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MLS Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire Weekly Update: Undefeated at Soldier Field, Chicago Derby, and New "No Little Plans" Episode

April 17, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


Chicago Fire FC midfielder Maren Haile-Selassie
Chicago Fire FC midfielder Maren Haile-Selassie
(Chicago Fire FC)

Chicago Fire FC (2-1-4, 10 points) will head to Georgia to take on Atlanta United FC in their first road match in nearly a month. The match is set to take place at 3:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, April 23 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Sunday's match will be just the 12th all-time meeting between the two clubs, and the first of two meetings this season.

Sunday's match will be broadcast on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app and on FS1.The match will be available to fans for free on MLS Season Pass. Additionally, the contest will be transmitted locally in Spanish on TUDN 1200 AM.

In the 2022 season, the two clubs met twice in league play. Their latest encounter took place on July 30, 2022 at Soldier Field and saw the match end in a 0-0 stalemate in Chicago. Just a few months prior, Atlanta defeated the Fire 4-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Atlanta United FC (4-1-3, 15 points) currently sits in third place in the Eastern Conference. In their previous match, Atlanta travelled north of the border to face Toronto FC at BMO Field. After Atlanta forward Machop Chol tallied his first career goal in the 76th minute of play, Atlanta seemed positioned to record a 2-1 road victory, before a stoppage time tally from Toronto midfielder Brandon Servania handed Atlanta a devastating blow and a draw. At home, Atlanta is undefeated with a record of 3-0-1 this season, meanwhile the Fire will be searching for their first road win against Atlanta in Club history.

CHICAGO FIRE FC REMAIN UnDEFEATED AT SOLDIER FIELD WITH DRAW AGAINST PHILADELPHIA

Chicago Fire FC remained undefeated at home this season following a 2-2 draw against the Philadelphia Union in their second and final matchup of the 2023 regular season.

The match was highlighted by the first Major League Soccer goal from Swiss midfielder Maren Haile-Selassie, who opened his account after converting a cross from defender Miguel Navarro. Two minutes into the second half, Chicago doubled its lead off an own goal after Union defender Jakob Glesnes tried to clear it, but it bounced off defender Nathan Harriel and deflected into the net. A pair of back-to-back goals from Philadelphia in the 62nd and 64th minute would level the score and conclude the scoring in the match, giving the Fire another point gained in the standings.

With the draw, the Fire remain in a playoff position, sitting in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with a game in hand on all but two teams in the East. Additionally, Saturday also saw the Fire extend their unbeaten streak at Soldier Field to five games (1-0-4) in 2023.

The match saw the return of Fire Designated Player Xherdan Shaqiri, who returned from injury in the 65th minute of play after missing the previous five matches due to a leg injury. Chicago will go on the road for the first time in nearly a month this coming weekend, facing off against Atlanta United FC on Sunday, April 23 at 3:30 p.m. CT at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

FABIAN HERBERS IS LOOKING FOR 150!

If Fire midfielder Fabian Herbers appears in this weekend's match against Atlanta, it will mark the 150th Major League Soccer appearance of his professional career. Herbers, the longest-tenured member of the Club on the current squad, joined the Fire in 2018 after starting his career with the Philadelphia Union. Herbers was selected sixth overall by the Union in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, after playing for Creighton University, where he was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Year in 2015.

At the MLS level, Herbers has recorded 13 goals and 16 assists since becoming a professional in 2016. As a member of the Fire, he's picked up nine goals and seven assists in 95 total appearances. So far this season, Herbers has picked up a goal in the season opener against New York City FC on March 4 at Soldier Field. With his season opening goal, Herbers became the second player in franchise history to score in two or more season openers alongside Marco Pappa.

Last Saturday's draw was the 149th appearance for Herbers. In the 3-3 draw against the Union, his former club, Herbers recorded his fifth start of the season and 80 minutes played. Herbers now sits one match away from a professional milestone as a member of Chicago Fire FC.

THE CHICAGO DERBY IS COMING!

It's official!

Chicago Fire FC will host Midwest Premier League side Chicago House AC in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at 7 p.m. CT on Wednesday, April 26 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Ill. For just the third time in Chicago Fire FC history, the Club will face off against a team also based in the Windy City.

In the Club's very first U.S. Open Cup appearance, their first match in Cup history was the first edition of the "Chicago Derby" when the Fire defeated the Chicago Stingers 3-1 on July 6, 1998 at Forest View Park in Arlington Heights, Ill. Led by current assistant coach, Frank Klopas, the Fire defeated the Stingers en route to completing the Double, and capturing the franchise's first of four U.S. Open Cup titles.

Just two years later, the second edition of the Chicago Derby occurred when the Fire hosted the Chicago Sockers in the third round of the 2000 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on July 25, 2000 at Forest View Park in Arlington Heights, Ill. Hosting another Chicago-based team, the Fire would come out victorious once again. With a first half tally from Fire legend Josh Wolff, Chicago defeated the Sockers 1-0 to advance to the quarterfinals. Once again, the Fire would win the Chicago Derby en route to capturing a U.S. Open Cup title.

In the third installment, the Fire will take on Chicago House AC. House was established in 2020, beginning play in 2021. Formerly part of the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA), the team shifted to the MWPL in 2022. Chicago Fire FC assistant coach and Ring of Fire member C.J. Brown was the first head coach and technical director in Chicago House history, guiding the team in 2021 before joining Fire head coach Ezra Hendrickson's coaching staff ahead of the 2022 MLS season.

THE SECOND EPISODE OF "NO LITTLE PLANS" IS HERE!

The second installment of Chicago Fire FC's behind the-scenes documentary-style feature is here!

In this episode of "No Little Plans" presented by Curad, we are reintroduced to the Red Line Supporters Group and meet member Raul Jimenez, who is a longtime Fire supporter that owns the legendary Fanbulance. Additionally, the new episode features a look at the coldest match in franchise history, when the Club faced FC Cincinnati on Saturday, March 18 at Soldier Field.

The episode closes with an exclusive look at Fire striker Kei Kamara's heroic game-winning goal against Inter Miami CF in stoppage time to lift the Fire to their first victory of the season on March 25.

Check out the Chicago Fire FC Statistics




Images from this story

Chicago Fire FC in action against Atlanta United
Chicago Fire FC in action against Atlanta United
 Chicago Fire FC forward Fabian Herbers
Chicago Fire FC forward Fabian Herbers
 Chicago Fire FC midfielder Maren Haile-Selassie
Chicago Fire FC midfielder Maren Haile-Selassie



Major League Soccer Stories from April 17, 2023


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