 | Chicago Fire
Founded: 1997 City: Chicago Honours: 1 MLS Cup,1 US Open Cup President: Bob Sanderman Coach: Bob Bradley Stadium: Soldier Field |
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Hristo Stoitchkov #8 | Forward | Chicago Fire |
STATS
PEN KICK SHOOTOUT PEN
YEAR TM GP GS MIN G A SOG GWG GWA ATT GOAL ATT GOAL GMB FC FS OF YC RC PTS
2000 Chi 18 12 987 9 7 24 1 1 4 3 0 0 0 14 31 1 2 1 8
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22nd October 2000
Fire torches Miami, wins Hunt Cup
The Chicago Fire won their second U.S. domestic cup championship in three years by defeating Miami 2-1 Saturday (Oct. 21) in a scruffy, physical game played at Chicago’s Soldier Field.
A 44th-minute goal by Hristo Stoichkov, followed by an own goal by Miami’s Tyrone Marshall in the 88th minute was enough to give Chicago the Lamar Hunt Cup, following its 1-0 loss last week to Kansas City in the MLS Cup title match. See what Hristo says.
Miami scored in late-game injury stoppage time when Welton rolled in a shot from six yards after a scramble in front of the Chicago goal.
Hounded by tight-marking Miami throughout the match, Chicago was constantly knocked off its stride by quick-closing midfielders and defenders in a game that seemed to deteriorate from the opening whistle because of loose officiating.
Chippy fouls, constant dissent and missed calls exposed by TV replays were, unfortunately, the norm for the match. Referee Kevin Stott was fooled repeatedly by players diving, and much of the game he was surrounded by irate players, many of whom could have been sent off for repeated rough play and dissent.
The players’ behavior was no better than Stott’s performance. Allowed to shout, argue and gesture disgustedly after fouls, the game suffered from what has plagued Major League Soccer in its fifth season, the inability of referees to seize control of a match when necessary.
Miami Coach Ray Hudson, who took over in mid-season and led the unpredictable Fusion to the final, appeared to have the key to stopping Chicago’s potent offense. With all 10 of his field players pressuring throughout, the Fire – other than Stoichkov’s goal in the first half – were always a stride off pace.
Chicago went into the dressing room with a 1-0 lead after USA international Ante Razov took the ball up the right side, dribbled past charging Miami rookie goalkeeper Nick Rimando, and sent a pass back across the penalty area to an unmarked Stoichkov, who finished easily.
The Fire, playing without Carlos Bocanegra and Tenywa Bonseu, two key defenders from the MLS Cup match one week ago, dominated the second half, beginning with Razov’s spinning shot in the 51st minute which was turned aside by Rimando.
Veteran Peter Nowak’s left-footed shot in the 61st minute was just wide. Stoichkov then hit a 19-yarder from the left side in the 62nd minute that also was wide.
Tempers flared in the 69th minute when Miami’s Jay Heaps, who already had a caution, came in studs up above the knee of Chicago’s DaMarcus Beasley. Stott called the foul, but he did not expel Heaps for foul play that easily that easily warranted a send-off.
Stott figured prominently again in the 73rd minute when he awarded an unwarranted penalty to Chicago on a Nowak dive in the penalty area. Replays showed that the Polish veteran fell over without being touched. Miami survived the call when Razov’s poorly taken penalty kick was pushed aside by Rimando.
Chicago had a two-goal lead in the 88th minute when Beasley sent a cross into the goal area toward Marshall. The Fusion defender put his left boot out to clear the ball, but instead sent it into the net for an own goal.
For Chicago Coach Bob Bradley, it was his second U.S. championship since becoming the boss when the team was formed in 1998. That year, the Fire won the “double,” capturing both the MLS league championship and the Lamar Hunt Cup.
22nd October 2000
Chicago Fire takes 2000 U.S. Open Cup
21st October 2000
Chicago beats Miami to claim U.S. Open Cup
Six days after losing the MLS Cup, the Chicago Fire beat the Miami Fusion 2-1 Saturday night to win the U.S. Open Cup title. It was the second Open Cup title for the Fire, who captured both the MLS and Open Cup titles in 1998, their first year.
Hristo Stoitchkov tapped a soft pass from Ante Razov into the goal in the 44th minute, and the Fire made it 2-0 in the 88th minute on Tyrone Marshall's own-goal.
Welton scored the Fusion's only goal in the sixth minute of injury time at the end of the game.
The Fire outshot the Kansas City Wizards 22-6 in last Sunday's MLS Cup, but still lost as MVP Tony Meola made 10 saves.
Chicago came out attacking again Saturday against the Fusion, who hadn't played since Sept. 12.
Stoitchkov and DaMarcus Beasley both had shots on goal in the first 20 minutes, but Fusion goalie Nick Rimando punched them out of harm's way. The Fire got by him at the end of the half, though.
Fire captain Peter Nowak passed the ball to Razov about 20 yards past midfield, and Razov took it up the right flank. Rimando came out to the edge of the 18-yard box, but Razov dribbled right past him and then fed Stoitchkov with a perfect cross.
Standing directly in front of the goal, Stoitchkov softly tapped the ball, sending it past Fusion midfielder Brian Kamler and into the back corner of the net. As the ball settled into the net, Stoitchkov pumped his arms in triumph.
The Fire kept up the attack in the second half, narrowly missing the goal twice in one minute. In the 61st minute, Nowak's blast went just past the right post. In the 62nd, Stoitchkov's effort from about 15 yards got by a diving Rimando, but rolled past the far post.
Chicago also got a penalty kick in the 71st after Fusion defender Tim Sahaydak took Nowak down inside the box, but Rimando got a hand on Razov's shot and cleared it.
Marshall's own-goal came as he tried to clear a Beasley shot out from the front of the goal. The ball caromed off his left foot and into the right side of the net.
While most Americans are probably more familiar with the MLS Cup, the Open Cup has some impressive history. Dating to 1914, the single-elimination competition open to all amateur and pro soccer U.S. teams is the oldest team tournament in the country.
21st October 2000 21st October 2000
Chicago Fire won the 2000 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Championship final versus Miami Fusion by 2:1. Stoitchkov scored in the 42nd minute for the Fireassisted by Ante Razov. The second Fire goal came in the 88th and was a Fusion own goal. Miami returned one goal in the 92nd.
Scowling Stoichkov ignites the Fire
When Hristo Stoichkov signed up to play for the Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire this March few eyebrows were raised outside his adopted city of Barcelona. Despite being officially tied to the Japanese club Kashiwa Reysol, the former European footballer of the year had spent most of the previous year playing exhibition football for fun in Spain. He was out of condition and severely lacking match practice.
Six months on and the 34-year-old Bulgarian, now back to full fitness and still sporting his permanent five o'clock shadow, has been instrumental in leading the Fire to this season's two major MLS cup finals. In Sunday's league decider in Washington they unexpectedly lost 1-0 to a Kansas City Wizards side featuring Mo Johnston.
Today at Chicago's Soldier Field stadium they have the opportunity to make amends in the Open Cup against the Miami Fusion. For Stoichkov, winner of the golden boot at the 1994 World Cup, it could be the last big stage in an impressive but often controversial career.
"Hristo has been a tremendous addition to our club," says Fire's head coach Bob Bradley. "His experience, his passion and determination meant he came to the US with the idea that he would take a tremendous responsibility in trying to help our young players, and he's certainly done that. You can't imagine how important a player like Bryan Robson was to someone like Paul Scholes or David Beckham at Old Trafford. Hristo has been like that for us. The youngsters see how professional he is, how he handles himself, and it goes a long way towards the development of those players."
A succession of minor injuries during the first half of the season restricted Stoichkov to 18 appearances in a Fire shirt but he still bagged 13 goals. Instead of sitting at home during his lay-off, he threw himself into helping out at coaching, his natural skill and enthusiasm more than compensating for the language barrier.
Yet, despite winning the confidence and respect of Bradley and his team-mates, that notorious temper remains. Journalists and referees are still there to be hated, though today the abuse is more likely to be verbal than physical. In 1985 he received a life ban from the Bulgarian FA - lifted when Bulgaria qualified for the 1986 World Cup finals - for his part in a brawl during a cup final. On Wednesday, after a particularly tough challenge during a training session, he subjected a reporter to a hail of abuse, delivered in Spanish, for daring to take a loud intake of breath.
Following today's final Stoichkov will meet club officials to decide his future. A one-year contract or a coaching rolehas been mentioned, or both. Bradley for one is desperate to keep him. "I believe all that he has done for the Fire has been positive and my hope is that we will have him here with us again next year."
21st October 2000
The personal manager of Hristo Stoitchkov, Jose Maria Mingea has been in the USA for the last two days and is negotiating for a new contract of the star of Chicago Fire. The manager will start discussing Hristo's future in the team after he watches the last game of the season for the Fire tonight.
The winner in the final for the Cup, Miami or Chicago will take 100 000 $ and the finalist 50 000 $. During the season Chicago defeated Miami three times and lost one game.
20th October 2000
The contract of Stoitchkov expires after the end of the season. The Bulgarian wants to return.
20th October 2000
CHICAGO (October 19, 2000) — The 2000 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title is on the line and the Chicago Fire and the Miami Fusion are set to battle in the final of the U.S. Open Cup on Saturday, October 21 at Soldier Field, in Chicago, Ill.
The match, presented by Budweiser, will kickoff at 7 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on Fox Sports World and Fox Sports World Espanol. Tickets for the match can be purchased by calling 888/MLS-FIRE (888/657-3473).
16th October 2000
While Meola was brilliant, he also was the recipient of some good fortune. In the sixth minute, restarting the match after an offside, Meola played a horrible ball that was intercepted by Hristo Stoitchkov at midfield. Meola was about 30 yards outside his goal, and Stoitchkov could have attempted a long shot into the empty net. Although he has the ability to crack a shot from that distance, he instead tried dribbling closer and was eventually closed down by the Wizards' retreating defenders. A goal at that point would have changed the entire complexion of the match.Twice the Fire blasted shots off the post. Stoitchkov hit the woodwork in the 25th minute, and Diego Gutierrez incredibly hit the crossbar from about three yards out after a scrambled free kick in the 54th minute.
16th October 2000
The Fire wasn't bad--but certainly was unlucky. Hristo Stoitchkov caromed a shot off the left post in the 25th minute and Diego Gutierrez connected with the crossbar from only three yards out in the 54th.
"Let's not blame the referees," said Stoitchkov, who received special attention from Kansas City's defenders. "We know we have more options than Kansas City. We have a better attack, but they had more defense. That's soccer. You have to take advantage of chances, and that's what they did when they got in front of the goal."
15th October 2000 14th October 2000
Wizards beat the Fire by 1:0, Stoitchkov once hit the post during the first half and played the whole match.
Bulgarian wild card brings Fire to MLS championship
WASHINGTON (AP) -- It's the No. 1 offense vs. the No. 1 defense for the MLS championship. Throw in a flamboyant world superstar -- one of the most famous athletes outside the United States -- and the math becomes a little fuzzy.
``The one who should be worried is the defender, because I know my potential,'' said Chicago Fire forward Hristo Stoitchkov. ``They're the best defense in the league, but we have the best offense. So the ones that have to be worried are them.''
Stoitchkov has conquered America before -- his six goals made him the leading scorer in the 1994 World Cup in the United States. The 34-year-old Bulgarian now has a chance to add to his countless haul of titles and trophies when the Fire plays the Kansas City Wizards in Sunday's MLS Cup at RFK Stadium.
``He brings a passion for the game, and it rubs off on all our players,'' said Chicago coach Bob Bradley. ``He's the first one in every day. He's always talking about what's going on in Europe. When I'm watching different games, he loves to sit down and talk about them.''
Stoitchkov was one of the world's best players in the 1990s, scoring 37 goals for the Bulgarian national team and winning titles with such powerhouse clubs as Barcelona and CSKA Sofia.
Age is starting to catch up with him, which is why he's playing in the United States. He's still better than almost anybody in MLS, and his presence helps bring credibility to the league.
While some aging international stars arrive in the United States and immediately start grumbling about their life or the quality of play, Stoitchkov apparently has adjusted well. He brought his wife and two daughters with him, says he lives ``like a king'' and has indulged his passion for fishing in Lake Michigan.
``We've been very fortunate to have international players that understand the responsibility of being here and working with younger players,'' Bradley said. ``And he's been another one of those kind of guys.''
That's not to say Stoitchkov has lost any of the blunt edge that has led to clashes with coaches, referees and the Bulgarian soccer federation. These were some of his thoughts, spoken through an interpreter, leading up to Sunday's game:
-- Asked about a red card he received in an MLS game earlier this year, he said: ``The quality of the league when it comes to refereeing is not as high, because I don't think I deserved that card.''
-- Asked how winning the MLS title would rank with his other accomplishments, he shrugged: ``Just one more.''
-- Asked why he mimed reeling in a fish after scoring a goal in last week's playoff game against New York-New Jersey, he said: ``I wanted to grab the MetroStars coach and bring him into the field to show him how to play the game.''
Stoitchkov also wouldn't comment on whether he'll return next season, saying he's concentrating only on the MLS Cup for now.
Stoitchkov had nine goals and seven assists during the regular season, but missed 13 games due to injuries. During the playoffs, however, he has been his old superstar self, with four goals and five assists in six games.
The Fire and Wizards were the two best teams in the standings this season, finishing tied with 57 points, and they split their two regular-season matches.
The Fire averaged a league-high 2.09 goals, while the Wizards set a league record allowing just 0.91 per game. Kansas City goalkeeper Tony Meola, the league's MVP, set an MLS record with 16 shutouts.
But this is soccer, where the irresistible-force-meets-immovable-object analogy doesn't always work.
``The labels that have been applied may have been oversimplified,'' said Kansas City coach Bob Gansler. ``The reason we play good defense is we want the ball. Once we have the ball, we want to keep it. Our regular-season games (vs. the Fire), the first one was 4-3, the second one was 3-2. That could very well happen again.''
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13th October 2000
Stoitchkov key to final
The best defence faces the most potent attack -- that is the intriguing matchup for Sunday's Major League Soccer championship game between the Chicago Fire and the Kansas City Wizards. Add the unpredictable talent of one of the world's greatest players of the last decade -- Hristo Stoitchkov -- and the stage is set for a classic season finale at Washington's RFK stadium.
The Fire, who won the championship in 1998 in the team's first year of existence, led the league with 67 goals scored during the regular season. The Wizards, who had never reached the final in the previous four seasons of MLS play, own the best defensive record in the league this year.
Kansas City conceded only 29 goals in 32 matches, including 17 shutouts by goalkeeper Tony Meola, whose form has forced U.S. national coach Bruce Arena to recall him for international duty after he was dropped following the 1994 World Cup.
Playing in front of Meola, are several key veterans, including former Scottish international Mo Johnston, U.S. World Cup and former Everton star Preki Radosavljevic and Danish striker Miklos Molnar.
Molnar, who was injured for much of the season, scored the winning goal in the semifinal against the Los Angeles Galaxy and tallied 12 goals in only 17 regular season games.
BEST TEAM ALL YEAR
But Kansas City will have their work cut out against a raging Fire. "We know we are playing who we've all felt is the best team in MLS all year," said Meola, who was not surprisingly named MLS goalkeeper of the year.
Led by 34-year-old Bulgarian Stoitchkov, who scored a stunning goal in the deciding semifinal defeat of the Lothar Matthäus-led New York/New Jersey MetroStars, the Fire has a potent strike force.
Molnar told reporters this week that Chicago's former World Player of the Year, who led Barcelona to four Spanish championships and two European Cups in the 1990's and helped Bulgaria stun Germany in the 1994 World Cup, was the key.
"He is a great player, someone that I followed myself when I played in Spain. He was a star at Barcelona, did some incredible stuff there," Molnar said of Stoitchkov.
Like Stoitchkov, Chicago centre-forward Ante Razov, who has won a place in the U.S. team, has a deadly left foot, even though he scored the semifinal winner with his right.
Ukrainian Dema Kovalenko can score from deeper midfield positions and DaMarcus Beasley, who was the youngest player to sign with MLS last year at the age of 16, has remarkable speed.
Josh Wolff is fresh from an impressive performance in Sydney with the surprising U.S. Olympic semifinal team.
U.S. international Chris Armas is back from knee injury and fighting for every ball in midfield, while ex-Polish international Peter Nowak directs Fire traffic.
In front of goalkeeper Zach Thornton, another American international, C.J. Brown, bolsters the Chicago defence, alongside Czech Lubos Kubik and 21-year-old Carlos Bocanegra, who was just named MLS Rookie of the Year.
13th October 2000
Stoitchkov lends spark to Fire
Bulgarian playmaker Hristo Stoitchkov tries to continue an 11-year championship streak on Sunday when he sparks the Chicago Fire against the Kansas City Wizards in the Major League Soccer title game.
About 40,000 people are expected at RFK Stadium to watch the regular-season co-champions duel for the United States soccer league title.
The Fire bring the league's top offense against Major League Soccer Goalkeeper of the Year and MVP Tony Meola and Kansas City's league-best defense.
The rivals split two prior meetings this year, each winning on home turf. The Wizards doused the Fire 4-3 in March but Chicago took the rematch 3-2 in June.
Stoitchkov also has the Fire poised to turn the US double by winning the US Open Cup title in addition to the league crown. The Fire will host MLS rival Miami on Oct. 21 for the Open Cup crown.
Should the Fire win either title, Stoitchkov will continue a streak that has seen him win domestic club titles for every team on which he has played since 1989.
"I said before the season this team had the capability to win both the MLS Cup and US Open Cup," Stoitchkov said. "I enjoy challenges and teaching. But most of all, I enjoy winning."
Meola, 31, was a standout for the US World Cup team in 1994 but struggled last year with a knee injury after being traded from the MetroStars.
This season, Meola has been impressive. He had a 681-minute scoreless streak and 16 shutouts, leading all MLS goalkeepers with a .92 goals-against average on his way to a 15-7 record with nine drawn and his first league final.
"Any time you get to the final it has to be your best year," Meola said. "I couldn't be happier."
The Wizards' backline is also bolstered by MLS Defender of the Year Peter Vermes and rookie of the year nominee Nick Garcia.
Kansas City's offense is sparked by attacking midfielder Preki, who had a team-high 15 assists and made 95 shots on goal, and "Danish Dynamite" Miklos Molnar, who had 12 season goals and has four in the playoffs The Wizards are unbeaten when he scores.
Also key are left-side threat Chris Henderson, an American with nine goals and nine assists, and Scotland's Mo Johnston, another 1990 World Cupper.
But the Fire burns for a second title in three years.
Stoitchkov, 34, was second in voting for World Player of the Year in 1992 and 1994, the latter time after sparking Bulgaria's third-place World Cup run.
The former Barcelona striker was limited to 18 games by various injuries but has produced four goals and five assists in the playoffs after only nine goals and seven assists this season.
But one of his major contributions has been guiding younger Fire teammates such as Ukranian Dema Kovalenko and American Ante Razov, the Fire's top scorer with 18 goals this season.
"God sent him here to help me become a better player and person," said Kovalenko, 23, Stoitchkov's road roommate. "He's an emotional lift for everyone."
12th October 2000
Striker Hristo Stoitchkov missed a number of games during the regular season due to injuries but has returned to lead the Fire's offensive outburst in the postseason. The international superstar's pinpoint passes and violent shots from long distance have made him perhaps the most spectacular performer in this year's playoffs. In fact, the Bulgarian scorer is currently second (behind Razov) in playoff scoring with 13 points (4g, 5a).
7th October 2000
On the 15th of October Fire will be a guest to Kansas City Wizards, and on the 21st the team plays on the final for the cup versus Miami Fusion. Johan Cruyff is going to attend the final in a week. See what the Dagger says.
7th October 2000
7th October 2000
7th October 2000
Fire's spark back
Fire coach Bob Bradley has seen his
team take on numerous challenges
throughout the season. Friday's
deciding playoff game against the
MetroStars was the latest hurdle in a
season that could be aptly described
as chaotic.
"All year we've had different things
thrown at us," Bradley said. "Whatever
challenge we've faced—injuries, guys
missing games—they find a way to
stick together and come out on top."
Friday proved to be no exception. After
the Fire let an early lead slip away, Ante Razov stepped up to score
the winning goal in the 88th minute, propelling the Fire to a 3-2
victory and a berth in the MLS Cup for the second time in three
years. The Fire will travel to RFK stadium Oct. 15 to face the Kansas
City Wizards, who beat Los Angeles. After dismantling New England 6-0 at home in the third game of the
first round, the Fire seemed primed for another Game 3 rout, taking a
2-0 lead in the 31st minute. Defender C.J. Brown got things started in
the fourth minute, redirecting a corner kick by Hristo Stoitchkov past
Ammann for a 1-0 lead.
Stoitchkov made it 2-0 26 minutes later, taking a feed from Razov on
the left wing and putting a quick move on MetroStars defender Mike
Petke to create space. Stoitchkov then fired an 18-yard missile that
zipped over Ammann and ricocheted off the crossbar into the net.
