Fire lose exhibition vs. French squad 1-0

PSG took the air out of the Chicago Fire PDQ.

A 14th-minute goal by Clement Chantome was all Paris St.-Germain needed to win the first game 1-0 Wednesday night in the inaugural Chicago Sister Cities International Cup at Toyota Park.

PSG will play the winner of Wednesday's second match - Red Star Belgrade vs. Legia Warsaw - on Saturday night right after the Fire plays the loser.

The legendary French club frustrated the Fire all night, barely allowing a shot. The Parisians proved too skilled, strong and fast for the Chicagoans.

PSG scored when Ludovic Giuly sent in a short cross from the right side that Chantome headed past rookie goalkeeper Sean Johnson.

"A good cross in, headed down to the ground," Johnson said of the goal. "Obviously, I take responsibility. I was in good position. The ball took a little divot. I should have gotten ahold it better, pushed for it, played it away."

Aside from Johnson, the Fire started its normal lineup, though rookies Kwame Watson-Siriboe and Corben Bone saw action late.

"It was a good opportunity to play," said Johnson, whose college coach, University of Central Florida's Bryan Cunningham, flew in to see his first recruit's first start. "You learn from playing, and for my first game I think I did all right. There are some things I need to correct. But overall my performance was all right."

The Fire took no shots in the first half but finished with 6 for the game, forcing PSG goalkeeper Edel Apoula to make 2 saves. The Fire's best scoring chance came in the 85th minute, when substitute Stefan Dimitrov chest-trapped a Wilman Conde longball into the penalty area, then tried to chip Apoula. The ball landed on top of the net.

Conde put a header on goal in the 90th minute, but Apoula was there for the save.