6th October 2000 6th October 2000
Fire beat the MetroStars by 3:2 with a goal in the 87th minute by Ante Razov. Stoitchkov played during the whole match, scored the second goal and assisted for the first one. During the second half the Bulgarian also received a yellow card.
Stoitchkov leads Chicago's charge to MLS Cup against Metros
If there is one player on the world stage today who personifies the attitude, passion, intensity and spectacle of the sport of soccer, it's Chicago Fire striker Hristo Stoitchkov. The fiery Bulgarian has brought to MLS the same will and spirit that made him a world star and he has passed it along to the Central Division champion Fire which is one victory away from another MLS Cup final.
The deciding Game Three of their semifinal series against the MetroStars will be played tonight (8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN) at Soldier Field.
"Hristo has experience and he's shown that he's a tremendous competitor with a will to win," Fire Head Coach Bob Bradley said. "Those are the kind of players you always want to bring into a league and a team."
Stoitchkov was signed by MLS at the beginning of the 2000 season and has since been solely concerned with mercilessly attacking his opponents, combining elements of creativity and spontaneity. He's made an impact from his very first game but was eventually limited to 18 regular season appearances because of groin injuries. But the offensive force still scored nine goals - good for third best on the team - and he already has registered three goals and four assists in the playoffs.
"Obviously there must be some tactical discipline but I am not a huge believer in tactics," Stoitchkov said. "On the field we are 11 vs. 11 and if I am better than my marker, I will beat him. If my team is better, it will show."
In these 2000 MLS Cup Playoffs, Stoitchkov has had decisive performances, showing an impressive level of communication with forward partner Ante Razov in displays which included a 6-0 thrashing of the New England Revolution. Even at the age of 34, the Bulgarian's runs down the left flank and his penetrations into the box are always thrilling. He has the ability to carry Chicago single-handedly towards goal.
"Just to have Hristo on the field helps our team," Bradley said. "His passion, determination and competitiveness all rub off on our other players."
Early in his career, Stoitchkov rose through the lesser known Bulgarian first division and faced an uphill climb to the top of the soccer world while at CSKA Sofia. News of his goal scoring feats, however, made it across Europe and Barcelona F.C. in Spain would take notice. With Barcelona, he was part of one of the most spectacular teams of the 90s.
"When I first arrived in Spain in 1990 I was only 23 years old and for a young foreign player to play in a league like that is extremely difficult," he said. "For a young person without character to succeed in professional soccer or anything else is impossible."
In Spain, he learned to impose himself from the start while playing alongside new teammates who were already established stars. Stoitchkov wore his emotions on his sleeve and his attitude and bravado made him an instant hit in addition to his more than 100 goals for the Spanish giants. His competitive side often took the better of him on the field of play where he argued referee calls with a passion, flailing one arm in disgust in what became his characteristic reaction recognized throughout Europe.
"When I got there, FC Barcelona already had 10 to 12 world stars," he said. "I wanted to prove I was the best. So I trained twice as hard and displayed my strong character, proving that I could overcome whatever came my way. For that reason I was often criticized. I am intense and emotional and often have a bad temper. But my character demonstrates that I have the desire to work hard and to win."
That work ethic has never abandoned the most famous Bulgarian in the world. In his quest for perfection and beautiful play, Stoitchkov makes loud and clear his intolerance of his Fire teammates' mistakes. It is with that mentality, that he has contributed to lift Chicago to the echelon of MLS for another season.
"In Europe clubs train every single day of the week," he said. "If one trains religiously on a daily basis, when game day comes it's easy to play. Players have to train hard everyday, have an exemplary behavior within the club and we need to ensure that the young players have the right attitude."
Stoitchkov has personally taken it upon himself to instruct the Fire's younger players. The role of mentor is one he willfully undertook, given his keen desire to join the coaching ranks in the near future.
"I am prepared for it. I have held a coaching diploma for a long time," he said. "I do not want to rush into it (coaching) though. There have been too many former players that have rushed into training and have failed. And then the respect and reputation you have worked so hard to attain for 15-20 years as a professional goes down the drain."
Stoitchkov's informal coaching with the Fire and his sincere interest in players like Olympian Josh Wolff and DaMarcus Beasley has already left a lasting impression on his subjects. He emphasizes the same hard work that allowed him to reach the pinnacle of world soccer.
"He's taught me a lot of things," Beasley recently told The Chicago Tribune. "He's taught me to be confident and how to handle myself on and off the field."
"Hristo takes special pride in trying to work with all our younger guys," Bradley said. "Like all our European players, he came here with an attitude that he wanted to help soccer in the United States."
Stoitchkov is still a star in Europe today and his game is one of the most entertaining fans will ever have the opportunity to watch. His left foot can do just about anything to a ball, applying a rare combination of precision and power to both shots and passes. And there is always a buzz in the stadium on free kicks as his left foot can put on a wowing show.
The top scorer of the 1994 World Cup has been a leader on this Fire squad, a team which already had the likes of Peter Nowak and Lubos Kubik in its ranks. Stoitchkov, a proven winner, is one of those rare soccer talents - a player who transcends his sport.
"I hope the season ends with a championship," Stoitchkov said referring to MLS Cup 2000 in Washington D.C. "I have already been champion in Europe and Asia (in the J-League). I am missing a third one in the United States. I want to win it with all my heart."
And that's the only way he knows how to win.
30th September 2000
Stoitchkov played the whole match, but Fire lost to the Metro Stars by 2:0.
26th September 2000
26th September 2000
Hristo Stoitchkov and Dema
Kovalenko each had a goal and an
assist as Chicago routed the
MetroStars 3-0 Tuesday night in
Game One of an MLS Cup 2000
Semifinal series. Fire goalkeeper
Zach Thornton made eight saves,
several in spectacular fashion on his
way to recording a well-earned
shutout. Chicago got on the board
in the 21st minute when Kovalenko
took a feed from DaMarcus
Beasley down the right wing and
ran into position to shoot. The
midfielder instead drove a curling
pass through a pair of Metros'
defenders, and past a diving Paul
Grafer, right to Stoitchkov at the
back post. The Bulgarian legend held off Metros' defender
Mike Petke and tucked in his third goal of the postseason.
Kovalenko put the Fire up 2-0 in the 35th minute.Stoitchkov also received a yellow card and was substitued by Mike Sorber in the 86th minute.See what Hristo says.
23rd September 2000
Chicago explodes in 6-0 rout of Revolution
The Chicago Fire hammered the
New England Revolution 6-0 Friday
night at Soldier Field, storming into
the semifinal round against the
MetroStars. Hristo Stoitchkov
dominated the game, registering two
goals and three assists in a
record-breaking playoff performance.
The scoring started early in the match, with Razov's first strike in the fifth minute of
play finding the back of the net. Stoitchkov started the charge with a pass to a
wide-open DaMarcus Beasley on the left flank. Taking advantage of the
backpedaling defense, Beasley played a side-footed pass to Razov in the center of
the box. Razov's low shot beat goalkeeper Jeff Causey to the post, putting the Fire up
1-0.
Chicago pressed the advantage with two quick Stoitchkov goals. In the 15th minute,
Razov launched a pass to Dema Kovalenko on the right flank. Kovalenko curled a
cross around defender Mauricio Wright, finding Stoitchkov wide open in front of the
net for the insurance goal. Stoitchkov tallied two minutes later, outpacing John
Harkes on a long run down the left side. One-on-one with Causey, the Bulgarian
veteran coolly played the ball between the `keeper's legs for the 3-0 lead.
In stoppage time of the first half, midfielder Peter Nowak headed the ball to
Stoitchkov on the left and continued a penetrating run into Revolution territory.
Stoitchkov put the ball to Nowak's feet, who ran the ball in on Causey before finding
the back of the net.
In the second half, Nowak and Stoitchkov played a give-and-go in the center of the
field that sprang Stoitchkov along the left sideline. Stoitchkov ran the ball deep into
the New England side before pulling up and playing a square ball to Razov in the
center of the box. Razov unleashed a rocket that blazed past Causey to make the
score 5-0.
23rd September 2000
Fire Advances into MLS Semis
The forward combination of Razov and
Hristo Stoitchkov did its best work of the season. Razov set a team
record with eight points on the night with two goals and four assists.
Stoitchkov was equally brilliant with two goals and three assists.
Friday, Razov put the Fire on the board in the fifth minute, converting
some nifty passing from Stoitchkov and DaMarcus Beasley. Nine
minutes later, it was Stoitchkov finishing passes from Razov and
Dema Kovalenko.
But instead of being satisfied, the Fire slammed its foot on the gas
and overwhelmed a Revolution team that was playing in its first Game
3 in franchise history.
Stoitchkov scored his second in the 17th minute, collecting the ball
50 yards from the goal, racing along the left sideline and slotting his
shot past a shell-shocked Jeff Causey.
23rd September 2000
Chicago Fire spreads
CHICAGO (AP) -- Hristo Stoitchkov had two
goals and three assists as the Chicago Fire
beat the New England Revolution 6-0 on
Friday night to advance to the MLS semifinals.
Chicago, which won the quarterfinal series six
points to three, will face New York-New
Jersey in the semifinals.
On a rainy night that saw flashes of lightning at
Soldier Field, Ante Razov opened the scoring
in the fifth minute off an assist from
Stoitchkov.
Stoitchkov scored in the 14th and 17th minutes,
with Razov assisting on both goals.
Peter Nowak beat goalkeeper Jeff Causey off a pass from Stoitchkov to
give the Fire a 4-0 lead.
In the second half, Razov scored his second goal off an assist from
Stoitchkov, and Sam George completed the scoring.
23rd September 2000
Fire Crushes Revolution!
Hristo Stoitchkov figured in all four first-half goals and scored two of them. He
provided the first pass, to DaMarcus Beasley in the fifth minute, to set up the opening
goal by Razov on a three-man combination.
Stoitchkov scored the second, completing one of the prettiest goals of the season after
crisp passes from Dema Kovalenko and Razov. He also got the third, dribbling 40
yards before blasting a shot past Causey from close range in the 17th minute.
The last goal of the half was set up by Stoitchkov. His pass sprung Nowak loose to
create a 4-0 advantage before the heaviest downpour of the night pelted the turf.Stoitchkov left in the 69th with two
goals and three assists.
22nd September 2000
20th September 2000
The wonderful goal of Stoitchkov versus the champion DC United is among the
three nominated for No1 in Major League Soccer for the season.
Last night Hristo missed a penalty versus New England Revolution, Fire lost by 2:1.
There will be a third game between the two teams.
15th September 2000
Anyone expecting to see artful, creative
play—the kind the Fire has put
together often this season—will be
sorely disappointed during the Major
League Soccer playoffs.
With the NFL well under way in just
about every playoff city, the games will take on the characteristics of
the Fire's 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution on Friday:
choppy and helter-skelter, with poor footing for the players and odd
bounces of the ball.
The Fire had to rally in order to secure those points. The winning goal came in the 73rd minute. Ante Razov played the ball to Hristo
Stoitchkov, who was a couple of steps on the New England side of
the field.
In one motion Stoitchkov collected the ball with his left foot and sent
a perfect 35-yard sand wedge of a pass right into the path of a
charging Dema Kovalenko on the opposite side of the field.See what Kovalenko says.
14th September 2000 14th September 2000
Stoitchkov played 90 minutes for the win of Fire versus New England Revolution and assisted for the winning goal.
Since returning, Stoitchkov has scored four goals and assisted on six
others in his last nine league matches. It's no coincidence that the Fire's torrid stretch since July 4, in which it has gone 8-1-3 in league
matches, coincides with Stoitchkov's return to the field. See what coach Bradley and coach Fernando Clavijo say.
12th September 2000
This quarterfinal series is a result of the new divisional
alignment and will be the first time the two teams have met
in the postseason. This is the matchup many Fire players
were hoping for. Despite the fact that the Revolution won
the match in Chicago and tied in Foxboro, the Fire feel that
they match up well with the Revs. The intangible in the series will be Hristo Stoitchkov. The
Bulgarian did not play in either of the matches in the
regular season and has been brilliant since returning to the
lineup from a groin injury.
7th September 2000
Chicago clinches Central with win over
Crew-Fire midfielder Hristo Stoitchkov was the difference in the match, adding a goal and two assists to his season totals.
CHICAGO -- The Chicago Fire clinched the Central Division title Wednesday night,
defeating the Columbus Crew 3-1 at Soldier Field. Fire midfielder Hristo Stoitchkov
was the difference in the match, adding a goal and two assists to his season totals.
Fire defender Tom Soehn netted the first goal of the match, staking Chicago's claim
to the Central Division title in the 8th minute of play. Stoitchkov created the chance
off a corner kick, finding Soehn lurking near the back post. Rising above the Crew
defense, Soehn snapped home a quick header for his first points of the 2000
campaign.
Team scoring leader Ante Razov added a second goal in the 40th minute of play,
catching the Columbus defense flat-footed with a powerful blast that beat goalkeeper
Mark Dougherty under the crossbar. Stoitchkov again began the scoring drive with a
pass to Justin Evans at the 20-yard mark. Evans flicked the ball to Razov, who fired
a left-footed rocket into the back of the net for his career-best 17th goal of the
season.
Despite struggling offensively for much of the game, the Crew climbed back into the
game on a 59th minute goal from defender Ansil Elcock. Taking a long ball from
Robert Warzycha deep inside Chicago territory, forward Brian McBride smartly
played the ball back to a waiting Elcock. Elcock finished the chance with authority,
drilling the ball past `keeper Zach Thornton to cut the Fire's lead in half.
Crew defender Miroslav Rzepa was ejected from the game in the 81st minute of play
after being shown his second yellow card for taking down Razov inside the Crew
penalty area. Stoitchkov put the game out of reach with the resulting penalty kick,
easily beating Dougherty to the left post for his ninth goal of the year.
With the victory Chicago (16-9-6, 54 points) clinches the Central Division title,
owning the first tie-breaker against the Tampa Bay Mutiny, who stand at 51 points
with one game remaining. The loss does not eliminate the Crew from postseason
contention, though it did clinch a playoff berth for the New England Revolution, who
lost 1-0 to the Kansas City Wizards earlier this evening.
The Fire and the Crew finish their 2000 seasons on Saturday, September 9th, with a
final meeting at Columbus Crew Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET). The Fire will be seeking to
sweep the Crew in this season's series, taking the previous three matches between
the two this year.
