A memorable 2015-16 season came to an end Saturday for the Chicago Fire Academy U-16 squad, which fell in its national third-place match vs. Real Colorado, 4-1, in Carson, Calif.
The group was one of four teams left standing in the chase for their age group's U.S. Soccer Development Academy national championship, taking eventual champion FC Dallas U-16s to the wire in Thursday's 1-0 loss in the tournament semifinals.
On Saturday, the Fire had hopes of ending their campaign on a winning note and entered halftime of their clash vs. Real Colorado with both sides still scoreless. But Real Colorado struck twice in the first 11 minutes following the break, first on a penalty kick converted by Noah Hilt and again from the run of play courtesy of Anthony Chrysanthou.
The Fire pulled one back in the 68th minute on a remarkable 25-yard effort off the foot of Victor Berreza. But Real Colorado regained its two-goal advantage just four minutes later and added a fourth tally in stoppage time to claim third place in the 2016 USSDA U-16 playoffs.
Chicago concluded the season with an overall mark of 19-9-3.
