Jeff Larentowicz converted a penalty kick in the 79th minute, lifting the Chicago Fire to a 1-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes in a Major League Soccer preseason game Saturday night at Harder Stadium.
The penalty kick was awarded after Chicago’s Quincy Amarikwa was taken down in the box while running down a through ball from Corben Bone.
The game marked the return of former UCSB star Sam Garza to Harder Stadium. Garza entered the match in the 55th minute and immediately made his presence felt with a couple of impressive runs on the left side.
Garza played with a bandaged right arm. He said the bandage covered an area where he had surgery for a broke bone in his wrist.
Peter McGlynn, who recently completed his Gaucho career and was taken by San Jose in the MLS Supplemental Draft, has been training with the Earthquakes. He played in the club’s preseason match against Colorado last week, but was sidelined Saturday with an injury,
In a preliminary game, UCSB and the Chicago Fire Reserves played to a 1-1 tie. Charlie Miller scored for the Gauchos.
It was announced on Saturday that the defending MLS-champion Los Angeles Galaxy will play a preseason match at Harder Stadium on Friday, Feb. 22. The Galaxy will face the Colorado Rapids.
