The Chicago Fire reserve side was victorious in a 3-2 friendly win over Fire USL League One affiliate Lansing Ignite on Tuesday night at Lansing's Cooley Law School Stadium.
Led by Fire Academy Technical Director Cedric Cattenoy and assisted by Indiana Fire coach Kiki Wallace, the Fire took a 2-1 lead in the first half via goals from Amando Moreno and Jeremiah Gutjahr, along with confident goalkeeping from Gabriel Slonina. Gutjahr, the Fire rookie Homegrown product, was given the captain's armband on the evening.
In the second half, members of the Chicago Fire Academy and Indiana Fire Academy were rotated in to make up a majority of the squad for Chicago. Midfielders Javier Casas and Brian Gutierrez made their presence felt, with Gutierrez accounting for five second half shots. Goalkeeper Chris Brady -- a U.S. Under-15 National Team player -- took over in net in the second half. In all, eight academy players took the field for the Fire as the second half progressed.
Missael Rodriguez scored the match winner for the Fire in the 70th minute, and the defense -- led by center back Nick Slonina -- held strong in the waining minutes to preserve the win in front of 3,000+ fans of the USL League One side.
Chicago Fire Starting XI: Gabriel Slonina; Jason Belloli, Nicholas Slonina, Andre Reynolds II, David Mendoza; Diego Mendoza, Jeremiah Gutjahr, Gilberto Angeles; Amando Moreno, Emerson Nieto, Oscar Gonzalez.
Substitutes: Chris Brady, Ryan Quintos, Medard Mikobi, Brian Gutierrez, Paul Bogarin, Javier Casas, Missael Rodriguez.
