July 23, 2007 12:15 AM
Celtic ends U.S. tour with tie at Chicago
After being dominated by the MLS All-Stars, Celtic was dominated for about 58 minutes by Cuauhtémoc Blanco and the Fire.
Then Blanco left the game.
That move opened the door for Celtic, which took control in the latter, substitute-filled stretch of the game and earned a 1-1 tie Sunday in Chicago.
As we watched this game, my son wondered aloud how the MLS All-Star team would've fared in Glasgow. And how the Fire would've fared had it not been Blanco's first game. Or had the Fire been playing in Scotland.
Good questions all. In those scenarios, the outcomes easily could've been different.
This was a brutal trip for the Scottish champions. The time difference meant the Bhoys were playing a game from about 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. in Scottish time. The heat during the week was something Celtic is not accustomed to. Likewise the altitude. The All-Stars also had to battle the altitude, and the unlimited subs also helped both teams. But Celtic is now only six games into its preseason, while the All-Stars were in midseason form. Ditto for Chicago. And the temperature in the Windy City was in the high 80s.
The Hoops probably will think again before they schedule a trip to the U.S.
And if they do, they'll have a better appreciation about the quality of football in America.
MAN OF THE TOUR: Celtic midfielder Scott Brown played the full 90 on Sunday. He was active, aggressive, tireless (even in the heat) and relentless. He displayed the same skill set in Commerce City. He was fortunate that his foul on Eddie Johnson in the penalty area didn't cost his team a goal, and he did receive a yellow in that game. But his two performances show that he was a great signing for this team and should be an asset in midfield for years.
ALL-STAR GAME MAN OF THE MATCH: Goalkeeper Artur Boruc was the best player at the All-Star Game. He did lose 2-0, but his save on Juan Toja was unbelievable, and his save on the penalty kick was in the same category. He kept his team from being embarrassed.
SUNDAY'S MAN OF THE MATCH: How could anyone but Blanco be considered here? He scored the Fire's goal in the 30th minute, and he was mere inches from scoring a hat trick. He nearly scored directly off of a corner kick in the first half, and in the 43rd minute, he almost curled the ball into the top left corner past Boruc. The Fire was, pardon me, on fire when he was in the game. One tic-tac-toe play early in the second half was one of the most exciting combinations I've seen in MLS play. But the life of the Chicago side was snuffed out when Blanco left the game.
NOTE TO SELF: C-U-A-U-H-T-E-M-O-C
DAMN SHAME: With all the fuss about David Beckham joining MLS this year, it's disappointing that the Fire already have made the team's only appearance at Dick's Sporting Goods Park this year. We'll have to wait for 2008 to see Blanco in person.
CROWD: I was surprised to see so many empty seats. The announced attendance was slightly more than 15,000, but many seats were empty. With Celtic in town and Blanco's debut, this was hard to believe.
OFFSIDE: Gordon Strachan is absolutely wrong if he things Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink was onside in the 14th minute. His strike from just outside the penalty area was a thing of pure skill, something i doubt any player in MLS is capable of. But he was offside; there is no doubt.
DON'T GO FOR THE GLORY: Late in the game, Celtic forward Scott McDonald tried to crush the ball into the Chicago net. But he struck the ball right at goalkeeper Jon Busch. I'm sure it felt good, but he'd have scored a goal had he aimed for either of the lower corners. That would've felt better.
FINALLY, CELTIC SCORES: In the 80th minute, Derek Riordan, on the left wing, received a perfect cross from midfielder Massimo Donati. Riordan one-timed the ball with the outside of his left foot. The timing was perfect, and it was pure instinct. It was the goal McDonald wanted to score.
DONATI COMES ALIVE: Donati was a non-factor in Commerce City. But entering the Fire game in the second half, he was electric.
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