BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Mike Magee rolled back the clock with a vintage performance and a brace to secure the Chicago Fire’s passage through to the last eight of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday.
Magee, captain for the night, made his first start since last August after a grueling nine-month spell on the sidelines recovering from hip surgery. Back in the game, he led by example as he showed head coach Frank Yallop, his fellow teammates and fans what they’ve been missing during his extended absence.
A return of two goals from three shots will be the most important takeaway from the 30-year-old’s return to action. But perhaps more significant were the passion and energy he showed in orchestrating and encouraging his teammates, working tirelessly across the frontline to pressure the Charlotte Independence backline.
The night began with the visitors taking a surprise 1-0 lead in the fifth minute, and ended with a comfortable 3-1 victory for the Men in Red.
Another highlight for the latter? The return of Patrick Nyarko as a 77th minute substitute, himself returing after an injury absence about as long as Magee's. The two players then combined superbly to make it 3-1 eight minutes from time and secure a home clash against Orlando City FC in the quarterfinals.
“The first goal was great, and tying the game in the first half is not all that glorious,” Magee said of his 38th-minute equalizer. “But in the second half, I'm 10 times happier to see Pat on the field, first of all. Then, for him to give me a lay-up, it feels pretty similar to how it was two years ago, when we had that great run. He's brilliant over there, and for some reason, he always seems to give me the easy goal. So, thanks, Pat Nyarko.”
Yallop offered praise for both players, who have shown remarkable strength, perseverance and discipline to get back to a place where they can contribute to the team once again.
“Obviously great to get through into the next round, coming from behind is always important as well,” Yallop told reporters at the post-match press conference. “But I probably think the highlight of the game was seeing Patrick and Mike being back on the field and contributing to us. Very happy for the team and those two guys as individuals. It's been a long way back for them. Happy to see them on the field, very proud in the way the team kept going and got the result. I thought Sean Johnson was outstanding also."
While delighted with his double-goal-scoring return, 2013 MLS MVP Magee said he was equally satisfied with lasting the full 90 minutes, and paid tribute to strength and conditioning Coach Adrian Lamb for pushing him throughout the lengthy rehabilitation process.
"Adrian Lamb, our fitness guy, many people haven't seen the work we've done together, and more importantly, the work he made me do. Probably half the time, if I was trying to quit, or trying to give him a better idea of what I thought I should do, which was half of what he had planned for me," Magee said. "If it weren't for him, I probably wouldn't be playing tonight, let alone finishing 90 and playing well.”
Yallop also acknowledged the part played by Englishman Lamb in Magee’s recovery, pointing out that Magee ran straight to Lamb after celebrating his second goal with Nyarko.
“Mike gave everything he had. He still has a little bit of a catch-up but I think after he scored the second goal, he went over to our fitness coach Adrian Lamb and gave him a hug because he worked very hard to get him back to this point,” Yallop said.
“When you have surgery, you think you're going to get back pretty quickly but you realize it is nine months and it's a long time. I think he is very appreciative of the work he put in himself and the staff we have here to get him to this point," he continued. "I'm pleased for him and I think he showed tonight, took three shots and scored two goals. His ratio is pretty good and he's got to keep that up.”
