Chicago Fire News Release - www.chicagofirepremier.com
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
CHICAGO, IL -- The Chicago Fire PDL advanced into the second round of the U.S. Open Cup competition with a 3-1 win over the visiting Milwaukee Bavarian Amateur team that are five-time National Amateur Cup Champions.
The Fire PDL took a 2-0 lead into the intermission and added a third goal in the 53rd minute, but the match got very interesting in the 59th minute when CFP goalkeeper Jim Maurer (South Carolina) was red-carded for tackling a Milwaukee player inside his 18-yard area after an errant defensive pass put Milwaukee with a perfect scoring chance.
Maurer left the match and was replaced by his backup, Ryan Schwarz (Valparaiso University), for the final 30 minutes of the match. Immediately Schwarz had to face the penalty kick by Milwaukee which was converted by forward Kyle Zenoni for a 3-1 score.
Of course, Maurer will miss the next U.S. Open Cup match and Schwarz will have another chance to prove his mettle as the starting keeper in the second round of competition in Minnesota.
Schwarz had six exceptional saves in the final 30 minutes and countless crosses into the 18-yard box as Milwaukee pulled out all the stops in order to take over the match with the one-man advantage as a result of the red card.
Chicago’s goals came in the 26th minute by Freddie Braun (Louisville) and 28th minute by Andre Akpan (Harvard) during the first half of play. The Fire’s third and final goal came from Pascal Millien (University of Tampa) in the 53rd minute.
Chicago was already missing four key players from their starting eleven with injuries to Rob Younger (knee); Justin Morrow (hamstring); Mike Ferguson (ankle) and Mark Blades (ankle) before the dismissal of Maurer in the 60th minute.
The injury to Rob Younger (UIC) was covered by the recent return of Seth Sinovic (Creighton) who had been with the Creighton University soccer team in Peru for a regional competition. Sinovic jumped into the defensive lineup and adjusted to his new teammates quite handily in the first 45 minutes of the match despite just one training session prior to the match.
CFP President John Dorn said he was very pleased with the victorious results of the U.S. Open match with the always tough Milwaukee Bavarian squad. “We played well throughout the match against a very tough, physical opponent,” said Dorn. “The defensive give-away we had just outside our 18-yard box set up a series of quick events that dramtically changed the tone of the match. Milwaukee picked up the loose ball and Jimmy (Maurer) had to make a split second decision and the result was a red card, his expulsion, and a penalty kick.
“Milwaukee converted the PK and then they took advantage of their one-man advantage with the removal of Maurer. The one thing we did learn from this match was the outstanding depth we have on this squad in 2009.
“We really are two- and three-deep at almost every spot and we lose very little when we move anyone into starting positions. It’s really exciting to see these guys step into the lineup and then make a significant contribution. My goodness — look at the contribution we got from Ryan Schwarz (Valparaiso). He was our “Man of the Match” with the way he stepped up in the final 30 minutes of the match.
“He (Schwarz) took control of the defense and made six tough saves and snared a good number of dangerous crosses into the box that could have turned that match upside down for us. He was a star tonight — a real star.
“Ryan has been there at every training session and every match and when he got his chance he really delivered. Ryan could be starting on more than 90% of the teams in the PDL — anywhere in the country, but he chooses to be part of our team — and I’m just glad we have him with us this year. He’s made a real difference in the make-up of our team and he really delivered for his teammates tonight.”
