Everton: Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines, Rodwell, Pienaar, Arteta, Gosling, Baxter, Yakubu.

Bench: Osman for Baxter (46), Vaughan for Arteta (64), Jutkiewicz for Yakubu (79), Yobo for Pienaar (85), Turner.

Referee: Chicago Fire Chief, Landis Wiley

A 2-0 defeat for the Blues in their visit to Chicago. There were plenty of Evertonians in the crowd having lapped up the hospitality shown to them by the windy city, especially at 'The Globe' were my namesake and Diane did a sterling job. Everton could have been a goal down in the first minute after Jags deflected a wicked cross onto Tim Howard's left hand post.

Dan Gosling was getting through a lot of work and Arteta probing with his skill. Pienaar was right into the game and peppered the Fire goal with a few shots. Everton should have took the lead when a long ball by Phil Jagielka took The Yak away from the defender. The powerful striker drove into the box, but as he was about to pull the trigger, he was bundled to the ground. A certain penalty. Play on said the local ref. We couldn't believe it.

While The Yak was still shaking his head in disbelief, The fire had scored. The ball was moved down the left were a neat one two took the winger away from Neville and Gosling. He crossed. A step over from Nyarko (no not him) distracted Jags and Roger for Rolf to finish crisply. Howard had no chance.

HALF TIME Chicago Fire 1 EVERTON 0

The second half saw Everton Ossie come on for Baxter. Everton seemed to revert to 5 in the middle with Ossie breaking to support from midfield. Another interesting change saw Phil Neville come into midfield for Jack Rodwell replace him at full back. Everton did ok, but only had one Neville shot to trouble the goalie. After an hour Arteta who looked lively went off and James Vaughan come on. Everton reverted to 442 and Vaughany was right into the game. He went on a typical bustling run past a few players into the box. The Yak took the ball off him. Shot but the keeper pushed it away for a corner. Vaughany complained that he could have done better.

From the resulting corner the goalie punched it out for another corner, but the ref gave a goal kick. The Yak linked up well to set up Dan Gosling, who drove into the box, going between two players and pulled it back to Vaughany who missed his kick with the goal at his mercy.

After another period of Everton pressure, Yakubu run out to take a corner (why?) The corner was badly taken to Neville who lost possession. Cue the shouts of "FIRE FIRE". Off went the home side as Everton's defenders scrambled back. A few decent passes and although Howard saved the shot well, he couldn't prevent Frankowski scoring with the rebound.

The heat was now taking it's toll now and the Chicago Fire who had a complete different team for the second half were obviously the fitter. Everton did well to break up a move and Osman broke through a series a challenges to square for Lescott to power a shot which the keeper parried, but could not hold, but scurried back before the ball crossed the line.

The game finished on low note for Vaughany, who was sent off for a rash challenge when the ball broke away from him and he went in injuring the player. The ref blew the final whistle before the game restarted.

A bad result, but good to see Pienaar, Yakubu, Arteta, Osman, Vaughan, Baines, Howard and Yobo getting some valuable time on the pitch. Dan Gosling impressed in a full 90 minute stint. Chicargo fire introduced a fresh 11 at half time, we only had 4 outfield subs and with 7 subs in the Premiership this season, it's clear to see that Everton need at least 6 new faces in the squad and soon.

FULL TIME Chicago Fire 2 EVERTON 0

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Andy's Rankin

Marks Out Of 10
Player	Marks	Player	Marks
Tim Howard	7
Phil Neville	6
Phil Jagielka	6
Joleon Lescott	7
Leighton Baines	6
Steven Pienaar	7	Joseph Yobo (85m)	6
Jack Rodwell	6
Mikel Arteta	6	James Vaughan (64m)	7
Dan Gosling	8
Jose Baxter	6	Leon Osman (46m)	6
Yakubu	6	Luka Jutkiewicz (79m)	6

Jamie Report From Toyota Park

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PICTURES FROM GERRY GANNON. DUBLIN.

Some pics from Chicago. Tommy from Lincoln

Andy's Chicago Experience

I was hoping this could get on Blue Kipper as the Toronto Toffees were too scared to put it up in the stadium. I said it could be on Blue Kipper. Here is a quick account of how the game was:

We met these lads from Toronto, Canada at the pre-game piss-up (Tail-gating in American speak), and met some great Blues from all over the place, good Irish lads and their mum ‘n dad living in Chicago, the Toronto Toffees and the main man from LA. Cant remember his name but he has team in LA in a League for ex pros and has George Weah on his team! Probably blaggin me but you never know. He really knew his Everton though!

Also Cheers to Rob from Oxton who me and the missus met at Logan Airport in Boston and found we were in exactly the same spot in the stadium. We said we'd see him there and sure enough he was propping the bar up after boasting of doing a real tourist day before the game! We realized it was the wrong end so we tried to get in the Everton end, the bouncer / attendant said no way etc. So we just stood behind him with all the other cheeky Scousers and in the end he said everyone please sit down anywhere! But he'd been a bit of a knob to everyone and we were made up with the view and standing up with our beers in hand so no-one would move.

Shame about the game, the highlight was 2 lads running on the pitch and running rings around the players until they were finally yanked off. The funny thing was I was talking to the lad and his dad just before he did it (HE WAS OFF IT!) and when Vaughny got his red and the ref blew the whistle, the little skin head with his flag comes running back across the pitch running towards us and he said the Yank Bizzies had let him off cuz he made them laugh!!!

He said the other one got arrested by the septic cops and then the dad shouted "that's my boy"… the terraces were in hysterics and we had not even been watching the game by the second half as the beers were truly flowing as some nice young English gents from Liverpool kept coming back with 2 for the price of one and passing them around. Don't know how they were doing it!!! It was great to see my brethren again after 15 months in exile in Boston surrounded by the Irish RS in the local pub but we have a laugh about it instead of kicking off. Come on Moysey, spend that dough!!!!

Andy Devey (14/08/08)