MLS Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire Look to Regulate Real Salt Lake, Red Bulls

Published on June 20, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


After extending its unbeaten run to five games over the weekend the Chicago Fire (2-4-9, 15 points) face a quick turnaround when the team welcomes CONCACAF Champion's League finalists Real Salt Lake (6-3-4, 22 points) to TOYOTA PARK on Wednesday, June 22 at 7:30 p.m. CT (My50). Following the match, the club will honor Fire Original CJ Brown for his 13-years of dedicated service to the Men in Red.

Over the weekend, the Fire played to a 1-1 draw against the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium. Dominic Oduro's fourth goal in a Fire uniform gave the Men in Red a lead after 32 minutes. The Revs drew level early in the second half as Rajko Lekic opportunely snagged a scuffed Pat Phelan shot to beat Sean Johnson to the far post.

The Revs lone goal was the first goal conceded by the Fire in 334 minutes of play and the first during the four game tenure of interim head man Frank Klopas. Under the tutelage of the club's Technical Director, the Fire have gone 1-0-3.

Following the midweek fixture, the Eastern Conference-leading New York Red Bulls (5-2-7, 22 points) roll into town for a Sunday afternoon fixture at TOYOTA PARK. The club will round out their fourth three-game week in a nationally televised match on ESPN against Thierry Henry and the Red Bulls on Sunday, June 26 at 1:00 p.m. CT.

CHICAGO FIRE vs. Real Salt Lake

* The Fire are 5-3-4 all-time against Real Salt Lake.

* In 2010, the Fire dropped both results to the 2009 MLS Cup Champions. Robbie Findley's penalty kick proved the difference in the home leg as the two sides returned from the World Cup break on July 8, 2010. Reduced the 10-men early, the Fire fell to RSL at Rio Tinto to a similar score line, losing 1-0 in Utah on Sept. 18.

* The Iron Unkind: The Fire have struck the woodwork seven times this season. Cristian Nazarit's toe-poke shot on goal in the 16th minute against the Revolution was the seventh instance in 15 games. Fire forward Diego Chaves has struck a shot off of the post a MLS-high three times this season.

* Chicago Fire forward Crisitan Nazarit opened his MLS account against the Columbus Crew Sunday, June 12. The 20-year-old Colombian's goal sealed the victory for the Fire on the road.

* There are five current MLS coaches who have captured a MLS Cup as a player. They are Frank Klopas, Peter Nowak, Peter Vermes, Tom Soehn and Ben Olsen. Of those, three (Klopas, Nowak and Soehn) played for the 1998 Chicago Fire team that won the Double in the club's first season.

* Sean Johnson has gone 1-0-4 since returning the Fire lineup May 28 against San Jose. The second-year 'keeper has notched three clean sheets in that span, going for a consecutive 334 minutes without allowing a goal.

* Playmaking midfielder Marco Pappa returns to Fire after representing Guatemala in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Pappa had one goal and three assists, helping Guatemala to the Quarterfinals. Los Chapines were defeated by Mexico, 2-1, in front of 78,807 fans at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey Saturday night.

CHICAGO FIRE vs. New York Red Bulls

* The Fire fell to the New York side in the MLS opening of Red Bull Arena, with Joel Lindpere's strike proving the difference in a 1-0 match on March 27, 2010. The two clubs played to a scoreless draw at TOYOTA PARK. Despite five Designated Players being on the field at the same time neither side was able to find the back of the net in front of 21,868 fans at TOYOTA PARK on Aug. 8, 2010.

* The Men in Red are 20-11-7 all-time against the Red Bulls, including a 11-3-5 mark in matches played in Chicago. The Fire have outscored New York 33 to 17 in Windy City matches.

* The Red Bulls will enter Sunday's contest having played away matches at Portland, a 3-3 draw with the Timbers at JELD-WEN Field, on Sunday, June 19 and Seattle Sounders FC at Qwest Field on Thursday, June 23 before traveling to Chicago on Friday.

CHICAGO FIRE TO HONOR CJ BROWN WEDNESDAY NIGHT

The Chicago Fire Soccer Club will honor Fire Original CJ Brown when the 13-year Fire defender returns to TOYOTA PARK for the Chicago Fire - Real Salt Lake game on Wednesday, June 22 at 7:30 p.m. CT (My50). Brown currently serves as an assistant coach for Real Salt Lake.

The club will honor Brown in front of the Fire faithful at TOYOTA PARK in a postgame tribute to the Fire Original's exceptional career in Chicago. Brown's wife, Kim, and two girls, Canessa and Kali will be in attendance as the Fire welcome back the player who appeared in 370 matches across all competitions for the Men in Red, by far the most appearances in the club's history.

Brown, who retired following the Fire's final regular season match in 2010, was drafted number one overall in the 1998 MLS Supplemental Draft out of San Jose State University and made an immediate impact on the Fire expansion side, appearing in 17 games during the club's inaugural season. The stout defender helped lead the club to the American "Double", winning MLS Cup and the U.S. Open Cup in the club's first year.

CHICAGO FIRE TO FACE WINNER OF HARRISBURG - ROCHESTER TIE IN 3RD ROUND OF LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP

The Chicago Fire are slated to play the winner of the Harrisburg City Islanders - Rochester Rhinos clash to be held Tuesday, June 21 at Skyline Sports Complex in Harrisburg, Penn.

With a Harrisburg win, the Chicago Fire would host a potential Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup third round match at TOYOTA PARK on Tuesday, June 28. If Rochester is victorious, the Fire will travel to Sahlen Stadium in Rochester, NY to take on the 1999 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champions in the third round encounter.

Chicago Fire Premier, the club's entry in the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League advanced to the second round of the tournament following a 1-0 win Tuesday night over the Iowa Menace (USASA) in Des Moines, Ia. The PDL side is slated to play the Madison 56ers (NPSL) at Breese Stevens Field in Madison, Wisc. on Tuesday, June 21 at 7pm CT, with the winner set to visit Major League Soccer's Sporting Kansas City on Tuesday, June 28 at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.

The Fire has taken pride in competing in the U.S. Open Cup, and its results reflect that mindset. Since 1998, the Fire have racked up an impressive 26-9-2 record in Open Cup play, which has helped the squad reach the semifinal round on seven out of 13 occasions and the tournament's final five times. The 2006 title marked the ninth time a team from Chicago won the Open Cup and made the Fire one of five teams to capture the crown at least four times in the tournament's nearly century-long history.

TICKETS ON-SALE FOR THE CHICAGO FIRE VS. MANCHESTER UNITED MATCH AT SOLDIER FIELD

Tickets are officially on-sale for the Chicago Fire - Manchester United match at Soldier Field and are available by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE, Chicago-Fire.com or via Ticketmaster. The Fire will take on the English Premier League Winners and UEFA Champions League Finalists at Soldier Field on Saturday, July 23 at 4:00 p.m. CT as part of the World Football Challenge.

The Chicago Fire v. Manchester United match is included in the Fire's Full Season Ticket Holder plan as Bonus Game Two. Supporters can purchase a ticket for the Chicago Fire - Manchester United match by purchasing full Chicago Fire Season Tickets by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE (657-3473) or by heading to the club's official website at Chicago-Fire.com. Fire Season Ticket Holders will receive an in-kind number of seats at Soldier Field and be given the opportunity to upgrade and/or purchase additional tickets.

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Major League Soccer Stories from June 20, 2011


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