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Fire Mapp Their Way To The Semifinals
Justin Mapp tallies the lone goal to lift the Chicago Fire to a 1-0 win over Chivas USA in SuperLiga action.
Jun 24, 2009 1:36:32 AM
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – The Chicago Fire is one step closer to the SuperLiga semifinals. Justin Mapp tallied an early goal for the Fire, leading the home side to a 1-0 win over Chivas USA. Chicago (2-0-0, six points) moves into first place in Group A of the standings and awaits the outcome of the night’s second match – San Luis (0-1-0) vs. Tigres UANL (1-0-0). Chivas USA (0-2-0) dropped to last in the standings.
Chicago will host Tigres UANL Saturday, June 27th at 8:00 p.m. ET. Chivas USA hosts San Luis on Saturday, June 27th at 10:00 p.m. ET to round out Group A play.
First Half
Both teams had a different look for the match, not the ordinary MLS lineup. Despite temperatures in the mid-high 80s and high humidity, it didn’t take terribly long for the teams to get started.
In just the third minute, Chivas forced a corner kick. Mariano Trujillo sent the corner kick into the box. Shavar Thomas headed it off the right post, for the first shot of the match.
Chicago took its first shot of the match in the 15th minute, when rookie Stefan Dimitrov rocketed a shot high. The Fire lost defender C.J. Brown in the 15th minute as well. The veteran went down with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Brandon Prideaux. Seven minutes later, Chivas USA lost a player as well as Trujillo went down with a hamstring injury. Defender Jim Curtin took his place.
The Fire picked up the offensive pressure, taking a couple of quality shots. Wilman Conde forced Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton to make a save in the 26th minute. Mike Banner sent a shot wide right in the 34th minute.
In the 35th minute, the Fire’s offensive push paid dividends. Mapp took control of a loose ball in the box, and drilled a shot past Thornton and into the net for a 1-0 lead. Mapp almost snuck another one by Thornton in the 45th minute, but the big goalkeeper grabbed it for the save.
Second Half
A few changes in both team’s lineups nearly led to a goal early in the second half. Chivas USA’s Chukwudi Chijindu entered the match for Jorge Flores in the 46th minute. Six minutes later the visitors made a push. A Maykel Galindo shot in the 52nd minute deflected back into play. Chijindu nailed the rebound at the goal. Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch made the save, preserving the Fire’s one-goal lead.
The flurry of Fire shots continued, while Chicago limited Chivas USA’s chances. Mapp took his third shot of the match in the 56th minute, ricocheting a chance off the crossbar. Marco Pappa replaced him in the 69th minute. Soon after, he rocketed two shots at Thornton six minutes apart. The veteran keeper saved both attempts.
In the 82nd minute a Pappa run caused things to get heated in the box. Pushing and yelling ended in three yellow cards. Chivas USA’s Curtin and Alecko Eskadarian and Chicago’s Conde were all reprimanded for unsporting behavior.
Chicago made its last substitution in the 89th minute, sending Chris Rofle to the field for Baggio Husidic. Rolfe and Patrick Nyarko took shots in the final minutes, but Thornton made both saves. The Fire held on for the 1-0 win.
Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer and SuperLiga action, go to Goal.com's MLS section.
Chicago will host Tigres UANL Saturday, June 27th at 8:00 p.m. ET. Chivas USA hosts San Luis on Saturday, June 27th at 10:00 p.m. ET to round out Group A play.
First Half
Both teams had a different look for the match, not the ordinary MLS lineup. Despite temperatures in the mid-high 80s and high humidity, it didn’t take terribly long for the teams to get started.
In just the third minute, Chivas forced a corner kick. Mariano Trujillo sent the corner kick into the box. Shavar Thomas headed it off the right post, for the first shot of the match.
Chicago took its first shot of the match in the 15th minute, when rookie Stefan Dimitrov rocketed a shot high. The Fire lost defender C.J. Brown in the 15th minute as well. The veteran went down with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Brandon Prideaux. Seven minutes later, Chivas USA lost a player as well as Trujillo went down with a hamstring injury. Defender Jim Curtin took his place.
The Fire picked up the offensive pressure, taking a couple of quality shots. Wilman Conde forced Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton to make a save in the 26th minute. Mike Banner sent a shot wide right in the 34th minute.
In the 35th minute, the Fire’s offensive push paid dividends. Mapp took control of a loose ball in the box, and drilled a shot past Thornton and into the net for a 1-0 lead. Mapp almost snuck another one by Thornton in the 45th minute, but the big goalkeeper grabbed it for the save.
Second Half
A few changes in both team’s lineups nearly led to a goal early in the second half. Chivas USA’s Chukwudi Chijindu entered the match for Jorge Flores in the 46th minute. Six minutes later the visitors made a push. A Maykel Galindo shot in the 52nd minute deflected back into play. Chijindu nailed the rebound at the goal. Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch made the save, preserving the Fire’s one-goal lead.
The flurry of Fire shots continued, while Chicago limited Chivas USA’s chances. Mapp took his third shot of the match in the 56th minute, ricocheting a chance off the crossbar. Marco Pappa replaced him in the 69th minute. Soon after, he rocketed two shots at Thornton six minutes apart. The veteran keeper saved both attempts.
In the 82nd minute a Pappa run caused things to get heated in the box. Pushing and yelling ended in three yellow cards. Chivas USA’s Curtin and Alecko Eskadarian and Chicago’s Conde were all reprimanded for unsporting behavior.
Chicago made its last substitution in the 89th minute, sending Chris Rofle to the field for Baggio Husidic. Rolfe and Patrick Nyarko took shots in the final minutes, but Thornton made both saves. The Fire held on for the 1-0 win.
Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer and SuperLiga action, go to Goal.com's MLS section.
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