Playoff buzz creates Fire frenzy and homefield advantage

Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch felt the difference when he walked onto the Toyota Park grass about two hours before last Saturday's playoff game against New England.

"Section 8 was there so early that while I was warming up they were giving me goose bumps because they were already chanting and singing and carrying on," Busch said of the supporters groups' section behind the north goal. "It was just tremendous."

Trailing the aggregate-goals series 2-1, the Fire started last Saturday's game like it was determined to prove it was the better team, and by the end of 90 minutes there was no doubt about it. A depleted New England squad just could not compete, even when the Revolution did its best to slow down Fire speedsters Marco Pappa and Patrick Nyarko by inflicting a little pain. The Fire won the game 2-0, the series 3-2.

"It was definitely a passionate game," Fire forward Brian McBride said. "It was a game where everybody needed to be together, working hard for each other. It was a great result for us."

Fire fans responded in kind, first by packing the 20,000-seat stadium at 21,528 strong, then making sure the players knew they had support. Section 8 was at its entertaining best. The atmosphere was better even than the SuperLiga championship game in August.

Toyota Park has never been louder in its four seasons than the final 10 minutes Saturday. Only the Fire's inaugural game - at Soldier Field in 1998 with more than 36,000 fans - can rival last Saturday's game.

"It was fantastic," said midfielder John Thorrington, who came to Chicago in 2005. "The players and everybody have said it was the best atmosphere they've seen here in Chicago, and I would certainly agree. It was fantastic from the get-go, and the players on the field certainly fed off the energy that the fans brought."

Now more of the Chicago media are starting to notice. Maybe it's because the Bears are embarrassing themselves, but even some of the local television stations were out at practice Wednesday. Is the Fire taking over Chicago from the Bears?

"I don't know if we've taken it over," Busch said as only he can. "I read the sports section this morning and it's still about the Bears. They're talking about what one of them made for breakfast yesterday.

"But it is what it is. This town supports us very well regardless of what's going on in the Bears' world or the Blackhawks' world or anything like that. We go about our business and they treat us well."

It wasn't only media at practice Wednesday. A big crowd of fans showed to watch and get autographs. Don't come to practice on Thursday or Friday, however. Those practices are closed to the public.

"We're just excited. There's a nice buzz," Thorrington said. "We're getting quite a few more people out to training now, there's a bit more excitement throughout the city, and that's what playoffs are all about, so we're glad to be a part of it."

This Saturday's Eastern Conference championship game against Real Salt Lake (7 p.m., Fox Sports Channel) at Toyota Park already is nearly sold out, so the fans have shown they're ready again to do their part. Now it's the players turn again.

"People are looking for all these ins and outs," coach Denis Hamlett said about attempts to break down Saturday's matchup. "But I think it's going to come down to two very good teams that are going to play against each other with the right to get to the final. That's going to be great for soccer, great for our league, and our guys are looking forward to that opportunity because it's going to be a great night."

oschwarz@dailyherald.com