Tuesday, July 10, 2012

By Brian Bauer

WHEATON, IL. – The Inferno was happy to be home after three straight road PDL games. Unfortunately home cooking wasn’t enough for Chicago. After a good start, outstanding goalkeeping and a lead in the second half, the Chicago Inferno succumbed to an unfortunate bounce and solid Forest City Pressure to lose 2-1.

In the first half, the game could have gone either way. London had eight shots, with only three on goal but Australian goalie Troy Osborne was up to the task blanking Forest City. On the flipside Chicago had five shots of their own, none better then midfielder Alberto Lopez’s. The Aurora, IL. native found himself sprung free of the defense and ripped a shot that dipped and dove but it barely managed to miss the frame of the goal, leaving the game knotted at 0-0.

In the second half the game opened up. After parrying back and forth, the Inferno struck first. On their first corner of the game for Chicago, the ball found its way to Damiem Rolon-Merette. He sent the ball back into the center where defenseman John Mau headed it into the post. The goalie dove to get to the ball but it jumped off the post and found the head of Emir Zrnic who put it in net to give the Inferno the 1-0 lead.

Shortly thereafter a substitution paid dividends for London. Bryan Da Cruz was inserted in and literally one minute later happened to be in the right place at the right time. The ball bounced around a scrum in front of the Inferno net and found its way to the foot of Da Cruz who placed the ball off the inside of the post and into the net.

Chicago goalie Osborne kept the game tight saving five shots in the second half. Unfortunately he couldn’t stop a sixth. Forest City Forward Carl Haworth split two defenders and gave London the 2-1 win over the Chicago Inferno.

The Inferno’s next home game is Friday, July 13th at 7 pm (CT) at Joe Bean Stadium at Wheaton College as they host the Cincinnati Kings.