Here is a quick look at the Chicago Fire’s 3-1 loss to Manchester United on Saturday in a World Football Challenge match at Toyota Park:
How it happened: With Man U touting most of their backups at the start of the match, the Fire took advantage early with a Cory Gibbs goal in the 13th minute to take a 1-0 lead. But the Fire’s hour-long lead started to fade. In the 66th minute, Man U leveled match at 1-1 with Wayne Rooney’s lobbing shot, capitalizing on a deep assist from Rio Ferdinand. In the 76th minute, Rafael da Silva gave the Red Devils their first lead when he scored near post against Fire backup goalkeeper Jon Conway with a strike that went between Conway‘s legs. Nani padded the lead to 3-1 in the 82nd minute on a poor defensive effort from the Fire.
What it means: Heading into the weekend, MLS teams had been 0-3-0 in the World Football Challenge, so the Fire could not disrupt that trend. However, the Fire’s performance against Man U forced the Red Devils into playing their closest match of their U.S. Tour. Man U topped Seattle Sounders FC, 7-0, on Wednesday, and the Red Devils defeated the New England Revolution, 4-1, to open the World Football Challenge.
Outside the box: The Fire’s attendance was the equivalent of about four or five home matches at Toyota Park as 61,308 fans filtered into Soldier Field. … Fire newcomer Sebastian Grazzini made his debut when he came into the match for Marco Pappa in the 62nd minute.
Up next: The Fire return to MLS action on Wednesday, Aug. 3, when they host the Philadelphia Union at 8 p.m. at Toyota Park.
Source: ESPNChicago.com
Photo: Nam Y. Huh/AP Photo
MANCHESTER UNITED (3) VS. CHICAGO FIRE (1) WITH HUSARIA & SOKOL MC
SOLDIER FIELD – CHICAGO – Jul 23, 2011
by DZIKA – MAGDALENA HUK
PHOTOS BY DZIKA & FRIENDS . ALL EDITING & CUTTING BY DZIKA .
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