The Chicago Fire lose their shot at the championship game in penalties
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The Chicago Fire season came to an end when the Real Salt Lake (RSL) defeated them 5-4 in penalty kicks in the Eastern Conference final game at Toyota Park on Nov. 14.
The game was closely contested, but RSL was the more physical team. The Fire never fell into a comfortable rhythm, mainly due to the constant fouling of RSL. When it came down to penalties, RSL keeper Nick Rimando saved three shots out dueling Fire keeper Jon Busch.
It was a heartbreaking loss especially since it was Cuauhtémoc Blanco’s last game with the Fire. The 36-year-old midfielder will begin a new venture with the Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz in January. Blanco will leave empty-handed from the MLS. During his three years here, the Fire qualified to the semifinals every year, but never advanced to win the championship.
Many fans predicted a Chicago Fire versus Los Ángeles Galaxy final. It would have brought two of the biggest soccer icons in the MLS to center stage: David Beckham and Blanco.
Blanco’s departure is a big loss for the Fire. His career rejuvenated in Chicago and his level of play exceeded all expectations. His presence alone made his teammates more competitive players.
Overall, the 2009 season was successful. The Fire was able to get second place for the past two seasons in the Eastern Conference. They were also able to go to the Super Liga final against UANL Tigres.
Who will fill Blanco’s shoes? It will be a tough test, but the future for the Fire looks promising. They have a great combination of young and veteran talent, but need a leader on the field. Who will that person be? Stay tuned to see who the next Fire star will be.
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