Chicago Fire Play for Points at Home as They Challenge Philadelphia Union
Published on June 1, 2010 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release
As the Chicago Fire (2-3-4, 10 points) work toward Major League Soccer's first World Cup break, the Fire look to finish their six-game home stand on a positive note, as MLS' newest club Philadelphia Union (2-5-1, 7 points) make their first trip to TOYOTA PARK to face the Fire. The expansion side brings with them a familiar face to Chicago soccer, Team Manager Peter Nowak. The first-ever international player to sign with the Fire in December of 1997, Nowak captained the Fire squad that captured the MLS Cup and U.S Open Cup in 1998, the club's inaugural season.
In the four league matches played at TOYOTA PARK this season, the Chicago Fire (2-3-4, 10 points) have tallied a full three points only once, a 2-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo on April 24. The Fire have scored two goals at home in two matches and round out the month of May with 0-1-3 record and sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
For tickets to the Fire vs. Union match please call 1-888-MLS-FIRE (657-3473) or head to the club's official website at www.Chicago-Fire.com.
CHICAGO FIRE vs. Philadelphia Union
- CJ Brown will be appearing in his 352nd 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 (418) and LA Galaxy midfielder Cobi Jones (392).
* In Peter Nowak's first game back as the coach of D.C. United on June 5, 2004, the Fire routed United 3-0 on a hat trick by Damani Ralph.
* Nowak leads the Fire with 48 assists all-time. The Polish international assisted on both goals in the 1998 MLS Cup Championship match that led the Fire to their first and only MLS Cup.
- Fire Technical Director Frank Klopas and Nowak were both Fire originals on the 1998 inaugural team.
* This is the first-ever matchup between the two clubs. The last time the Fire took on an expansion side at TOYOTA PARK they tied 1-1 with Seattle Sounders FC, who joined MLS in 2009. Marco Pappa scored in the 68th minute and Sounders FC defender Tyrone Marshall tallied the equalizer in the 74th on May 2, 2009.
* Philadelphia Union sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
* Union got their first road victory this past Saturday as rookie Danny Mwanga tallied in added time to give Philadlephia a 3-2 victory at Houston's Robertson Stadium.
CHICAGO FIRE HOLD POLISH NIGHT AT TOYOTA PARK
The Chicago Fire vs. Philadelphia Union match will serve as Polish Night at TOYOTA PARK. Chicago has a population of over one million Polish people, the second largest Polish population in the world outside of Warsaw, Poland. Polish Night at TOYOTA PARK offers the perfect opportunity for the Fire welcome back "Ring of Fire" member Peter Nowak in his first trip to Chicago as Union boss. The fiery ex-captain of the Polish National Team played with the Fire from 1998 until his retirement in 2002. Fans will have the opportunity to enjoy Polish delicacies in FireFest and the Stadium Club, in addition to seeing Polish defender Krzysztof Krol suit up for the Men in Red.
CHICAGO FIRE FOUNDATION COLLECTING SOCCER EQUIPMENT FOR PASSBACK PROGRAM
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club and the Chicago Fire Foundation, in conjunction with the U.S. Soccer Foundation (USSF) will be collecting donations of new or gently used soccer equipment at the Fire's match against the Philadelphia Union at TOYOTA PARK on June 5 at 7:30 PM CT (My50) that will be given to youth throughout the Chicagoland area in an effort to promote the game of soccer.
The Chicago Fire are looking to collect everything from shin guards, soccer balls and soccer cleats to socks, water bottles and goalie gloves. Many groups benefit from the Passback program each year, including Chicagoland area organizations such as Urban Initiatives, The Salvation Army and Chicago Public Schools.
CHICAGO FIRE DEFEATED BY A.C. MILAN IN FRONT OF SELL-OUT CROWD AT TOYOTA PARK
Clarence Seedorf's goal to start the second half proved the difference as the Chicago Fire fell to seven-time European Champions A.C. Milan in front of a capacity crowd at TOYOTA PARK. The 20,356 onlookers witnessed an exciting match from start to finish, but in the end the Italian giants prevailed in the first-ever sell-out of an International Friendly at TOYOTA PARK.
The Fire stepped away from MLS league play for the third time in two weeks and came away with a similar result - a shutout loss. With the loss to Milan, the Fire slip to 2-5-3 in international friendly matches held at TOYOTA PARK.
Two minutes into the second half, Seedorf worked his way past the Fire defense and into the penalty area. Fire goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra came off his line to challenge Seedorf and the crafty Dutchman slotted a low driven ball past Dykstra to put Milan up 1-0. The lone goal by the four-time Champions League trophy winner was enough to give A.C. Milan their second victory against the Fire, in 2005 the Rossoneri edged the Fire 3-1 at Soldier Field.
2010 SUPERLIGA SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
Major League Soccer and the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol (FMF) unveiled the tournament schedule and all participating teams for the 2010 edition of SuperLiga. 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.
For the 2010 edition of SuperLiga, competitive criteria determined which four teams would represent their respective leagues. 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, based on combined points in the Apertura and Clausura 2009 (who are not competing in the 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions League) are Monarcas Morelia, Pachuca, Puebla F.C. and Pumas UNAM.
The Chicago Fire return to this edition of SuperLiga after falling to Tigres UANL in the 2009 championship match at TOYOTA PARK. Under the management of Mexican Head Coach Carlos de los Cobos, the Fire will look to improve upon their runner up status as they face off against Monarcas Morelia for the third time and Pumas UNAM, who are competing in their first SuperLIga to date.
SuperLiga 2010 Schedule*
(All Times Central) / * Subject to change
Wednesday, July 14
Chicago Fire vs. Monarcas Morelia (Toyota Park - Bridgeview, IL) - 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 17
Chicago Fire vs. New England Revolution (Toyota Park - Bridgeview, IL) - 6:00 p.m.
Monarcas Morelia vs. Pumas UNAM (Toyota Park - Bridgeview, IL) - 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 20
Chicago Fire vs. Pumas UNAM (Toyota Park - Bridgeview, IL) - 8:30 p.m.
FIRE IN THE NEWS
AC Milan puts on a show - Jack McCarthy - Chicago Tribune - May 30, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/soccer/ct-spt-0531-fire-ac-milan--20100530,0,5440504.story
AC Milan's Ronaldinho happy to visit Chicago - Orrin Schwarz - The Daily Herald - May 29, 2010 http://www.suntimes.com/sports/soccer/fire/2322716,CST-SPT-fire27.article
Fire hopes to strike up attack - Len Ziehm - Chicago Sun-Times - May 27, 2010 http://www.suntimes.com/sports/soccer/fire/2322716,CST-SPT-fire27.article
CHICAGO FIRE TEAM WRITER, JEFF CRANDALL FEATURES ON CHICAGO-FIRE.COM
Brown on Brimstone - May 27, 2010
http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2010/05/brown-brimstone
From 30 to 23: Reaction to Bradley's Roster - May 26, 2010
http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2010/05/30-23
Pause Shift - May 25, 2010
http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2010/05/pause-shift
INDIVIDUAL GAME TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Individual game tickets for all 2010 MLS regular season Chicago Fire matches at TOYOTA PARK are now 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 .
Major League Soccer Stories from June 1, 2010
- Chicago Fire Play for Points at Home as They Challenge Philadelphia Union - Chicago Fire FC
- Major League Soccer Disciplinary Committee Fines New York Red Bulls Head Coach Hans Backe - MLS
- Chivas USA Visits Red Bull Arena For Important Match - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- Every World Cup Game To Be Shown Downtown At "Summer of Soccer" - Sporting Kansas City
- Rapids Reveal List Of Official 2010 World Cup - Colorado Rapids
- Real Salt Lake Forward Ãlvaro SaborÃo Named MLS Player of the Week - Real Salt Lake
- Real Salt Lake Forward Ãlvaro SaborÃo Voted MLS Player Of The Month For May - MLS
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round Of 16 Berth On The Line - Real Salt Lake
- Chicago Fire Soccer Club In The Community Update - Chicago Fire FC
- This Week in MLS - MLS
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