minute, MacDonald was awarded a penalty kick taken down in the box. MacDonald’s kick blasted off the crossbar and was cleared by the Crew defense.
The Fire would find their final goal of the morning in the 83rd minute when MacDonald raced towards goal and centered his pass for Victor Pineda at the penalty spot. Crew defender Tyson Wahl inadvertantly hit the ball into the back of his own goal to put the Fire up 5-1.
The Crew pulled one back when Ethan Finlay was awarded a penalty kick in the 87th minute and put his ensuing kick right down the middle past a diving Kann.
Two minutes later, Finley would get his second of the day when he blasted his shot from just inside the 18-yard-box as the game ended 5-3.
Chicago Fire 5 – 3 Columbus Crew
Chicago Fire: Alec Kann; Michael Videira (Wells Thompson 53’), Yamith Cuesta, Elias Vasquez, Hunter Jumper; Joel Lindpere (Yazid Atouba 45’), Logan Pause © (Corben Bone 58’), Daniel Paladini, Sherjill MacDonald; Quincy Amarikwa (Victor Pineda 73’), Maicon Santos (Brendan King 62’)
Substitutes not used: Kyle Del Santo, Joel Leon
Fire Academy Player Trialist
Columbus Crew: Matt Lampson; Drew Beckie, Kevan George (Andrew McKelvey 79’), Tyson Wahl, Kyle Hyland (Tyler Kidwell* 75’); Agustín Viana (Brady Blackwell* 71’), Vinny Weijl (Noah Hutchins* 71’), Tony Tchani, Shawn Sloan, Ethan Finlay; Ryan Finley
Crew Soccer Academy Player *Trialist
Substitutes not used: Daniel Withrow
Scoring Summary
CHI – Sherjill MacDonald (unassisted) 21’
CLB – Ryan Finley (unassisted) 36’
CHI – Quincy Amarikwa (unassisted) 36’
CHI – Maicon Santos (penalty kick) 60’
CHI – Brendan King (Yazid Atouba) 74’
CHI – Own Goal (Tyson Wahl) 83’
CLB – Ethan Finlay (penalty kick) 87’
CLB – Ryan Finley (unassisted) 89’
Misconduct Summary
CLB – Agustin Viana (caution) 38’
CHI – Daniel Paladini (caution) 50’
CLB – Shawn Sloan (caution) 63’
CLB – Ethan Finlay (caution) 75’
CHI – Hunter Jumper (caution) 83’
Referee: Nikola Aleksic
Assistants: Jordan Pramulc, Art Arustamyan
Fourth Official: Prem Kumar
