Fire Academy sides unbeaten on Day 1 of USSDA Playoffs

Three Fire Academy teams began group play in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy playoffs on Thursday in Westfield, Ind. and each team came away with a positive opening result. Catch up on the action below with game recaps, box scores and video replays:

U15/16s Post Shutout in Draw vs PDA
Match Report | Full Game Replay

Throughout most of the game, a youthful Fire side did well developing play through the middle to get the ball wide, where the attackers could take on their defenders 1v1 into the box. One such occasion came in the 70th minute when a Chicago player carried into the box from the wing before being tripped up by a recovering defender. The referee blew his whistle and pointed to the spot for a Fire penalty kick. However, the attempt was saved by the sprawling PDA keeper, and the follow up shot went directly over the bar. The Chicago Fire defensive unit held strong throughout the match, minimizing any legitimate PDA chances towards goal.

Akindele Leads U-17/18s to Comeback Victory with a Brace
Match Report | Full Game Replay

With about 10 minutes remaining in the first half, a RailHawks cross was served into the box and saved by the Fire keeper, but in the scrum to recover the ball a RailHawks player was tripped to earn a penalty kick. The kick hit the back of the net, and the Fire found themselves down 1-0 at half. The Fire’s misfortunes would double in the second half, when a ball from a midfielder broke the Fire defensive line and found RailHawks forward and Development Academy leading scorer, Alex Rose, who took two quick touches and then passed it into the net.

The Fire wouldn’t give up, keeping the pressure on and earning a penalty kick moments later. Down a goal, the Fire continued to send balls into the box and attacking the RailHawks goal. In the 63rd minute, Andrew Akindele would tie the game at two goals a piece, sliding towards the goal line to push the ball into the net.

The Fire had found their spark, and would take their first lead of the game in the 66th minute, after a free kick ball into the box was initially saved by the keeper but deflected off of a Fire player and into the goal. The Fire wouldn’t look back and Akindele would add an insurance goal in the 81st minute after stripping the ball from the last defender to secure their first win of the 2017 playoffs.

Indiana Fire Trounce PDA in Impressive Win
Match Report | Highlights

In a back and forth first half, Indiana Fire midfielder Justin Ingram put the team ahead in the 42nd minute with a stellar strike from outside of the 18-yard box into the upper right corner. Teammate Parker Washburn would follow suit, putting one in the back of the net just three minutes later. With a superb defensive performance, the Fire would take a 2-0 lead into the break. Throughout the second half, both teams created chances, but it was the Fire who would capitalize yet again in the 90th minute with a finish from forward Thomas Warr.

See below for the next set of group stage matches, slated for Saturday, July 24. 

2017 USSDA PLAYOFFS — GROUP STAGE