Both sides played a conservative game, with coach Buzz Lagos deciding to start Matt Schmidt in place of Jay Alberts, going for defensive work rather than Jay’s offensive spark.

The defensive stances made for a dull first half. Your correspondent was several minutes late owing to an unavoidable radiographic appointment, but could hear over the speakers as he approached the stadium that the Fire had the ball in the net in the opening minutes, only to have it ruled off for having several players off-sides.

In the tenth minute, Melvin Tarley managed to steal the ball in the attacking third, but his shot was wide, but his high pressure would serve as a warning for how the Thunder would eventually take the lead.

In the 22^nd minute, Dave Leung took off on a mazy run with the ball dodging tackles from Freddy Juarez and Brett Branan before utterly embarrassing Mike Wilson and serving a ball to Jeff Rowland, but Rowland’s shot was well high and wide of Joe Warren’s goal.

There was only one shot on goal in the entire half, and it came in the 38^th minute. Johnny Menyongar finally took a shot from just outside the box after a long possession, his shot spilled by Fire keeper Eric Pogue, but quickly recovered.

The second half showed a little more action, and the Thunder continued their high pressure game, winning a couple of corners off good work from Melvin Tarley, Kiki Lara and Mike Wilson.

The Fire seemed to have done some homework as they continually attacked Mike Wilson, skinning him badly in the 58^th minute, but his teammates bailed him out. And every time Johnny Menyongar had control of the ball at least three players collapsed on him.

The Thunder would take the lead, however, in the 60^th minute. As Corey Sipos tried to shepherd a ball out for a goal kick, Jeff Matte put pressure on him, and eventually won the ball. He cut into the box and laid the ball along the ground just out of the keeper’s reach to Menyongar who rifled the ball into the roof of the net from two yards out.

Pressing their advantage, the Thunder had some nice touches. In the 64^th minute, Menyongar won the ball and fed Kiki Lara streaking towards the box, who sent the ball into the box for Tarley who backheeled for Lara, but Brandon Moss managed to get a touch to clear the danger.

When Paye replaced Tarley and Alberts replaced Lara, the Thunder offense got even more of a spark.

In the 74^th minute Alberts and Menyongar carved up the defense and Menyongar’s diagonal ball for Alberts was just out of the winger’s reach as he flew towards the box.

A minute alter, Aaron Paye would beat the entire defense, but his outside of the foot touch dropped just high and wide of the far post.

In the 78^th minute, a clearly tiring Godfrey Tenoff was taken off for Chris Vorenkamp to a rousing cheer. His calm play in the middle third was sorely and clearly missed as for the next several minutes the Fire put on tremendous pressure.

As stoppage time loomed, however, Aaron Paye and Jay Alberts made criss-crossing runs and carved open the defense, Paye’s ball finding Alberts behind the defense in the corner of the box. Jay’s curling shot beat the keeper, but came back off the foot of the post. The rebound, however hit a retreating defender and gave the Thunder the safety of a 2-0 lead. A lead which would prove to be priceless.

For as stoppage time rolled on, the Fire got a goal back, following a corner Brandon Moss forced the ball, himself, Joe Warren, Brett Branan and a teammate into the goal to cut the lead in half. The Fire pressured for the equalizer but it wouldn’t come as Alberts and Matteo played out some lovely time-wasting in the Fire corner.

A good display from the Thunder. Although static at times, they managed to find each other with passes and remained calm on the ball.

Special mention must be made of Mike “Sparky” Matkovich. The Chicago Fire Premier coach, who before making any move seemed to look to the stands for approval was constantly complaining to the officials about the supporters section. I don’t know what he was taking issue to as nothing offensive was aimed in his direction except maybe being called Sparky, but he was eventually told to leave the field area by the fourth official. When asked who had scored their goal, his response was “Get out of my face, I don’t want to talk to any of you cheaters.” I guess Sparky isn’t used to having fans at the games. It’s also probably pretty hard to swallow a loss when you’re as arrogant as the Fire Premier’s record undoubtedly made him.

We wish Sparky the best for the rest of the season and hope that the next time we see him he’s better adjusted.

Ratings:

Warren – 6.5 – Good on crosses, good on shots. Distribution still showing signs of Honeymoon legs.

Branan – 6 – Missed a few tackles, went for one ball he had no chance at but mostly solid.

Brunt – 6 – Seemed more at ease with Schmidt doing defensive work in front of him, but nearly badly burned once or twice.

Wilson – 5.5 – Excellent work going forward for the most part, but skinned at least twice defensively.

Juarez – 6.5 – Good defensive work, linked well with other midfielders

Matteo – 7 - Good central midfield work, good work on the goal and killing time.

Tenoff – 8 – Man of the Match, calm in the middle, always available as an option, ran his socks off, sorely missed when subbed.

Lara – 6.5 – Good work on the left. Some nice touches and runs, should have had a goal, but right foot shot was too weak.

Schmidt – 6.5 – Excellent work defensively, shakier in attack.

Menyongar – 6.5 – Sublime first touch, but passes sometimes off the mark. Was often smothered by defense.

Tarley – 6 – Not checking to the ball enough often lost him possession.

Subs :

Paye – 6.5 - Incisive runs, nearly a goal, dangerous. Was it the return of the blue shoes?

Alberts – 7 – Excellent going forward and killing the clock, fair defensively.

Vorenkamp – 6 – Not able to replace Tenoff, but couldn’t really be expected to do so.

Knox – 5 – Didn’t seem to do anything offensively or defensively. Despite being on the field for only five minutes, two goals were scored during that time.