CHICAGO FIRE 3, LOS ANGELES GALAXY 1
CHICAGO FIRE HEAD COACH DAVE SARACHAN
On the game:
"I can't help but smile. It's just not very often you get to say you're a champion and we've made it a priority this year to try and win a couple championships and you saw tonight the guys put everything into it tonight. L.A. didn't make it easy. We knew even with 2-0 at halftime that we were going to be in for a fight, and sure enough they get that goal, and yet the poise that we showed and the confidence to keep playing and withstand their barrage ... you just keep your fingers crossed and maybe we catch them on the counter, which we did, and game, set, match."
On Chris Armas being suspended for the game:
"A lot of emotions today without Chris Armas on the field. This guy's missed two World Cups and the Olympics, and being denied being on the field ... there was a lot of emotion from all of us to make sure the trophy got in his hands and the veterans stepped up. We're champions today and it's a great feeling."
CHICAGO FIRE FORWARD NATE JAQUA
On what winning the Open Cup means to the team heading into the playoffs:
"Obviously winning a championship is going to give us some confidence, especially going into the MLS playoffs. We're looking to win that as well. That's our goal. Win the 'double.' We got the first one down, and now we're working to win the second."
On whether playing L.A. twice in a week helped Chicago:
"Yeah, a little bit. I wasn't in the game Saturday but I was able to sit in the stands and watch. You got to know more about what they're going to do, how they're going to come out. We were able to shut them down for most of the game."
CHICAGO FIRE DEFENDER TONY SANNEH
On his assist on Thiago's goal that put the Fire up 3-1:
"I got such a good jump that I knew I was going to walk in and I actually slowed up so once I saw Thiago coming in so hard, I know that if I laid it to the space it would be a tap in. I was going to go in, but you look at that and it's something I learned over the years, where I probably scored myself on a few teams, when you lay across a pass, you can't miss from two yards out."
On what the Open Cup means to the Fire:
"It means a lot, especially with a new stadium. We keep moving forward and I think it's a question of whether we're peaking too soon, but we've had a lot of games, a lot of guys are tired, there are some injuries, but we're able to come out on top without our best players.
"It means a lot for us to come together and we started off the way we wanted to. For the organization, I think we play an attractive style of soccer, and people are realizing that and it's not just about winning. People around the country appreciate that. We're going to build a foundation to build on for years by playing a good brand and going into the playoffs on a good note."
CHICAGO FIRE GOALKEEPER MATT PICKENS
On what the championship means to his pro career:
"Number one, no doubt. Number one. I've never won a 'national' championship, so this is my thing, right here. I'm going to take this in and learn from it and now I'm that much more experienced."
On whether he was nervous before the game:
"No. Actually, last night there was. Today I did my normal routine, listened to some music, tried to calm myself down, nothing crazy. It calmed me down a bit before the game. I just went in there, and acted like it was another game. I didn't act like it was a huge thing on the line. I knew that if I did, I was going to get a little antsy."
CHICAGO FIRE FORWARD ANDY HERRON
On winning the U.S. Open Cup:
"I'm very excited. This is something that you can't explain. You always dream to be champions of something. It's amazing. Everyone that was in the stands today, my wife, my son, my friends, the fans, they are a part of this. I'm happy that we won the championship."
On his goal:
"I saw Justin Mapp on the right side and I knew he was going to cross it and I knew Tyrone (Marshall) was there and I tried running from him. I never score goals with my head, but it was awesome. I'm just really happy right now."
LOS ANGELES GALAXY HEAD COACH FRANK YALLOP
On the game:
"Well, I guess overall thoughts are as a final we didn't get a good result in. I think the game was kind of, not over in the first 20 minutes, but we dug such a hole to get out against a team that's obviously very good at home. To be down 2-0 in 20-odd minutes was going to be tough. Very disappointed in our start to the game defensively. You know, halftime I guess we had a good chat with them and they come out and they had a go. Our performance was not consistent for 90 minutes to be able to win a final."
LOS ANGELES GALAXY FORWARD ALAN GORDON
On the game:
"It's tough when you give up a couple goals early and you're fighting from behind. There's only so much we can do. You know, pack it in the back. The main focus was just to clear the ball out and on the counter attack."
On his goal:
"Landon [Donovan] played me a good ball right at my head. I did the best I could to get [the ball] down and on frame. It bounced off the 'keeper and I was able to put it away."
LOS ANGELES GALAXY DEFENDER CHRIS ALBRIGHT
On the game:
"You can't spot [the Chicago Fire] two goals. We did it the other night. Tonight we spotted them two and Saturday we spotted them one. You can't give that away and expect to beat a decent team."
