Posted on February 4, 2012
NEW ORLEANS — a first-half brace from Dominic Oduro and a third goal from Orr Barouch propelled the Chicago Fire over Real C.D. España 3-1 in an international friendly at Tad Gormley Stadium on Saturday night.
In the first three pre-season matches, Oduro has recorded three goals in 105 minutes of play.
The Fire scored in the 26th minute when Sebastian Grazzini broke up a pass inside the attacking third. The Argentine playmaker laced a pin-point pass to Oduro inside the penalty area where he took a touch, turned and fired past goalkeeper Kevin Hernandez.
España leveled the match off a set piece 12 minutes later. Jairo Puerto’s driven free kick found Edder Gonzalez open at the back post where he headed the ball over goalkeeper Jay Nolly and into the back of the net to even things up after 38 minutes.
Oduro scored in the 44th minute. Former Fire and current trialist Ivan Guerrero started the build-up from the back sending a lofted ball to Patrick Nyarko on the left flank. Nyarko slotted Oduro in behind the defense where the fleet Ghanaian danced around Hernandez to give the Fire a 2-1 advantage.
The Fire nearly added to their lead when Oduro was hauled down in the penalty area in the waning moments of the first half. His strike partner Federico Puppo stepped to the spot, however, his chipped effort eluded the frame.
Fire coach Frank Klopas made wholesale changes at the half, before the side added to their lead in the 88th minute when midfielder Michael Videira slotted Victor Pineda into the area on the right. In behind the defense, the Fire Homegrown player pushed the ball across the box to Barouch, who finished past keeper Marcelo Macias for the insurance goal.
Midfielders Pavel Pardo (Mexico) and Marco Pappa (Guatemala) played the entire match for Chicago.
Defenders Cory Gibbs and Gonzalo Segares (Costa Rica) sat out the match after taking knocks in the Fire’s 3-0 win over Florida Gulf Coast University in Ave Maria, Fla. on Wednesday night.
Categories: Central America, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, U.S.A.
Tags: Chicago Fire, Dominic Oduro, Gonzalo Segares, Marco Pappa, Pavel Pardo, Real Espana
Loading ...
