Spirited effort by Fire reserves vs. Chivas

• Reprints

Updated: November 10, 2011 10:24AM

The Fire lost both of its international friendlies this season, but at least the struggling team put up good fights against higher-profile clubs.

The final friendly on Wednesday ended in a 1-0 loss to Chivas, the Guadalajara-based team that leads Mexico’s first division with a 5-1-2 record. On July 23, the Fire led most of the way against England powerhouse Manchester United before losing 3-1 at Soldier Field.

Chivas had most of the crowd support from the 18,224 who turned out at Toyota Park, and they were rewarded when Jorge Mora scored the game’s only goal on a 30-yard free kick in the 61st minute.

“It was a good match, one the fans enjoyed,’’ Fire interim coach Frank Klopas said.’

The loss dropped the Fire’s lifetime record to 6-10-3 in 14 years of international friendlies.

Klopas rested two ailing stars, Dominic Oduro and Sabastian Grazzini, and gave his reserves liberal playing time. Diego Chaves started at striker in Oduro’s spot and Baggio Husidic was in the midfield in place of Grazzini. Oduro has been battling a sore ankle while Grazzini has a hamstring injury. Both are expected to play on Saturday when another Chivas, the Los Angeles-based MLS member, comes to Toyota Park.

Klopas also gave a rare start to central defender Josip Mikulic, and he was the only Fire player to go all 90 minutes. Victor Pineda and Pari Pantazopoulos played the whole second half, and 17-year-old striker Kellen Gulley, signed out of the Fire’s youth development program last month, made his debut with the first team as Chaves’ replacement in the 76th minute. Gulley was the 21st Fire player to see action.

Before the match, the Fire released Croatian midfielder Marko Maric.