They came out to see international superstars Cuauhtémoc Blanco and David Beckham square off in the winner-take-all decider to the Major League Soccer regular season, but it was John Thorrington who made the biggest impact as the reserve midfielder put in the game-winner in stoppage time to send the Chicago Fire to the MLS Cup Playoffs in a 1-0 victory against the Los Angeles Galaxy before a sellout crowd at Toyota Park.
On a breakaway, Thorrington advanced into the Galaxy penalty area and as LA 'keeper Joe Cannon came out to meet the charge, Thorrington chipped the game-winner over Cannon's head to the back of the Galaxy net and put an end to the Galaxy's incredible run one game short of their postseason dreams.
Both teams entered Sunday's match with a seven-game unbeaten streak but the visitors' run was more impressive as the Galaxy had won five of those seven contests to pull themselves into the thick of playoff contention when many had already counted them out.
The Fire dominated proceedings on the afternoon, outshooting the Galaxy 22-5 overall. The Galaxy recorded just a single shot on goal -- coming in the fifth minute.
The Fire will now take on D.C. United, winners of the Supporters' Shield with the best overall record in the regular season, in their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series. The Fire held the tiebreaker over the Kansas City Wizards, with whom they tied for seventh in the standings, with 40 points each. The Wizards will move over to the Western Conference bracket, where they will take on Chivas USA in the first round.
In their seven-game unbeaten run, the Fire had grimly held on to eighth place in the overall standings, winning just two of those games. But they came out aggressive when midfielder Chris Rolfe recorded the first two shots of the game for either team in the first minute of play, though both attempts were deflected out of play.
Los Angeles generated its only shot on goal for the game in the sixth minute when Carlos Pavon's shot was saved by diving Fire goalkeeper Matt Pickens.
In the 10th minute, Blanco kicked a ball that Fire forward Paulo Wanchope had lost outside of the penalty area. Blanco located the ball and tried to place it just under the Galaxy crossbar but Cannon anticipated the left-footed shot and leaped to push the ball over the crossbar to preserve the scoreless tie.
In the 22nd minute, a foul committed by Galaxy midfielder Peter Vagenas gave Chicago a direct free kick. Blanco set up 30 yards away from the Los Angeles goal and lofted a pass that found C.J. Brown. The Chicago defender headed it goalward but Cannon was able to reach across his body to deflect it out of play with his right hand. On the ensuing corner kick, Blanco had a chance to head home from inside the goal area but his shot went right of the Galaxy net.
The intensity of the game was exhibited in the 35th minute. Galaxy midfielder Peter Vagenas was called for a foul for his tackle on Blanco which sent the Mexican star to the turf. The two had a heated but brief exchange but neither side was issued a card.
Four minutes later, Blanco received a leading pass from fellow midfielder Wilman Conde for a breakaway chance but his shot was stuffed by Cannon. Chicago had two excellent chances in the final minutes of the first half but neither forward Chad Barrett nor Rolfe could convert.
Landon Donovan had a direct free kick opportunity in the 48th minute but nothing was able to come of it as the L.A. offense continued to struggle.
Blanco led Barrett with a 20-yard pass and as Barrett was able to successfully beat two Galaxy defenders in the penalty area but Cannon came up to meet the Chicago forward and took the ball from Barrett's feet in the 53rd minute.
The Fire continued to pepper the LA goal as Rolfe recorded his first shot on goal in the 54th minute, but his 25-yard left-footer was taken in by Cannon for his fourth save on the contest.
Los Angeles made its first substitution in the 58th minute when Frank Yallop replaced Vagenas with Beckham for his Chicago debut in hopes to spark a stagnant offense.
Chicago coach Juan Carlos Osorio replaced Barrett with Thorrington in the 61st minute then Yallop countered with Edson Buddle for Gavin Glinton.
Beckham's entrance had a brief effect at the midway point of the half. On a direct free kick from Beckham, Pavon recorded his second shot of the game in the 67th minute but it was high of the Chicago net. Pavon also sent a shot three minutes later toward the Chicago goal, but that too was high.
With the playoff futures of both clubs still in doubt, the Fire dominated the final 20 minutes, sending seven shots goalward. Rolfe put up his sixth of the game in the 84th minute, but it was deflected.
Beckham's attempt in the 77th minute went high of the Chicago goal and that was the last shot recorded by the Galaxy. Buddle also received a yellow card caution in the 86th minute for Los Angeles.
In the 93rd minute in stoppage time, sent through by substitute Calen Carr, Thorrington found himself on a breakaway and was able to bring Cannon out of the net and lofted a perfect chip over the LA netminder for the win and the coveted playoff spot for Chicago.
Tim Hilton is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
