On a misty-then-rainy-then-clear-then-rainy night in Bridgeview, the Chicago Fire won their regular season finale with a score of 5-2 over the New York Red Bulls. Chris Rolfe recorded a hat trick by halftime, scoring in the 11th, 38th and 44th minutes, and later assisted on a goal by Daniel Woolard in the 75th minute.
Rolfe told the Chicago Tribune that it was probably his best game since high school.
With home-field advantage for the playoffs on the line, the Fire's victory secured the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. They'll play the New England Revolution in the first round that starts Thursday.
The night also marked the last regular-season game for Fire defender Diego Gutierrez who will be retiring after this season. Gutierrez, who hadn't scored a goal or recorded an assist all season, assisted in a goal by Brian McBride in the 53rd minute.
Check out a YouTube video of the Fire's best goals of 2008 here. (Last night's goal by McBride comes in at #8, Rolfe's goal in the 38th minute last night - a beauty where he bounces the ball off his chest right to his foot for the score - is #4, and another of Rolfe's goals last night is #2.)
See all of last night's highlights here.
Some pictures:
The Fire celebrates after a Rolfe goal.
Tensions run high after a yellow card is given to the Red Bulls.
A rainy night at Toyota Park.