Fire changes the picture

Win helps Segares erase bitter memories of '05 playoff loss to Revs

By Luis Arroyave | Tribune staff reporter

12:57 AM CST, November 7, 2008

Gonzalo Segares has had a hard time trying to forget the 2005 Eastern Conference final against the New England Revolution. The Fire defender's game-tying goal in stoppage time was disallowed because of an offside call.

The Revolution won the game and went on to the MLS Cup final. The Fire went home.

"It's always in the back of my mind," Segares said. "I remember every part of that play."

It doesn't help that Segares' mother has a framed picture of the Fire players' reacting to the referee's call in her house in Costa Rica.

Now Segares is hoping his mom will put up a new picture after he helped the Fire eliminate the Revolution 3-0 Thursday night in the MLS Eastern Conference semifinals before a crowd of 17,312 at Toyota Park.

"Maybe one of me celebrating with my teammates," Segares said.

Segares had much to celebrate as he scored his team's third goal in the 74th minute to secure a spot in next Thursday's Eastern Conference final.

"The goal was very similar" to the one that was disallowed, Segares said. "I came from the left and got inside on my defender."

The Revolution had eliminated the Fire from the playoffs the previous three years. The victory also snapped the Revolution's streak of three straight appearances in the MLS Cup final.

The Fire will face the winner of the Kansas City Wizards-Columbus Crew series, which is tied 1-1 on aggregate. The Crew hosts the second leg of the two-game series Saturday.

After a conservative outing in the first leg, which ended in a 0-0 tie Oct. 30 at Gillette Stadium, the Fire turned up its attack from the get-go Thursday night. But as many scoring chances as the Fire had early, it dod not get its first goal until just before halftime.

Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis deflected Fire midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco's shot to a wide-open Chris Rolfe, who calmly tapped the shot in with his left foot.

Rolfe led the Fire in scoring during the regular season with nine goals. The 25-year-old midfielder has four goals in the last three games, including three in the regular-season finale Oct. 23 against the New York Red Bulls.

Defender Wilman Conde added a second goal in the 49th minute when he appeared to come out of nowhere to head in midfielder Justin Mapp's cross. Conde's only goal during the regular season came Aug. 9, also against the Revolution.

The Fire is now 6-0 all time at home against the Revolution in the playoffs. The Fire finished 4-0-1 against the Revolution in 2008, including the playoffs, and outscored the Revolution 12-1.

The Revolution was without 2008 team MVP Steve Ralston (broken right fibula) and 2005 league MVP Taylor Twellman (concussion) for both semifinals against the Fire.

Revolution defender Chris Albright was ejected in the 83rd minute after getting his second yellow card for a hard foul on Blanco.

"I'm used to it," Blanco said. "I knew [the physical play] was coming. I'm just happy with the opportunity we have now. It's a great opportunity. We need to take advantage of it."

larroyave@tribune.com