CHICAGO, IL (Nov. 7, 2009) – With a 2-0 win over the New England Revolution in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series, the Chicago Fire advanced to the Eastern Conference Final by an aggregate score of 3-2. After dropping the first game of the series in New England last week 2-1, the Fire returned home to play in front of the team’s first-ever sold out playoff crowd of 21,528 at TOYOTA PARK. The Fire will host Real Salt Lake in the single-game elimination Eastern Conference Final on Saturday, November 14 at TOYOTA PARK (7 p.m. CT, FSC/FSE).
In the 17th minute of play, defender Brandon Prideaux sent a pass to Marco Pappa deep in the right corner. Pappa took a touch around Revolution defender Emmanuel Osei and slipped a pass into the middle of the box for midfielder John Thorrington positioned at the top of the six-yard box. Thorrington sent the ball into the lower left side of the net for the first goal of the match and tying goal in the series.
The Fire doubled their lead in the second half as designated player Cuauhtémoc Blanco sent a bending shot into the upper right corner of the goal. In the 82nd minute, forward Patrick Nyarko beat Revolution defender Osei on the endline, drawing goalkeeper Matt Reis off his line to shut down the angle. Nyarko touched the ball to Blanco who was positioned at the penalty spot. Blanco took a touch around defender Jay Heaps diving in for the tackle, and placed his shot in the right upper 90.
Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch made four key saves to maintain the clean sheet tonight as the Fire advanced past the Revolution for the second consecutive season.
