The Chicago Fire used a brace from trailist Martin Rivas to open up the 2011 MLS Reserve League schedule with a 3-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo Sunday morning at the Toyota Park practice field.
The Fire controlled the first half of play and found the opening goal after a buildup from right back Bratislav Ristic saw midfielder Orr Barouch play a nifty ball into the box for Gabriel Ferrari. Ferrari’s first-time effort was put off of Dynamo defender Eddie Robinson, leaving keeper Tyler Deric stranded as the ball crossed the line in the 17th minute.
Martin Rivas found the first of two goals ten minutes later through a series of combinations. Sean Johnson started the play as he claimed a cross off a corner kick, the second-year keeper’s drop kick found midfielder Daniel Paladini at midfield. Paladini played a dangerous ball over the top to slot Ferrari into the Dynamo area. The powerful striker slid a square ball to Martin Rivas who buried a low effort past Deric in the 27th minute.
Rivas found his second of the match when defender Pari Pantazopoulos exposed the Dynamo defense down the left flank and fed the fleet striker in one-on-one with Deric. His first attempt was saved but not collected and the 19-year-old Argentine attacker slid to push the ball over the line from close range in the 41st minute.
A chippy second half saw referee Miguel Panduro Jr. issue six yellow cards but neither side was able to find the back of the net and the Fire ended the match the same way they ended the first half, taking a 3-0 victory.
The Men in Red move to (1-0-0) in 2011 MLS Reserve League play and will be back in action one week from today when they take on the Colorado Rapids Reserves on Sunday, May 1 following the two sides’ MLS regular season match the night before at 8:00 p.m. CT (My50). Houston is now 1-1-0 and will play its next reserve match against the Real Salt Lake reserves on Sunday, May 15 in Salt Lake City.
Notes:
- Chicago Fire midfielder Michael Videira was the only Fire player in the lineup to play in Saturday night’s first team match, a 1-1 draw with the Dynamo.
- Allowed to dress up to five Academy players for MLS Reserve League matches, Fire Academy products Peter Beasley, Manny Rios and Brady Wahl all saw time Sunday morning.
Chicago Fire 3 – 0 Houston Dynamo
Chicago Fire: Sean Johnson; Bratislav Ristic, Kwame Watson-Siriboe, Michael Videira (Peter Beasley 65’), Pari Pantazopoulos; Corben Bone, Martin Rivas (Brady Wahl 86’), Daniel Paladini, Davis Paul; Orr Barouch, Gabriel Ferrari (Manny Rios 71’)
Substitutes not used: Alec Dufty, Jacob Brindle, Andrew Connor
Houston Dynamo: Tyler Deric; Kofi Sarkodie, Eddie Robinson, Jordan Graye, Mike Chabala; Colin Clark (Bryan Celis 66’), Josue Soto, Je-Vaughn Watson (Miguel Zapata 77’), Abe Matamoros (Christian Gonzalez 82’); Alex Dixon, Jason Garey
Substitutes Not Used: Evan Newton
Scoring Summary:
CHI – own goal (Eddie Robinson) 17’
CHI – Martin Rivas (Gabriel Ferrari) 27’
CHI – Martin Rivas (unassisted) 41’
Misconduct Summary:
CHI – Michael Videira (caution) 60’
HOU – Eddie Robinson (caution) 61’
HOU – Mike Chabala (caution) 69’
CHI – Kwame Watson-Siriboe (caution) 73’
HOU – Miguel Zapata (caution) 83’
CHI – Bratislav Ristic (caution) 87’
Referee: Miguel Panduro Jr.
Referee’s Assistants: Greg Dopka, Cesar Ibarra
4th Referee: George Ghawi
