Chicago Fire News

The U.S. Soccer Foundation, the Major Charitable Arm of Soccer in the United States, announced today that retired U.S. Womena s National Team star and Boston Breakers midfielder Angela Hucles has been selected as a 2009 Humanitarian of the Year award winner.

One year after the stomach-churning home defeat that ended its dramatic playoff run as well as its season, Real Salt Lake gets another chance to reach the Major League Soccer championship game when it plays the Chicago Fire in the MLS Eastern Conference final tonight at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill.

Cuauhtemoc Blanco, seen last week, is trying to end his time in Chicago with an MLS championship.

Chicago Fire midfielder Logan Pause reacts to missing a shot in the shootout against Real Salt Lake.

Real Salt Lake advanced to its first MLS Cup final by beating the Chicago Fire 5-4 on penalty kicks after 120 scoreless minutes in the Eastern Conference final Saturday night.

The Chicago Fire host Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference final on Saturday night at Toyota Park.

Major League Soccer's conference finals this weekend will determine the competitors in the MSL cup.

The goals are rare, and you won't see him as a main option on the sending or receiving end of a set piece.

Daily Herald Chicago Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch described the atmosphere at Toyota Park ahead of last Saturday's playoff win over New England: "Section 8 was there so early that while I was warming up they were giving me goose bumps because they were already chanting and singing and carrying on.

Chicago Fire goalie Jon Busch has enjoyed watching Cuauhtemoc Blanco the past three seasons and doesn't want the "circus" to end.

Logan Pause : Logan Pause sitting here with John Thorrington, midfielder for the Chicago Fire.

There are certain indubitable truths I believe in. For example, I believe peanut butter should be crunchy, ATM fees are crimes against humanity, and Van Hagar never existed.

The Chicago Fire wil host Real Salt Lake next week in the MLS Eastern Conference Final after beating the New England Revolution 2:0 before a sell out crowd of 21,000 at Toyota Park on Saturday night.

Javier Morales and Robbie Findley scored first-half goals and Real Salt Lake advanced to its second straight conference final with a 3-2 victory over the defending MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew on Thursday night.

SUNDAY NEW ENGLAND vs. CHICAGO , 2 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Sports en Espanol The Revs -- deprived of Taylor Twellman for nearly the entire season and Steve Ralston for the past month - have scored only 33 goals, the fewest of eight playoff teams.

MLSnet.com Contrary to the expectations for a defensive battle between the Chicago Fire and the New England Revolution, both teams played to win the first leg of the playoff series at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.

Shalrie Joseph scored in the 75th minute to lift the New England Revolution to a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire on Sunday in the opening game of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

A week after helping the Chicago Fire return to the playoffs, Cuauhtemoc Blanco announced he's leaving the club.

Chicago Fire forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco has signed a contract with Veracruz of the Mexican Primera Division and will begin play there in January.

In the first round of the MLS playoffs, the Fire will have to contend with New England Revolution's Shalrie Joseph, left, a big defensive midfielder who has played some forward this season and earned consideration for league MVP honors.