MLS Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire Power Past Chivas USA 4-1 in Brian McBride and C.J. Brown's Final Match

Published on October 24, 2010 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


CARSON, CA (Oct. 23, 2010) - Appearing in the final match of his illustrious 17-year career, Chicago Fire forward Brian McBride tallied a beautiful back-heel goal. C.J. Brown presided over the Fire's backline for the final time and Freddie Ljungberg, Calen Carr and Baggio Husidic added goals to send McBride and Brown into retirement with a victory as the Men in Red defeated Chivas USA 4-1 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.

Known for stout defending and consistent play for the Men in Red, Brown got his 290th start, out of 296 appearances. The last remaining Fire Original, from the Fire's 1998 expansion side, played 25,738 MLS regular season minutes over the course of his 13-year career.

In the 40th minute Steven Kinney found Freddie Ljungberg on the right side of the field. The dynamic Swede fought through three Chivas USA defenders before slipping the ball to a cutting McBride. The iconic American striker redirected Ljungberg's pass, sending a crafty back-heel flick past Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton to the far post to notch his 80th career MLS goal. McBride finishes his professional soccer career with 80 MLS goals, 44 English Premier League tallies and 30 goals in international competitions with the U.S. Men's National Team.

The Fire controlled the majority of possession in the second half and were unwilling to rest on their one goal advantage. Marco Pappa opened things up when made a darting run down the left flank. The 22-year-old Guatemalan sent a square ball into the Chivas USA penalty area finding Ljungberg who buried his shot past Thornton to give the Fire a 2-0 lead.

Chivas USA cut the lead in half ten minutes later when Giancarlo Maldonado headed home Sal Zizzo's cross past Fire rookie 'keeper Sean Johnson to trim the Fire's lead to 2-1 in the 57th minute.

In the 68th minute the Men in Red put up their third goal when Logan Pause sent a lofted ball over the top of the Chivas USA defense and found a wide-open Calen Carr striding through the offensive third. The University of California at Berkeley product took a touch before dancing around Thornton and clinically placing the ball into the back of the net to give the Fire a 3-1 lead.

The Fire emphatically finished the four-goal evening in the waning moments of stoppage time. Pappa found space at the top of the 18-yard box and blasted a left-footed shot that Thornton deflected back into the field of play. Husidic, charging in the area, headed the ball into the back of the empty net to cap the 2010 season with a decided 4-1 victory. The four-goal output was the Men in Red's highest goal total of the season, besting two three-goal performances in the state of California - against LA Galaxy 3-2 Aug. 4 and against San Jose Earthquakes 3-0 Sept. 29.

With the win the Fire end the 2010 MLS campaign at 9-12-9, 36 points in fourth place in the Eastern Conference and will miss the postseason for just the second time since the club's inception.

The Fire will take a week off before resuming training at TOYOTA PARK on Monday, Nov. 1. Fire Season Tickets for 2011 are available now. For tickets, please call 1-888-MLS-FIRE (657-3473) or head to the club's official website at www.Chicago-Fire.com.

Fire Notes:

* McBride finishes his MLS career having started 208 of the 220 games he has appeared in. The MLS All-Time Best XI forward scored 80 goals and added 52 assists during his 11 years with the Columbus Crew and the Chicago Fire

* Despite McBride's late push, Pappa will take home the Fire's Budweiser Golden Boot Award. The talented Guatemalan scored 7 goals in 25 matches for the Fire in 2010

* In all three matches played in the state of California during the 2010 season, the Fire managed to score 10 goals and come away with nine points against all three California based sides.

* Sean Johnson returned to the starting lineup following a three game absence due to injury. The rookie 'keeper racked up five saves in his first game back in action since Oct. 2.

* Baggio Husidic scored his fifth goal of the season.

* Fire Designated Player Freddie Ljungberg scored two goals and added six assists since joining the Men in Red, Aug. 1.

* With his third assist, Pause ties his career high assist total, a mark he set in 2009.

* Serbian midfielder Bratislav Ristic appeared in his eighth consecutive match. The versatile midfielder has played has played in every match at three different positions, since joining the Fire before the close of the transfer window.

* Rookie right back Steven Kinney left the match in the 58th minute with an undisclosed injury. Kinney will be further evaluated upon the teams return to Chicago.

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Major League Soccer Stories from October 24, 2010


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