The Chicago Fire earned a 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park on Tuesday in a Central/Mountain Division meeting in the MLS Reserve League.
Chicago, unbeaten thus far in Reserve League action with a 4-0-1 record, opened the scoring in the 13th minute on a well-placed strike from Orr Barouch that beat Sporting Kansas City Home Grown goalkeeper Jon Kempin.
But Sporting Kansas City (1-2-2) responded seven minutes later as central defender Daneil Cyrus, acquired on Saturday, found space on the right side of the penalty area and slipped a pass to trialist Dwayne James for the finish from close range.
The match-winner came in the 76th minute from second-half substitute Manny Guzman, as the Chicago academy player sealed the victory with a shot from outside the penalty area on the right side of the field.
Both sides battled the high temperatures to entertain the crowd gathered to see the first MLS Reserve League match played at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, with each side using all of their available field players and Sporting Kansas City being forced to put in academy goalkeeper Jacole Turner at midfield when Korede Aiyegbusi exited through injury.
Sporting Kansas City and Chicago will each resume MLS Reserve League play at home to Colorado, with the Rapids visiting LIVESTRONG Sporting Park on Monday, August 8th before traveling to Toyota Park on August 28th.
Sporting Kansas City: Jon Kempin; J.T. Murray, Scott Lorenz, Daneil Cyrus (Eric DeJulio* 46), Kevin Ellis (Paul Oliver* 58); Joseph Peterson (Derek Schrick* 46), Korede Aiyegbusi (Jacole Turner* 71), Dwayne James, Leo Gibson, Nate Opperman; Soony Saad (Seo-In Kim* 46)
Chicago Fire: Jon Conway; Bratislav Ristic (Brady Wahl* 54), Dasan Robinson, Josip Mikulic, Pari Pantazopoulos; Baggio Husidic, Mike Videira (Peter Beasley* 46), Corben Bone (Manny Guzman* 66), Victor Pineda; Diego Chaves (Martin Rivas* 54), Orr Barouch
Subs not used: Alec Dufty
Academy player
**Guest trialist
Disciplinary Summary:
KC – Dwayne James (caution; Reckless Foul) 48
CHI – Dasan Robinson (caution; Reckless Foul) 68
CHI – Martin Rivas (caution; Reckless Foul) 87
