MLS Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire Welcome Philadelphia Union to Toyota Park

Published on March 23, 2015 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


MEN IN RED RETURN HOME, HOST PHILADELPHIA UNION

The Chicago Fire (0-3-0, 0 points) return home to host the Philadelphia Union (0-1-2, two points) at Toyota Park on Sunday, March 29 at 4 p.m. CT (ESPN2/ESPN Deportes 97.5 FM).

Tickets for Sunday's match, which will feature $2 hot dogs presented by Red Hot Chicago, are available at www.chicago-fire.com and Ticketmaster.

This is the first of two matches between the two sides this season. The Union host the away leg at PPL Park in Chester, Pa. on Sunday, Aug. 16.

The Union enter the match after a 2-0 loss to FC Dallas on Saturday afternoon.

CHICAGO FIRE vs. PHILADELPHIA UNION

- The Fire are 4-5-4 all time in regular season matches against the Union, and 2-2-3 in matches played at Toyota Park.

- The two sides drew all three matches in the 2014 series, including a 2-2 draw on April 5 and a 1-1 draw on July 19 at Toyota Park.

- The Union hold the slight edge in the series with 16 goals to the Fire's 15.

- Fire Designated Player Shaun Maloney will miss the match while away on international duty. Maloney joined Scotland for the upcoming international friendly against Northern Ireland on March 25 at 2:45 p.m. CT (ESPN3.com) and the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Gibraltar on March 29. Both matches will be played at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland.

- Two members of the Fire face their hometown team. Captain Jeff Larentowicz, a native of Philadelphia, Pa. graduated from Chestnut Hill Academy where he lettered in soccer, basketball and golf. The Brown University graduate won back-to-back national championships with FC Delco Arsenal in 2002 and 2003. D efender Greg Cochrane also hails from nearby Holland, Pa. where he was a four-year starter at Council Rock High School South and represented FC Delco Hammerheads for seven years.

- Union head coach Jim Curtin was a member of the Fire for the first seven seasons of his professional career. Selected in the third round (29th overall) of the 2001 MLS SuperDraft, Curtin made 151 MLS Regular Season appearances for the Men in Red, winning the 2003 and 2006 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championships and was named a 2004 MLS All-Star during his time with the Fire. In a special ceremony, Curtin retired as a member of the Fire on April 4, 2014.

CHICAGO FIRE TO HOST TRYOUTS FOR SUENO MLS 2015 - PRESENTED BY ALLSTATE

The Chicago Fire Soccer Club has been selected as a host for Sueño MLS 2015 - Presented by Allstate Insurance Company, the premier nationally-televised search for the best undiscovered soccer talent in North America. Registration is now open, giving thousands of aspiring young soccer players across the country the chance to turn their dreams into a reality. Tryouts in the Chicago area will take place on May 16-17.

Hopefuls are now able to register at www.SuenoMLS.com for an opportunity to participate in one of the three open tryouts hosted by the Fire, Orlando City SC and the LA Galaxy. The competition will be chronicled in a unique "reality show within a show" format by Univision Deportes' popular weekly sports entertainment program, República Deportiva (Sports Republic). Co-hosted by popular sportscasters Félix Fernández, Lindsay Casinelli, Adriana Monsalve and Edgar Martinez, República Deportiva airs every Sunday.

Three of the Chicago registrants will be randomly selected to participate in a 3v3 game with Fire celebrities.

Up to 400 tryout spots will be made available in each city on a first come, first serve basis. In past years, spots have filled up in only a few hours following the start of registration. A waiting list will be available once all spots have been filled.

In each city, field players will be battling for one of five invitations to a week-long trial with their respective youth development host club and a trip to the exciting five-day National Final in Carson, Calif. that will be hosted by former Fire midfielder and Sueño MLS Ambassador, legendary Mexican international Pavel Pardo. The finals will include training sessions, scrimmages, guest celebrity scouts and an opportunity to meet some of the League's biggest stars. The Sueño MLS 2015 - Presented by Allstate Insurance Company winner will be crowned on Sunday, June 7, live in-studio on República Deportiva.

In addition, the Allstate "Good Hands©" top goalkeeper award, El Portero Allstate, will be presented for the fifth consecutive year. One goalkeeper at each of the three local tryouts will be selected as a local goalkeeper finalist and will compete in the National Finals for the opportunity to be named El Portero Allstate. El Portero Allstate finalists will be mentored by Mexican goalkeeping legend Martin "El Pulpo" Zuñiga. The winner will be announced live on República Deportiva at the end of the National Finals week.

In addition to the title, both the Sueño MLS 2015 - Presented by Allstate Insurance Company and El Portero Allstate winners will be invited to join a youth-level team at the MLS club represented at the National Finals.

More information is available at www.SuenoMLS.com.

CHICAGO FIRE ACADEMY TEAMS GO 5-0-1 IN OPENING WEEKEND OF SPRING U.S. SOCCER DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY SEASON

The Chicago Fire Academy teams opened the spring slate of U.S. Soccer Development Academy matches on the road by recording a combined 5-0-1 record over the weekend, allowing only two goals across six matches.

The Chicago Fire U-18s won both of their matches, defeating the Columbus Crew 2-1 on Saturday, March 21 courtesy of goals from Ryan Sierakowski and Peter Schropp. Sierakowski talled again the next day, along with Andrew Gutman, as the U-18s defeated the Internationals 2-0.

The U-16s opened the weekend with a 0-0 draw with the Columbus Crew on Saturday. The U-16s defeated the Internationals 2-1 on Sunday, with goals from Victor Bezerra and Christian Marquez.

The young U-14 group scored a combined six goals and earned two shutouts in their two matches. On Saturday, they defeated the Columbus Crew 4-0, scoring all four goals in less than ten minutes. Victor Bezerra opened scoring with a brace in the 26th and 29th minutes, Gilberto Angeles tallied in the 32nd minute and Andrew Akindele added the fourth in the 33rd minute. Joshua Penn tallied a brace the following day as the U-14s defeated the Internationals 2-0.

CHICAGO FIRE LOAN PATRICK DOODY TO SAINT LOUIS FC

The Chicago Fire Soccer Club loaned rookie defender Patrick Doody to USL affiliate Saint Louis FC. The Fire retain the option to recall Doody during the loan period.

Doody, a native of Naperville, Ill., joined the Fire on Dec. 22, 2014 after a standout collegiate career at Indiana University. In 83 matches for the Hoosiers, Doody scored six goals and tallied twelve assists. A senior captain, Doody was named to the 2014 Big Ten All-Tournament team in his final collegiate season. In 2012, Doody assisted on the game-winning goal in the 1-0 victory over Georgetown, leading IU to their eighth national title.

A graduate of Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, Ill., the Fire Academy and PDL alum is one of four Homegrown players on the Fire roster.

CHICAGO FIRE AND CHICAGO RED STARS HOST DOUBLEHEADER MAY 9 AT TOYOTA PARK

The Chicago Fire will host a doubleheader with the National Women's Soccer League side Chicago Red Stars at Toyota Park on Saturday, May 9. The Fire will kick off against Real Salt Lake at 2 p.m. CT presented by Giordano's (Comcast SportsNet Chicago/ ESPN Deportes 97.5 FM), followed by the Red Stars vs. Boston Breakers match at 4 p.m. CT.

All tickets purchased for the Fire vs. Real Salt Lake match will also include a complimentary, General Admission ticket for the Red Stars game. Single game tickets for Fire matches are available via Ticketmaster and www.Chicago-Fire.com .

The Red Stars, whose roster boasts U.S. internationals Shannon Boxx, Lori Chalupny, Julie Johnston and Christen Press along with Canadian internationals Karina LeBlanc and Melissa Tancredi, will open their third NWSL season against the Boston Breakers who feature U.S. internationals Alyssa Naeher, Kristie Mewis and Cat Whitehill.

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Major League Soccer Stories from March 23, 2015


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