The Chicago Fire PDL team opened the 2011 postseason with a dominant 3-0 victory over Forest City London Tuesday night on the Toyota Park Turf Field in the first round of the 2011 USL Premier Development League playoffs.
Having beaten London 3-0 eight days prior to the match,
there were expectations towards a closer game in a knockout scenario and
through the first 25 minutes those held true, with both sides trading just one
quality scoring opportunity.
It was the Fire PDL who nearly took the lead in the seventh
minute as midfield Bryan Ciesulka slipped Paulo Vaz through two Forest City
defenders and into the box. The Lynn University striker’s first time effort was
saved by onrushing London keeper Toba Bolaji but the rebound fell to former
Fire first teamer Davis Paul who skied his one-touch effort over the bar.
A physical Forest City side found their best chance of the
match in the 25th minute. Following a long string of progressive
buildup through the midfield, striker Scott Bibby powered a rocketing effort
from the top of the penalty arc which Fire ‘keeper Jordan Godsey acrobatically
dove to his right, pulling down and hanging on to the effort.
The Fire began to put their mark on the match five minutes
later when Paul, playing on the left flank, chipped Vaz over the top of the
London back line. The Brazilian striker made his way into the box before being
chopped down in desperation by Forest City center back Jovan Ivanovich. The
center official whistled for a penalty kick but despite being the last defender
back, Ivanovich was shown only a yellow card for the offense.
Vaz stepped up to the spot and placed a low effort to the
left of Bolaji seemingly giving the Fire a 1-0 lead but immediately the center
official whistled the goal back as Fire defender Jonny Raj was judged to have
entered the area before the kick was taken. Vaz stepped up for the retake,
picked the same corner, beat Bolaji, but not the post and the ball was cleared
away for a corner kick, further frustrating the Fire bench.
The dissatisfaction would soon go away in the 37th
minute when a long ball was misjudged on the bounce by Forest City defender
Chris Dillon with the swarming Vaz running onto it in space. Entering the box
up the right, Vaz made no mistake this time as he clinically finished a low
effort to the right of Bolaji, putting the Fire up 1-0.
Just before the half, Fire keeper Jordan Godsey was
substituted after injuring his shoulder on a previous play and was replaced by
Arlington Heights product David Meves.
The Section 8 Chicago supporters in attendance moved behind
Bolaji’s goal in the second half and could certainly be credited with the
assist on the team’s second goal. Central midfielder Callum Mallace picked up a
loose ball 35 yards from goal, rocketing a shot straight to Bolaji but the
keeper fumbled the effort over the line giving the Fire a 2-0 lead in the 51st
minute.
It was Vaz who put the game away in the 69
th
minute when midfielder Hunter Gorskie sent a long ball over the London defense
before the Brazilian product chipped the onrushing Bolaji, giving the Fire a
3-0 victory.
“I’m proud of the effort the guys put out tonight,” said
Fire PDL head coach Mark Spooner. “London’s a good side and despite a few
missed opportunities, we showed well.”
With the win, the Fire remain unbeaten all-time against
Forest City London, going 5-0-2 since 2009. The team advances to the Premier
Development League’s Central Conference Final Four on Friday at 5:30 pm ET
where they’ll face the Thunder Bay Chill at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac,
MI.
The victor will face the winner of Friday’s other semifinal
between the host Michigan Bucks and Des Moines Menace in the Conference Final
on Saturday at 7:30pm ET.
“Thunder Bay always has a quality team and they’re the one team in the Final
Four we haven’t seen this year. We expect Friday to be a very difficult game.”
Jeff Crandall is the
Team Writer for the Chicago Fire. Follow him on Twitter @JefeCrandall.