FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Brian McBride’s header into the net was negated by an offside call in the 76th minute, and the Chicago Fire settled for a 0-0 draw with the New England Revolution on Thursday night in the opener of the Major League Soccer playoffs.
Chicago, which had never earned a point in six previous playoff trips to New England, returns home for the finale of the two-game, total-goal Eastern Conference semifinal series.
McBride had the Fire’s best chance of averting the tie when he bounced a cross from Justin Mapp past Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis. The linesman promptly raised his flag for offside.
New England’s best chance to score came a few minutes from the end when Sainey Nyassi brought the ball in from the right side and had it taken away just a few yards from the net. A rebound was also blocked and cleared by Mapp.
• The league announced its newly redesigned MLS Cup trophy will be named for Denver billionaire Philip F. Anschutz, whose “vision and deep love of the game have helped establish a vibrant ‘Soccer Nation’ in America.”
Beckham goes on loan
MILAN, Italy — David Beckham will join AC Milan in January on a three- month loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy to maintain his fitness and prolong his career with the English national team. His stint in Serie A will begin Jan. 7, and he will rejoin his Galaxy teammates in March.
Denver Post wire services
