CHICAGO, IL (Nov. 14, 2009) – The Chicago Fire were eliminated from the 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs tonight in the Eastern Conference Final by Real Salt Lake at TOYOTA PARK. The sold out crowd of 21,723 fans was the largest crowd ever for a Fire game at TOYOTA PARK.
After playing to a scoreless tie during the regular season and both 15 minute overtime periods, the Fire fell in the decisive penalty kicks. Both teams scored four of five in the first round of penalty kicks, before both missed their next penalty kick opportunities. After RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando saved his third penalty kick of the night, Chicagoland native and Salt Lake midfielder, Ned Grabavoy, scored the game-winning penalty kick by placing a ball in the left side of the net.
“I have an empty feeling in my stomach right now. All season we worked hard and stuck together to get to this point and to lose the way we did tonight is tough. Sometimes soccer is a cruel sport. There’s not much you can say to the guys when they put everything out there and competed all season long. When you get to penalty kicks, somebody has got to lose, but to lose in PKs is not an easy thing. I just hope the guys can learn from this and come back stronger and move forward,” said Fire head coach, Denis Hamlett.
The Fire finished their regular season in second place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 11-7-12, reaching the playoffs for the 11th time in their 12 seasons of play.
Scoring Summary:
None
Penalty Kicks Summary (After 120 minutes):
CHI — Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Goal
RSL — Clint Mathis, Goal
CHI — Brian McBride, Goal
RSL — Javier Morales, High
CHI — Wilman Conde, Goal
RSL — Robbie Findley, Goal
CHI — John Thorrington, Saved
RSL — Kyle Beckerman, Goal
CHI — C.J. Brown, Goal
RSL — Will Johnson, Goal
CHI — Logan Pause, Saved
RSL — Fabian Espindola, High
CHI – Brandon Prideaux, Saved
RSL — Ned Grabavoy, Goal
Chicago Fire: Jon Busch, Brandon Prideaux, C.J. Brown, Dasan Robinson, Daniel Woolard (Wilman Conde 95), Chris Rolfe (Justin Mapp 109), Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Logan Pause, John Thorrington, Marco Pappa (Patrick Nyarko 78), Brian McBride.
Real Salt Lake: Nick Rimando, Robbie Russell (Ned Grabavoy 119), Nat Borchers, Jamison Olave, Chris Wingert, Andy Williams (Clint Mathis 69), Kyle Beckerman, Javier Morales, Will Johnson, Yura Movsisyan (Fabian Espindola 72), Robbie Findley.
Misconduct Summary:
RSL – Javier Morales (caution; Handball) 39’
RSL – Chris Wingert (caution; Reckless Foul) 75’
CHI – John Thorrington (caution; Reckless Tackle) 92+’
RSL – Kyle Beckerman (caution; Dissent) 99’
CHI – Brandon Prideaux (caution; Dissent) 101’
RSL – Will Johnson (caution; Tactical Foul) 110’
CHI – Cuauhtémoc Blanco (caution; Dissent) 117’
Referee: Ricardo Salazar
Referee’s Assistants: -Adam Wienckowski; George Gansner
4th Official: Mark Geiger
Attendance: 21,723
Time of Game: 2:48
Weather: Partly Cloudy-and-61-degrees