MLS Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire Host Real Salt Lake Sunday

Published on May 25, 2007 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


BRIDGEVIEW, IL (May 25, 2007) - The Chicago Fire (3-4-1, 10 pts.) host another team needing a spark in Real Salt Lake (0-3-4, 4 pts.) Sunday at TOYOTA PARK (4:00 p.m. CT) for the first of two 2007 regular season meetings. The Fire are looking to snap a four-game losing streak after falling 3-0 to the New York Red Bulls Thursday night at Giants Stadium. RSL still searches for its first win of the season as the club comes into Chicago off losses at FC Dallas (5/20). The Fire currently stand fourth in the Eastern Conference with 10 points, just seven points behind conference-leaders New England, while New York sits in second in the East. Kick-off from Bridgeview can be followed live on Chicagoland radio stations WRTO-AM 1200 (Spanish) and WNVR-AM 1030 (Polish) and on television live on TeleFutura and the MLS Direct Kick Package and locally on Comcast SportsNet (Tape-Delay 7:00 p.m. CT).

Chicago Fire vs. Real Salt Lake :: Fire Match #9 - MLS Match #53

Sunday, May 27 @ 4:00 p.m. CT :: TOYOTA PARK - Bridgeview, Ill.

TV: Comcast SportsNet (Tape-Delay 7:00 p.m.), TeleFutura (LIVE)

Satellite: TeleFutura (LIVE - 4 p.m. CT) KU BAND SBS 6, Tr. 11 Lower, U/L: 14257.5(V), D/L: 11957.5(H)

Satellite: Comcast SportsNet-Chicago (TD - 7 p.m. CT) KU BAND SBS 6, Tr. 11 Upper, U/L: 14275.5(V), D/L: 11975.5(H)

Audio: WRTO 1200 AM (Spanish), WNVR 1030 AM (Polish)

Game Guide: http://www.sportssystems.com/novell/efx%5Cfax%5CMLS%5C06704I01.pdf

Chicago Fire/AthletiCo "Recovery Room" :: May 25

Carr, Calen - L ankle contusion/strain - QUESTIONABLE

Guerrero, Ivan - L ankle sprain - PROBABLE

Gutierrez, Diego - L toe fracture - QUESTIONABLE

Mapp, Justin - L shoulder strain - PROBABLE

Pickens, Matt - R groin strain - PROBABLE

Robinson, Dasan - R groin strain - PROBABLE

Rolfe, Chris - L ankle sprain - QUESTIONABLE

Segares, Gonzalo - L ankle sprain - PROBABLE

Telesford, Osei - L groin strain - OUT

Thiago - R groin strain - PROBABLE

Fire History vs. Real Salt Lake Sunday's match will mark just the fifth-ever meeting between Chicago and third-year side Real Salt Lake. The Fire holds a 3-1-0 overall advantage in the series, splitting the 2006 season contests with a 3-1 defeat on June 3 at Rice-Eccles Stadium that witnessed Fire midfielder Brian Plotkin score his first and only career goal to date. The return leg was a much more favorable result as forward Chad Barrett tallied both goals in a 2-1 victory on June 28 at TOYOTA PARK. Barrett notched his first MLS career goal in the first-ever meeting between the clubs in a 3-0 Fire win on 5/28/05 on the road, while the return leg at Soldier Field on 6/26/05 produced a 3-1 victory.

Salt Lake to Date

Real Salt Lake head coach Jason Kreis makes his first trip to Chicago taking the reigns of club still searching for its first 2007 regular season win. Salt Lake's lone victory of the 2007 campaign came in U.S. Open Cup action against the Kansas City Wizards on April 18, finishing the month 1-2-2 in all competition, which led to the eventual firing of then-head coach John Ellinger. Real has gone 0-2-2 in all competition since the coaching change, playing its fourth of five-straight games on the road this Sunday at TOYOTA PARK.

Willian Oliveira Signs, Makes MLS Debut

On Thursday night the latest signing for the Chicago Fire, Willian Oliveira, came off the bench to register his first ten minutes MLS play. The club announced Thursday afternoon the signing of young Brazilian midfielder, acquired from W Connection of Trinidad and Tobago. The Fire used one of its six Discovery player slots to bring in Oliveira. Oliveira will be classified as a Youth International player (24 years and under) alongside Fire defender Osei Telesford of Trinidad and Tobago, and per MLS guidelines, he will count towards the Fire's 18-man senior roster. The 22-year-old has trained with the "Men in Red" since the month of March, joining the club late in preseason training. Oliveira joins the Fire having spent four years in the W Connection program, playing for both the U20 and senior W Connection squads. In January of 2007, he helped the "Savonetta Boys" to a Caribbean Club Championship after downing rival club San Juan Jabloteh 1-0. Oliveira has also played with Uniao Bandeirante Futebol Club and Esporte Clube Vitoria of Brazil.

Quick Kicks vs. Real Salt Lake - Fire midfielder Brian Plotkin made his first start of the 2007 season (fifth of career) Thursday @ NY, registering 63 minutes.

- Chicago has allowed 11 total goals across the club's last four losses.

- Former Real forward Jeff Cunningham was traded to Toronto FC on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 in exchange for TFC forward Alecko Eskandarian and the Canadian club's 2008 first round SuperDraft pick.

- Fire forward Chad Barrett currently ranks fourth in the league in shots (26) and third in shots on goal (13). He is also the Fire's all-time series leader in goals scored against RSL with three.

- Chicago's loss on Thursday marked the first time the "Men in Red" have been shutout during the 2007 campaign.

- Real Salt Lake's roster includes two Fire alumni - midfielder Andy Williams and defender Jack Stewart. The Jamaican international Williams scored six goals and added 16 assists in 45 games with the "Men in Red" during the 2003-2004 seasons, while Stewart played in 14 games (4 starts) with the Fire in 2005 and part of 2006 before being traded to RSL.

- Caution Watch - Chad Barrett (2c), C.J. Brown (2c), Calen Carr (3c), Diego Gutierrez (2c, 1e), Jim Curtin (2c), Logan Pause (1c), Dasan Robinson (1c), Gonzalo Segares (2c), Thiago (1c).

Check out the Chicago Fire FC Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 25, 2007


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