TORONTO -- Chicago's Frantz Mathieu, a defender well aware of what it takes to defuse the most prolific scorer in NASL history, parlayed his knowledge into the MVP award in the Sting's Soccer Bowl triumph Saturday night.
Mathieu shadowed New York's record-setting Giorgio Chinaglia thoughout the NASL championship, forcing the fabled Italian striker to rush his shots and misfire on a number of passes in Chicago's 1-0 shootout victory.
'Bogie (Cosmos' midfielder Vladislav Bogecivec) and the rest of the Cosmos know how Chinaglia likes to get the ball,' said the 28-year-old member of the Haitian national team.
'He always gets it on the right side and turns right with it,' Mathieu said of his opponent. 'I gave him the left side always, but he did not take advantage of it.'
Mathieu, who all week long predicted he would have no trouble marking Chinaglia, remained quiet and restrained despite the jubiliant and champagne-filled Chicago dressing room.
'I am not excited about the away I played,' said the NASL first-team All-Star, who scored the winning goal in Chicago's 1-0 shootout victory over San Diego last Monday.
'I didn't think it was my best game of the year. He doesn't move a lot and that makes it easy.'
Chinaglia, who last year scored two goals in New York's 3-0 Soccer Bowl victory over Fort Lauderdale and was named the game's MVP, had nothing but respect for his Chicago opponent.
'Mathieu anticipated me right most of the time. He played me close all night,' said the subdued Cosmos' marksman.
