Jalil Anibaba, Diego Chaves help Fire end on a good note

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Updated: November 24, 2011 8:38AM

The Fire has mounted a low-key campaign the last few weeks to promote defender Jalil Anibaba as Major League Soccer’s rookie of the year. Anibaba made his own statement Saturday in the last game of the season.

Anibaba, the only rookie to stick with the team, scored on two first-half headers as the Fire (9-9-16) overcame the Columbus Crew 3-2 before 20,237 at Toyota Park.

While Anibaba set the tone, a rousing finish was needed after the Crew (13-13-8) wiped out a two-goal deficit. Diego Chaves delivered his second game-winning goal in as many games in the 81st minute as the Fire went 7-2-2 in its last 11 games to salvage a .500 season.

‘‘It’s great to finish on a very positive note,’’ interim coach Frank Klopas said. ‘‘We were disappointed to not make the playoffs, but we have a lot to build on.’’

The Fire made Anibaba, named the most valuable player in MLS’ preseason combine, its first-round pick (13th overall) in this year’s draft. Though he made his 27th start in 30 league games, Anibaba showed little offensively until the first half against the Crew. His only previous goal came March 30 — a 40-yard bomb that gave the Fire a 2-1 win over Colorado in a U.S. Open Cup play-in game.

In MLS play, Anibaba had one assist and only two of his nine shots were on goal. That changed in the 11th minute, when Anibaba ventured into the box to head in a long ball from Pavel Pardo. The second goal, in the 29th minute, was more spectacular and worthy of the season’s highlight reel. Cory Gibbs sent a long ball into the box from along the left sideline. Anibaba nodded this one past Columbus goalkeeper William Hesmer from 10 yards out.

Though the Fire was eliminated from playoff contention earlier in the week, Klopas went with his usual starting lineup minus midfielder Sebastian Grazzini, who was again bothered by a hamstring problem and didn’t dress.