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MLS Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire Head North To Battle Eastern Conference Adversary Toronto FC

May 3, 2010 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


The Chicago Fire (2-2-2, 8 points) take their three-game unbeaten streak and travel north to Toronto for their fourth match away from TOYOTA PARK in seven games when they take on Toronto FC at BMO Field on Saturday, May 8 at 3:00 PM CT (My50, Direct Kick). Currently sitting on eight points, the Fire are tied with the Columbus Crew for second place in the Eastern Conference.

The Men in Red lead the all-time series with Toronto FC with a 3-2-2 record in seven matches played since Toronto FC joined MLS as an expansion side in 2007. The Fire are 2-2-0 in games played at BMO Field, having outscored the Reds eight goals to six in four matches in Toronto. This will be the Fire's first opportunity to play on the newly laid grass at BMO Field.

Chicago Fire midfielder Peter Lowry on playing TFC in Toronto:

"They are always a tough team to play against. They fight hard and are always well prepared. It's always a battle when we go up there."

CHICAGO FIRE at Toronto FC

* CJ Brown will be appearing in his 350th competitive match (across all competitions: MLS Regular Season, Postseason, US Open Cup, CONCACAF Champions Cup and SuperLiga) as a member of the Fire. This tally is the third best all-time for a player with one MLS team. Brown sits behind D.C. United forward Jaime Moreno (415) and LA Galaxy midfielder Cobi Jones (392).

* Chicago Fire midfielder Patrick Nyarko has notched three consecutive assists to push his season total to four. With four assists in six matches, the Ghanaian midfielder has eclipsed his 2009 assist total by two. He currently sits behind Landon Donovan (five) for second in the league for assists.

* Brian McBride was briefly a member of Toronto FC when he returned to MLS in 2008. The MLS Best XI forward was acquired for Chad Barrett before ever suiting up for TFC. McBride has fared well against TFC, scoring two goals and adding an assist in three matches.

* Second-year goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra is fifth in the league in goalkeeping statistics. In his first year as a starter Dykstra has a 1.00 goals against average, two clean sheets and 20 saves in six matches as the Fire's No. 1 'keeper.

- Toronto FC forward Dwane De Rosario is second in MLS with six goals. LA Galaxy forward Edson Buddle leads the league with nine goals.

* In 2009, the Fire won and tied with TFC. Chris Rolfe and Brian McBride scored to give the Fire a 2-0 victory and three points at BMO Field, snapping the Fire's streak of five consecutive ties. In the second meeting, McBride's game tying goal capped the Fire's comeback to give the side a 2-2 draw at TOYOTA PARK.

* Baggio Husidic scored his second consecutive goal over the weekend, improving upon his MLS account opening header in the Fire's 2-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo April 24.

- Chicago Fire First Assistant Coach Mike Matkovich spent the 2007 season as an assistant coach with Toronto FC. Matkovich also served as an assistant coach under TFC Head Coach Preki when both men were at Chivas USA in 2008.

CHICAGO FIRE DRAW CHIVAS USA 1-1

Baggio Husidic's second half goal was not enough to propel the Fire to victory at TOYOTA PARK, as Chivas USA forward Maicon Santos scored a late header to tie the match at 1-1 and snap the Fire's two-game winning streak.

A splendid team effort gave the Fire the lead eight minutes into the second half. A sly give-and-go between Mike Banner and Marco Pappa ignited the opportunity on the left side of the field. Pappa broke free and switched the point of attack with a lofted cross to an open Patrick Nyarko well inside the 18-yard box. Nyarko extended to bring the ball down and with his second touch sent the ball across the mouth of the goal where a charging Husidic tapped the ball in to give the Fire a 1-0 lead after 53 minutes of play.

The Fire finished their two-game home stand with a 1-0-1 record and return to the road for their fourth and fifth road matches of the season, starting with a trip north of the border to take on Toronto FC on Saturday, May 8 (3:00 PM CT, My50) and at Kansas City on Saturday, May 15 (7:30 PM CT, FSC/FSE). The Fire will return to TOYOTA PARK to challenge Paris Saint-Germain in the first match of the Chicago Sister Cities International Cup on Wednesday, May 19 at 7:00 PM CT with Legia Warsaw taking on Red Star Belgrade immediately following the Fire match.

CHICAGO FIRE CHALLENGE A.C. MILAN IN INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY AT TOYOTA PARK

The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced that it will play an international friendly against seven-time European Champions A.C. Milan at TOYOTA PARK on Sunday, May 30 at 7:30 PM CT. The two sides previously met in 2005 when the Rossoneri (Red-Blacks) edged the Fire 3-1 in a tightly contested match at Soldier Field.

Tickets for this match are included in the Season Ticket and Ten Game packages as Bonus Game 1. Groups of 15 or more are available for all price sections and include a savings off the regular price. To reserve your seats today please call 1-888-MLS-FIRE (657-3473), head to www.Ticketmaster.com or visit the club's official website www.Chicago-Fire.com.

A.C. Milan will bring a number of high-profile players for its friendly against the Fire. Scheduled to represent the Milan side will be legendary midfielders Ronaldinho of Brazil and Holland's Clarence Seedorf. Ronaldinho, the former FIFA World Player of the Year (2004, 2005), is recognized worldwide for leading FC Barcelona to two Spanish La Liga titles, two Spanish Super Cups and the Catalan club's second UEFA Champions League victory in 2006. Brazilian forward Alexandre Pato is set to make his first trip to TOYOTA PARK. The 20-year-old forward has tallied 36 goals in 74 appearances since joining the San Siro outfit in 2007. Current World Cup champion Filippo Inzaghi, who has appeared in 184 matches for the Rossoneri and A.C. Milan captain Massimo Ambrosini will also participate in the match against the Fire. A.C. Milan is committed to fielding all of its star players at TOYOTA PARK who are not obligated to World Cup duties.

CHICAGO FIRE WELCOME LEGIA WARSAW, PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN AND RED STAR BELGRADE FOR FIRST-EVER CHICAGO SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL CUP AT TOYOTA PARK

The Fire and Chicago Sister Cities International have partnered to host the first-ever Chicago Sister Cities International Cup on Wednesday, May 19 and Saturday, May 22 at TOYOTA PARK. Joining the Fire for the two-day, four-team international tournament are Legia Warsaw of Warsaw, Poland, Paris Saint-Germain of Paris, France and Red Star Belgrade of Belgrade, Serbia.

The two-day tournament will feature premier clubs from three of Chicago's sister cities. Chicago has proven itself to be one of the great cities in the world with one of the most fervent soccer markets in the United States and will make for an excellent backdrop to this international tournament featuring the Fire and three world-renowned clubs.

Fans can purchase tickets through the Club's official website at www.chicago-fire.com or by calling the Chicago Fire at 1-888-MLS-FIRE (657-3473). Tickets are also available via Ticketmaster.

CHICAGO FIRE AFTER SECOND CONSECUTIVE SUPERLIGA FINAL

The Chicago Fire will once again compete in SuperLiga this July 14, 17 and 20 at TOYOTA PARK. The Fire were defeated by Tigres UANL of Mexico on penalty kicks in front of a sell-out crowd at TOYOTA PARK in their first appearance in the annual tournament. The fourth installment of the tournament - which features top U.S. and Mexican soccer clubs and awards the winner with one of the biggest purses in the region - will begin Wednesday, July 14, just three days following the conclusion of this summer's FIFA World Cup.

In its history, SuperLiga has crowned two Mexican champions (Pachuca, 2007 and Tigres, 2009) and one U.S. champion (New England Revolution, 2008). All three championship games have been determined by penalty kicks. During the inaugural edition of SuperLiga, CF Pachuca defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA. on Aug. 30, 2007. In 2008, the all-MLS final saw the Revolution defeat the Houston Dynamo at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. In 2009, Tigres UANL of Mexico defeated the Chicago Fire in front of a sell-out crowd at Toyota Park.

Competitive criteria determined which four teams would represent the United States in the tournament. Based on their 2009 regular season record, the top four MLS teams (who are not competing in the 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions League) qualified for SuperLiga 2010: Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Houston Dynamo and New England Revolution. The four invited Mexican clubs participating in this edition of SuperLiga will be known later this spring, following the conclusion of the current tournament.

Wednesday, July 14

Game 2: TOYOTA PARK - Bridgeview, IL

Saturday, July 17

Game 5: TOYOTA PARK - Bridgeview, IL

Game 6: TOYOTA PARK - Bridgeview, IL

Tuesday, July 20

Game 10: TOYOTA PARK - Bridgeview, IL

MEXICO READIES 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 called in 17 players for El Tri's four exhibition matches in North America meeting 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 midfielder Cuauhtémoc Blanco. The play-making midfielder will return to Chicago for the first time since he departed for Second Division Mexican side Veracruz in the 2010 offseason.

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