CHICAGO, Ill. (June 29, 2013) – The Chicago Fire Reserves fell 2-1 to the Charlotte Eagles Saturday evening at Toyota Park. The Eagles went ahead early in the third and 14th minute courtesy of goals from Christian Meza and Shaun Francis. Maicon Santos pulled the Men in Red within one in the second half before a 78th minute red card to Alex forced the Fire to finish the match a man down.
In the third minute the Eagles opened the scoring when Christian Meza dribbled down the left flank and into the box and sent his low, driven shot inside the far post to put the visitors ahead.
The Eagles would double their lead 10 minutes later when Shaun Francis pounced on a loose ball and unleashed a wicked half-volley into the back of the net.
The Fire would pull one back in the 51st minute. Maicon Santos danced around the Eagles backline and broke into the 18-yard-box. Santos dribbled nearly to the endline and at the sharpest of angles, whipped in a curving shot that bent past Reed and just inside the far post to pull the Fire within one.
In the 68th minute, Alex was shown a yellow card for an infraction in the center circle. This would come in to play just 10 minutes later when the Brazilian was shown a second yellow card for a foul outside the Fire’s 18-yard-box and forcing the Men in Red to finish the match a man down.
Fire ‘keeper Paolo Tornaghi made two point-blank saves in the 81st minute to keep the score within one as the Fire finished the match 2-1.
The Fire kick off a three-game homestand against the San Jose Earthquakes at Toyota Park on Wednesday, July 3 at 7:30 p.m. CT (My50/La Ley 107.9). Tickets are available by calling 888-MLS-Fire or by visiting www.Chicago-Fire.com.
Chicago Fire 1 – 2 Charlotte Eagles
Chicago Fire: Paolo Tornaghi; Hunter Jumper (Brendan King 45’), Joel Leon* (James Myall 45’), Michael Videira, Wells Thompson; Daniel Paladini (Alex 45’), Corben Bone ©, Victor Pineda (Yazid Atouba 45’), Maicon Santos; Sherjill MacDonald (Jeff Farina* 78’), Quincy Amarikwa
Substitutes not used: Alec Kann,
Charlotte Eagles: Eric Reed; Fejiro Okiomah, Matt Gold, Ben Newham, Shaun Francis; Jorge Herrera, Stephen Okai (Christian Ramirez 90+’), Drew Yates (Sam Asante 71’), Juan Guzman, Will Prado (Nate Thornton 56’), Christian Meza (Stefan Smith 67’)
Substitutes not used: Alonso Jimenez, Nick Courtney, Evan Harding
Scoring Summary
CHA – Christian Meza (unassisted) 3’
CHA – Shaun Francis (unassisted) 14’
CHI – Maicon Santos (unassisted) 51’
Misconduct Summary
CHI – Alex (caution) 68’
CHI – Michael Videira (caution) 68’
CHI – Wells Thompson (caution) 68’
CHI – Paolo Tornaghi (caution) 78’
CHI – Alex (caution, ejection) 78’
Referee: Miguel Panduro Jr.
Assistants: Khalaf Al-Latayfeh, Ethan Bugge
Fourth Official: Jorge Cuate
Attendence: 313
