CHICAGO, Ill. – The Colorado Rapids fell 3-1 to the Chicago Fire in MLS Reserve League Action Wednesday morning at the Toyota Park Practice Field. Rapids forward Andre Akpan scored first before Daniel Paladini, Dominic Oduro and Victor Pineda responded with three unanswered goals.
A high-pressure match from the start, Colorado homegrown defender Davy Armstrong received a yellow card in the 29th minute for a reckless tackle. Moments later, striker Andre Akpan opened scoring for the visitors in the 32nd minute when his well-placed shot from the top of the box just eluded the grasp of outstretched Fire goalkeeper Jay Nolly.
Eleven minutes later, Fire midfielder Daniel Paladini took possession of the ball and played through to Dominic Oduro, who was making a run toward the corner. The fleet-footed Ghanaian played the ball back to Paladini, who buried the shot into the side netting for the Fire’s first goal.
In the 49th minute, the Fire would use Oduro’s lightning speed to their advantage. Playing in his first competitive match since tearing his Achilles tendon on October 23, 2010, defender Steven Kinney sent a perfectly placed through ball over the Rapids defense. Oduro slipped past through the back line and slotted the ball into the net to give the Fire a 2-1 lead.
Four minutes later, the Fire extended their lead as Fire Homegrown midfielder Victor Pineda slalomed his way through the Rapids defense before taking a shot from right outside the six yard box past Colorado ‘keeper Steward Ceus.
The Men in Red controlled the lion’s share possession for the remainder of the game to finish out the match.
Chicago Fire 3 – 1 Colorado Rapids
Chicago Fire: Jay Nolly; Hunter Jumper, Michael Videira, Steven Kinney (Grant Lillard* 60’), Dan Gargan; Victor Pineda, Alex (Marcus Epps* 38’), Daniel Paladini (Brian Warchek* 68’), Corben Bone (Kellen Gulley 77’), Tony Walls; Dominic Oduro (Jeff Farina* 55’)
Substitutes not used: Paolo Tornaghi, Shannon Seymour
Chicago Fire Academy Player
Colorado Rapids: Steward Ceus; Davy Armstrong, Francis Otira^ (Alex Braman* 86’), Tyson Wahl, Scott Palguta, Jaime Castrillon, Wells Thompson (Isaac Martinez* 88), Shane O’Neill, Jamie Smith (Jamie Gilbert^ 80’), Tony Cascio (Ricardo Perez* 70’), Andre Akpan
Substitutes not used: Ian Joyce
*Colorado Rapids Academy Player
^Trialist
Scoring Summary
COL – Andre Akpan (unassisted) 26’
CHI – Daniel Paladini (Dominic Oduro) 39’
CHI – Dominic Oduro (Steven Kinney) 42’
CHI – Victor Pineda (Corben Bone) 79’
Misconduct Summary
COL – Davy Armstrong (caution) 29’
CHI – Hunter Jumper (caution) 82’
Referee: Miguel Panduro
Assistants: Khalaf Al-Latayfeh, Nikola Aleksic
Fourth Official: Keith Angel
