Fire beats Beachside SC to claim group with 3-0-1 mark

Meet LA Galaxy on Saturday in USL Super-20 semifinals

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By Curt Herron

On Thursday, the Chicago Fire Super-20 team had to rally for a 1-1 draw with Beachside SC to avoid suffering its first loss of the season.

A day later with much more at stake, the Fire was the squad that quickly grabbed the upper-hand in its rematch with the Conncticut side.

With a trip to Saturday's semifinals in the United Soccer League's Super-20 Finals on the line, Chicago scored twice in the first 10 minutes.

Although Beachside SC responded with a quick goal, Chicago controlled play the rest of the way and won 2-1 at Sportscore Two in Loves Park.

Later on Friday afternoon, the Fire captured its second straight decisive victory over Alpharetta United of Georgia, winning by a 5-1 score.

As a result of its 3-0-1 showing in pool play, the Fire (13-0-1) captured Group A with 10 points and move on to today's 6 p.m. semifinals.

Crew Juniors, who are in the Midwest Division and earlier lost two one-goal matches against the Fire, won Group B play with a 2-0-1 mark.

The LA Galaxy went 2-0-1 to advance from Group C while Beachside's 2-1-1 slate assured it of earning a semifinal spot as a wildcard team.

In the semifinals, the Fire gets LA Galaxy while Beachside and Crew Juniors also meet for the right to advance to Sunday's 11 a.m. finals.

In Friday's match with Beachside (6-3-4), the Fire found the net for the first time during the second minute to move in front for good.

Ethan Finlay, who had three assists on Thursday, put in a short rebound following a blocked shot by Javier Torres for the first score.

Chicago continued to apply the pressure immediately after that as Finlay was stopped on his next try by Beachside keeper Sergio Lara.

Kirk Urso had a pair of close-range chances soon afterward but the first was cleared by a defender and another led to a corner kick.

On that corner, Drew Russell headed an attempt toward the net but it was also cleared away by a defender as Chicago threatened again.

The Fire grabbed a 2-0 lead during the tenth minute when Domenic Barone connected on a short shot attempt, following a pass from Urso.

But before Chicago was able to enjoy its two-goal advantage, Beachside responded on its next possession to make things interesting.

Beachside, which won 4-2 over Alpharetta earlier on Friday, closed to within 2-1 when Scott Brown put a shot past keeper David Meves.

There were few other good scoring chances during the opening half, which was shortened along with the second half to only 30 minutes.

Chicago threatened again during the 13th minute when Calum Mallace fired off a line drive, but that attempt was hauled in by Lara.

Following a drought in scoring chances during the last part of the first half, the Fire got things going again following the break.

Finlay sent a header attempt over the net before Ian Christianson followed up with a grounder that was halted by the Beachside keeper.

Barone nearly scored again but his short shot try was deflected by Lara and his subsequent rebound effort bounced off of the post.

Right after that, Urso lined a shot from the side that went to the keeper and then Christianson sent a header just wide of the net.

Christianson and Urso were both denied on short tries a few minutes later and Finlay suffered the same fate on two shots after that.

In Friday's other match, Christianson got a hat trick for the Fire, who also scored five times against Alpharetta on the previous day.

Greg Jordan started Chicago's scoring in the 18th minute, off an assist from Cyrus Saydee. The Fire added two more first half scores.

Christianson put in a rebound of a blocked shot by Shane Lyons in the 27th minute and scored off a pass from Al Palar a minute later.

The Fire had numerous other good chances in the opening half with Jaymie Bullard and Kyle McCrudden both seeing short attempts blocked.

In the 45th minute, Christianson collected his third goal and Saydee put in a rebound of his own blocked shot during the 50th minute.

Alpharetta (6-7-1), which lost all of its finals matches, managed to put one shot past keeper Jordan Godsey, a goal from Alhagi Toure.