Fire fall to Chivas de Guadalajara



AP photo

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The game had no implications, but the Chivas de Guadalajara fandom came out in full force in the loudest environment at Toyota Park this year.

Chivas' Jorge Mora scored a 61st-minute free kick goal and Guadalajara defeated the Chicago Fire, 1-0, in front of 18,224 at Wednesday's international friendly. It marked Chicago's second international loss this year, having fallen to Manchester United, 3-1, on July 23 at Soldier Field.

"It's one of those things where you don't like to lose," Fire defender Cory Gibbs said. "It's just unfortunate losing on a free kick. We just have to keep pressuring. For morale, it's not good."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire's Grazzini, Oduro to miss friendly

Sebastian Grazzini -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire more or less are approaching Wednesday's international friendly against Chivas de Guadalajara as a high-profile training session. Midweek typically marks Chicago's hardest training to prepare for a weekend match, and Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas plans to use his lineup significantly when it hosts Chivas at Toyota Park.

"You get better by playing," Klopas said. "You can do certain things out here [in training]. The stuff we want to do out here, it's better to be doing against a very good opponent."

There will be plenty of caution thrown into this match. Fire forward Dominic Oduro hurt his ankle during the Fire's 2-0 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, and Sebastian Grazzini's hamstring still is tight, Klopas said.

"I don't see them playing," Klopas said.

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.