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June 4, 2005
Jaqua Sparks Fire
Chicago Forward Tallies Hat Trick
Kathryn L. Knapp
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Fire forward Nate Jaqua sparked the offense scoring in the 2nd, 60th and 73rd minutes. The hat trick marks the fourth in Fire history.
Linda Cuttone / Sports Vue Images |
CHICAGO – Nate Jaqua sparked the Chicago Fire Saturday afternoon in front of 12,759 at Soldier Field. The 6-3 forward tallied a hat trick, leading the Fire to a 5-2 victory vs. Chivas USA.
“The end result was important,” Fire Head Coach Dave Sarachan said. “It was one of those games where we felt we we’re doing ok. We got an early goal. They equalize, get another goal and then we’re down 2-1. It was a great team response. We didn’t take them lightly by any means.”
Chicago took control early. In just the second minute of play, the Fire’s Thiago made a run up field. He passed the ball to Logan Pause, who quickly sent it back to Thiago. He ran toward goal and flicked the ball to a running Nate Jaqua. The Fire forward sent the ball directly into the net.
The momentum switched for the remainder of the first half as Chivas USA took the lead. In the fifth minute, Chivas USA answered the Fire’s goal. Antonio Martinez, in his first start for Chivas USA, sent a long ball into the corner of the net, evening the score at 1-1.
Just before the half in the 42nd minute, Chivas USA took charge. Franisco Gomez sent a corner kick into the box. Defender Ezra Hendrickson jumped up and headed it past Fire keeper Zach Thornton. The goal gave Chivas USA its third lead of the season.
“What we’ve talked about is getting the little things right,” Sarachan said. “Getting a goal off of a corner kick is unacceptable. We have to clean up the little things.”
The lead lasted a brief 11 minutes, before Chicago’s offense exploded.
In the 53rd minute, Chris Rolfe crossed the ball to the left side of goal. Chivas USA goalkeeper Martin Zuniga came out of the box to challenge Rolfe, leaving the net wide open. A Chivas USA defender got a head on it, sending it toward Chicago’s Samuel Caballero. The defender headed the ball forward to an open Jesse Marsch. He headed the ball into an open net, tying the game at 2-2.
Four minutes later, the Fire’s offense made another run for goal. Thiago sent the ball to Ivan Guerrero, who was waiting in the center of the net. Guerrero settled the ball and shot it past Zuniga, giving the Fire a 3-2 lead.
Three minutes after that, Chicago defender Gonzalo Segares crossed a long ball to a leaping Jaqua. He jumped up and headed it into the net for a 4-2 Fire lead.
In the 73rd minute, Jaqua tallied his third goal of the night. Chris Rolfe made a run up field and shot. Zuniga got a hand on it and sent it to the right side of the net. Jaqua picked up speed and sent the deflection into the net, giving Chicago a 5-2 advantage.
“Things went right for us in the second half,” Jaqua said. “I had a lot of good crosses sent my way, got my runs timed well and I was able to get on the end of them.”
The hat trick marks the first of Jaqua’s career and fourth in Fire history. Jaqua has now tallied four goals 12 games into the 2005 season. He ended 2004 with four. His goal in the second minute also marks Chicago’s second quickest goal in club history.
“What you see is what you get with Nate,” Sarachan said. “I was thrilled for him that he got rewarded with goals.”
Five goals proved to be enough for Chicago as the game ended with a 5-2 Fire win.
“The win is pretty exciting,” Segares said. “We’re looking better every time. We’re starting to know each other better. We struggled a little in the first half. But we came together in the second half. We knew we had 45 minutes left. It was time to take the game back.”
Expansion team Chivas USA named a new head coach Friday. Hans Westerhof made his MLS coaching debut Saturday, but the team continued to struggle. Chivas USA sits at the bottom of the league with five points (1-9-2). The Fire now posts a winning record of 6-5-1 for 19 points. Chicago returns to action Sunday June 12th, welcoming FC Dallas to Soldier Field.
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