Quick goals from Chad Marshall and Eddie Gaven early in the second half overcame a goal by Brian McBride and carried the Columbus Crew to a 2-1 Eastern Conference Championship victory Thursday against the Chicago Fire and the first MLS Cup berth in club history.
Marshall scored off a header in the 49th minute and Gaven scored six minutes later. Guillermo Barros Schelotto assisted on both. The Crew will play in MLS Cup 2008 on Nov. 23 at The Home Depot Center against the winner of Saturday's New York Red Bulls at Real Salt Lake match. McBride, a former member of the Crew, scored on a header in the 29th minute for the Fire lead, but he was beaten on the tying goal by defender Marshall 20 minutes later. The Crew has never been afraid of falling behind. No other team had as many points after giving up the first goal. Columbus has forged at least a tie 11 of 18 times after trailing 1-0.
A hard tone was set 15 seconds in when Marshall tackled Cuauhtemoc Blanco along the right touchline without a foul being called. Chicago produced the first chance in the eighth minute when Mapp dribbled through several Crew defenders and fired from 25 yards. Crew goalkeeper William Hesmer had no trouble making the save.
Fire defender Bakary Soumare was issued a yellow card in the 22nd minute for tackling Gaven to stop his run down the left flank in the final third. The ensuing free kick nearly put the Crew ahead but Marshall's glancing header went just left of the goal. Schelotto followed three minutes later with a strike from 28 yards that pinged the crossbar at the left corner.
McBride left the Crew before the 2004 season for Fulham of the English Premier League. His 62 goals for the Black and Gold are tied for the team career high with Jeff Cunningham. McBride returned from England in August to play for his hometown Fire. This was McBride's first game in Columbus as an MLS opponent although he played for Fulham in the 2005 MLS All-Star Game. He scored twice for the Fire on Oct. 12 in the home tie against the Crew. Any thoughts of a warm homecoming were quickly dispelled when he was greeted by a banner that read "Wanted. McBride. Treason" and chants of "Traitor' when he was introduced. He was booed every time he touched the ball.
After going 11-2-2 at home during the regular season, the Crew won both playoff games, giving them eight in a row at home, outscoring the visitors 18-3 with five shutouts. It was a boisterous thunder stick-bashing crowd. The Crew's massive Nordecke in the northeast strong was more than 2,500 strong.
Chicago Fire (1-1-1) vs. Columbus Crew (2-0-1)
November 13, 2008 -- Columbus Crew Stadium
Scoring Summary:
CHI -- Brian McBride 1 (Justin Mapp 2) 29
CLB -- Chad Marshall 1 (Guillermo Barros Schelotto 2) 49
CLB -- Eddie Gaven 1 (Alejandro Moreno 3, Guillermo Barros Schelotto 3) 55
Chicago Fire -- Jon Busch, Brandon Prideaux (Patrick Nyarko 70), Wilman Conde, Bakary Soumare, Gonzalo Segares (Mike Banner 79), Chris Rolfe (Marco Pappa 90), Logan Pause, John Thorrington, Justin Mapp, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Brian McBride.
Substitutes Not Used: Diego Gutierrez, Andy Herron, Nick Noble, Dasan Robinson
Columbus Crew -- William Hesmer, Frankie Hejduk, Gino Padula, Chad Marshall, Danny O'Rourke, Eddie Gaven (Andy Iro 88), Brian Carroll, Brad Evans, Robbie Rogers, Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Emmanuel Ekpo 81), Alejandro Moreno.
Substitutes Not Used: Andy Gruenebaum, Ezra Hendrickson, Steven Lenhart, Stefani Miglioranzi, Pat Noonan
Misconduct Summary:
CHI -- Bakary Soumare (caution; Reckless Tackle) 22
CHI -- Gonzalo Segares (caution; Reckless Tackle) 48
CLB -- Danny O'Rourke (caution; Reckless Foul) 57
CHI -- Brandon Prideaux (caution; Reckless Foul) 67
CLB -- William Hesmer (caution; Delaying a Restart) 92+
Referee: Terry Vaughn
Referee's Assistants: Thomas Supple; Fabio Tovar
4th official: Richard Heron
Time of game: 1:51
Attendance: 14,688
Weather: Cloudy -and- 52 degrees
