MLS Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire Face San Jose Earthquakes For Opening Night At Toyota Park

Published on April 5, 2010 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


The Chicago Fire (0-1-1, 1 point) return home to TOYOTA PARK to welcome the San Jose Earthquakes (0-1-0, 0 points) for Opening Night, this Saturday at 7:30 PM CT live on Comcast SportsNet. The Fire earned their first point of the 2010 MLS season, in a 2-2 draw with the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. During First Kick weekend the 'Quakes fell to defending MLS Cup Champions Real Salt Lake 3-0 in their only match of the 2010 MLS season. In 13 matches at home against the San Jose Earthquakes, the Fire have never lost in regulation, building a 7-1-5 record since the clubs first met in 1998. The Fire's only "defeat" came by shootout (2-0) in July of 1999 at Soldier Field.

CHICAGO FIRE VS. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES NOTES

* It took Collins John just 62 minutes of MLS play to score his first MLS goal. The Dutch striker opened his MLS account by smashing a header past Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens in the 26th minute of last Saturday's match. John didn't score in 36 minutes of play in his MLS debut against the New York Red Bulls on First Kick weekend.

* On Monday, March 29 the San Jose Earthquakes acquired former Chicago Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch to backup long-time 'Quakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon. The last time Busch faced the Fire, as a member of the Columbus Crew, he had three saves as the Crew tied the Fire 1-1 on April 15, 2006.

* Brian McBride has scored nine goals and added two assists against the 'Quakes in his previous 10 seasons in MLS

* The Fire have never lost a home opener at TOYOTA PARK, going 3-0-1 in all games played in the Fire's soccer-specific home in Bridgeview, IL. The Fire are 7-2-3 on Opening Night at home since 1998.

* The Fire are 11-6-9 all-time against the San Jose Earthquakes, with a 7-1-5 home record against the Northern California based club.

* The Fire have outscored the 'Quakes 24 to 11 in 13 matches in the Windy City

* The Fire tied and won against the 'Quakes in 2009. Marco Pappa, Brian McBride and Chris Rolfe all scored to combat San Jose goals from Ryan Johnson, Bobby Convey and Arturo Alvarez to leave San Jose with a 3-3 tie. In the return leg, Patrick Nyarko and Cuauhtémoc Blanco scored to give the Fire a 2-0 victory at TOYOTA PARK.

* San Jose and Chicago played in the 2003 MLS Cup. The 'Quakes defeated the Fire 4-2 in front of a sold-out crowd at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA. Fire midfielder Justin Mapp entered the game in the 70th minute as a second half substitute. Current Fire players CJ Brown and Logan Pause were also part of the 2003 team that forged through to the 2003 MLS Cup Final.

* Traditionally the Fire have come out of the gate quickly in both halves against the 'Quakes, scoring 16 goals all-time at the start of a half. Eight goals in the first 15 minutes of the first half and eight goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half.

FIRE EARN FIRST POINT OF 2010 MLS SEASON WITH 2-2 DRAW IN COLORADO

The Chicago Fire fought back from a one-goal halftime deficit to tie the Colorado Rapids 2-2, earning their first draw and first point of the 2010 MLS season. In a match that featured goals from all four starting forwards, Collins John and Brian McBride tallied on both sides of intermission for the Fire, to erase first half goals from Rapids forwards Omar Cummings and Conor Casey. The tie gave Fire Head Coach Carlos de los Cobos his first MLS result and earned the team a vital road point heading into its third match of the season.

The game featured two other significant milestones, as newly signed Fire forward Collins John opened his MLS account with a cracking header off a Marco Pappa corner in the 26th minute. Former Fulham strike mate, Brian McBride, tallied his 75th career MLS goal when he technically finished a penalty kick to pull the Fire level at two goals apiece in the 51st minute.

MEXICO PREPS FOR 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP WITH MATCH IN CHICAGO

The Mexico Men's national team begins preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup with an exhibition match at Soldier Field against Senegal on Monday, May 10 at 8:00 PM CT. Mexico boss Javier Aguirre recently called in 17 players for El Tri's four exhibition matches in North America. Mexico will meet Ecuador on May 7 in New Jersey, Senegal on May 10 in Chicago and Angola three days later in Houston before playing Chile in a World Cup send-off match May 16 in Mexico City. Among those called in to camp by Aguirre, is former Chicago Fire forward Cuauhtémoc Blanco. The play-making Blanco will return to Chicago for the first time since he departed for Second Division Mexican side Vera Cruz in the 2010 offseason. For tickets please call 1-888-MLS-FIRE (657-3473).

FIRE HOST SUENO 2010 - BUILT BY THE HOME DEPOT

Sueño MLS 2010 - Built by The Home Depot, kicks off the weekend of Saturday, April 3 with two days of open tryouts in Houston. The two-day program moves to Chicago on Saturday, April 10 and 11, and on to Los Angeles April 17. Specific tryout locations will be announced at a later date. The "Final Event" will take place May 5-9, in Los Angeles, where League scouts and celebrity guests will be on hand to provide guidance and select the ultimate winner in front of a live national television audience on Sunday, May 9."República Deportiva," the highest-rated weekly sports magazine program on Spanish-language television in the United States which airs nationally every Sunday, will follow the action weekly in a unique "reality show within a show" format. For more information, visit www.SuenoMLS.com.

INDIVIDUAL GAME TICKETS NOW ON SALE

Individual game tickets for all 2010 MLS regular season Chicago Fire matches at TOYOTA PARK are now on sale. The Fire have individual tickets starting at just $22. For more information on any Chicago Fire ticket package please call 1-888-MLS-FIRE (657-3473) or visit the club's official website at www.chicago-fire.com .

With a balanced schedule, each of MLS' other 15 clubs will make an appearance at TOYOTA PARK during the 2010 regular season, including Opening Night against the San Jose Earthquakes on April 10 at 7:30 PM CT, the LA Galaxy (Sept. 4) and the expansion Philadelphia Union (June 5).

FIRE UNVEIL 2010 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE

The Fire appear in a total of 16 nationally televised broadcasts throughout its 13th season of MLS play. For the third consecutive year, every Fire game will be televised, either through national or regional broadcasts, or on the MLS Direct Kick package. Please head to www.chicago-fire.com for the club's full MLS schedule.

OPENING NIGHT TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE AT TOYOTA PARK

Fire fans hoping to secure seats for Opening Night vs. San Jose on Saturday, April 10 at 7:30 PM CT can now purchase group tickets via the front office. Tickets start at just $18 for groups of 15 or more. Fans wishing to purchase group tickets can do so by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE (657-3473).

Full Season Ticket packages as well as partial season ticket packages are currently available. The Fire are currently taking deposits and are available now by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE or clicking on the TICKETS link on the club's official website, www.chicago-fire.com .

FOLLOW THE CHICAGO FIRE 24/7 VIA SOCIAL MEDIA

Fans can follow the Chicago Fire on the web at www.Chicago-Fire.com, on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/ChiFireSoccer on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ChicagoFire or the Fire's blog EN FUEGO .

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Major League Soccer Stories from April 5, 2010


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