BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Nemanja Nikolic did his best to savor the moment of his first hat trick in MLS, the applause of the Chicago Fire fans, and the three-goal cushion he has over his nearest Golden Boot rivals with just one regular-season game remaining.
However, while the Golden Boot was the talk in the locker room, the likable Hungarian striker refused to focus on the individual award that is surely on its way to him in his debut season in MLS. Instead, after his hat trick lifted Chicago to a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Union, he insisted the focus should be on beating the Houston Dynamo in next Sunday's finale as they attempt to leapfrog New York City FC into the coveted second spot in the crowded East.