Fire U-15/16 caps six-point weekend with complete victory over FC Milwaukee

By Curt Herron

Putting together a nearly complete match isn't an easy thing to do for teams in the rugged Great Lakes Division.

The Fire Academy's U-15/16 team certainly has learned that lesson during its initial 11 matches prior to Sunday.

That's when Chicago met up with FC Milwaukee in a division match at Toyota Park's practice field in Bridgeview.

While good defense has been a given for the team, also receiving a similar effort on offense has been a problem.

But a day after scoring two second-half goals in a 2-0 victory over Sockers FC, the Fire offense was back at it.

Chicago scored twice in the opening half and added a score after the break to record a season-high three goals.

Combined with the defense's ninth shutout, which featured few threats, the Fire rolled to an easy 3-0 victory.

Joel Salmeron, Jesus Medina and Francisco Sajuan all scored goals for the Fire (6-3-3, 21 points) in the match.

Kyle Dal Santo got the shutout with defenders Louis Bennett, Benjamin Kucera, Mike Winhoffer and Cody Witkowski.

Beside marking the squad's initial six-point weekend, it's the first time that the Fire has won consecutive division matches.

The win moves the Fire into third place in the division standings, trailing only Columbus (26) and Vardar (23).

"This was probably the first time that we all worked together as a team and it felt great to play as one whole team," Medina said. "We kept working at it and kept pushing and that helped us to score the three goals.

"It was nice getting that first goal since it kept our momentum going until we got the second goal and then the third. We've been working hard in practice and in the game we connected on everything and fought as one."

Although lightning delayed the start of the match by an hour, the weather was fine when things got under way.

The only adverse conditions were a strong wind from the south, which the Fire had to go into in the first half.

But it didn't faze them much as they managed to get plenty of chances against FC Milwaukee (2-7-1, 7 points).

After little drama unfolded in the initial quarter of play, the Fire got their first score in the 21st minute.

That came after Drew Conner lined a free kick off the crossbar and Salmeron put in the loose ball for a goal.

Salmeron was denied on a short try a few minutes later but the Fire found the net again just before the break.

In the 37th minute, Sajuan sent a cross to Medina, who connected from close range to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.

Conner closed out the productive opening half with another attempt that was hauled in by FC Milwaukee's keeper.

"A lot of people stepped up and we definitely showed how we can play," Winhoffer said. "The thing that got us going was our first goal. We don't always convert on our good chances, but today we did and it made the difference.

"We've all jelled together in the back and that's why we're so solid. It's a team effort all of the way through and that's what we showed today. Getting six points this weekend was big for us and will help us in the standings."

With the wind at their backs in the final 40 minutes, the Fire had all sorts of chances to collect more goals.

But it was their first attempt of the new half that the was the most successful, coming right after the break.

Less than a minute after the whistle blew, Manny Chavez passed to Sajuan, who fired in a short try for a score.

The Fire missed connecting a dozen minutes later when Salmeron hit the post and Medina's rebound was deflected.

Just before the half's midpoint, Sajuan had a liner stopped by the keeper, who then halted Medina's corner kick.

Chicago had as many good chances in the final 20 minutes as it's enjoyed during some of its matches this year.

Chavez had a liner deflected before Medina saw a corner kick punched away and a short shot that was hauled in.

Later, Salmeron had a corner kick deflected by the keeper, who stopped attempts from both Sam Bell and Bennett.

Medina and Elliot Borge were denied on free kicks as the hosts continued to apply heavy pressure until the end.

The Fire, which has four division matches left, concludes its home schedule next Sunday against Indiana United.