MLS Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire Go Head-To-Head with English Premier League Champs

Published on July 18, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


The Chicago Fire (2-6-12, 18 points) step away from MLS league play to participate in the Herbalife World Football Challenge when the Men in Red welcome 19-time English Premier League Champions Manchester United at Soldier Field on Saturday, July 23 at 4:00 p.m. CT live on ESPN2/ESPN Deportes.

The Fire, playing in their third match in seven days, were upended by the Portland Timbers Saturday night at TOYOTA PARK. Jack Jewsbury's converted penalty proved the difference and Yamith Cuesta was sent off in the 63rd minute following a second yellow card. The Fire will return to league play on Wednesday, Aug. 3 against the Philadelphia Union at TOYOTA PARK at 8:00 p.m. CT (My50).

Led by Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United is one of the most recognized clubs in the world, lifting a total of 19 English Premier League titles, four Carling cups, three European Cups and a record 11 FA Cups. United's list of international standouts includes English national team stars Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand, speedy Portuguese winger Nani, Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov, team captain Nemanja Vidic of Serbia, Korean international midfielder Ji-Sung Park, Brazilian twins Fabio and Rafael, and French international defender Patrice Evra.

The Fire will return to Soldier Field where the club played from its inception in 1998 to 2001, and again at the new Soldier Field from 2003 - 2005. The Men in Red are 62-23-10 in games played in the Stadium in a Park.

CHICAGO FIRE vs. Manchester United

* The Fire are 6-8-3 all-time in international friendlies since 1998. The Fire have played 17 friendlies against teams from Mexico, England, Italy, Germany, France, Scotland and Poland.

* The Fire are 2-0-0 all-time in friendly matches against English Premier League opposition. The club defeated Derby County 1-0 on July 20, 1999 at Soldier Field and downed Everton FC 2-0 on July 30, 2008 at TOYOTA PARK.

* The match marks the club's return to Soldier Field for the first time since a 0-0 draw in the MLS Cup playoffs against D.C. United on October 21, 2005.

* Manchester United is coming off of their English record 19th league title during the 2010-11 Barclays Premier League season.

* The match marks the third game of Manchester United's North American tour. The Red Devils defeated the New England Revolution 4-1 at Gillette Stadium in Foxbrough, MA on July 13 and will visit the Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, WA on Wednesday, July 20 before coming to Chicago.

ROONEY, FERDINAND AND NANI HIGHLIGHT MANCHESTER UNITED'S ROSTER FOR GAMES IN THE U.S.

English Premier League champion Manchester United announced its provisional travel roster for their five-game tour of the United States this summer, which includes the 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star Game, their participation in the Herbalife World Football Challenge 2011 - including the Chicago Fire - Manchester United match at Soldier Field on Saturday, July 23 at 4:00 p.m. CT (ESPN2) - and an international match against the Seattle Sounders FC.

MANCHASTER UNITED TOUR ROSTER GOALKEEPERS: Ben Amos (ENG), David de Gea (ESP)*, Sam Johnston (ENG), Andres Lindegaard (DEN) DEFENDERS: Fabio Da Silva (BRA), Rafael Da Silva (BRA), Jonny Evans (NIR), Patrice Evra (FRA), Rio Ferdinand (ENG), Phil Jones (ENG)*, Chris Smalling (ENG)*, Nemanja Vidic (SRB) MIDFIELDERS: Anderson (BRA), Michael Carrick (ENG), Tom Cleverley (ENG)*, Ryan Giggs (WAL), Nani (POR), Gabriel Obertan (FRA), Ji-Sung Park (KOR) FORWARDS: Dimitar Berbatov (BUL), Mame Biram Diouf (SEN), Javier Hernandez (MEX)*, Federico Macheda (ITA), Michael Owen (ENG), Wayne Rooney (ENG), Danny Welbeck (ENG)*, Ashley Young (ENG) MANAGER: Sir Alex Ferguson

* Indicates player will join tour in progress.

CHICAGO FIRE TO CHALLENGE FAMED MEXICAN SIDE CLUB DEPORTIVO GUADALAJARA PRESENTED BY MILLER LITE AT TOYOTA PARK ON SEPTEMBER 14

The Chicago Fire Soccer Club will welcome for the first time at TOYOTA PARK the 11-time champions in the Primera Divisi�n in Mexican Soccer, Club Deportivo Guadalajara in an international friendly Presented by Miller Lite on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 8:00 p.m. CT.

Advance tickets for the Chicago Fire and Chivas del Guadalajara match go on sale Friday, July 15 at noon CT are available by calling 888-MLS-Fire or by visiting Chicago-Fire.com. The international friendly will serve as Bonus Game 1 in the Fire's Season Ticket Package. Supporters can purchase a ticket for the Fire - CD Guadalajara match by placing a deposit on Chicago Fire Season Tickets for the 2012 season.

The Fire and Chivas del Guadalajara have only faced each other once previously in an international friendly at Soldier Field Stadium on July 13 of 2000. The Men in Red fell to the Red and White 1-0 in front of 22,260 supporters at the former Fire home.

TICKETS ON SALE FOR CHICAGO FIRE - RICHMOND KICKERS LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP SEMIFINAL BATTLE

The Chicago Fire will host the Richmond Kickers in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinal at TOYOTA PARK on Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Fire defeated the New York Red Bulls 4-0 to advance to the semifinal of the nation's longest standing team tournament Tuesday night at TOYOTA PARK. Richmond used two late goals to upend Sporting Kansas City at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park Tuesday night in Kansas City, Kan.

Advance tickets for the Fire - Kickers match go on sale Friday, July 15 at noon CT and are available by calling 888-MLS-Fire, via Chicago-Fire.com and Ticketmaster. Tickets start as low at $10 for Chicago Fire Season Ticket Holders. The U.S. Open Cup tilt is not part of the Fire Season Ticket package. Season Ticket Holders can use their season parking passes and park at no additional cost. Bonus Game One in the Fire's Season Ticket Plan, an international friendly, will be announced tomorrow, Thursday, July 14.

Since 1998, the Fire have racked up an impressive 27-8-3 record in Open Cup play, which has helped the squad reach the semifinal round on eight out of 14 occasions and the tournament's final five times. The 2006 title marked the ninth time a team from Chicago won the Open Cup and made the Fire one of five teams to capture the crown at least four times in the tournament's nearly century-long history.

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 18, 2011


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