Chicago Fire at Los Angeles Galaxy Wednesday Night
Published on July 3, 2007 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release
BRIDGEVIEW, IL (July 3, 2007) - The Chicago Fire (4-6-3 15 pts.) travel west to face the Los Angeles Galaxy (2-5-3 9 pts.) at The Home Depot Center, in Carson, Calif., in what will be a rematch of last year's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final (9:30 p.m. CT, Comcast SportsNet). The Fire are fresh off a 0-0 draw with the Colorado Rapids on Sunday, while the Galaxy are looking to get back on track after falling at home to the Columbus Crew in their last regular season contest on June 23. Saturday's game will be broadcast locally on Comcast SportsNet and over the airwaves on Chicagoland radio station WRTO-AM 1200 (Spanish).
Chicago Fire @ Los Angeles Galaxy :: Fire Match #14 - MLS Match #90
Wednesday, July 4 @ 9:30 p.m. CT :: The Home Depot Center - Carson, Calif.
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Satellite: VYVX Conf # 2329832 :: Directv 789, DishNet 463
Audio: WRTO-1200 AM (Spanish)
Game Guide: http://www.sportssystems.com/novell/EFX%5CFAX%5CMLS%5C06701U01.pdf
Chicago Fire/AthletiCo "Recovery Room" :: July 3 Armas, Chris - Hip pain - PROBABLE
Banner, Mike - R groin strain - DOUBTFUL
Monteiro, Jerson - L ankle contusion - DOUBTFUL
Plotkin, Brian - L foot contusion - DOUBTFUL
Rolfe, Chris - L ankle sprain - OUT
Russolillo, Jordan - spondylolisthesis (back pain) - OUT
Telesford, Osei - L groin strain - OUT
Fire History vs. Galaxy
This Wednesday will mark the first time the Fire and Galaxy have met since their Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final match-up on September 27, 2006, a 3-1 victory at TOYOTA PARK that marked the Chicago club's MLS-record fourth title. With a 2-1 victory over the Galaxy on September 23 at TOYOTA PARK, the Chicago Fire took last year's regular season series by a 1-0-1 margin. The result also set up a rubber match for the Open Cup Final, which saw the Fire gain a slight 16-15-4 advantage between the two sides across all major competitions (MLS regular season, MLS Cup Playoffs and U.S. Open Cup). The Fire look to improve upon a 4-6-3 record in regular season games contested at Los Angeles.
Three Games Makes One Week
The Fire face three opponents in just seven days this week, beginning with their 0-0 draw against the Colorado Rapids at TOYOTA PARK last Sunday. The "Men in Red" travel to Los Angeles to challenge the Galaxy on Independence Day (9:30 p.m. CT, Comcast SportsNet). The Fire will wrap up the first week of July at TOYOTA PARK when they kickoff against expansion side Toronto FC this Saturday (7:30 p.m. CT, Fox Soccer Channel). The Galaxy were a part of the last time the Fire played three games in one week during the 2006 campaign, as the Chicago side defeated Los Angeles 2-1 at home on Saturday, September 23. Chicago turned right around and won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup four days later with a 3-1 victory over the Galaxy on Wednesday, September 27, before wrapping up the week at New York in a 1-0 loss on Saturday, September 30.
Chicago Fire in July 4 Games (4-2-0)
July 4, 1998 Fire 1 - 0 Dallas Burn
July 4, 1999 Fire 2 - 1 Dallas Burn
July 4, 2000 Fire 1 - 2 Colorado Rapids
July 4, 2001 Fire 7 - 0 Kansas City Wizards
July 4, 2002 Fire 2 - 3 Colorado Rapids
July 4, 2006 Fire 1 - 0 Kansas City Wizards
More on the 4th
The Fire's four wins on July 4 is tied with September 17 for the most wins recorded on the same date. The Chicago Fire's 7-0 win over the Kansas City Wizards on July 4, 2001, is the most lopsided win in Fire history, setting team marks for most goals by the Fire in a game and biggest goal differential ever recorded in a regular season game.
Quick Kicks vs. Galaxy
- Fire defender Jeff Curtin is looking for a birthday win on Wednesday, as the native of Oreland, Pa. will celebrate his 24th birthday on July 4.
- Sunday's match against Colorado saw the return of Fire midfielder Logan Pause, who had been sidelined for a concussion injury suffered on June 2.
- The "Men in Red" have played six times on a July 4th date, more so than any other day throughout the club's history.
- Chicago's active roster leaders against Los Angeles are: Games Played - C.J. Brown (18); Games Started - C.J. Brown (18); Goals - Chris Rolfes (2); Assists - Justin Mapp (3).
- The Fire lead the all-time regular season series with Los Angeles in goals (33), shots (339), and shots on goal (153).
- Rookie defender Bakary Soumare is ineligible to play in Wednesday's game at Los Angeles, as he serves a one-game suspension for his 83rd minute red card ejection in Sunday's 0-0 draw with Colorado.
- Midfielder Chris Armas' 199 games played is one game away from tying former midfielder Jesse Marsch (200) for third place all-time with the Fire.
- The two highest road attendances in Chicago Fire history both occurred on July 4, with the "Men in Red" most recently falling 3-2 to the Rapids in front of 61,202 fans on July 4, 2002 and also dropping a 2-1 decision to the Rapids on July 4, 2000 with 53,126 in attendance.
Major League Soccer Stories from July 3, 2007
- Kansas City Wizards Host D.C. United in Pivotal Mid-Season Conference Match - Sporting Kansas City
- Pizza Hut Park Hosts Mexican First Division Teams Tigres and San Luis for Preseason Training, Game - FC Dallas
- Chicago Fire at Los Angeles Galaxy Wednesday Night - Chicago Fire FC
- Dynamo Acquires Former All-Star Nate Jaqua from Galaxy - Houston Dynamo FC
- MLS Weekly Preview & Broadcast Info - MLS
- D.C. United player appearances July 3-9 - D.C. United
- D.C. United to honor Marco Etcheverry with tribute match - D.C. United
- RapidFire: 4thFest Tomorrow Night - Colorado Rapids
- Sierra Mist 2007 MLS All-Star Game to Feature Musical Guests The Academy Is... and Kinky - MLS
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