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SuperLiga Final: Chicago Fire vs. UANL Tigres

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The Chicago Fire will look to win its first trophy since the 2006 U.S. Open Cup by defeating Mexican side Tigres in the 2009 SuperLiga Final tonight at Toyota Park (8pm, Telefutura).

The Fire will look to become the second straight MLS team to win the SuperLiga title after New England won it last year. Pachuca won the inaugural SuperLiga title in 2007.

Tigres has a few familiar faces to MLS and USA fans. Former Chivas USA midfielder Juan Pablo Garcia and American-born and raised left back Edgar Castillo are on the squad, as are Mexican national teamers Francisco Fonseca and Jose Antonio Castro, scorer of one of the five goals in Mexico's 5-0 win vs. the U.S. national team in the Gold Cup final.

Chicago will welcome back Mexican star Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who is expected to play tonight after missing the FIre's 1-0 win vs. Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

If you will be watching tonight's match, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

Comments

  1. DJ, I note that you failed to acknowledge I did address the Banner substitute when I referred to Nyarko being taken out. That is what I made my ” hindsight ” response to.

    Also, when speaking about ” 0-2 ” in competitions, they just made it to a Final. I’m not sure why that’s lost on you.

    Further more, ask any MLS Front Office, with the salary cap and roster size, it’s very tough to juggle the schedule of US Open Cup, MLS Schedule, SuperLiga (or Champions League) and friendlies.

    The league and it’s Clubs aren’t properly built yet (until they raise the salary cap and funds available) to realisitically compeat without stretching yourself too thin in so many competitions.

    Chicago:

    *Made it to a Final

    *In the hunt to win the Supporters Shield *Will compeat for an MLS Cup

    While I respect you’re free to your own opinion, I struggle to find any logic in Hamlett’s job being in jeopardy.

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  2. Second City, I note you failed to address Banner. Both he and Mapp failed in the shootout; Banner even more egregiously, as he is supposedly automatic in training.

    The Fire right now are 0-2 in competitions this year. A failure to win MLS Cup, with a team that has been assembled to do just that (relying on contributions from players like Blanco and McBride, who won’t be here for too long) will not sit well with anyone in the Fire front office.

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  3. @ DJ

    No your wrong, stop making things up. I read an interview where he was asked why they call him Gringo, and he stated that it was a nickname given to him in elementary school by a classmate of him. They boy asked him where he was from and he said his parents where spanish, so the boy said your a gringo then. And it just stuck. Back then in Mexico, anyone who was Spanish or french were refered to as gringos. Then Americans started immigrating to Mexico(southern states of what is now Mexico) so Mexican began calling them gringos as well.

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  4. DJ,

    Pappa has been subbed off nearly all season around the 75th minute. That wasn’t anything new, nor was it shocking considering Mapp has considerable speed in comparision the ability to infuse a spark of energy.

    Also, perhaps Nyarko is a poor Penalty-taker, especially given his work-rate and fatigue from the game?

    That’s the only logic I can apply but hindsight is always 20/20 and the reason you and I are on a blog, not managing.

    Callng for Hamlett’s job when Chicago is:

    *1 point behind Columbus with a game in hand

    *Just played in a Final of a major tournament

    *Are on pace to compete for MLS Cup

    All of this while juggling numerous injuries to key players, all season.

    Honestly, your cynical assessment is puzzling and equally amusing.

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  5. DC Jack, Castro is called gringo because he “looks like” one. Castillo is called gringo because he’s becoming an American player (he already is an American by his being born in New Mexico).

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  6. A loss is still a loss. Subbing out Nyarko and Pappa as the game appeared certain to go to kicks? Oh well, the good thing is that it’s one more nail in Hamlett’s coffin. Damn shame Nowak is signed with Union; he’d be a huge, and obvious, upgrade.

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  7. That game was dominated by Chicago and if not for Tim Ward’s errant passes and horrible decision making the entire first half, Tigres would never have countered for their loan goal.

    With that said, anyone else notice Chicago had four subs?

    Tim Ward > Baggio Husidic (@ the start of 2nd half)

    Marco Pappa > Justin Mapp

    Patrick Nyarko > Mike Banner

    Bakary Soumare > Daniel Woolard

    All in all, that sucked and was really disappointing.

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  8. Castillo is “gringo” because he’s switching playing nationalities from Mexico to the US (he’s already an American by birth).

    Poor, POOR kicks by Banner and Mapp cost the Fire the title. Too bad. Some of those players could have used the prize money.

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  9. castillo had a pretty slick move a while back. much more skill than fricken bornstein. on another note, why do they call that guy gringo castro?

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  10. Castillo really does play more like a middy than a left back. he looks okay.. not sold that he could make that much of a effect on the national team..would be great for an MLS team tho

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  11. Tigres score on a GOLAZO. Individual effort from left winger(?) run at defense, cut back, curl it in far post. Niiiiiice goal.

    Damn.

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  12. @cjbrown

    I believe you confusing Fonseca with Franco, but I’m not sure because you said both did crappy in Europe.

    Anyways Fire is going to have a tough game against Tigres, either way sure hope this game is as entertaining as last years final…

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  13. Gotta hate this Tigres team:

    * Kikin Fonseca, crappy in Europe, comes into the Gold cup final and pops a shot from outside the box with his team up 4-0 and up a man. Classy.

    * Wasn’t Castro the idiot who did the Michael Jackson crotch-grabbing celebration? Punk, you can only do an MJ-inspired celebration after scoring vs. Brazil in a FIFA final, not after smoking Jay Heaps in a Concacaf match.

    * Loco Garcia was a head case before he came to MLS, in MLS and now that he is back in Mexico.

    * Castillo is welcome to play left back for the USA if the best we’ve got is Heath Pearce. Still, you have to wonder about the character of any guy who would switch teams between USA and Mexico. Sort of like someone who would leave Barca for Real or vice versa.

    (SBI-It wasn’t Fonseca who scored Mexico’s fifth goal. it was Guille Franco.)

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  14. Chicago is going to need 2 goals to take the Trophy, against a strong Tigres squad.

    Hopefully Blanco can account for one but will need Nyarko, Rolfe or Pappa to find the net as well.

    It’s going to be a rough stretch for Chicago, without McBride’s target and goal scoring ability.

    With that said, GO FIRE!

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  15. My SBI ESP kicked into high gear yet again, summoning me online to see a brand new post by Ives.

    I will root tonight for Chicago ONLY on the basis that I despise Mexican soccer… I respect it, but still have the freedom to despise it. Seeing as Chicago is a MLS team, I hope they win. But I still see the Fire as a bunch of punks, and the real test will come in October when they come to RFK.

    I am also looking forward to seeing Castillo for the first time. I’m not expecting to see Roberto Carlos’ long lost twin, but would like to see some promise that could lead to more depth, or the start of depth, on the left side of the USMNT.

    Vamos MLS team!

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