CHICAGO, Ill.
– During a bye week from MLS action, the Chicago Fire used a 12
th
minute strike from Guatemalan international Marco Pappa to earn a 1-0 victory over the University of Louisville Saturday morning at the Toyota Park Practice Field. Playing for the first time
in over six months, newly acquired Fire defender Arne Friedrich went 88 minutes in his first game action for the Men in Red.
The Fire pressured early and found the lone goal of the match in the 12th minute when Marco Pappa took the ball off the foot of striker Federico Puppo at the top of the 18-yard box and unleashed a curling shot past Louisville goalkeeper Zach Torp into the upper left corner of the goal.
The Men in Red continued to look dangerous offensively and almost doubled their lead in the 15th minute when Puppo lobbed his strike mate Orr Barouch into the box. The Israeli youth international’s first time effort was kick saved by Torp and then cleared off the line by a Cardinals defender.
Continuing to pressure after the break, the Fire nearly added an insurance goal in the 79th minute when rookie defender Hunter Jumper made a spirited run down the left sideline before serving a ball into the box that was headed off the line by a Louisville defender, leaving the Fire with a 1-0 victory.
The Men in Red return to league play against the Houston Dynamo at Toyota Park on Sunday, April 15 at 6:00 p.m. CT (CSN Chicago/Galavision). Chicago Fire Season 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.
Notes:
- Sean Johnson and Paolo Tornaghi combined for the clean sheet over the NCAA side.
- Frank Klopas used the opportunity to trot out 21 different players Saturday morning at the Toyota Park practice field.
Chicago Fire 1 – 0 University of Louisville
Scoring Summary
CHI – Marco Pappa (unassisted) 12’
Misconduct Summary
None
Referee: Chris Koloffon
Assistants: Kevin Walter, Ethan Buege
