MLS Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire Complete Four-Goal Comeback to Win Champions Cup Quarterfinal

Published on March 24, 2004 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


CHICAGO, IL (Wednesday, March 24, 2004) - The Chicago Fire began its 2004 schedule at Soldier Field the same way it ended its 2003 home campaign, as captain Chris Armas struck the series-winning goal in the 90th minute to give the Fire a 4-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago Champions CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh in the second leg of the 2004 CONCACAF Champions Cup Quarterfinals Wednesday at Soldier Field. A pair of goals from halftime substitute Dipsy Selolwane and Armas' late tally tilted the quarterfinal series in favor of the Fire, who emerged victorious from the quarterfinals with a 6-5 advantage on aggregate goals. Chicago will now move on to face the winner of the CF Pachuca (MEX) - Deportivo Saprissa (CRC), which will begin on the road on Apr. 14 and conclude with a home date on Apr. 21 at Soldier Field.

"I'm very proud of our team. We had a quiet confidence that we could win this game. It's unusual to think that way in the game of soccer when you're down three goals because goals are hard to get," said Fire Head Coach Dave Sarachan. "This game required patience, energy and a commitment to win and composure. I felt my team showed that tonight. There wasn't a guy on the field that didn't work as hard as they could work, and they got the job done."

After it dropped the first leg by a 5-2 margin in Trinidad one week ago, the Fire entered tonight's second leg needing three goals just to even up the series, and Chicago's offensive mentality showed from the start as the "Men in Red" came out in an attack-minded 3-5-2 formation. The Fire would gain a man-advantage in the early going after Jabloteh defender Ian Gray earned his second yellow card. Gray's late shoulder challenge on Nate Jaqua sent the Fire forward into the Soldier Field wall and onto the concrete that rings the field and the Jabloteh defender off the field with the subsequent ejection. The Fire's attack continued to surge and paid off with a 42nd goal by forward Damani Ralph. The 2003 Gatorade Rookie of the Year received a pass on the right flank from fellow Jamaican Andy Williams and worked past a pair of defenders to find enough space to get off a wicked blast from 20 yards out that nestled under the upper left 90 to give the Fire the 1-0 lead heading into the halftime break.

The second half opened up with Selolwane taking the place of defensive midfielder Logan Pause, and the Fire's leading scorer in the preseason would continue his torrid spring pace with a double in the opening 17 minutes of the stanza. The first goal of the half was created after Armas held the ball at the top of the penalty area and sent a pass to Selolwane, who struck a blazing shot from 25 yards out that beat goalkeeper Daurance Williams and put the Fire down just one goal in the series. That lead would evaporate 11 minutes later when Ralph darted up the middle of the field and played Selolwane behind the Jabloteh defense. The Botswanan international would come through again, easily dribbling around Williams in the right side of the penalty area to put the Fire up 3-0 in the game and evening the series at 5-5.

"It would be unfair to say that Dipsy is going to be a reserve for us all year," said Sarachan. "He is competing for a starting position and he earned some good points tonight. When guys don't get the call as a starter then the mentality becomes 'I'll do whatever I can to show the coach and my team and myself that I can do that.' He brought that mentality tonight."

The game would open up on both sides for the last half hour as the Fire gathered their legs for one last final push and San Juan Jabloteh showed glimpses of the flair that earned them a convincing win seven days ago. However, Chicago would once again take over the flow of the match and would gain the series winner in the 90th minute. Again Selolwane was at the heart of the play, as his through ball sprang Armas free inside the penalty area. As he did against the New England Revolution in last November's Eastern Conference Final - the last game played at Soldier Field - Armas slotted the ball into the back of the net and notched the eventual series winner.

Overshadowed in the offensive onslaught was Fire goalkeeper's Henry Ring first career shutout. Ring was only forced to make three saves on the evening thanks to a Fire defensive corps that shut down the potent Jabloteh attack, including forward Cornell Glen who registered a hat trick in last week's first leg.

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