Chicago Fire Weekly Notes
September 29, 2008 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release
CHICAGO HIT THE ROAD TO FACE KANSAS CITY
The Chicago Fire (12-9-5, 41 pts.) travel to Kansas City to play the Wizards this Sunday at Community America Ballpark (2 p.m., My50 Chicago, TeleFutura, WRTO 1200-AM Spanish, WNVR 1030-AM Polish). Chicago defeated Los Angeles last week and are in third place in the Eastern Conference; one point behind New England (42 pts.) and nine points behind Columbus (50 pts.). The Fire are 6-4-3 on the road, tied with the Columbus and New England for the best road record in the league. The Fire still lead MLS in goals against average (0.96) and their goal differential has improved to +9 (34-25), second best in the league behind Columbus' +14 (45-31). All four of the Fire's remaining matches are against Eastern Conference opponents.
CHICAGO-KANSAS CITY SERIES AND PREVIOUS GAME RECAPS
Chicago and Kansas City play for the third time this season. The Wizards lead the series 1-0-1 after a 1-0 win in Chicago on April 20 and a 0-0 draw on July 27 in Kansas City. In the first meeting on April 20 the Fire recorded their first loss of the season (1-0), at TOYOTA PARK in front of 17,121. The lone goal of the match came in the fourth minute by Jack Jewsbury. The Fire and Wizards played to a scoreless tie on July 27 at Community America Ballpark, with goalkeeper Jon Busch notching his seventh shutout of the season. The clubs are meeting for the 34th time, with the Fire holding a 19-9-5 series advantage. The Wizards lead the series in games played in Kansas City at 7-6-4. Chicago also has the edge in goal scoring with 67 to the Wizards 40.
FIRE RESERVES DROP 3-0 DECISION TO RED BULLS RESERVES
The Fire Reserves dropped a 3-0 decision to New York on Sunday in a MLS Reserve Division game. Sunday's match was a make-up game for the teams' postponed game on May 25. Sinisa Ubiparipovic, John Wolyniec and Sainey Touray tallied goals for the Red Bull Reserves as Chicago's record dropped to 4-4-1 (13 pts.) in the MLS Reserve Division. The Reserves return to action this weekend against Kansas City, Sunday, Oct. 5 at Community America Ballpark. Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m., following the first team match.
THE PLAYOFF RACE
With four weeks left in MLS regular season play, just one team, the Columbus Crew (50 pts.), has clinched a playoff position. If the 2008 MLS season ended today, last year's MLS Cup Champion the Houston Dynamo (40 pts.) and the Columbus Crew (50 pts.) would secure the top seeds in their respective conferences. The Revolution (42 pts) and the Fire (41 pts.) would also qualify in the East, while Chivas USA (36 pts) would rank second in the Western Conference followed by Colorado (34 pts). The final two playoff spots - wild cards determined by most points overall regardless of conference - would go to the Red Bulls (35 points) and Real Salt Lake (34 pts) in the East and West respectively.
CHICAGO FIRE COMMUNITY SOCCER CLINIC HOSTED BY BRIAN MCBRIDE
Brian McBride has returned to his hometown of Arlington Heights and will host a Chicago Fire Community Soccer Clinic on Monday, Oct. 6 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Willow Stream Park in Buffalo Grove for the Arlington Aces and Grove United soccer clubs. Participants will enjoy a 90 minute soccer clinic coached by professional coaches from the Chicago Fire followed by a Q&A and autograph session with McBride, Dasan Robinson, and Mike Banner.
FIRE TO SPONSOR IYSA'S COPA CHICAGO
The Fire is proud to serve as a sponsor of the Illinois Youth Soccer Association's premier Hispanic soccer event, Copa Chicago. Each year, Illinois Youth Soccer brings together over 60 of the top Hispanic youth soccer teams from the soccer leagues in Chicago and the Suburbs to be declared the best Hispanic youth soccer team in Chicago in their respective age division. Fans in attendance on Sunday, Oct. 5 will have the opportunity to meet Sparky, the Fire's mascot, as well as a Fire player. Spots are still available for the 2008 State Farm Copa Chicago, being held October 4-5 at Calumet Park (95th & South Ave. G). Hispanic teams interested in playing in this free tournament should contact the Illinois Youth Soccer office at 847-290-1577 or online at http://www.illinoisyouthsoccer.org/CopaChicago.html.
ONLINE VOTING FOR ALL-DECADE BEST GAMES CONTINUES
As part of the Chicago Fire 10th Anniversary Celebration, the All-Decade Sweepstakes for the Best Games in Fire history continues online. Fans can choose their top five games from throughout the Fire's previous 10 seasons for a chance to win great prizes in the 10th Anniversary Sweepstakes. The top five voted games will be announced at the Fire vs. Crew game on October 12. To vote visit: http://www.mlsnet.com/t100/fans/best_games/.
2009 SEASON TICKET DEPOSITS
Chicago Fire 2009 Season Tickets are now on sale. With a deposit of $200 on new season tickets, individuals will receive one free Cuauhtémoc Blanco autographed picture and one free $50 Best Buy Gift Card. Call 1-888-MLS-Fire for more information.
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