MLS PLAYOFFS: REVOLUTION 2, FIRE 1

CLICK HERE to read my ESPNChicago.com post from the Chicago Fire's 2-1 loss to the New England Revolution in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series. It features a recap, analysis and commentary from Fire midfielder Chris Rolfe, who scored Chicago's lone goal.

WHO IS THE FIRE'S 2009 MVP?

On my ESPNChicago.com Chicago Fire blog, I name my regular-season MVP for 2009: defender Wilman Conde. Sure, he missed a third of the season, but quite a few others on this team have missed extended time, too. Read the below links from Friday's ESPN Chicago posts:

• Conde is Fire's MVP

• This date in Fire history: Oct. 23, 2008: Chris Rolfe's three first-half goals lead Fire past Red Bulls

PREVIEW: FIRE AT REVOLUTION

The last time the Chicago Fire won a game was a thrilling 3-2 comeback against the visiting Colorado Rapids on Aug. 23, erasing a 2-0 second-half deficit. Since then, Chicago has posted a 0-2-3 record.

The Fire clearly want to get out of their funk, especially since they still control their own playoff fate. They take on the host New England Revolution at 5 p.m. (CST) Saturday at Gillette Stadium (game televised on Fox Soccer Channel).

Chicago (10-7-11, 41 points) has had two weeks off to heal up and shore up a few things. The return of Chris Rolfe (pictured) from a hamstring injury certainly is a pick-me-up. Cuauhtemoc Blanco also should be available, though Blanco's recent Mexican national team work probably will be taken into consideration for head coach Denis Hamlett's lineup.

The Fire-Revs rivalry always is a heated one. New England (10-10-8, 38 points) is hanging in there with the eighth playoff spot if the season ended prior to this match. The Revs have found a way to win among the most dire circumstances on the injury front, and head coach Steve Nicol somehow, some way gets the most out of his players.

Chicago is not in for an easy match Saturday, that is for sure. But with a league-high six road victories, the Fire have mounted some significant accomplishments away from Toyota Park. This one should clinch another playoff berth: Fire 1, Revolution 0

REPORT: ROLFE TO JOIN AALBORG

Goal.com's Greg Lalas has an exclusive with the Chicago Fire's Chris Rolfe. Rolfe will be joining Aalborg Boldspilklub of the Danish Superliga in January.

So far in 2009, Rolfe has played in all 24 Fire matches, but early on he was coming off the bench for Denis Hamlett's squad. He also has been used in the midfield more so than his customary role up front.

Rolfe has 16 starts this season in 1,502 minutes. He has scored five goals and also has an assist. In 2008, Rolfe had his best MLS season with career highs in goals (9) and assists (7).

HOUSTON DYNAMO 3, FIRE 2

Chicago rallies, but Houston nets PK for the final say

The Chicago Fire overcame a two-goal deficit, only to see the Houston Dynamo's Stuart Holden tally the game-winner in the 83rd minute en route to a 3-2 Dynamo victory Sunday in Major League Soccer action at Robertson Stadium in Houston. Holden's go-ahead penalty kick was the result of a Brandon Prideaux foul in the box to Houston's Corey Ashe.

The Fire suffered only their second road loss this season, falling to 8-4-9 overall and remaining four points behind the Eastern Conference-leading Columbus Crew. The Western Conference-leading Dynamo improved to 11-6-5.

Chicago's defense already was hampered before the game without the availability of center back Wilman Conde (hamstring) and right back Tim Ward (fractured left foot). But in the 5th minute, the Fire suffered another setback when Gonzalo Segares had to leave the game early because of an injury. Daniel Woolard came in to replace him, but in the 55th minute, he too was hurt when Houston's Brian Ching fouled him, enticing a yellow card. The Fire had to use their third and final sub with Dasan Robinson coming in.

The Fire defense also saw their shutout streak come to a close at 395 minutes when Houston's Kei Kamara scored off of a quick throw-in in the 21st minute to take a 1-0 lead, with Kamara blasting a shot at a difficult angle. The Dynamo's Ricardo Clark added a goal in the 38th for a 2-0 advantage.

But following halftime, Chicago quickly worked its way back in the game, with two goals in 2 minutes. Chris Rolfe scored a deep goal that rolled past Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad's left to cut Houston's lead to 2-1 in the 46th minute. Then in the 48th, Peter Lowry netted a right-footed volley off of a Cuauhtemoc Blanco (pictured) cross from the left side.

The Fire held a 12-10 shots advantage, while Houston had a 6-4 edge in shots on goal.

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Next up: The Fire stay on the road to take on the Kansas City Wizards for a 2 p.m. match on Sunday, Aug. 16.

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Notes: Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Mexico) and Gonzalo Segares (Costa Rica) immediately were set to join their national teams for World Cup qualifying this week. Mexico hosts the U.S. on Wednesday, and Costa Rica takes on Honduras that day, as well. ... The Chicago Fire Premier Development League squad fell to the Ventura County Fusion, 2-1, on Saturday in the National PDL Championship. It was their second runner-up finish, the last coming in 2003.

SUPERLIGA PREVIEW: TIGRES VS. FIRE

$1 million prize at stake for Wednesday's winner

The Chicago Fire and Tigres UANL battle for the 2009 SuperLiga championship at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Toyota Park (televised on TeleFutura). The winner earns a $1 million prize, and the U.S.-Mexico bragging rights are always a sub-factor.

Quite a bit has happened since the last time the Fire faced Tigres during SuperLiga group play.

For starters, Chicago's defense has reached a higher level of late, posting three straight shutouts in Major League Soccer action. In comparison, Fire head coach Denis Hamlett was incredibly disappointed with the defensive unit following a 2-1 loss to Tigres on June 27.

Despite that defeat, Chicago still advanced to the SuperLiga semis. And since that match, the Fire have not allowed more than one goal in a single game.

"We have an older group. We know what it's about," Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch said regarding the team's success of late. "We know when it's time to get going. And this is our time to get going. Nobody needs to kick us in the (butt). We know. We're a very experienced group."

On the offensive side, it's still a bit of a work in progress without injured forward Brian McBride. But Chicago is finding enough to get by and post a positive result - a 2-0-1 record, to be exact in McBride's absence. In the case of the Fire's recent 1-0 victory against Real Salt Lake, forward Patrick Nyarko scored for a second straight home game, while fellow forward Chris Rolfe had an off night with some of his touches and decisions.

"Some guys have an off night, other nights you're good. But that's what the team's about - different guys step up," Hamlett said. "I still think the combination of (Rolfe) and Patrick caused (Real Salt Lake) some problems. I felt that we made sure they pulled their center backs out and got some isolations."

Over the weekend, Hamlett did not play MLS All-Stars Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Wilman Conde at midfield and defense, respectively. Blanco injured his ankle on Friday and Conde has had a lingering hamstring problem. Also missing Saturday was midfielder John Thorrington, who was serving a red card suspension. But Thorrington is now doubtful to participate this week with a right groin strain. And Conde's left hamstring strain lists him as out on the injury list.

These will be some difficult setbacks to try and get through the SuperLiga title match and especially on the road against the MLS-leading Houston Dynamo on Sunday.

If the Fire can somehow manage to overcome these obstacles for a championship trophy and $1 million, even Dr. Evil would be proud of their efforts.

PREVIEW: FIRE AT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC

CLICK HERE for my Week 19 Examiner.com MLS Preview, which leads with the Chicago Fire-Seattle Sounders FC showdown. The match takes place at 2 p.m. (CST) Saturday at Qwest Field in Seattle. The game is televised on ESPN.

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Fire adjust offensively to fill McBride's scoring void

The Chicago Fire are 1-for-1 so far without veteran forward Brian McBride, who is out several months with a right shoulder injury. Chicago posted a 2-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes last week, and the final 10 minutes were a positive sign heading into this weekend's road game against Seattle.

With a target man out of the lineup, however, the Fire's attack obviously has to make some adjustments.

"We'll have to knock the ball around a little bit more, and some of the long balls that we hit have to be more to the corners instead of more central to (where McBride attacks)," Fire midfielder and forward Chris Rolfe said.

Rolfe (pictured) has had an interesting season that has ranged from becoming one of the first players off the bench in the early part of the season, to midfield play, and several opportunities returning to the forward role he has been more used to in his career. Coach Denis Hamlett has utilized Rolfe's versatility, and Rolfe was excited to get the chance to push forward last week.

"Tonight it was awesome playing that role," Rolfe said. "It's just a quick change in mind-set. You've got to change a little bit of your thinking on your runs, what you can do on the ball in different areas on the field. It felt great."

Forward Patrick Nyarko (pictured left) has showcased some strong flashes of quickness and sure-footed maneuvers. Nyarko tallied the game-winning goal against San Jose, and he knows that he needs to supply some finishing power that McBride established early on in the season. But obviously in his own methodical style.

"(Brian's) an integral part. He's a big guy, he's strong, and he scores goals," Nyarko said. "That's what he does. ... There's no way I can match Brian McBride. I bring a little bit more pace, and it's just a matter of getting a little bit closer to what Brian does on the field."

The word "depth" has been thrown around all season. And on both ends of the field, this team has felt more than comfortable saying that if there are some key absences, just about anyone can fill the void.

"From Day 1, right from preseason, I knew this team had depth, and that anything we put out there, we feel like we can win any game," Nyarko said. "It's unfortunate for Brian to go down. I feel like we have a better chance of winning with him in there. And we're left a little bit shorthanded. But then we feel like we have a deep team and anyone can step up on any single day."

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Pause reflects on Gold Cup experience, semifinal victory

On Thursday, Fire midfielder Logan Pause was at Soldier Field as the U.S. Men's National Team defeated Honduras, 2-0, to win their semifinal match in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The U.S. MNT advanced to Sunday's final against Mexico.

Pause's stint with the team has been a huge success, and the journey now reaches the final, which starts at 2 p.m. (CST) Sunday and is televised on Fox Soccer Channel. Here are a few comments he had following the match:

• "It was exciting, obviously. Getting the result was huge. I'm looking forward to Sunday. Anytime you get a chance to play at home, it's wonderful."

• "I think we were confident in ourselves. We knew that it was going to be a much different, tougher game than the third game (of the tournament). We put a lot into it. We were concentrating on that. We focused on ourselves. We just felt like if we played well and did the little things right that we would come out on top."

• "It was a great, great effort, starting with Troy (Perkins) in goal, making some huge saves, especially in the latter part of the game. Our back line was phenomenal. I think it started up top with Brian (Ching) and Davy (Arnaud) working their tales off up top and it just trickled all the way down to the back."

• "Anytime you put yourself with a chance to win a cup, that's what it's about. That's what this group and the national team has been working so hard for for a long time. It's good to get the opportunity."

• "Anytime you get an opportunity like that, to wear the jersey of the national team, you take honor in it. It's a privilege. Coming into it, I just looked at it as that - an opportunity to come. I tried to stay within myself and play my role and do what I can to help the team, similar to my other job here in Chicago."