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One Tigres Chance Ends In Fire Loss
The Chicago Fire allowed Tigres UANL one chance in the SuperLiga Final. And Tigres took advantage, earning the 1-1 tie and penalty kick win.
Aug 6, 2009 1:05:45 AM
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - One moment is all it takes to change the course of a game. For Tigres, they caught momentum at the end of the first half. It paid dividends earning them a 1-1 draw (4-3 penalty kick win) and the SuperLiga Championship.
“This is a final to remember because both teams gave it its best and at the end, we lift the trophy,” Tigres Coach Daniel Guzman said. “But tomorrow this will be history and our focus will be avoiding relegation.”
Itamar Batista is a name that will be a hard one to forget for Chicago. He tallied the lone goal, tying the match in the 43rd minute. After that, Tigres put forth their game plan and forced the draw.
“They had their one opportunity,” Fire defender C.J. Brown said. “They were just looking for a counter attack situation. We made a crucial mistake at the end of the first half that got the one goal they wanted to get.”
Batista said he was in the right place at the right time.
“I am very happy that I was able to score,” Batista said. “I am a forward and all I think about is scoring goals. I want to keep working to help my team and hopefully like this one, there will be more accomplishments to celebrate.”
Brown and the Fire’s defense could only watch as Batista finished the goal. He lost two defenders on the way, while the others didn’t make it in time. Brown said Batista was in total control of the play.
“It was a great shot,” Fire defender C.J. Brown said. “He knew exactly where he was going to put it. He knew what he was doing. He’s a smart guy. It was a nice goal.”
Chicago fought back posting nine shots in the second half, including five on goal. Cuauhtemoc Blanco almost gave the home team a 2-1 lead in the 78th minute. Chris Rolfe passed the ball into the box. Baggio Husidic backheeled a short ball to Blanco, who blasted a perfect shot toward goal. Tigres goalkeeper Cirilio Saucedo followed it along the way, making the stop.
With the game ending in regulation, it went into penalty kicks. Blanco, Rolfe and Daniel Woolard scored for Chicago. Jon Busch made one save for the Fire. But Gaston Fernandez, Lucas Ayala, Armando Pulido scored to make it 3-3. Batista slotted the last attempt into the lower left corner for the win.
“You want to win in regulation. That was our goal,” Brown said. “You don’t want to go to PK’s. It’s a 50-50 chance. All of the guys in training nail them. The keeper can’t touch them. In a game situation, it’s 50-50.”
For the Chicago Fire, the one chance they allowed will undoubtedly haunt the club for a while. Blanco said he hoped the club will learn from it.
“Losing on penalty kicks is a little unjust,” Blanco said. “That’s football. We need a little more personality. You have to be strong in your character and go with your first instinct. You can’t doubt yourself.”
Kathryn L. Knapp, Goal.com
For all the latest Mexican news, visit Goal.com's Mexico's page
“This is a final to remember because both teams gave it its best and at the end, we lift the trophy,” Tigres Coach Daniel Guzman said. “But tomorrow this will be history and our focus will be avoiding relegation.”
Itamar Batista is a name that will be a hard one to forget for Chicago. He tallied the lone goal, tying the match in the 43rd minute. After that, Tigres put forth their game plan and forced the draw.
“They had their one opportunity,” Fire defender C.J. Brown said. “They were just looking for a counter attack situation. We made a crucial mistake at the end of the first half that got the one goal they wanted to get.”
Batista said he was in the right place at the right time.
“I am very happy that I was able to score,” Batista said. “I am a forward and all I think about is scoring goals. I want to keep working to help my team and hopefully like this one, there will be more accomplishments to celebrate.”
Brown and the Fire’s defense could only watch as Batista finished the goal. He lost two defenders on the way, while the others didn’t make it in time. Brown said Batista was in total control of the play.
“It was a great shot,” Fire defender C.J. Brown said. “He knew exactly where he was going to put it. He knew what he was doing. He’s a smart guy. It was a nice goal.”
Chicago fought back posting nine shots in the second half, including five on goal. Cuauhtemoc Blanco almost gave the home team a 2-1 lead in the 78th minute. Chris Rolfe passed the ball into the box. Baggio Husidic backheeled a short ball to Blanco, who blasted a perfect shot toward goal. Tigres goalkeeper Cirilio Saucedo followed it along the way, making the stop.
With the game ending in regulation, it went into penalty kicks. Blanco, Rolfe and Daniel Woolard scored for Chicago. Jon Busch made one save for the Fire. But Gaston Fernandez, Lucas Ayala, Armando Pulido scored to make it 3-3. Batista slotted the last attempt into the lower left corner for the win.
“You want to win in regulation. That was our goal,” Brown said. “You don’t want to go to PK’s. It’s a 50-50 chance. All of the guys in training nail them. The keeper can’t touch them. In a game situation, it’s 50-50.”
For the Chicago Fire, the one chance they allowed will undoubtedly haunt the club for a while. Blanco said he hoped the club will learn from it.
“Losing on penalty kicks is a little unjust,” Blanco said. “That’s football. We need a little more personality. You have to be strong in your character and go with your first instinct. You can’t doubt yourself.”
Kathryn L. Knapp, Goal.com
For all the latest Mexican news, visit Goal.com's Mexico's page
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