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MLS Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire Host Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Columbus Crew in MLS Action

July 28, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


MEN IN RED CONTINUE FOUR-MATCH HOMESTAND, WELCOME WHITECAPS FC AND CREW TO TOYOTA PARK

The Chicago Fire (3-5-11, 20 points) close out July when they host the Vancouver Whitecaps FC (6-4-10, 28 points) at Toyota Park in a match presented by energySMART, a Nicor Gas Program on Wednesday, July 30 at 7:30 p.m. CT (My50/TWCSC Wisconsin/La Ley 107.9 FM). Tickets for the match are available via Ticketmaster and www.Chicago-Fire.com.

This is the first and only meeting between the two sides this season. Vancouver enters the match after a 2-2 home draw with FC Dallas Sunday evening. In last season's fixture, the Fire fell 3-1 at BC Place on July 14.

Three days later, the Fire host Eastern Conference foes Columbus Crew for Military Appreciation Night presented by TrueCar at Toyota Park on Saturday, Aug. 2 at 7:30 p.m. CT (My50/TWCSC Wisconsin/La Ley 107.9 FM). The first 5,000 fans in the stadium will receive a set of commemorative Chicago Fire dog tags. Tickets to the match are available via Ticketmaster and www.Chicago-Fire.com.

Saturday will be the third match across all competitions between the Fire and the Crew this season. On May 24, the Fire fell 2-0 at Crew Stadium in MLS play. The Fire defeated the Crew 4-2 at Toyota Park in the fifth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on June 25.

CHICAGO FIRE VS. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC

- The Fire are 1-2-1 all-time against Vancouver.

- The Fire have not lost in the two previous matches played at Toyota Park against Vancouver. The Men in Red earned a 0-0 draw on May 7, 2011 and won 1-0 on July 14, 2012.

- This is the first time Fire midfielder Matt Watson will face his former club. Acquired by the Fire in a trade with Vancouver on March 5, Watson started 25 of his 36 MLS regular season appearances and tallied one assist over 2,261 minutes in two seasons with the "˜Caps. Watson added an assist in Vancouver's first-ever MLS Playoff match in a 2-1 loss on Nov. 1, 2012.

- Wednesday marks the eighth match across all competitions for the Fire in the month of July.

CHICAGO FIRE VS. COLUMBUS CREW

- The Fire hold a 24-14-13 record against the Crew in regular season play. The Fire are 14-5-7 in matches played at home.

- The last time the Fire lost a regular season match to the Crew at Toyota Park was Oct. 7, 2006.

- Midfielder Dilly Duka began his professional career with the Crew. After a standout collegiate career at Rutgers University, the Montville, N.J. product was selected in the first round (eight overall) of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. In three seasons with the Crew, Duka scored two goals and tallied five assists in 45 matches. The Men in Red acquired Duka on Feb. 4, 2013.

- Fire Technical Director Brian Bliss joined the Fire after six years serving as the Crew's Technical Director. On Sept. 2, 2013 Bliss was appointed Interim Head Coach of the Crew, where he led the Crew to a 4-4-0 record to close out the 2013 season.

- After playing abroad in Germany, Bliss returned to the United States in 1996 and was allocated to the Columbus Crew, where he made 31 appearances and scored one goal over the course of one-and-a-half seasons.

CHICAGO FIRE VS. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP SEMIFINAL SELECTED AS USSOCCER.COM'S "GAME OF THE ROUND"

The Chicago Fire vs. Seattle Sounders FC Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinal match on Aug. 13 at Starfire Soccer Complex in Tukwila, Wash. has been selected as U.S. Soccer's "Game of the Round". Coverage will begin at 9 p.m. CT on ussoccer.com.

Since 1998, the Fire have compiled an impressive 36-11-4 record in Open Cup play, reaching the semifinal round nine out of 16 times and the final six times. The Fire have previously hoisted the coveted Dewar Trophy four times, in 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006. The 2006 title marked the ninth time a team from Chicago won the Open Cup and made the Fire one of six teams to capture the crown at least four times in the tournament's 100-year-long history.

The winner of the match will take on the victors of the Philadelphia Union vs. FC Dallas semifinal at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas on Aug. 12.

CHICAGO FIRE SOCCER CLUB TO HOST FOURTH ANNUAL WHITE PARTY

The Chicago Fire Soccer Club is set to host the Fourth Annual White Party at the MCA Warehouse (1747 West Hubbard Street, Chicago, Ill.) on Thursday, August 7 from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. CT.

The White Party features guests in their most stylish white attire enjoying a premium open bar, food from various Chicagoland restaurants, a live DJ and more. The event also allows guests the opportunity to mingle with Fire players, coaches and staff members in a fun, unique setting.

A sell-out for the past two consecutive years, the White Party is the Chicago Fire Foundation's most prolific event. In 2013, tickets to the party sold out in record time as the event drew more than 700 guests and raised more than $50,000.

Tickets to the White Party begin at $60 for general admission and $80 for VIP admission, which includes an upgraded gift bag and access to the VIP lounge with exclusive food and bar options. All proceeds from the event will support the Chicago Fire Foundation's community efforts.

For more information on the White Party, please visit www.chicago-fire.com .

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