ESPN

Marco Pappa's goal in the 12th-minute gave the Chicago Fire a 1-0 victory in a friendly against the University of Louisville on Saturday morning at the Toyota Park Practice Field.

The Fire pressured early and Pappa took the ball off the foot of Federico Puppo at the top of the 18-yard box and unleashed a curling shot past Louisville goalkeeper Zach Torp into the upper left corner of the goal.

Fire goalies Sean Johnson and Paolo Tornaghi combined for the shutout.

Newly acquired Fire defender Arne Friedrich, playing for the first time in over six months, went 88 minutes in his debut.

The Fire return to league play against the Houston Dynamo at Toyota Park on Sunday, April 15.

An offseason of turnover continued for the Chicago Fire on Wednesday with the team's announcement that it had signed Uruguayan striker Federico Puppo.

“Federico Puppo is a player we’ve kept an eye for the past few seasons,” said Fire head coach Frank Klopas. “He is a smart forward who moves well off the ball and finishes in front of the goal. His addition helps us to strengthen our attacking core. We are excited to get all of these guys into camp and begin putting in the work on the field.”

Puppo, 25, will join the Fire from the Primera División Uruguaya club Danubio F.C. He scored two goals in ten matches with Danubio.

Puppo was a member of the Uruguay team that played in the 2011 Pan American Games held in Guadalajara. He scored a goal in appearances in that tournament.