Posted on February 2, 2012
AVE MARIA, Fla. — Marco Pappa certainly was in mid-season form in the Chicago Fire’s 3-0 win over Florida Gulf Coast University on Wednesday.
The Guatemalan international midfielder scored the first goal and set up the second in his first appearance of the pre-season. He played the opening 30 minutes.
Similar to Sunday’s opening draw vs. D.C. United, Fire coach Frank Klopas used the match for talent evaluation, deploying 30 players over three periods of 30 minutes each.
Chicago (1-0-1) came out at a furious pace, overloading its collegiate opponents in the attack before being rewarded for their efforts seven minutes in when Dominic Oduro played a leading ball for Federico Puppo down the left. The newly signed Uruguayan striker hit a low blast across the goal that goalkeeper Nathan Ingram parried into the path of Pappa before the Guatemalan buried the rebound to open his preseason account.
The Fire doubled the lead in the 21st minute as Pappa broke up a build-up out of midfield. Picking up the ball, the Guatemalan attacker drove towards goal, slotting Oduro around a defender before the speedy forward struck a low blast that the onrushing Ingram partially deflected before hitting the back of the net.
Chicago will continue preparations ahead of its 15th season when it takes on Honduran side Real C.D. Espana at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans, La. on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET. Fans can follow the action live at www.twitter.com/ChiFireMatch.
Photo: Marco Pappa had a memorable pre-season debut for the Fire. Wade Jackson/YCK
Categories: Central America, Guatemala
Tags: Chicago Fire, Dominic Oduro, Federico Puppo, Florida Gulf Coast University, Marco Pappa
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