Thornton sends Fire to MLS final
Chicago beats Galaxy in shootout to win series
Posted: Saturday October 17, 1998 10:22 AM
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Nowak (right) gave Chicago a 1-0 lead with a goal off a rebound in the 31st minute AP |
CHICAGO (AP) -- Zach Thornton and the Chicago Fire made it clear
that this is no ordinary expansion team.
The Fire advanced to the MLS championship game Friday night,
beating the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 in a shootout to sweep the
best-of-3 Western Conference final. Chicago also won the shootout
2-1, with Thornton making three consecutive saves after Welton's
goal in the second round.
"It has been a long journey," Thornton said. "We're very
happy to be in the final. There's a lot of pressure in the
shootout. As a goalkeeper, I have to make sure I cover my area and
shut them down."
Jesse Marsch and Jerzy Podbrozny scored in the fourth and fifth
rounds of the shootout, with Podbrozny's clinching goal setting off
a celebration among the 32,744 fans at Soldier Field.
"It's a flip of the coin," said Galaxy defender Greg Vanney,
who failed on his fifth-round attempt. "You might as well flip a
coin."
The Fire will face the Eastern Conference winner on October 25 at the
Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Two-time MLS champion D.C. United
holds a 1-0 lead over Columbus in the Eastern final with Game 2
Sunday in Columbus.
"We're very, very proud to reach the final," Chicago coach Bob
Bradley said. "I don't like shootouts, but a night like tonight is
something positive the league can point to. Shootouts are a tough
way to go."
Peter Nowak gave Chicago a 1-0 lead with a goal off a rebound in
the 31st minute, and Danny Pena tied it six minutes later off
assists by Cobi Jones and Paul Caligiuri.
Nowak's goal was only Chicago's fourth in its last five games.
The Galaxy scored an MLS-high 85 goals during the regular season
and added nine more in a first-round sweep of Dallas.
"This spoils it," Jones said. "It doesn't matter how great a
season you have, if you don't make it to the final and win it, it
takes it away."
Chicago won the opener 1-0 at the Rose Bowl on October 10, with
Marsch scoring with four minutes remaining.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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