Chicago Fire Begin Four-Game Homestand
August 15, 2011 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release
The Chicago Fire (2-7-14, 20 points) return home for the start of a four-game homestand at TOYOTA PARK. The Fire will kick off the crucial stretch of games against D.C. United (7-6-9, 30 points) on Thursday, Aug. 18 at 8:00 p.m. CT in a nationally televised match on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. The Men in Red will end the August home stretch against 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.
Thursday's match marks the 40th meeting between the two perennial MLS contenders. In 39 previous meetings the Fire are 14-16-9 with a 8-6-5 record in matches played in the Second City. United enter the match riding a high note winning two of their last three matches, including a 4-0 drubbing of Vancouver Whitecaps FC Saturday evening at RFK Stadium.
The Fire will close out the weekend with a Sunday evening fixture against Toronto FC (4-11-11, 23 points) at TOYOTA PARK at 6:00 p.m. CT live on Comcast SportsNet and Galavision. The Men in Red have never fallen to TFC at TOYOTA PARK, going 1-0-3 in the previous four meetings at the Fire's soccer-specific home.
With 11 matches remaining, the Fire find themselves needing points to ensure a place in the 2011 MLS Cup playoffs. While only having two wins during the MLS regular season campaign, the team's high number of draws (14) keep a late season playoff push possible with 33 points still available. There is league precedence for a late-season playoff push, with 10 MLS teams having significantly improved their positioning over the years with late season runs.
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