Chivas USA Season Ends on Sour Note
U.S. National Team legend Brian McBride. Photo by Ivan Sekretarev/AP
Little was at stake for either team, as both had been eliminated from playoff contention long before last night, but several other story lines of importance came to an end last night. Long time U.S. National Team and Fire forward Brian McBride played the final match of his career.
Arguably one of the best players the U.S. has ever produced, McBride started his MLS career with the Columbus Crew back in 1996 when MLS came into being. He would later make a move to the English Premier League where he flourished for a number of years before returning to MLS in 2008, this time with the Chicago Fire. McBride’s stellar career can easily be summed up with three words: courage, strength and deadliness.
His courage and strength are probably best demonstrated by the image of his bloody face, the result of an elbow from Italian defender Danielle De Rossi during a World Cup 2006 match in which his contributions factored heavily on the result. Last night, it was the same story minus the physical abuse. McBride nearly capitalized at the 18th minute from a header and helped turn the tide in favor of Chicago although Chivas USA had controlled much of the match up to that point.
Chicago continued to gain momentum following the play, while Chivas USA gradually became more stagnant in the midfield. At the 40th minute, Fire midfielder Freddie Ljungberg fed McBride at the edge of the six yard box after a great run into the box. McBride finished it off with a great in-stride heel kick that ended up in the far corner of the Chivas USA goal. It was McBride’s 80th career MLS goal.
Ljungberg would double the lead a mere 2 minutes after the halftime break and almost escorted the ball into the back net at the 57th only to lose control at the last second. Giancarlo Maldonado would get one back for the red-and-white with a nice header off a cross from Sal Zizzo but that was all the scoring on the night for the home side. Calen Carr and Baggio Husidic would put in the final two goals for Chicago for the final score of 4 - 1.
In addition to McBride, Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein also played his final match as a member of Chivas USA before his expected move to Mexican First Division side Tigres UANL during the off season. Losing on his final match was bittersweet, but Bornstein is excited about his future and thankful for all the support he has received from the Chivas USA organization and fans.
Lastly, joining McBride was teammate CJ Brown as he too called it quits after a 12 year career that started and ended with the Fire.