Chill draw against Des Moines, need 2 points in 2 games to clinch playoff spot

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Thunder Bay Chill will have to wait another day to clinch a second straight Premier Development League playoff berth.

Sullivan Silva scored in the 76th minute on Saturday to break a scoreless tie, but the powerful Des Moines Menace weren’t about to let the Heartland Division title slip away.

Tommy Barlow notched the equalizer in the 90th minute to secure a 1-1 tie and all but secure top spot. A win in their finale would guarantee them first place. Silva had a chance to win it for Thunder Bay in the final minute of play, but his free kick sailed over the bar. 

The Chill need a combined two points in their final two games of the season this week against Kokomo and St. Louis on home turf to earn their way into the postseason.

Thunder Bay (7-2-3) are two points behind the Chicago Fire U23s, who edged St. Louis 1-0 on Saturday to improve to  8-4-2. The Chill own the tiebreaker, with a 1-0-2 record against Chicago this season.