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USL News Release

Sunday, August 3, 2008

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – The Chicago Fire opened on the attack early and finished the game off late in their 2-1 victory over the Toronto Lynx in the Super-20 North American Finals.

The Fire wasted no time in putting their stamp on the match and thought they found the first goal in just the 2nd minute. Then Toronto’s Chris Mitchell, stationed on the front right post reacted brilliantly and headed away a sure goal. Ten minutes later the complexion of the match changed for good as Mitchell was sent off with a red card following an altercation on the left flank. The Fire used the one man advantage, and a brilliant diving header from Matt Eliason to get that early, 1-0 lead.

But the resilient Lynx, who have been down a goal in two matches already this weekend, would not go silently. After they regrouped at the half, Toronto managed to press Chicago, and a brilliant individual effort from a phenomenal athlete, Jordan Webb, put them right back in the match, 1-1.

“Sherif [El-Masri] played a great ball in for me,” said Webb after the match. “The cross came in and I just beat the defender to the ball and headed it past the goalie.”

But while the first Canadian side to appear in the Super-20 League North American Finals could overcome insurmountable odds, they could not overcome the Chicago Fire. In the 81st minute Chris Cutshaw’s bent corner kick was won in the area, again by Eliason, and the ball traveled the length of the goalmouth before setting into the back post netting for the 2-1 win.

“We were lead all season by our co-captains, Mark Blades and Robert Younger,” said Chicago Fire Head Coach Larry Sunderland, who named the duo 2008 Super-20 League Co-MVP’s following the match. “Their leadership qualities really complement one another. Younger is a center back, harder on the guys and more vocal where Mark leads by example.”

The championship victory vindicated the Fire, as it was the only step they missed last season, falling to Player Development Academy 3-1.

“As I said yesterday, Brock Tomlinson is absolutely huge for us in goal,” added Sunderland. “But Mike Stephens, our attacking center mid, was tremendous all tournament.”

Following the first goal the match stalled a bit – a game between a team with ten men and a team content with a one goal lead. But the Lynx were also understandably flustered and surrendering uncharacteristic scoring opportunities. The match would have easily been out of reach by the half if not for the play of Lynx goalkeeper Brendan Heembrock. He made the biggest save of the day with his body, sliding out to his right to deny a very open forward who did all he could to beat the man with the gloves. But Heembrock was too steady and deflected the well-struck ball upwards into the crossbar and out of play.

After Toronto’s goal, the momentum did shift back in favor of Chicago around the 65th minute mark. But after 15 tough minutes of well-organized defending and counter attacking from the Lynx, it looked as if the defenses would hold through full time. Then came Eliason’s game-winner, the first thing Toronto could not recover from all weekend. Including stoppage time, the match was over 13 minutes later, crowning Chicago the best Under-20 side in the United States and Canada.