The Chicago Fire academy returned to game action on April 2 after being on a break since December. The biggest news from the academy is a couple of players got into the Chicago Fire Reserves 3-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo Reserves yesterday. Peter Beasley (U-17/18), Manuel Rios (U-15/16), Brady Wahl (U-17/18) received playing time while Jacob Brindle (U-17/18) and Andrew Connor (U-15/16) made the bench. The biggest star of the Reserves game was Martin Rivas who is on trial with the senior Chicago Fire club. Some people assumed he was an academy player but as Guillermo Rivera reported yesterday, the 19 year-old Argentinian Rivas has been training with the team even after getting cut in pre-season. The latest scoring round-ups and academy news is after the break.
Chicago Fire U 17/18
The U-17/18 is 1-2-2 since returning to play. Victor Pineda remains the academy's best product but he was in training with the United States U-20 team for yesterday's Reserves League game. Pineda is used lightly as a sub and when he enters the game, he scores a goal. I'm really excited to see him get some time in the Reserves League games. Robert Euler has been splitting more starts with Zak Allen in goal than back in the fall. Jacob Brindle had a brace against the Derby County Wolves to give him a team leading four goals on the year. Brindle's listed at 6'1 so the Fire might want to think about bringing him onto the senior club for corners. I'm only half-joking.
April 2 Chicago Fire 2 - 3 Derby County Wolves
XI: Robert Euler, Peter Beasley, David Caban, Anthony Torres, Keaton Albert, Jacob Brindle, Fillipe Cortez, Patrick Doody, Emanuel Guzman, Luis Medina, Brady Wahl
Subs: Luis Barajas (58), Joseph Calistri (77), Noah Anthony (79), Daniel Lojek (82)
Goals: Jacob Brindle 26', 65'
April 3 Chicago Fire 1 - 3 Vardar
XI: Robert Euler, Peter Beasley, David Caban, Anthony Torres, Keaton Albert, Jacob Brindle, Patrick Doody, Emanuel Guzman, Luis Medina, Victor Pineda, Brady Wahl
Goals: Peter Beasley 73'
April 9 Chicago Fire 2 - 2 FC Milwaukee
XI: Zak Allen, Peter Beasley, David Caban, Eduardo Cuautle, Keaton Albert, Jacob Brindle, Fillipe Cortez, Patrick Doody, Emanuel Guzman, Victor Pineda, Brady Wahl, Joseph Calistri
Subs: Noah Anthony (33), Luis Barajas (46), Anthony Torres (46), Daniel Lojek (78), Michael Kozielek (85)
Goals: Victor Pineda 41', Noah Anthony 84'
April 10 Chicago Fire 2 - 1 Sockers FC
XI: Robert Euler, Peter Beasley, David Caban, Anthony Torres, Keaton Albert, Noah Anthony, Luis Barajas, Fillipe Cortez, Patrick Doody, Luis Medina, Brady Wahl
Subs: Victor Pineda (35), Jacob Brindle (46), Emanuel Guzman (46), Daniel Lojek (47), Joseph Calistri (84)
Goals: Brady Wahl 50', Victor Pineda 62'
April 16 Chicago Fire 0 - 0 Indiana United Academy
XI: Zak Allen, Peter Beasley, Eduardo Cuautle, Daniel Lojek, Anthony Torres, Keaton Albert, Jacob Brindle, Patrick Doody, Luis Medina, Brady Wahl, Joesph Calistri
Subs: Luis Barajas (46), Emanuel Guzman (46), David Caban (72)
Chicago Fire U 15/16
The U 15/16 is 2-1-2 since returning to play. Christian Lomelli got four straight starts in goal. Lomelli had been evenly splitting time with Kyle del Santo in the fall. Manuel Rios has scored two goals to boost his total to 5 on the season. Andrew Conner scored 3 goals in the fall but is currently stuck at that number.
April 2 Chicago Fire 0 - 0 Derby County Wolves
XI: Christian Lomelli, Charlie Oliver, Benjamin Kucera, Louis Bennett, Elliot Borge, Emmanuel Chavez, Andrew Conner, Jesus Medina, Joel Salmeron, Cody Witkowski, Manuel Rios
Subs: Ruben Chavez (48)
April 3 Chicago Fire 0 - 1 Vardar
XI: Christian Lomelli, Charlie Oliver, Benjamin Kucera, Louis Bennett, Elliot Borge, Emmanuel Chavez, Andrew Conner, Jesus Medina, Joel Salmeron, Cody Witkowski, Manuel Rios
Subs: Francisco Sajuan (64), Ruben Chavez (68), Yacir Herrera (70), Michael Winhoffer (73)
April 9 Chicago Fire 2 - 0 FC Milwaukee
XI: Christian Lomelli, Charlie Oliver, Benjamin Kucera, Louis Bennett, Elliot Borge, Andrew Conner, Jesus Medina, Joel Salmeron, Cody Witkowski, Francisco Sajuan, Yacir Herrera
Subs: Ruben Chavez (24), Bay Kurtz (41), Manuel Rios (41), Christian Henock-Berhanu (60)
Goals: Manuel Rios 54', Charlie Oliver 59'
April 10 Chicago Fire 0 - 0 Sockers FC
XI: Christian Lomelli, Benjamin Kucera, Oliver Thomas, Louis Bennett, Emmanuel Chavez, Andrew Conner, Bay Kurtz, Joel Salmeron, Cody Witkowski, Michael Winhoffer, Manuel Rios
Subs: Jesus Medina (33), Elliot Borge 41, Ruben Chavez (57), Tanner Planck (76)
April 16 Chicago Fire 2 - 0 Indiana United Academy
XI: Kyle Del Santo, Charlie Oliver, Benjamin Kucera, Emmanuel Chavez, Ruben Chavez, Andrew Conner, Bay Kurtz, Joel Salmeron, Michael Winhoffer, Cody Witkowski, Francisco Sajuan
Subs: Elliot Borge (41), Manuel Rios (41), Jesus Medina (63)
Goals: Francisco Sajuan 7', Manuel Rios 45'