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The MLS season is set to end on Sunday after the 2009 MLS Cup, and the MLS Expansion draft is looming just eight days away, meaning all the teams that need head coaches are about to take part in one of the most frantic coaching change flurries MLS has ever seen.

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The MLS season is set to end on Sunday after the 2009 MLS Cup, and the MLS Expansion draft is looming just eight days away, meaning all the teams that need head coaches are about to take part in one of the most frantic coaching change flurries MLS has ever seen.

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Real Salt Lake is heading to its first MLS Cup Final after beating the Chicago Fire on penalty kicks at Toyota Park on Saturday night.

Goalkeeper Nick Rimando stole the show, making three penalty saves to win the second playoff penalty shootout of his career.

The Chicago Fire will look to reach its fourth MLS Cup Final by beating Real Salt Lake in tonight's MLS Eastern Conference Final.

The winner of tonight's match will face the Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS Cup Final. The Galaxy defeated the Houston Dynamo, 2-0, in overtime on Friday night.

The Chicago Fire will look to reach its fourth MLS Cup Final by beating Real Salt Lake in tonight's MLS Eastern Conference Final (8pm, FSC).

The winner of tonight's match will face the Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS Cup Final. The Galaxy defeated the Houston Dynamo, 2-0, in overtime on Friday night.

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The Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake are probably not the teams most observers would have pegged to be playing for the Eastern Conference title and berth in MLS Cup, but these two teams earned their places in the Final Four by virtue of strong first-round performances that should lead into a memorable East Final on Saturday night (8pm, FSC).

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The Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake are probably not the teams most observers would have pegged to be playing for the Eastern Conference title and berth in MLS Cup, but these two teams earned their places in the Final Four by virtue of strong first-round performances that should lead into a memorable East Final on Saturday night (8pm, FSC).

The second participant in the MLS Eastern Conference Final will be determined tonight when the New England Revolution faces the Chicago Fire in Game Two of their First Round playoff series.

New England will try to join Real Salt Lake in the East Final by building on its 2-1 victory in Game One.

The second participant in the MLS Eastern Conference Final will be determined tonight when the New England Revolution faces the Chicago Fire in Game Two of their First Round playoff series.

New England will try to join Real Salt Lake in the East Final by building on its 2-1 victory in Game One.

If the Chicago Fire were hoping for reinforcements to bolster their chances against New England in Saturday's second leg playoff match, they'll have to look beyond Gonzalo Segares. The defender is currently listed as out for the upcoming do-or-die encounter set for Saturday at Toyota Park.

If the Chicago Fire were hoping for reinforcements to bolster their chances against New England in Saturday's second leg playoff match, they'll have to look beyond Gonzalo Segares. The defender is currently listed as out for the upcoming do-or-die encounter set for Saturday at Toyota Park.

The Chicago Fire take on the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium today in Game One of their Eastern Conference Playoff series (2pm, FSC).

This is their fifth straight playoff encounter and there's no love lost here as the sides are a safe bet to play a physical and uncompromising series.

The Chicago Fire take on the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium today in Game One of their Eastern Conference Playoff series (2pm, FSC).

This is their fifth straight playoff encounter and there's no love lost here as the sides are a safe bet to play a physical and uncompromising series.

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If familiarity breeds contempt, then the Chicago Fire and New England Revolution hate each other on a level no two teams in MLS can match.

The Eastern Conference foes have made meeting in the playoffs a rite of passage, having done so for five of the past six years.

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If familiarity breeds contempt, then the Chicago Fire and New England Revolution hate each other on a level no two teams in MLS can match.

The Eastern Conference foes have made meeting in the playoffs a rite of passage, having done so for five of the past six years.

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With Cuauhtemoc Blanco set to leave MLS this winter, and his return far from certain, the Chicago Fire will be left with a big decision to make this off-season. How will the Fire replace Blanco?

Chicago has a promising young midfielder in Baggio Husidic who is already getting playing time, but Husidic can't place Blanco's star power or overall impact.

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With Cuauhtemoc Blanco set to leave MLS this winter, and his return far from certain, the Chicago Fire will be left with a big decision to make this off-season. How will the Fire replace Blanco?

Chicago has a promising young midfielder in Baggio Husidic who is already getting playing time, but Husidic can't place Blanco's star power or overall impact.

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One of Major League Soccer's biggest free agents will be leaving MLS this winter, but he may not be gone for good.

Chicago Fire star Cuauhtemoc Blanco has signed a contract with Mexican second division club Veracruz for the 2010 season, but will have an opt-out clause in his contract that will allow him to return to the Fire after the 2010 World Cup, multiple reports out of Mexico have revealed.

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One of Major League Soccer's biggest free agents will be leaving MLS this winter, but he may not be gone for good.

Chicago Fire star Cuauhtemoc Blanco has signed a contract with Mexican second division club Veracruz for the 2010 season, but will have an opt-out clause in his contract that will allow him to return to the Fire after the 2010 World Cup, multiple reports out of Mexico have revealed.

The Chicago Fire could have settled for a draw in its regular season finale against Chivas USA, needing only a point to qualify for the post-season, but the Fire snapped a six-match winless skid and sparked some potential momentum by scoring a 1-0 victory at Toyota Park on Thursday night in Bridgeview, Illinois.

The Chicago Fire could have settled for a draw in its regular season finale against Chivas USA, needing only a point to qualify for the post-season, but the Fire snapped a six-match winless skid and sparked some potential momentum by scoring a 1-0 victory at Toyota Park on Thursday night in Bridgeview, Illinois.

The task is a simple one for the Chicago Fire, but the simplicity doesn't make it any less difficult. The Fire need a win or tie tonight against Chivas USA in order to secure a playoff berth as well as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Chivas USA isn't about to make it easy though, not when a win tonight at Toyota Park (8pm, ESPN2) will move the Goats one step closer to the No.

The task is a simple one for the Chicago Fire, but the simplicity doesn't make it any less difficult. The Fire need a win or tie tonight against Chivas USA in order to secure a playoff berth as well as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Chivas USA isn't about to make it easy though, not when a win tonight at Toyota Park (8pm, ESPN2) will move the Goats one step closer to the No.

The Houston Dynamo will play a vital CONCACAF Champions League match tonight, and is doing what it can to make sure it has a big crowd behind it.

According to the Houston Chronicle, The Houston Dynamo is charging $5 for end-line seats for tonight's CONCACAF Champions League match at Robertson Stadium vs.

The Houston Dynamo will play a vital CONCACAF Champions League match tonight, and is doing what it can to make sure it has a big crowd behind it.

According to the Houston Chronicle, The Houston Dynamo is charging $5 for end-line seats for tonight's CONCACAF Champions League match at Robertson Stadium vs.

In a match that could be a preview and rematch of the Eastern Conference final, the defending MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew face the Chicago Fire today (3pm, Telefutura).

The Crew boast the best record in MLS and have posted six wins in the past seven MLS matches, while the Fire still harbor hopes of catching Columbus atop the East standings.

D.C. United finally broke through on CONCACAF Champions League play on Tuesday night, posting a 1-0 victory against San Juan Jabloteh in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Christian Gomez converted a penalty kick in the 14th minute after a handball in the penalty area by Noel Williams. D.C. goalkeeper Milos Kocic made the goal stand up with several crucial saves as D.

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As the playoffs approach, late season additions can add that extra edge to equal playoff success. For the Chicago Fire, the return of Brian McBride from shoulder surgery, perhaps as soon as this weekend, could be just what the Fire need to push them over the top.

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As the playoffs approach, late season additions can add that extra edge to equal playoff success. For the Chicago Fire, the return of Brian McBride from shoulder surgery, perhaps as soon as this weekend, could be just what the Fire need to push them over the top.

The Chicago Fire will now lose another player to Europe, but in this case will get to wait until the offseason. Striker Chris Rolfe has agreed to join Danish club Aalborg in the January transfer window. He'll remain with the club through the end of the year, including any possible playoff action.

The Chicago Fire will now lose another player to Europe, but in this case will get to wait until the offseason. Striker Chris Rolfe has agreed to join Danish club Aalborg in the January transfer window. He'll remain with the club through the end of the year, including any possible playoff action.

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by TRAVIS CLARK

September is right around the corner, and this translates into the most important part of the season for MLS clubs fighting for their playoff lives.

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MLS All-Star defender Bakary Soumare is on his way to Europe and has played his last game for the Chicago Fire.

Soumare has been sold to French club Boulogne for an undisclosed fee, sources told SBI on Monday.

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MLS All-Star defender Bakary Soumare is on his way to Europe and has played his last game for the Chicago Fire.

Soumare has been sold to French club Boulogne for an undisclosed fee, sources told SBI on Monday.

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The Chicago Fire looked to be in danger of sliding into a serious slump on Sunday night, but wound up delivering the kind of victory that can transform a season.