Pappa, shorthanded Fire pull off win over Toronto

Fire midfielder Marco Pappa -- ISI Photos

Though it was not by design, the Chicago Fire's opening game of the eighth annual Carolina Challenge Cup against Toronto FC turned into a strong preseason test.

Marco Pappa netted the game's lone goal and Chicago played down a man for about 55 minutes and hung on to a 1-0 win over the Reds on Saturday in Charleston, S.C.

The Fire had to abandon their new three-man defensive line early as captain and defensive midfielder Logan Pause was issued a straight red card in the 36th minute for a two-footed challenge against Toronto's Oscar Cordon around midfield.

But Chicago already had its lead and the defense held up en route to the shutout. Pappa tallied his third goal of the preseason in the 6th minute on a well-executed sequence. Gaston Puerari provided the cross from the right side to Davis Paul, who then dropped the ball back to Pappa who darted into the box for the finish and the 1-0 lead.

"I got toward the left post and could have taken a shot, but I saw Marco coming in," Paul said. "I passed it back to him and he had a class finish."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Cop nets winner as Riot tops Blast, 11-9, in OT

Riot's Ante Cop (left)

BALTIMORE, Md. -- For the second time this season, the Chicago Riot's Ante Cop scored a game-winning goal against the Baltimore Blast as Chicago earned an 11-9 overtime victory Friday in Major Indoor Soccer League action at 1st Mariner Arena.

The Riot (5-14) ended a four-game losing streak and became the only team in the league to defeat Baltimore (14-4) twice this season. Chicago's win also prevented the Blast from clinching the MISL regular-season crown and ended Baltimore's eight-game winning streak.

"It's about time for these guys. We've come up many times on the short end of close games, and they never stopped fighting, especially for the city of Chicago," Riot Head Coach Jeff Kraft said. "We've been through a lot, but they know what it's all about. It was a good win all around, and the guys stepped up offensively and defensively."

Cop tallied the game-winner at the 2:11 mark of overtime with a quick turn in the box as Blast goalkeeper Sagu could not come out in time to prevent the attack. Cop has scored three goals this season. Cop's other game-winner was when he was in a goalkeeper/sixth attacker role, netting a three-pointer with 23 seconds remaining to beat Baltimore, 14-12, on Jan. 16 at the Odeum Sports and Expo Center in Villa Park, Ill.

Also noteworthy Friday was Riot goalkeeper Jeff Richey, who kept Chicago in the match with a game-high 19 saves.

Read more at ChicagoRiotSoccer.com.

Segares adjusts to midfield role in Fire's new 3-5-2 scheme

Fire's Gonzalo Segares -- ISI Photos

Starting lineups, positional changes and formations sometimes need to be taken with a grain of salt during the preseason. But the Chicago Fire certainly appear to be set on their ways with a new 3-5-2 formation heading into their 2011 campaign.

The three-man defensive back line is a dramatic variation for many of the players on Chicago's roster. The person most affected by the new scheme is typical left back Gonzalo Segares, who adjusts to a midfield role this year.

For the moment, it appears that the Fire's starting back line will consist of Cory Gibbs, Josip Mikulic and rookie Jalil Anibaba from left to right. Segares is now pushed up to the left side of the midfield alongside Marco Pappa.

"I'm starting to like it a little better. I'm getting used to it," Segares said of the position switch. "I'm not used to receiving the ball with somebody on my back, so there are different things to get used to in this position. There's a lot more running, and I'll be one of the fittest guys on the field when we're done with preseason. I like the challenge. I like to push forward and help the team that way, and I can still help Cory on that left side."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Riot vies for 2nd straight win at Wave

The Chicago Riot (2-6) faces the Milwaukee Wave (7-3) at 6 p.m. Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Arena. Chicago hopes to build off the momentum following a thrilling, come-from-behind victory over the Baltimore Blast, 14-12, last Sunday.

Read the full preview at ChicagoRiotSoccer.com.

Can't get enough of Ante Cop's game-winning goal against Baltimore. Here's a different angle ...

Cop lifts Riot, earns MISL Player of Week

Chicago Riot goalkeeper Ante Cop netted a fourth-quarter game-winner, assisted a goal and added 22 saves -- including one in the final second -- to lead Chicago to a 14-12 win over the Baltimore Blast on Sunday in Major Indoor Soccer League action at the Odeum Sports and Expo Center. CLICK HERE for the full game recap.

On Monday, the league rewarded Cop's performance by naming him MISL Player of the Week.

For the latest on the Riot, visit ChicagoRiotSoccer.com.

Riot hosts Blast on Sunday

The Chicago Riot hosts the Baltimore Blast for the first time this season at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16, in Major Indoor Soccer League play at the Odeum Sports and Expo Center in Villa Park, Ill.

The Riot (1-6) begins a four-game stretch where the team faces either Baltimore or the Milwaukee Wave, the top two teams in the current MISL standings. In the only other meeting between the two sides, the Blast defeated the Riot, 10-6, on Nov. 19 at 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore. Chicago is coming off a 13-11 loss to the Omaha Vipers on Jan. 9 at the Odeum.

"We've got to keep barreling through this," Riot Head Coach Jeff Kraft said of the team's slow start. "We sneaked in a win at K.C. [against the Missouri Comets], and I really believe we can make a run at this."

Read the full story at ChicagoRiotSoccer.com. For game notes, CLICK HERE.

Interview with Riot goalkeeper Ante Cop

Ante Cop takes over starting goalkeeper duties this Sunday for the Chicago Riot with regular starter Jeff Richey out with a hamstring injury.

Riot photo gallery: Suburban Life Publications

Check out some photos from Suburban Life Publications as they dropped by the Chicago Riot's Jan. 9 game against the Omaha Vipers.

Next up for the Riot is a 7 p.m. match on Sunday, Jan. 16, against the Baltimore Blast at the Odeum Sports and Expo Center in Villa Park, Ill.