and by success I mean at least reaching MLS Cup in Frisco -- is the most expedient way to exorcize those particular demons, and for coach Sarachan to prove to his detractors that he's a worthy leader of this franchise. Can he do it? The Magic 8-Ball says "answer fuzzy, come back later." This season has been a Jekyll-and-Hyde amalgam of performances both inspired and lethargic, sometimes within the space of a single game, and that makes outcomes notoriously hard to predict.
Which means that on Friday night at Soldier Field, and the return leg in D.C. nine interminable days later that could bookend baseball's World Series in it's entirety, I'll be on the edge of my seat waiting to see if Chicago's "other" playoff team can carve out their place in team history, or resign themselves to the middle ground of being not nearly the worst Fire team we've seen in eight years, but not nearly the best, either.
Chris Costello is a contributor to Chicago-Fire.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its teams.
