Chicago Fire Premier News Release -- www.chicagofirepremier.com
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
CHICAGO -- The Chicago Fire Premier fell to the Michigan Bucks 1-0 on Wednesday night at the UIC Soccer Stadium, clinching the USL Premier Development League Great Lakes Division title with their second victory against their midwest rivals.
While the temperature stood at a blistering 97 degrees, both teams kept their warm-ups light and the water was stocked to the hilt in order to keep the players hydrated for what was sure to be a hard-fought match.
The Bucks appeared to have received the first opportunity to open the scoring when the Fire’s Hunter Gorskie was whistled in the 18th minute for a foul in the penalty area, and the referee motioned toward the penalty spot. However, after consulting with the assistant referee closest to the play, he reversed his call and the Fire was awarded with a harmless free kick in the other direction. But just four minutes later, Goffin Boyoko was whistled for a similar foul, and this time the Bucks were awarded with a spot kick. The attempt was swatted away by Fire keeper Jordan Godsey, who guessed correctly and leaped low and to his right.
From that point on the Fire looked to be in control and certainly created the majority of the offense for the remainder of the half. In the 35th minute, Fire midfielder Bryan Ciesiulka turned on a ball from the top of the penalty area and ripped a left-footed shot that rang off the left goal post and back into the field of play. In the 39th minute the Fire’s Thierry Zahui snared a pass from Calum Malluce and launched a bending right footed shot from 25 yards that curled just high and left of the corner of the Bucks net.
The second half of play saw more of the same with most chances coming from the Fire side. Former MLS Fire winger Davis Paul had two consecutive quality chances, the first coming in the 61st minute when he drove down the left flank and cut in to the middle of the pitch to launch a hard shot that rose just over the crossbar. Two minutes later he had the same success in creating space as he cut into the middle and once again his line drive crept inches over the crossbar. A goal for the Fire seemed iminent.
But then Bucks forward Stefan St. Louis, who had replaced Kenny Uzoigwe after receiving a knock to the ankle, took a shot from distance that took a deflection in the fray of players in the box and caught Fire netminder Jordan Godsey moving to where the was originally headed. The ball rose up off the deflection and came down just under the crossbar to Godsey’s left and nestled into the back of the net.
The Fire utilized several substitutions to try and find the equalizer, but it wasnt to be found. At the final whistle the Bucks had claimed a 1-0 victory and with their two victories in the head-to-head series, which is the first tiebreaker in PDL play, clinched the Great Lakes Division title.
The Fire PDL squad returns to action on Sunday against the Akron Summit Assault. Kickoff is set for 4:00pm CT at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, IL.