Posted: Saturday November 15, 2003 12:32 AM
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| New England Revolution |
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NAPERVILLE, Illinois (Ticker) -- The Chicago Fire advanced to their third MLS Cup championship game with a 1-0 victory over the New England Revolution as captain Chris Armas scored a golden goal 11 minutes into extra time.
Chicago won the Eastern Conference championship and has an opportunity to become the first team in MLS history to capture the Supporters Shield for the best regular-season record, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and MLS Cup in a single season.
The Fire improved to 13-1-1 all-time at home in the postseason and await the winner of Saturday night's Western Conference championship match between the host San Jose Earthquakes and Kansas City Wizards. The MLS Cup will be at Carson, California on November 23.
The highest-scoring teams during the regular season concluded 90 minutes of regulation in a scoreless deadlock before proceeding to extra time, when Armas netted his second career postseason goal.
Flank midfielder Justin Mapp, an 81st-minute substitute, was the catalyst on the game-winning goal with a stunning 40-yard acceleration. The 19-year-old Mapp beat Revolution left back Marshall Leonard with an effortless weaving run down the right attacking side and reached the end line before centering the ball.
Forward Damani Ralph did not get a clean shot off from the penalty spot, and the ball bounced to a wide-open Armas, who easily tapped the ball home from two yards out.
Chicago dominated the match, outshooting the visitors, 20-7. New England was without captain and left back Joey Franchino (left quadriceps strain) and forward and leading scorer Taylor Twellman (foot stress fracture), who joined striker Chris Brown (broken foot) and all-time leading scorer Joe-Max Moore (left MCL sprain) on the sidelines.
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