CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Chicago Fire Reserves followed up the first team’s victory over Houston Saturday with a 4-2 win of their own over Coastal Carolina University on a chilly Sunday afternoon in Charleston.
Despite the final score line, the Fire Reserves fell behind early when Coastal’s Jacob Stourac pounced on a loose ball at the top of the penalty area and moved into space before placing a low effort past Fire ‘keeper James Belshaw in the second minute.
The goal was a wakeup call and gave a spark to the Fire who didn’t take long to equalize.
In the 13th minute, Maicon Santos collected a ball at midfield and moved easily through a high Chanticleers backline to break in alone on goal before easily finishing.
Just six minutes later Steven Kinney played a great ball out of the back to find Michael Videira on the right. The veteran midfielder strolled towards the endline before centering for Alex who one-timed his effort inside the near post for a 2-1 lead.
The Fire would make it 3-1 in the 31st minute when Alex won the ball just outside the penalty area before crossing for Wells Thompson (right) who chipped over the Chanticleers ‘keeper to take the Fire into halftime with the two-goal lead.
With many Fire substitutions at the break, Coastal Carolina again scored an early goal inside the second half. The Fire began to dominate in possession again and threatened immediately after the goal when Corben Bone pushed Kellen Gulley through alone before the Coastal ‘keeper came off his line to make a point blank save.
Gulley would make amends minutes later when he played a great diagonal through ball for trialist Colin Rolfe who sent a low, right footed effort inside the left post to restore the team’s two goal lead and bring an end to the scoring.
Sunday’s reserve game was the last one of preseason and was used to evaluate the remaining unsigned players in camp. Fire head coach Frank Klopas said earlier this week that the team was close to making roster decisions and likely to fill out remaining spots with the players still in camp.
Scoring Summary
CCU – Jacob Stourac (unassisted) 2’
CHI – Maicon Santos (unassisted) 13’
CHI – Alex (Michael Videira) 19’
CHI – Wells Thompson (Alex) 31’
CCU – unidentified 42'
CHI – Colin Rolfe (Kellen Gulley) 56’
Fire Lineup: James Belshaw* (Alec Kann^ 41’); Pascal Chimbonda^ (Brendan King 59’), Steven Kinney (Cameron Lindley# 41’, Ricky Aldape# 65’), Leo Lelis^, Hunter Jumper; Michael Videira, Wells Thompson, Daniel Paladini (Cody Witkowski# 41’), Yazid Atouba (Corben Bone 41’); Alex (Kellen Gulley 41’), Maicon Santos (Colin Rolfe^ 41’)
-SuperDraft Pick, *-Supplemental Draft Pick ^-Trialist #-Fire Academy
