Victor Pineda

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Citizenship:    USA
Last Club:    Chicago Fire Academy
How Acquired:    Signed as a Homegrown player on August 17, 2010.

The first Homegrown Player in Chicago Fire history, Victor Pineda made significant strides in his fourth season with the Fire first team. After undergoing meniscus repair surgery in winter of 2012, Pineda recovered in time and was selected as a member of the United States squad for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey. Pineda also spent time during the offseason gaining valuable experience training with Spanish La Liga side Atletico Madrid. The Bolingbrook, Ill. Native will look to take the next step in his career and make his first team debut during the 2014 MLS campaign.

2013: INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES: Played 45 minutes against Liga MX side Club America on July 10. 

2012: Did not see first team action during the 2012 season but was on the game-day lineup in the team’s 1-0 loss 10/20 at NE…INTERNATIONAL FRIENDILES: Started and played the full 90 minutes in the Fire’s 2-2 draw against Club Santos Laguna 9/8… MLS RESERVE LEAGUE: Made seven appearances, starting five games and tallying two goals and one assist…Scored in the 79th minute of a 3-1 win over COL 8/15…Assisted on Hunter Jumper’s goal in the 5th minute of a 2-1 win vs. FCD 9/18…Showed amazing individual skill and footwork when he scored a 25-yard rocket in a 2-1 loss at HOU 10/13.

2011: Did not see first team action during the 2011 season but made his first game-day lineup in the team’s 3-2 victory 9/17 vs. CHV…Would appear in the 18 two more times, in a 2-1 loss 10/12 vs. FCD and a 3-2 win 10/22 vs. CLB…INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES: Came on as a halftime sub for Fire captain Logan Pause, playing 45 minutes and picking up a yellow card in the 81st minute of a 1-0 loss 9/14 vs. Chivas de Guadalajara…MLS RESERVE LEAGUE: Appeared in seven matches, starting six, logging 567 minutes.

2010: Did not see first team action in 2010.

Academy

2011-12: Played 20 games for the U18 Academy team; scored 12 goals as the Fire U18s entered the USSDA Playoffs as the #1 ranked team in the country.  

2010-11:  Eligible to play with U18 Academy as a first team player… Appeared in 17 matches, starting six, tallying six goals…Helped team qualify for 2011 USSFDA National Playoffs where they went 1-1-1…

2009-2010: Appeared in 28 matches, playing 2160 minutes and leading the U16 Academy with 8 goals, helping the side to the USSFDA National Championship …Tallied his first goal of the campaign in the 15th minute of a 1-1 draw vs. Real Colorado on 4/17…Scored in the 86th minute to help the Fire U16s to a 2-1 victory over Colorado Rush AJ Auxerre on April 18…Scored in the 40th minute in a 2-1 victory vs. St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri on 5/23…Appeared in two of three matches during the USSFDA Spring Showcase in Sarasota, FL, opening up the series with a 6th minute strike against LAFC Chelsea on 5/29…Struck in the 43rd minute, securing the game winner in a 2-0 victory vs. FC Milwaukee…Appeared in all 3 matches at the USSFDA National Playoffs in Greensboro, NC, scoring both goals in a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over FC Westchester. The result clinched a spot for the U16s at the USSFDA National Finals in Carson, CA…Appeared in all 4 matches, playing every minute at the USSFDA National Finals in Carson, CA, scoring the opening goal in the first group match, a 2-1 victory vs. Chicago Sockers FC…Played the full 110 minutes and converted the opening penalty kick as the U16s defeated Cal Odyssey to win the 2010 USSFDA National Championship on 7/16…Was named to the NSCAA Boy’s All-American Team on 12/23…

2008-09: Appeared in 2 matches, spending the majority of his time with the U.S. U17 Residency Program in Bradenton, FL…

International: Currently part of the U.S. U20 Men’s National Team pool…2012: Scored a goal and tallied an assist in a 2-4 loss to Uruguay 6/6…Was a member of the U.S. U20 squad for the Northern Ireland Milk Cup…Scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Turkey 7/23…Scored in a 3-4 loss to Chile 7/26… 2010: Started all 4 matches he appeared in, logging 293 minutes played…Scored first youth international goal in his U18 debut, a 2-1 loss to Bolivia on 7/27 in Buenos Aries, Argentina…Played 59 minutes in 2-2 draw with Chile on 7/29 in Santiago… Was part of the Israeli Four Nations Tournament roster in December, playing two matches: played 66 minutes in 3-0 loss to France on 12/14 and went 78 in 0-0 draw vs. Israel on 12/16; both matches played in Tel Aviv…2009: Was part of the U.S. U17 Men’s National Team Residency Program in Bradenton, FL…Has previously been a part of the U15 U.S. Boy’s National Team…

Prep: Earned All-American honors while playing for Plainfield East High School in Bolingbrook, IL…

Personal: Parents are Victor and Susana…Brother Mauricio currently plays with the Chicago U16 Academy team…Enjoys going to Cancun for vacation… Mostly influenced by both of his parents… Loves to watch the movie Step Up 3 because of all of the great dancing… Favorite soccer player is Alexis Sanchez…Sister Cynthia represented Mexico in the 2012 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.