Ironically, it's Columbus Crew that stands in Fire's way
To get where he wants to go, Brian McBride first has to go where he's already been.
His preferred destination, of course, is the Home Depot Center near Los Angeles, site of MLS Cup on Nov. 23.
But like a connecting flight, McBride - and the Fire - first will head east to Columbus on Thursday night and try to knock off the best team in Major League Soccer's regular season before he can go west.
Here's where irony is introduced. To reach his first MLS Cup, McBride, 36, has to defeat the team that made him the league's first draft pick 12 years ago and where he had eight good years and a franchise-record 62 goals before going to England.
"I'm sure there's a bit of irony there, but those are always just little things that tend to occur in sports in general," McBride said. "That's not something that's on my mind."
At this point of the season, he can only afford to have one thing on his mind. As the consummate professional he is, McBride knows that.
"It's all about the game," he said. "There's always going to be a strong feeling for the town and the friends I have there and the organization itself. But I'm a part of the Fire and very excited to have this opportunity."
McBride isn't the only Fire player with a Columbus connection, of course. Goalkeeper Jon Busch arrived from Columbus two years ago. His memories aren't so fond, but Busch said this is no time to get angry.
"Aw, it's just another game," Busch said. "It's two years removed, everything is done. It's two good teams, going to fight it out for the chance to go to MLS Cup. It's enough to win and go to MLS Cup. That's all the incentive anybody needs."
Busch thinks it could be an ugly game for ESPN2's cameras.
"It might not be pretty soccer," Busch said. "Sometimes at this point in the season it's effective soccer, and whatever that takes. If it's raining, if it's cold, it might not be very attractive soccer.
"But you know what? It doesn't matter. Pretty soccer, ugly soccer, a win's a win and a win gets you to the finals. That's all that matters."
The teams played three times in the regular season, tying 2-2 twice, most recently a month ago, plus a 3-2 Fire win. They know each other well. There shouldn't be any surprises.
"They have a good understanding of how they want to play," McBride said. "They're very good at counterattacking. They're quick, they've got some pace. They've got some guys that are good with the ball too. They're a good team, there's no doubt about it.
"They'll probably do the same thing they always do, just like we'll try and do the same thing we always do. Hopefully, we'll be the ones imposing our style of play."
The Fire has done that lately. With consecutive shutouts, the defense looks to be back in form. Busch earned league goalkeeper of the year and team MVP honors and deservedly so, but he also had a lot of help from the guys in front of him.
The attack put up 3 goals against a good New England team last week and has shown a lot of firepower all season, if not consistency.
That's history, though. The Fire is taking this one step at a time, looking forward, but not too far forward.
"That would be a great thing to get out there (to Los Angeles), definitely," McBride said, "but (there's) a large hurdle ahead of us."
A large, familiar, hurdle.