MLS Chicago Fire FC

CONCACAF Golf Cup Semifinal Doubleheader This Thursday at Soldier Field

Published on July 21, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


CHICAGO, IL (July 21, 2009) - The CONCACAF Gold Cup comes to Chicago this week as the four remaining teams: USA, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Mexico compete in a 2009 Gold Cup semifinal doubleheader at Soldier Field on Thursday, July 23. The first match up of the evening will feature the USA versus Honduras, with kickoff at 6 p.m. CT. The second match will feature Mexico versus Costa Rica, with kickoff at 8 p.m. CT. Fire players Logan Pause (USA), Jon Busch (USA), and Gonzalo Segares (Costa Rica) will be representing their respective countries in the semifinals of the tournament.

The winner of each respective semifinal will face off for the Gold Cup championship in New York City, Sunday, July 26th.

The Chicago Fire players representing their countries this week include midfielder Logan Pause and goalkeeper Jon Busch on the U.S. Men's National team's 23-man roster that will seek to defend their 2005 & 2007 Gold Cup titles, and defender Gonzalo Segares, who will be representing Costa Rica.

Pause has appeared in three of the USA's four matches in the tournament so far. The Fire midfielder earned his first-ever "cap" with the U.S. Men's National team during their first game in Gold Cup group play on July 4th against Grenada. Pause recorded his first assist for the U.S. MNT in that same game as he played a long ball out of the back field to Robbie Rogers who tallied the USA's third goal in the 4-0 win.

Busch is one of three goalkeepers that was originally named to the USA's Gold Cup roster and since the USA only traveled two goalkeepers, he remained with the Fire until this week. Busch joined the USA on Monday for training in advance of the Gold Cup semifinal and will rejoin the Fire on July 24 in Seattle for the team's league match against the Sounders FC. The Fire's goalkeeper was called into the annual U.S. Men's National Team January camp earlier this year due to his exceptional play during the 2008 season in which he earned MLS Goalkeeper of the Year honors. Busch earned his first "cap" with the U.S. Men's National Team on March 9, 2005, shutting out Colombia 3-0 in a friendly.

Segares has appeared in two of Costa Rica's four Gold Cup matches this year. While appearing for his national team over 10 times before, the 2009 edition of the tournament is Segares' first time competing in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Segares played 90 minutes in Costa Rica's 2-1 loss to El Salvador on July 3rd and their 2-2 tie with Canada on July 10th during group play, while sitting out the 1-0 win over Jamaica and 5-1 win over Guadeloupe.

The Fire is offering a special 3-game pack starting at just $50 that features the Gold Cup semifinal doubleheader as well as the Fire's September 20 match against the Columbus Crew and October 22 game against Chivas USA. Gold Cup 3-game packs can be purchased by clicking on the TICKETS link on the club's official website, www.chicago-fire.com or by calling 888-MLS-FIRE. Group tickets for the double header will also be available for the semifinal matches by calling 888-MLS-FIRE.

Individual tickets will be available to the public through www.ticketmaster.com.

For more information about the CONCACAF Gold Cup, visit www.goldcup.org.

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 21, 2009


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