| | LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Most days, the Chicago Fire try to forget that warm, sunny day in Pasadena last October when they hoisted the Major League Soccer championship trophy over their heads.
This is, after all, a new season, and daydreaming about last
year doesn't do much good.
|  | | Chicago's Peter Nowak, left, Jesse Marsch, center, and Frank Klopas hope to once again raise the MLS Cup, this time on Nov. 21 at Foxboro Stadium. |
But it's good to reminisce every once in a while. Now, with the
MLS playoffs about to begin, would be a very good time for the Fire
to remember just how they got that trophy.
"Last year was in the past, but that feeling comes back," Fire
forward-midfielder Frank Klopas said after practice Thursday.
"It's always harder to repeat, but the positive thing is we've
been through it. We realize how hard we worked last year and the
demands and sacrifices we had to make.
"We have to have that same hunger and attitude we had last
year."
The Fire (18-14) begin defense of their title Saturday in Dallas
when they face the Burn (19-13) in the best-of-3 Western Conference
semifinals.
The Colorado Rapids (20-12) play the Los Angeles Galaxy (20-12) in the other Western Conference semifinal. In the Eastern
Conference, the Miami Fusion (13-19) play D.C. United (23-9), and
the Tampa Bay Mutiny (14-18) play the Columbus Crew (19-13).
Winners of the conference finals will meet Nov. 21 in the MLS
Cup at Foxboro Stadium, home field of the New England Revolution.
Last year, the Fire had it easy. Or as easy as playoffs can get.
No one expected much from them; just getting to the playoffs
was impressive enough.
But the Fire swept the Rapids in the conference semifinals, and
then beat the Galaxy in the finals. That put them in the MLS Cup,
and they stunned D.C. United, the league's two-time defending
champion, 2-0.
"It's a great feeling, walking on the stage and holding up that
trophy, celebrating in the locker room," Klopas said.
Defending a title, however, is another matter.
"Nothing has come easy for this team," coach Bob Bradley said.
"It's a credit to this team, but I think things easily could have
gone off track."
The Fire was knocked down to third place in the Western
Conference when Dallas won last weekend, and they're still smarting
from a loss on penalty kicks to Costa Rica in the CONCACAF
Champions Cup semifinals. They also lost to an A-League team, the
Rochester Raging Rhinos, in the U.S. Cup.
Chicago was in eight shootouts this season, losing five. The
team is beaten up, too. Forward Josh Wolff, the No. 2 scorer with
10 goals, is out with a torn ligament in his left knee. Midfielders
Diego Gutierrez and Jesse Marsch and defenders Francis Okaroh and
Tommy Soehn are ailing, too.
"It's always harder the second year," said forward Ante Razov,
whose 14 goals led the Fire and ranked sixth in the league. "It's
really been a tough season for us."
Things won't be much easier against the Burn. While Dallas'
record isn't much better, the Burn ended the regular season as the
MLS' best team. They won their final five games and eight of the
last nine, including a shootout victory over the Fire. The Fire and
Burn split four games in the regular season.
Forward Jason Kreis had an MVP-like season, leading the league
with 18 goals and 15 assists. He won player of the week honors for
a second straight week after scoring the game-winner in Dallas'
last game.
"Really, on current form, Dallas is as good as anybody,"
midfielder-forward Paul Dougherty said. "Obviously, D.C. and Los
Angeles had the best records, but Dallas' current form means a
lot."
Everything starts over now. Forget the records, forget the tough
losses. All the Fire need to remember is Pasadena, and what it took
to get there.
"I believe it's taken all year to get to that point, but yes,
now we have the same hunger we had last year to win," Bradley
said. "We still believe we're a team that can win the
championship."
| |
ALSO SEE
Head-to-head: D.C. vs. Miami
Head-to-head: Columbus vs. Tampa Bay
Head-to-head: Los Angeles vs. Colorado
Head-to-head: Chicago vs. Dallas
Rapids coach eyes shakeup entering MLS playoffs
1999 Major League Soccer playoff schedule
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