Late score by Salmeron lifts Fire U-15/16 to 1-0 win over Internationals

By Curt Herron

On a day where it had all sorts of chances, the Fire Academy's U-15/16 team looked like it might settle for another scoreless draw.

The Fire had already had three of those results in their first six Great Lakes Division matches prior to this past weekend's action.

But just as a fourth 0-0 tie seemed to be in the works, Chicago finally found the net on Saturday at Toyota Park's practice field.

Joel Salmeron connected in the final minutes off an assist from Elliot Borge to give the Fire a 1-0 victory over the Internationals.

It marked the sixth shutout overall and fifth in a row for the Fire (3-1-3, 12 points), who have only scored five goal themselves.

Kyle Dal Santo posted the shutout, thanks to defenders Louis Bennett, Charlie Oliver, Cody Witkowski, Tanner Planck and Benjamin Kucera.

The Cleveland-based opponents (0-6-2, 2 points) did their best to hold off the Fire, despite playing a man down in the last 20 minutes.

But a steady run of opportunities by the hosts finally paid off just before the Internationals were able to hold on a scoreless draw.

In the 76th minute, Borge sent a pass over to Salmeron, who chipped a short shot over keeper Blake Schach for the match's lone score.

"We've been talking about how we have to finish our chances," Salmeron said. "We knew from the beginning that this was going to be a tough game so we were going to have to battle until we got the late goal.

"It's not like we don't have chances, we just have to do a better job of finishing. We have a good offense and defense, so we have to get in to the habit of scoring early so it doesn't come down to the end.

"The goal was pretty much a one-two with Elliot, who chipped it over the line and I didn't get the touch that I wanted to on it, but I saw that the goalie was kind of out so I just lobbed a shot over him."

The final half featured plenty of such good chances, beginning with attempts from Jesus Medina, Salmeron and Oliver that were denied.

About midway through the half, Salmeron was taken down beyond the top of the box, which resulted in a wide free kick from Manny Chavez.

It also left the Internationals a man down after a player drew his second yellow card, setting up a tense 20 minutes for the visitors.

Salmeron was again taken down, which set up a Medina free kick which deflected off a wall toward Bennett, who was stopped on a liner.

A short time later, Medina got off an attempt from close range that the keeper got a hand on and then had to dive on the loose ball.

There was much less drama during the opening half, with the first serious threat mounted by the Internationals about 10 minutes in.

Sachem Wilson got off a short shot attempt which Dal Santo managed to get a hand on before the ball deflected off the opposite post.

The Fire nearly connected about 20 minutes later when Salmeron's short shot hit the post and Drew Conner's rebound try was hauled in.