Late goal leaves Fire tied in Mexico

• by Ridge Mahoney  @ridgemax, Feb 20, 2009

[MLS] Chicago led until the final minute of its exhibition match against Mexican second division club Queretaro FC Wednesday but was left with a 1-1 tie at the final whistle.

Justin Mapp provided a lead in the 34th minute by cushioning a pass from John Thorrington with his left foot and using the other foot to drill home a shot from about 25 yards. Edwin Castro Leo equalized for Queretaro when he scored from close range after a free kick reached him near the edge of the goal area.

Coach Denis Hamlett used 23 players and gave most of them at least 45 minutes. Cuauhtemoc Blanco was an exception; he replaced midfielder Chris Rolfe in the 55th minute.
The Fire next play First Division club Morelia on Tuesday and will stay in Mexico for two additional days until returning to Chicago. The team has yet to announce its plans for the rest of the preseason leading up to its opening game March 21 in Dallas.

Feb. 18 in Guadalajara
Queretaro 1 Chicago 1. Goals: Castro Leo 90; Mapp (Thorrington) 34.
Chicago -- Noble (Dykstra, 45), Ward (Bebey Kingue, 45; Sais, 75), Robinson (Washington, 63), Soumare (Brown, 45), Segares (Woolard, 45), Rolfe (Blanco, 55), Pause (Elisabetarson, 75), Thorrington (Husidic, 45), Mapp (Banner, 45), Nyarko (Jata, 85), McBride (Dimitrov, 65).