MLS Chicago Fire FC

Fire to continue playoffs next Thursday

Published on November 7, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


Bridgeview, IL. (November 7, 2008) - The Chicago Fire advanced in the 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs last night with a 3-0 victory over New England at TOYOTA PARK.

The Fire will now play in the Eastern Conference Final Thursday, Nov. 13 against the winner of the Columbus-Kansas City series. If Columbus advances, the game will be at Crew Stadium in Columbus at 6:30 CT. If Kansas City wins, the game will be played at TOYOTA PARK at 7:30 p.m. CT. The match is scheduled to be televised by ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. Columbus and Kansas City play at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 8 to decide their semifinal series.

If the game is at TOYOTA PARK tickets will go on sale Sunday, Nov. 9 at 9 a.m. They can be purchased via chicago-fire.com, by calling 888-MLS-FIRE, at the TOYOTA PARK Box Office or via all Ticketmaster outlets including ticketmaster.com.

FIRE UPDATED TRAINING SCHEDULE:

Saturday, Nov. 8 OFF

Sunday, Nov. 9 Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 10 a.m.

Monday, Nov. 10 Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 9 a.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 11 Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 9 a.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 12 Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 9:30 a.m.

Thursday, Nov. 13 Chicago Fire vs. TBA - ESPN2/ESPN Deportes - TBA

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL NOTEBOOK

This is the 7th time in franchise history Chicago is playing in a conference final. Three of those previous appearances have been a one-game playoff and the Fire is 1-2 in those games with all of these games being played against New England. The club won in 2003 (1-0, OT) and then lost on the road in 2005 (1-0) and in 2007 (1-0). The other three appearances came in 2001, a 0-2-1 series loss to Los Angeles, in 2000 a 2-1-0 series win over New York and in 1998, a 2-0-0 series win against Los Angeles.

MLS CUP FINAL NOTEBOOK

A victory in next Thursday's game would put the Fire in their 4th MLS Cup Final...Chicago won the MLS Cup in 1998 (2-0 vs. D.C. United) and then lost in 2000 to Kansas City (1-0) and in 2003 to San Jose (4-2).

PLAYOFFS A FAMILIAR PLACE FOR FIRE

The Chicago Fire are making their 10th appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs...the club has made the playoffs 10 times in their 11 seasons of play in MLS...Chicago will be playing its 39th MLS Cup Playoff game Thursday which is the 2nd-highest total in league history behind Los Angeles' 45...Chicago is 20-12-6 all-time in the Playoffs which includes a 15-1-2 home record (56G/35GA) and a 5-11-4 road record (16G/22GA)...the Fire won its only MLS Cup in its first season in 1998...last year the club advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals where it lost to New England 1-0 at Gillette Stadium.

NEW PLAYOFF OPPONENTS

Regardless of the outcome in the Columbus-Kansas City series, the Fire will be playing a team they usually don't see in the playoffs...If Chicago plays the Crew, it will be the first-ever matchup between the teams in the MLS Cup Playoffs...the only game Chicago and Kansas City has played in the postseason was the 2000 MLS Cup Final, which KC won 1-0...by comparison, the Fire has played 10 playoff games vs. New England, 7 vs. D.C. United, 6 against FC Dallas and 5 vs. Los Angeles...during the regular season, Chicago and Columbus tied both games the teams played by identical 2-2 scores while Kansas City won the season series 1-0-2 after winning in Chicago 1-0 in April and then tying both games in K.C. - 0-0 in July and 1-1 in October.

BLANCO UP FOR GOAL OF THE YEAR

Last year's MLS Sierra Mist Goal of the Year winner Cuauhtémoc Blanco is once again a finalist for the award. Blanco's goal at D.C. United in May is nominated for one of the 10 best of the year in the league. Fans can vote through Nov. 18 at chicago-fire.com and the winner will be announced the next day.

Check out the Chicago Fire FC Statistics

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