Final: Fire at Chivas USA
Chivas USA 2 (7-2-3) Chicago Fire 3 (5-0-6)
A stupid push in the back by Chivas USA right back Mariano Trujillo on Brian McBride in the box just moments before the game ended gave Cuauhtemoc Blanco the opportunity to convert his second PK of the night and extend the Fire's undefeated streak to eleven.
Fire substitute Patrick Nyarko had equalized against 10-man Chivas USA in the 90th minute.
It was an exciting end to an eventful game played before a season-high Chivas USA crowd of 20,379 with the teams combining for 28 shots.
Preki was clearly unhappy after the final whistle with the call that ruined a gutsy performance by his still MLS-leading team. Chivas USA played with a lone forward up front for the last 30 minutes after Jesse Marsch was sent off for a foul on Blanco.
Despite an excessive 11 cards handed out by ref Terry Vaughn this was a fast-paced game with end to end action that was a great advertisement for MLS.
Lots of talk about in this one; back with more later.
About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
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