BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - After advancing with a 3-2 aggregate goal-win over D.C. United in the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series last Thursday, the Chicago Fire travel to Foxborough, Mass. to face the New England Revolution in the Conference Championship on Thursday, Nov. 8 (6:30 p.m. CT, ESPN2). The "Men in Red" are riding a 10-game unbeaten streak (4-0-6) and look to continue their success in the one-off game against the Revs with a win for a spot in MLS Cup 2007. The broadcast for Thursday's game starts at 6:30 p.m. CT and will be televised nationally on ESPN2 and sent over the airwaves on Chicagoland radio station WRTO-1200 AM (Spanish).
Chicago Fire @ New England Revolution :: Eastern Conference Championship
Thursday, Nov. 8 @ 6:30 p.m. CT :: Gillette Stadium - Foxborough, Mass.
CHICAGO FIRE/ATHLETICO "RECOVERY ROOM" :: NOVEMBER 6
Curtin, Jeff - R groin strain - OUT
Curtin, Jim - R shoulder labral tear - OUT FOR SEASON
Guerrero, Ivan - L ankle sprain - PROBABLE
Mapp, Justin - R ankle sprain - PROBABLE
Russolillo, Jordan - R hip labrum tear - OUT FOR SEASON
Telesford, Osei - L groin strain - DOUBTFUL
FIRE - REVS POSTSEASON HISTORY: "I'M GONNA KNOCK YOU OUT"
The Fire and Revolution seem to meet in the postseason nearly every year, as both teams have met 10 times in the playoffs, most recently the Fire being edged out by the Revolution in penalty kicks in the 2006 Eastern Conference Semifinals game two. The Revolution have ended Chicago's season in the playoffs three of the last five seasons (2002 Eastern Conference Semifinal Series, 2005 Eastern Conference Final and 2006 Eastern Conference Semifinal Series), while Chicago stopped New England's 2003 postseason campaign with a 1-0 win in the Eastern Conference Final. In the 2004 season, New England's win over Chicago in their regular season finale kept the Fire out of the postseason for the first time in team history. The timeline between the two teams is a lengthy one:
2000 MLS QUARTERFINALS: Best-of-three series ends with Fire trouncing the Revs 6-0 at Soldier Field in Game 3. Ante Razov scored five minutes in, Hristo Stoitchkov added another pair soon after and the rout was on, bringing to the surface the bad blood between the two teams.
2002 MLS QUARTERFINALS: The Revs get revenge for two years earlier by posting a pair of 2-0 wins in Foxboro in Games one and three, denying Fire a chance for its second "double." Ante Razov's stomping of Jay Heaps earns the Fire's all-time leading scorer a three-game suspension to start the next season and adds fuel to the fire of a budding rivalry.
2003 EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL: Fire continued their trek for the "treble" with a 1-0 overtime win at Soldier Field, as captain Chris Armas's 101st minute goal sent the "Men in Red" to a third MLS Cup appearance.
2004 REGULAR SEASON: In the regular season finale, the Fire needed just a draw at Gillette Stadium to keep the East's fourth and final playoff spot away from the Revs. Goals from Clint Dempsey (55') and Nate Jaqua (56') just a minute apart keep things even, but a Steve Ralston tally two minutes later gives the Revs a 2-1 lead they would keep. The teams ended 2004 even on points, but the Revs' victory gave them the series lead over the Fire, putting Chicago out of the postseason for the first - and only - time in team history.
2005 EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL: A rematch of the 2003 East Final comes out with the same score, but this time it's the Revs advancing to MLS Cup via a 1-0 win. Dempsey's goal just four minutes in appears to be offset by a Gonzalo Segares tally in second half stoppage time, but the Fire defender's goal is taken off the board due to a terribly close - and correct - offside call. In the ensuing chaos following the call, Fire forward Andy Herron made inappropriate contact with a referee and was red carded, only to come back onto the field following the final whistle, a decision that costs him a six-game suspension to start this season.
2006 EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS: Fire midfielder Justin Mapp's first career MLS Cup Playoffs goal came off a 35th minute bending freekick in game one to lift Chicago with a one aggregate goal cushion heading into game two. The second leg saw the "Men in Red" gain a two-goal advantage after forward Nate Jaqua tallies in the 18th minute, but goals from Twellman (41') and Noonan (58') forced a scoreless overtime period. New England beat the Fire 4-2 on the ensuing penalty kicks to send Chicago home.
RED-HOT STREAK (4-0-6)
The Chicago Fire are enjoying their best form of the season, evidenced by a current 10-game unbeaten run through MLS league and postseason play, starting with a 1-0 win at Columbus on Sept. 8. Much of the success can be attributed to the defense, which has given up only eight goals, or .80 goals-per-game. During their unbeaten streak, the Fire have posted crucial results against Eastern Conference opposition, going 3-0-4 through seven inter-conference games through the 10-game streak. Ties are the theme down the stretch, as the "Men in Red" have drawn six times during the streak, while narrowly outscoring their opponent 9-6.
