Friday, July 15, 2012
By Brian Bauer
CHICAGO, IL. – Great rivalries need great games to enforce the reputation. So when the Chicago Inferno hosted the Chicago Fire PDL at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), you had an idea there would be something special in the end. Unfortunately for the home Inferno it was a last minute goal by the Fire that soiled a great performance by Goalkeeper Troy Osborne, that gave the Fire PDL the 1-0 win.
With 89 minutes of soccer in the books the game was still even at 0-0. A high cross was sent into the box. Inferno ‘keeper Troy Osborne came out to challenge the ball but Fire forward Marco Gutierrez just barely headed the ball before Osborne could get his finger on it. And it bounced in for the only goal of the game.
The goal mired a stellar performance by Osborne. The Tamworth Australia native saved 11 shots on goal, many of them belying his stature as he often punched balls out on corners in a crowd, attacked forwards on breakaways and in general played an outstanding game. The game went from fantastic to a nightmare as he injured his hand as well and was forced to get it medically checked after the game.
This marked the first season of the Inferno as well as the first Clasico for the Chicago teams. The Fire walked away with the trophy, which the Inferno looks to regain next season
The Inferno’s next home game is Saturday, August 11th at 7:30 pm (CT) at Joe Bean Stadium at Wheaton College, as they host the Philippine’s Men’s National Team, The Azkals.
