MLS Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire Look To Rebound Against Kansas City Wizards

Published on May 10, 2010 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


The Chicago Fire (2-3-2, 8 points) look to bounce back from their 4-1 defeat to Toronto FC over the weekend as they head to Kansas City to challenge the Wizards at CommunityAmerica Ballpark this Saturday, May 15 at 7:30 PM CT (FSC/FSE). The Fire, who only lost three matches on the road in 2009, will look to avoid their third road loss of the season as they face a team they have traditionally fared well against.

The Fire lead the all-time series over the Wizards with a 20-9-7 record in 36 matches played since the teams first met in 1998. The Fire are 7-7-5 in matches played in KC, and have never lost to the Wizards at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, going 1-0-2 since the Kansas City club first moved to their temporary home in 2008.

CHICAGO FIRE at Kansas City Wizards

* The Fire have outscored the Wizards by a margin of five goals in Kansas City. The Fire have scored 34 goals and conceded 29 in 19 matches played in KC.

* Logan Pause scored his second career MLS goal in the Fire's 4-1 loss to Toronto FC. The defensive midfielder opened his MLS account in the Fire's 1-0 victory over New England on Opening Night at TOYOTA PARK in 2007.

* The Fire have followed up their last two four-goal losses with three-goal victories. After the Fire's 4-1 loss at the hands of FC Dallas in 2008, the club racked up three goals to win 3-1 over the LA Galaxy in their final regular season match of the season on Sept. 25. Following the Fire's 4-0 drubbing to the Houston Dynamo in 2007, the Fire tallied three goals as the Fire rolled to a 3-0 victory over Toronto FC on July 29.

* Kansas City Wizards forward Josh Wolff was a member of the Fire's 1998 MLS Cup Championship squad. The 12-year MLS veteran has 32 regular season goals for the Fire, ranking him third all-time in the Fire's record books behind Chris Rolfe (36) and Ante Razov (76). In 15 appearances against his former team, Wolff has notched five goals and added two assists.

* In 2009, the Fire won and tied with the Wizards. On April 18, Brian McBride's first half brace was thwarted by Wolff's two second-half goals, ending the match in a 2-2 draw at TOYOTA PARK. In the return leg on August 16, Mike Banner and Chris Rolfe scored to lead the Fire to a 2-0 victory over the Wizards at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

* Fire Technical Director Frank Klopas played for the Wizards in the 1996 and '97 seasons, scoring seven goals in 54 appearances.

* The Wizards have a 2-3-1 record with seven points and sit behind the Fire in a tie with the New England Revolution for fifth place in the Eastern Conference.

CHICAGO FIRE FALL TO TORONTO FC 4-1

Logan Pause lone goal wasn't enough for the Fire to overcome Toronto FC's three second half goals, as the Fire were defeated 4-1 at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario. Toronto FC's second interval offensive onslaught included a brace from Chad Barrett and two assists from Dwayne De Rosario to give TFC the win and snap the Fire's three-game unbeaten streak.

With two goals in the course of four minutes, Barrett put the match out of reach. The former Fire forward got on the score sheet in the 66th minute when he took a pass from White and powered it past Dykstra for his first goal of the season. In the 69th minute, De Rosario sprung the forward with a long pass that put Barrett one-on-one with Dykstra. Barrett drove a shot past the Fire goalkeeper, to give TFC a 4-1 advantage and their third victory of the season.

BRIMSTONE CUP OPENING LEG ON THE HORIZON

"The more the kindled combat rises high'r, The more with fury burns the blazing fire." - Virgil

The 10th edition of the Brimstone Cup, a rivalry between the Chicago Fire and FC Dallas, is set to kickoff on Thursday, May 27 at 7:00 PM CT (ESPN2/ESPN Deportes). The Brimstone Cup was created in 2001, when FC Dallas was still known as the Dallas Burn. The above quote, which highlights the two club's original monikers, is taken from Virgil's Aeneid and is engraved upon the base of the Cup.

FC Dallas has either won or retained the cup eight of the previous nine seasons, with the Fire only raising the Brimstone Cup in the competition's inaugural year of 2001. The Cup is awarded to the team with the most points in matches played between the two sides. If both teams have the same number of points at the end of the season the Cup remains with the club who held it at the beginning of the season.

The Men in Red seek to recapture the Cup when the Hoops come to town May 27. In 2009 both sides exchanged three goal victories. The Fire defeated FC Dallas 3-0 on goals from Justin Mapp, Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Brian McBride in the season opener at Pizza Hut Park on March 21. In the return leg at TOYOTA PARK on May 31, the Fire gave up three goals and FC Dallas earned three points to tie the Fire for the season series and retain the Brimstone Cup for an eighth consecutive season.

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.

Chicago Sister Cities International Cup Schedule

Wednesday, May 19

Chicago Fire vs. Paris Saint-Germain 7:00 PM CT TOYOTA PARK

Legia Warsaw vs. Red Star Belgrade Immediately Following TOYOTA PARK

Saturday, May 22

Consolation (losing teams from 5/19) 6:00 PM CT TOYOTA PARK

Championship (winning teams from 5/19) Immediately Following TOYOTA PARK

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

The Chicago Fire 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 CHASE 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

INDIVIDUAL GAME TICKETS ON SALE

Individual game tickets for all 2010 MLS regular season Chicago Fire matches at TOYOTA PARK are on sale. The Fire have individual tickets starting at just $22. For more information on any Chicago Fire ticket package please call 1-888-MLS-FIRE (657-3473) or visit the club's official website at www.chicago-fire.com .

FOLLOW THE CHICAGO FIRE 24/7 VIA SOCIAL MEDIA

Fans can follow the Chicago Fire on the web at www.Chicago-Fire.com, on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/ChiFireSoccer on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ChicagoFire or the Fire's blog EN FUEGO .

ABOUT CHICAGO FIRE SOCCER CLUB

The Chicago Fire Soccer Club was founded on October 8, 1997 as a Major League Soccer expansion team. The Fire won the MLS Cup in its inaugural season in 1998 and was crowned the champion of U.S. Soccer's national tournament, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, in 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006. In June 2006, the Fire moved into its world-class home of TOYOTA PARK, located in Bridgeview, IL. For more information on the Chicago Fire, please visit the club's official website at www.Chicago-Fire.com.

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 10, 2010


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