After going a perfect 3-0-0 to start the 2013-14 USSFDA season last weekend, the Fire Academy had slightly mixed results against Scott Gallagher Missouri Sunday at Toyota Park.
Fire U-18s
The day began with a rain-soaked thriller with the Fire U-18 (2-0-0) side running out 3-2 victors.
The team took little time to settle in as Alex Underwood’s (right) low cross from the right took a deflection and off a Gallagher defender and found its way into the back of the net giving the Fire a 1-0 lead in the first minute.
Underwood would get a goal of his own in the 33
rd
when the ball was cutout at midfield and played to Collin Fernandez on the left. Fernandez found Underwood cutting across the 18 before coolly finishing his cross to make it 2-0 going into halftime.
Just after the break the Fire would go up by three when halftime substitute Qudus Lawal found himself isolated on the left side of the 18 and calmly chipped the Gallagher ‘keeper in the 46th minute.
From there, Gallagher looked to cut back the deficit, taking advantage of a defensive breakdown before a cross from the right found Tommy Barlow’s head to make it 3-1 in the 65th minute.
In the dying moments of the game, Lawal was judged to have fouled a Gallagher player inside the box, giving them a penalty kick which Devin Boyce finished in the 80th to end the scoring at 3-2.
Fire U-16s
Despite a hard-fought match against a physically dominant Gallagher team, the Fire U-16s (1-1-0) dropped a 1-0 decision in Sunday’s second game.
The Fire held the side scoreless until Kaden Keller scored with just nine minutes remaining to give the visitors a 1-0 victory.
Fire U-14s
The Fire U-14s fought back twice to earn a 2-2 draw with Scott Gallagher in the day’s night cap.
Ten minutes in the Fire found themselves down 1-0 when a failed clearance out of the back struck a Gallagher forward and found its way into the back of the net.
The Fire would go into halftime locked at 1-1 after a build up down the right saw Andrew Akindele through on goal before finishing towards the far post from nine yards out.
Gallagher would re-take the lead when their target striker drove hard at the Fire back line before placing his shot towards the upper 90 in the 55th minute.
Down a goal, the Fire U-14s pushed for the equalizer late, going with three in the back as the team created many chances but didn’t seem capable of capitalizing.
Finally it was Sebastian Padua who was bowled over in the box, resulting in a penalty, which he finished to end the scoring at 2-2 in the 87th minute.
The Chicago Fire Academy teams return to action this weekend with a visit to the Columbus Crew on Saturday, September 21 and Cleveland Internationals the following day. See game times below.
Chicago Fire vs. Columbus Crew – Saturday, September 21 – Obetz Training Facility
U18s – 1:00pm ET
U14s – 1:00pm ET
U16s – 3:30pm ET
Chicago Fire vs. Cleveland Internationals – Sunday, September 22 – Pinnacle Sports Complex
U18s – 9:00am ET
U14s – 11:00am ET
U16s – 11:30am ET
