Chicago Fire 3-1 United States U-17s

by Dan Gaichas

BRADENTON, FL--Fire first-round draft pick Patrick Nyarko scored two goals as the Fire defeated the US Under-17 squad, 3-1, in their first preseason match at the IMG Academy in Bradenton.  The Fire played three different lineups in 30-minute intervals. 

The U-17s scored in the very first minute through Donovan Henry after he picked off an errant back pass from Wiman Conde.  The first lineup, which featured Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Jon Busch, and Tomasz Frankowski.  

In the second 30 minutes, Floyd Franks had three opportunities to equalized for the Fire, but his shots went over the bar (40th minute), saved by the goalkeeper (50th minute), and went wide of the target (60th minute).  However, Franks would make no mistake in the 74th minute after collecting a long ball from Daniel Woolard and making a strong finish. 

Nyarko would give the Fire the lead for good five minutes later after heading in Brian Plotkin’s corner and then score again ten minutes later after collecting a pass from Zach Pope. 

The Fire’s next preseason match in Bradenton will be against the Columbus Crew on Wednesday, February 13.

SCORING SUMMARY:

U17-Donovan Henry (unassisted) 1

CHI-Floyd Franks (Woolard) 74

CHI-Patrick Nyarko (Plotkin) 79

CHI-Patrick Nyarko (Pope, Plotkin) 89

CHICAGO FIRE LINEUPS: GK-Jon Busch, D-Diego Gutierrez, D-Wilman Conde, D-Austin Washington, D-Tim Regan, M-Logan Pause, M-Mike Banner, M-Stephen King, M-Cuauhtémoc Blanco, F-Chad Barrett, F-Tomasz Frankowski.

 

30’: GK-Nick Noble, D-Brian Plotkin, D-Daniel Woolard, D-Osei Telesford, D-Bruno Menezes, M-Bakary Soumare, M-Just Mapp, M-Chris Rolfe, M-Peter Lowry, F-Calen Carr, F-Floyd Franks.

 

60’: GK-Dominic Cervi, D-Daniel Woolard, D-Jeff Curtin, D-Tim Bode, D-Iradj Farahmand, M-Tim Conway, M-Adrian Bumbut, M-Kei Kasiguran, M-Zach Pope, F-Floyd Franks, F-Patrick Nyarko.