THUNDER BAY – The Thunder Bay Chill finally played to their reputation as a Premier Development League powerhouse.
It just took the club facing a two-goal deficit and the prospect of a three-game losing skid to answer the bell.
Gritty Chill veteran Anthony Putrus netted a pair of second half tallies to propel the Chill to a 2-2 draw with the Heartland Division leading Chicago Fire U-23 at Tbaytel Field at Fort William Stadium on Tuesday night.
“You could say we’re still finding our way. We’ve changed formation a little bit. We keep tinkering with things to see what suits us best,” Putrus said.
“It’s just disappointing because we do have a very good team and we haven’t been able to put together a complete game.”
Coming off a weekend sweep at the hands of the archrival Des Moines Menace, this was a game Thunder Bay (2-2-1) could ill afford to lose in their chase for one of the division’s two playoff berths.
In addition to tactical adjustments to start the final 45 minutes, Chill head coach Giovanni Petraglia believed it was a matter of pride for his side.
“We didn’t want to lose this game. We want to make the playoffs. Everybody feels it. Everybody knows the importance,” Petraglia said.
“I still believe this team can make the playoffs without a problem.”
The Chill started off well, controlling possession in the immediate aftermath of the opening kick.
It didn’t last long before Chicago (5-2-1) started asserting control and dictating pace, ultimately leading to a pair of goals in a two-minute span.
Fire forward Djorje Mihalovic got the visitors on the board in the 17th minute, finishing wonderful setup work from teammate Andrew Gutman with a shot that rocketed past Chill keeper Daniel Milton.
Off the ensuing kick, a group of Fire attackers swarmed Thunder Bay defender Zetroy Robertson and forced a turnover which Cameron Lindley converted into a 2-0 lead.
“We had a blackout of about 15 minutes,” Petraglia said. “We conceded two goals and we probably could have conceded five goals. We know in this league we can’t concede even five minutes. A blackout of 15 minutes changes everything.”
Chicago carried that lead into the halftime break. Petraglia used the opportunity to change up the offensive gameplan, using his skilled players in the middle of the pitch rather than having them try to beat their opponents wide.
Evidence of the adjustments paying off became apparent as the half progressed with the Chill generating pressure and momentum that had been absent earlier in the evening and during their two games against Des Moines.
It finally paid off in the 54th minute when Putrus put himself in position to head home a free kick taken by Chris Jones from just outside the box.
“Goals change games. Experienced players know that and we knew they were a young side. We knew if we got a goal they would be back on their heels and naturally we’d be able to come forward a bit,” Putrus said.
“We knew the first goal was going to change the game and it did.”
Sure enough, the goal pressed the Chill forward, with Putrus and Sullivan Silva each having quality opportunities shortly afterwards, followed by Jones finding the crossbar with a free kick in the 73rd minute.
Putrus drew his side even just a minute later with a sublime effort, directing a bicycle kick past Fire keeper Andrew Putna.
“I think we were just more organized and knew our roles a little bit better,” Putrus said of the newfound offensive cohesion.
“We just settled down and played the ball on the floor. We’re successful when we do that. Sometimes we resort to playing long balls and it’s not the funnest to watch. It’s more difficult to play. We got the ball down and we played and we were successful.”
Thunder Bay pressed for a go-ahead tally but came up empty with Silva failing on two more quality chances and Daniel Oliveira directing a try off the woodwork.
Notes: Game attendance was 742…Putrus leads the Chill with four goals on the season…The Chill will host WSA Winnipeg this weekend…The Chill were victorious 5-1 and 2-1 in their previous two meetings against Winnipeg this season.
