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MLS Chicago Fire FC

Fire at MetroStars Game Preview

July 12, 2002 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


CHICAGO, IL (Friday, July 12, 2002) - After being eliminated from the FC Champions Cup despite a 2-1 win (2-3 aggregate) over Mexican club team Morelia last Wednesday, the Fire will switch its efforts to league play to take on the first-place MetroStars this Saturday, July 13 at 3:00 p.m. CT. Tomorrow's game will be televised live on Fox Sports Net, and can also be followed via Chicago's WBIG AM 1280 (English), WNVR AM 1030 (Polish) and WIND AM 560 (Spanish).

Chicago will be looking to avenge a 1-0 loss the last time the teams met on June 22 at Cardinal Stadium. Chicago, fresh off two straight victories (July 7 vs. Colorado and July 10 vs. Morelia), will look to build on its win streak. The "Men in Red" are 6-7-2 (20 points) in 2002, second in MLS's Eastern Conference. The MetroStars are in first-place in the in the East with a 7-7-2 record, 23 points. So far in the series, each team has won one in the other's backyard. Last time the Fire and MetroStars met on June 22, 2002, at Cardinal Stadium, MetroStars forward Rodrigo Faria scored the game wining goal nine minutes before the final whistle.

The Fire is 6-4-0 all-time against the MetroStars (3-2-0 at home and 3-2-0 at Giants Stadium). Versatile Fire rookie Kelly Gray scored his first professional goal on April 20, 2002, in the first meeting at Giants Stadium en route to a 2-0 win. The Fire's Ante Razov leads Chicago with three goals and three assists for nine points against the MetroStars in nine series games, and the all-time Fire scoring leader is questionable to play Saturday due to tendonitis in his right knee. Fellow Fire midfielder Dema Kovalenko is two points behind Razov with three goals and one assists for seven points in seven games.

Chicago Fire @ MetroStars
Saturday, July 13 @ 3:00 p.m. CT: Giants Stadium
TV: Fox Sports Network
Globecast Fiber: 1123450
Radio: WBIG AM 1280; WNVR AM 1030 (Polish); WIND AM 560 (Spanish)

The Return of Billy Walsh Fire midfielder, Billy Walsh, who was acquired just last month, will be making his return to Giants Stadium this weekend to face his former team. Walsh spent four seasons with the MetroStars after being drafted in the second round (16th overall) of the 1998 MLS College Draft. The defensive specialist led the Metros to the 2000 Eastern Division crown, which stands as the only title in MetroStars history. In 1999, he captained the team for parts of the season and was awarded the 1999 Honda/MetroStars MVP award. Tomorrow will mark his first game back since he and the team parted ways in the off-season.

Wolyniec Called Up; Saavedra and Korol Loaned to Minor League Affiliates The Fire has requested the services of Milwaukee Rampage forward John Wolyniec (pronounced wahl-EE-neck) for tomorrow's game. Wolyniec, who was a member of the Fire during the 2000 and 2001 seasons, has scored one goal for Chicago in four appearances with Bob Bradley's squad as a call-up this season. He scored Chicago's lone goal on June 15 against the Dallas Burn at Cardinal Stadium, a 3-1 Fire loss. In 14 games played for the Rampage this season, Wolyniec has registered six goals and one assist for 13 points.

Fire midfielder Miguel Saavedra will be joining the Rampage on loan as the team faces the Minnesota Thunder in A-League action this Saturday, July 13 at the National Sports Center in Blaine, MN. The 18-year-old Milwaukee native has yet to appear in a MLS game with the Fire this season. Also on loan is Fire forward Aleksey Korol, who will join the Indiana Blast its home game against the El Paso Patriots this Sunday, July 14 at Kuntz Memorial Stadium in Indianapolis.

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