As expected after the Fire's 2-1 loss to the Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference play-in game at Toyota Park, the mood inside the home team's locker room was somber.

But some good news emerged from what was otherwise a forgettable night.

By virtue of a 1-1 tie between Sporting Kansas City and the Columbus Crew on Sunday, the Fire have clinched a spot in the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs.

It is the first time the Fire has earned a birth in the playoffs since 2009.

Fire striker Chris Rolfe knows as well as anyone what it's like to get acclimated to a new team.

Rolfe spent the first five years of his professional career with the Fire before going to Denmark where he played for three seasons. He returned to the Fire in the middle of this season but was just one of the many mid-season signings.

Sherjill MacDonald may not see all 90 minutes in tonight's game against the Montreal Impact at Toyota Park, but the Dutch striker finally feels fit enough to play a full 90 if asked by head coach Frank Klopas.

The Fire announced Friday that the team has signed 35-year old striker Guillermo Franco on a free transfer. The move comes just a day before the MLS roster freeze.

Franco is expected to see his first action with the Fire when the team takes on FC Dallas Tuesday in reserve league action.

The Fire loaned out Israeli-born striker Orr Barouch on Thursday to Israeli side Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv F.C. Barouch will join Bnei Yehuda immediately.

"This loan provides Orr with an opportunity to earn consistent playing time," head coach Frank Klopas said in a team statement. "Orr was interested in playing in Israel and Bnei Yehuda was a good fit. We look forward to monitoring Orr's progress and development while he is playing in Israel."

The Chicago Fire announced Thursday that midfielder Marco Pappa had transferred to Dutch side SC Heerenveen and will join the team immediately.

The team announced on Aug. 13 that Pappa had signed a pre-contract with the Dutch club and would join the team after the conclusion of his Fire contract on Dec. 31. However, considering he is expected to be called up by the Guatemalan national team for World Cup qualifying in September and therefore miss additional MLS games, it made sense for the Fire to make money off Pappa's transfer instead of allowing him to walk.

Fire striker Sherjill MacDonald says it has been a challenge learning the way in which his teammates like to play the game.

But the Dutch import feels that tonight's game against the New England Revolution at Toyota Park should display some improvement in that area.

The Fire has loaned out Argentinean midfielder Sebastian Grazzini to Atlético de Rafaela. With the move, the Fire frees up one of its eight international roster spots.

The Fire loaned Colombian midfielder Rafael Robayo to Club Deportivo Millonarios, a Categoría Primera A Colombian side, the team announced Thursday.

The 28-year old Robayo joined the Fire on January 9, 2012 after seven years with Millonarios. He appeared in 15 games for the Fire, starting three.