Cleveland City Stars News Release - www.clevelandcitystars.com

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

BRIDGEVIEW, IL -- On a balmy summer evening at Toyota Park, the beautiful home of the MLS Chicago Fire, the Cleveland City Stars tried to add another feather to their cap with a win over an MLS team in the third round of the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. It was not to be as Cleveland surrendered a hard-fought battle to Chicago in a 4-1 loss.

The Stars tried heroically to put out the blaze but were perhaps overawed by the venue and aura of the match. The scoreboard stood at Chicago 3 Cleveland 0 after only 28 minutes, and although the Stars refused to be shut-out they were never able to overcome the deficit.

The first two shots netted by the Fire were both uncontested. Mike Banner had plenty of time to set up his shot and seem to freeze everyone as they awaited the shot. From just outside the corner of the penalty area he scored easily 13 minutes in.

The second strike was similar to the first as Chicago moved the ball effortlessly around the flat-footed Cleveland defenders, finding the seam and leaving the ball hugging the inside of the net as Calen Carr sent the ball past Gilstrap in the 23rd minute.

Chad Barrett earned a PK in the 27th minute when the referee said he was tripped in the box. Both players collected themselves off the green before Barrett set up to convert the third goal of the evening, sending the point blank shot past a diving Gilstrap.

It wasn't until the 38th minute when the CCS Keeper got his first good touch on the ball that the momentum finally started to swing in Cleveland's favor. Although Cleveland did not score in the first 45 they had their best strike of the half just before the whistle when Luke Williams played a corner kick short and the ball was swung out to Neil Hlavaty, who let one rip. It was on target but the goalie was positioned well and made the save.

CCS came out with a bit of their own fire in the second 45, creating several great chances but were unable to find the back of the net until the 61st minute. Sallieu Bundu worked tirelessly through traffic to push the ball on to Adam Ruud who side-footed a quick pass to Kiel McClung. The former UCLA defender found the angle high and wide of the diving Nick Noble to get Cleveland on the scoreboard.

Gilstrap kept Cleveland in the game until the 77th minute when Mike Banner found the back of Cleveland's net for the second time to put the nail in the coffin.

From then on the excitement for the Stars was provided by the phenomenal netminding of Hunter Gilstrap as the Stars struggled to maintain possession or create scoring opportunities. And perhaps even the City Stars fans rose to their feet along with the Chicago Fire supporters as Cuauhtémoc Blanco, the international superstar from Mexico, took the field and added his own particular entertainment to the waning minutes of the match.

As disappointing as a loss in a major tournament is, the experience this young club is getting each year, taking on the giants and at least battling them bravely will only benefit the players and the franchise. Completely separate from their quest for a USL-2 championship, the City Stars were trying to take this year's Open Cup run deeper than they did last year and achieve one of the many goals they set for themselves at the season's start.

"Earning the right to play and more importantly beat an MLS team has been one of our team goals for the past two years," stated head coach Martin Rennie. Though they only achieved half of the equation tonight, the City Stars certainly proved they are here to stay.