MLS Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire weekly update

Published on June 27, 2005 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


Fire Plays Host to Peter Nowak & Co. Before Taking Road Trip to Chivas USA Armas, Caballero, Guerrero and Sanneh to Represent Countries in CONCACAF Gold Cup Tickets to July 16 Doubleheader and July 27 Match Against A.C. Milan Now on Sale Thiago's Goal vs. Real Salt Lake Nominated for Sierra Mist MLS Goal of the Week

Another Duel Role This Week as Fire Hosts D.C. United, Travels to Chivas USA The Fire will round out a three games in eight days stretch this week, when the squad will finish a three-game homestand against Eastern Conference rival D.C. United on Wednesday, June 29 at Soldier Field (7:30 p.m. CT) before hitting the road for its first-ever away contest at Chivas USA on Saturday, July 2 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA (9:30 p.m. CT, live on Comcast SportsNet). Fans can follow both matches on radio stations WRTO-AM 1200 (Spanish) and WNVR-AM 1030 (Polish) and the Fire's official website, www.Chicago-Fire.com (English), where links for the Spanish and Polish radio broadcasts can also be found.

Series History vs. D.C. United The regular season series between Chicago and D.C. is as even as it gets, with both sides laying claim to a 9-9-4 record in League matches since 1998. However, the Fire has controlled the proceedings in the Windy City, as the "Men in Red" have posted a 6-2-2 mark against United in 10 Chicagoland contests entering Wednesday's clash. The Fire took one point out of two contests in the Nation's Capital this season, with the Fire earning a 1-1 draw on Apr. 9 before dropping a 4-3 heartbreaker less than two weeks ago on June 15. Wednesday's match is scheduled to be first visit to Chicago in 2005 for 16-year-old United midfielder Freddy Adu, who is coming off a stint with the U.S. Under-20 National Team at the FIFA World Youth Championships in Holland earlier this month. The Fire and United will round out their four-game season series on Aug. 6 at Soldier Field.

Series History vs. Chivas USA While the Fire will not be making its first trip to The Home Depot Center this weekend, the squad will be heading to the Southern California venue for its first-ever road match-up against MLS expansion side Chivas USA. The Fire defeated Chivas USA 5-2 in the only previous meeting between the two clubs on June 4, as Fire forward Nate Jaqua notched his first career hat trick, and only the fourth in MLS play in Fire history, to power the "Men in Red" to the comeback victory.

Chicago Fire Training Agenda **Training sessions are held at Lake Forest College (LFC) and are open to media only. Sites/times subject to change. Please call the Fire Media Relations Department (312-705-7272) for an updated practice schedule. All times Central.

Tuesday, June 28 Training at LFC - 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CT

Wednesday, June 29 Fire vs. D.C. United - Soldier Field - 7:30 p.m. CT

Thursday, June 30 Training at LFC - 10:45-11:45 a.m. CT; Depart for Los Angeles, CA

Friday, July 1 Training at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA - 2:00 p.m. PT

Saturday, July 2 Fire at Chivas USA - The Home Depot Center - 9:00 p.m. CT

Sunday, July 3 Return to Chicago; Off Day

Chicago Fire AthletiCo Injury Report Capano, Craig - L torn ACL surgery - Out Pickens, Matt - R groin strain - Out Thorrington, John - L hamstring strain - Out

Tickets Now Available for July's International Soccer Events at Soldier Field

Tickets to the MLS-international doubleheader at Soldier Field on July 16, featuring the Fire taking on the Columbus Crew in an MLS Eastern Conference showdown followed by a friendly between global club powers Real Madrid and CD Guadalajara (Chivas), are now on sale after being released to the public over the weekend. Tickets for the doubleheader are as follows: $40, $45, $55, $75, $100 and $125. Tickets for the Fire's July 27 World Series of Football contest against Italian powerhouse A.C. Milan are also now on sale after having been released to the public last Friday, with tickets for that exhibition match ranging in price from $30-$75. Fire Season Ticket holders can use their "Bonus Game A" tickets to gain access to the A.C. Milan match, but Flex Plan vouchers will not be available for redemption for the contest. NOTE TO MEDIA: The Fire will honor 2005 Fire/MLS season credentials for the July 16 and July 27 encounters at Soldier Field. Flight itineraries and training times/sites in Chicago for all three international clubs will be released in the near future.

Fans can purchase tickets for either match through TicketMaster by calling 312-559-1212 or visiting www.TicketMaster.com. Fans can also secure group tickets through the Fire office by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE or by visiting the Fire office, located at 980 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1998, from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on Monday-Friday. A limited number of suites will be available for both dates and can be acquired by contacting the Fire's Premium Seating Department at 312-705-7230 for more information. For more information on the Fire-International doubleheader or the club's historic match against A.C. Milan, please call 1-888-MLS-FIRE or visit www.Chicago-Fire.com.

Armas and Sanneh Join U.S. National Team for Gold Cup Duty Fire captain Chris Armas and D/M Tony Sanneh departed Chicago today for Portland, OR, where the duo will join the rest of the U.S. National Team's 23-man roster for a week of training in preparation for the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which will take place at seven venues across the United States from July 6-24. The 32-year-old Armas has collected 58 caps and a pair of goals for the U.S. side, which he last represented on Aug. 18, 2004 in a 1-1 draw at Jamaica in a semifinal round FIFA World Cup qualifying contest. The recently-turned 34-year-old Sanneh, who made a name for himself with the Red, White & Blue during the 2002 FIFA World Cup, has made 41 career appearances and scored three goals for the U.S. senior team. Sanneh's last National Team appearance also came in a semifinal round qualifier against Jamaica, this one on Nov. 17, 2004 in a 1-1 draw at Crew Stadium in Columbus, OH. Both players will miss at least three League matches for the Fire, a number that can reach five games should the U.S. qualify for the tournament's final. The U.S. will play its first match in the competition on Thursday, July 7 against Cuba at Qwest Field in Seattle, WA (9:30 p.m. CT, Telefutura)

Hondurans Guerrero and Caballero to Join "Catrachos" Following Wednesday Match Against D.C. Two other members of the "Men in Red" - defender Samuel Caballero and D/M Ivan Guerrero - have been named to the 23-man side that will represent the Honduran National Team in the CONCACAF Gold Cup from July 6-24. Guerrero and Caballero will be available for the Fire's contest this Wednesday against D.C. United at Soldier Field, but will depart the squad on Thursday to join the "catrachos" in training in Miami, FL. Guerrero (55 caps, 2 goals) and Caballero (45 caps, 16 goals), who could miss up to four Fire contests should Honduras reach the finals, will open up play in the regional championship against Trinidad & Tobago next Wednesday, July 6 at the Orange Bowl in Miami (8:15 p.m. CT, Galavision). Honduras will warm up for the tournament in an exhibition contest against Canada this Saturday, July 2 at Swangard Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Forward Will Johnson Named to Canada's Gold Cup Roster Canada Head Coach Frank Yallop has listed Fire forward Will Johnson on the team's 23-man roster that will be eligible to compete in the CONCACAF Gold Cup from July 6-24. The 18-year-old Johnson returned to the Fire last week after starting in all three contests for the Canadian Under-20 National Team during its brief run in the FIFA World Youth Championships in Holland earlier this month. Yallop has called on 19 players who are expected to serve as his primary options in the tournament, while Johnson has been named as one of four possible replacements for the Canadian side. Johnson has scored three goals in 12 appearances for the Canadian U-20s, but is looking for his first appearance with the Maple Leafs' senior squad. Canada will play host to the Honduras National Team in an exhibition contest this Saturday, July 2 at Swangard Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada before traveling to Seattle, WA, where it will play its first contest in the Gold Cup against Costa Rica on Thursday, July 7 at Qwest Field (7:30 p.m. CT, Galavision).

Fire Academy Camps Roll On to Wheaton Next Week The Chicago Fire Youth Development Program will continue its summer series of Fire Academy Soccer Camps next week with evening camps in west suburban Wheaton, IL during a holiday-shortened week from Tuesday, July 5 through Friday, July 8. The Fire Academy Camps offer specialized training for individual players or teams, with the weeklong programs designed to accommodate players from ages 8 to 18. The Fire Academy will conduct its Development and Advanced level camps in Wheaton at Seven Gables Park, located at the corner of Naperville Road and Danada Drive, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. CT. For more information on the Chicago Fire Academy Soccer Camps this summer, including registration information, please contact the Fire Youth Development Program at 312-705-7250.

Fire Senior Developmental Program to Face Hispano All-Stars This Weekend The Chicago Fire's Senior Developmental Program earned a 0-0 draw against Milwaukee Wave United in an exhibition contest last Wednesday in Cary, IL. The Fire SDP (0-1-2), an amateur team that is the senior-most level of the Chicago Fire Juniors' player development pyramid, will return to action this Friday, July 1 when it takes on the Hispano All-Stars at Carbajal Park in Cicero, IL at 8:00 p.m. CT. For more information on Friday's match or the Chicago Fire Juniors program, please visit the club's website at www.chicagofirejuniors.com.

Get Your "Men in Red" to the 2005 MLS All-Star Game in Columbus By Voting on MLSNet.com Fans can now cast their votes for the MLS All-Stars who will take the field against English Premier League club Fulham FC in the 2005 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game. On July 30, "MLS All-Stars Take on the World" as Major League Soccer's best take on Fulham FC at Crew Stadium in Columbus, OH in a game televised nationally on ABC Sports (2:30 p.m. CT). Fans can vote for the starting XI by filling out the online ballot on the League's official website www.MLSnet.com until Friday, July 8, 2005. Fans can vote for 11 starting players from a pool of 144 total candidates via the online ballot - one goalkeeper, three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards. A maximum of 10 ballots may be submitted per person per day and there are no limits on how many days fans can vote. The online fan balloting will comprise 25 percent of the total, with MLS coaches and GMs (25 percent), media (25 percent) and players (25 percent) accounting for the remainder.

Etc...

The Fire would like to congratulate D/M Ivan Guerrero and his wife, Johanna, on the birth of the couple's second child, Ivana Guerrero Guillen, who was born last Monday, June 20 in Evanston.

Fire midfielder Thiago's clinical finish in the 53rd minute of last night's 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake is one of the five nominees in the running for the Sierra Mist MLS Goal of the Week for Week 13. Fans can help Thiago collect the weekly honor by visiting www.mlsnet.com and clicking on the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week link on the left side of the page.

The Chicago Fire Premier will continue play in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup this Wednesday, June 29, when the squad travels northwest for a tough second round challenge against the Minnesota Thunder of the United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL1). Kick-off at James Griffith Stadium in St. Paul, MN is set for 7:00 p.m. CT. The winner of the Fire Premier-Thunder contest will host MLS side Real Salt Lake in a third round contest on Wednesday, July 13. The Fire Premier stayed undefeated in PDL play last Wednesday in a "Fire family" showdown, as a Jeffrey Rowland goal three minutes into the second half was good enough for the Premier to notch a 1-0 victory over the West Michigan Edge at Lemont High School. The Fire Premier (8-0-1, 25 pts.), one of only two undefeated teams in the 54-team Premier Development League, will take to the road in League play this weekend, as the squad will travel east across I-80/90 to South Bend, IN to face off against the Indiana Invaders at the Invaders Soccer Complex at 7:00 p.m. CT. For more information on the Chicago Fire Premier, including ticket information and directions to all home game sites, please visit www.chicagofirepremier.com. The Chicago Gaels FC (1-5-1, 4 pt.) collected their first-ever victory last Wednesday, with an offensive outburst in the final half hour allowing the Gaels to record a 5-3 victory over the Fort Wayne Fever Women at Lemont High School. Five different players tallied the goals, with four of those coming after the 59th minute to turn a tow-goal deficit into a historic win for the club. The Gales (1-5-1, 4 pts.) will look to build off that momentum in a pair of contests this week. Chicago will travel to square off against the West Michigan Firewomen this Wednesday, June 29 at 6:00 p.m. CT before returning over the weekend to host the Cincinnati Ladyhawks on Saturday, July 2 at 3:00 p.m. CT at Moraine Valley Community College. For more information on Chicago's newest soccer team, visit www.chicagogaelsfc.com.

www.Chicago-Fire.com

Check out the Chicago Fire FC Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major League Soccer Stories from June 27, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central