U-17/18 rallies to settle for 2-2 draw against FC Milwaukee

By Curt Herron

A draw is always preferable to a defeat, especially when your team hasn't won yet and had to rally in order to avoid another loss.

But not all rallies for a tie are that satisfying, as the Chicago Fire U-17/18 squad found out on Saturday in a match in Milwaukee.

Although the Fire staged a rally to help them overcome an early 2-0 deficit, they wound up settling for a 2-2 draw with FC Milwaukee.

While that was clearly better than the alternative, it was still not the type of result that the squad was obviously looking for.

So after competing in their first three matches in US Soccer Development Academy play, the Fire is now 0-2-1 with one point to their credit.

Needless to say, if they want to get into the mix in the rugged Great Lakes Division, they need to get into the winning column soon.

They'll get another chance to do that Sunday morning at 10 a.m. when they meet up with Sockers FC at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn.

Saturday's match at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee's cozy Englemann Field started in a less than stellar fashion for the Fire.

FC Milwaukee, making its Great Lakes Division debut this year, grabbed the early advantage after scoring twice in the opening 20 minutes.

It was a repeat of events from a week ago, when the Fire yielded three goals apiece during home defeats to Derby County and Vardar.

Unlike last week's matches, the Fire managed to overcome the latest deficit after receiving scores from Victor Pineda and Noah Anthony.

However, the squad had plenty of chances to get another goal and walked away disheartened after settling for a draw for their efforts.

"There's good ties and bad ties," assistant coach Tony Kees said. "You'd think that coming back from two goals is a good tie, but it doesn't feel like a good tie because we gave away the first half.

"We bring it up and the kids know that they haven't played a good first half yet. It's one thing to play poorly, but it's another to play poorly and to give up goals.

"If you look at our last three games, we've given up eight goals in the first half, so you have to address that since it has to stop."

The hosts scored in the tenth minute and again in the 20th minute when Kelmend Islami got free and connected for goals from close range.

Chicago had a pair of good chances during the next 10 minutes, beginning with Joey Calistri's short try that was blocked by a defender.

Then Jacob Brindle made a diving header off of a pass from Manny Guzman that was hauled in by FC Milwaukee's keeper a few minutes later.

With about five minutes left in the half, the hosts were called for a foul in the box and the Fire got a chance to get their first goal.

Pineda's penalty kick was blocked but he alertly went after the rebound and fired in a shot for a score to make it a one-goal match.

Right before halftime the Fire almost scored again when Brindle's short header off of a David Caban cross was halted on a diving save.

With Luis Barajas entering at the break to join first-half entry Anthony, the visitors kept the pressure up in pursuit of the equalizer.

Meanwhile, the Fire defense shored things up and limited the number of opportunities that FC Milwaukee had against keeper Zak Allen.

In between shots by Brindle that were wide of the net, Anthony was denied on a short try and Patrick Doody saw a corner kick get halted.

Just past the midway mark of the final half, Brady Wahl had a pair of close-range chances, both of which were cleared away by defenders.

With time winding down in the match, Doody sent in an attempt that was deflected by a defender and Anthony couldn't initially get a shot.

But Anthony remained persistent and his second-effort attempt from close range found the net to finally pull the Fire even in the match.

Just before the final whistle, late sub Mike Kozielek looked to be fouled in the box but there was no call and his shot went just wide.