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MLS Chicago Fire FC

Fire Get Set For Another Eastern Conference Clash

September 23, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


With just four games remaining in the Fire's Major League Soccer regular season, the team remains focused on their three objectives: qualify for the playoffs, earn home field advantage in the playoffs, and win the coveted Supporters Shield, which is awarded to the team with the best record at the close of the regular season. The Fire currently is sitting in second place in the East, just three points behind last weekend's opponent the Columbus Crew (43 points) and four points ahead of third place D.C. United (36 points). Not only are the Fire just three points back from the top spot in the Eastern Conference, but Chicago is just three points behind the current Supporters Shield leaders Columbus and the Houston Dynamo (43 points).

In the first match up of the season, the Fire posted a 2-0 win over Toronto with goals from Chris Rolfe and Brian McBride, while goalkeeper Jon Busch recorded the shutout. Rolfe opened scoring for the Fire, running onto a long ball played by midfielder Cuauhtémoc Blanco. Rolfe raced toward the ball as goalkeeper Stefan Frei came off his line, but Rolfe touched the ball past him and placed a controlled shot into the back of the net for the one goal advantage. Brian McBride scored the insurance goal for the Fire in the 81st minute - his sixth of the season. The win in Toronto sparked a three game road winning streak that included a shutout against New York the following week, and a dramatic 3-2 win over Chivas USA to close out the three-game winning road swing.

TOYOTA PARK: HOME SWEET HOME

While the Fire has posted a 4-4-5 record at home this season, the team will still enjoy home-field advantage over Toronto as the Canadian side has yet to win in Chicago through their two visits to TOYOTA PARK.

CHICAGO FIRE/ATHLETIC "RECOVERY ROOM"

**as of Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009

OUT:

John Thorrington - Right Groin Strain

Tim Ward - Fractured metatarsal

DOUBTFUL:

Daniel Woolard - Left Ankle Sprain

QUESTIONABLE:

Cuauhtémoc Blanco - Left Hamstring Strain

PROBABLE:

None

FIRE TO RECOGNIZE CHICAGO STING WITH 1984 CHAMPIONSHIP 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

The Chicago Fire today announced its plans to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Chicago Sting's 1984 North American Soccer League (NASL) championship during a halftime ceremony at at TOYOTA PARK this Saturday, September 26, as the Fire take on Toronto FC (7:30 PM CT, My50). Fifteen players from 1984 Championship squad are expected to attend the ceremony and take part in an autograph session with fans before the match.

Founded in 1975, by Lee Stern, the Chicago Sting enjoyed success throughout its 13 seasons while playing in both the NASL and Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). Their two NASL championships (1981 and 1984) and trip to the MISL playoffs in the 1980/81 season. The Fire has created a 25th Anniversary Commemorative Sting Poster and the attending Sting players will be on hand Saturday prior to the Fire's match against Toronto to sign the posters in FireFest at Gate C beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Sting players will be recognized on the field during a halftime ceremony that will include a short video with highlights from the 1984 Championship. Players will also be given a customized Chicago Fire Jersey on the field. The Fire's gameday program will also feature both the 2009 Chicago Fire Team Photo along with the 1984 Chicago Sting Team Photo.

CHICAGO FIRE GOALKEEPER JON BUSCH UP FOR GOAL OF THE WEEK

Goalkeeper Jon Busch has once again been nominated for the MLS Save of the Week. In the 26th minute of play, Alejandro Moreno got a step on his defender while sprinting into the 18-yard box, and sent a rocket shot for the right edge of the area on goal. Busch made the save to preserve the Fire's one goal advantage.

MYRIE AVAILABLE FOR SELECTION SATURDAY

Recently signed Fire defender Dave Myrie is available for selection this Saturday against Toronto FC. The Fire signed Myrie on Sept. 15 as an international and discovery, but were awaiting the arrival of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC). The U.S. Soccer Federation received Myrie's ITC clearance and he will be available for selection Saturday.

FIRE PLAYERS PRESENT CHILDREN'S MEMORIAL WITH $10,000 GRANT FROM CHICAGO FIRE FOUNDATION

The Chicago Fire yesterday presented Children's Memorial Hospital with a $10,000 grant on behalf of the Chicago Fire Foundation (CFF) to benefit the hospital's Institute for Sports Medicine's Knee Injury Prevention Program (KIPP). Chicago Fire Head Coach Denis Hamlett and midfielders Justin Mapp, Marco Pappa, and Logan Pause, who also serves on the CFF board, were on hand to present hospital officials with the $10,000 check and spend time meeting with dozens of patients and taking part in the hospital's weekly bingo game. The hospital's KIPP is a neuromuscular training program designed to reduce the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries among female adolescent athletes. Each year in the United States over 20,000 high school girls suffer a serious sports-related knee injury. In fact, girls are up to six times more likely to injure their ACL than boys in similar sports. Regardless of treatment, ACL injuries are associated with a 10-fold increased risk for degenerative knee arthritis later in life. To address this, the sports medicine professionals at Children's Memorial have developed the KIPP program, which is designed to lower the risk of ACL injuries in female athletes.

LOWRY EARNS SECOND MLS GOAL OF THE WEEK NOMINATION

Midfielder Peter Lowry earned his second MLS Goal of the Week nomination for his sixth-minute rocket shot against the Columbus Crew in the 2-2 draw last Sunday. Lowry provided both goals in the team's 2-2 tie against their Eastern Conference rival, both right footed shots placed just inside the left post, but earned the nomination for his first strike of the day. In the sixth minute of play, defender Brandon Prideaux sent a ball from the right corner into the box toward forward Brian McBride positioned in the middle of the area. McBride touched the ball back to Lowry, who sent a perfect shot just inside the left post past Columbus Crew goalkeeper Will Hesmer diving to his right.

Lowry has earned MLS GOW nominations on two of his three goals this season.

FIRE TO INDUCT CHRIS ARMAS INTO "RING OF FIRE" HALL OF FAME

Chicago Fire Soccer has announced that former Fire midfielder Chris Armas will be inducted into the prestigious "Ring of Fire" Hall of Fame on October 22, 2009. The induction will take place during a halftime ceremony at the Fire's final 2009 regular season contest against Chivas USA (7 p.m. CT, ESPN2/Deportes). Armas joins current "Ring of Fire" members: former Fire captain Peter Nowak, former Fire player and current Fire technical director Frank Klopas, the Fire's first General Manager Peter Wilt, and former Fire head coach and current U.S. Men's National team head coach Bob Bradley.

BLANCO'S 'DIRECTO AL BLANCO' RADIO PROGRAM TUESDAY

"Directo al Blanco" a full-hour live radio program hosted by Fire midfielder Cuauhtémoc Blanco will air this and every Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. CT. Listeners are encouraged to call and talk to Blanco about the latest soccer-related news regarding the Chicago Fire, Major League Soccer, and the Mexican Primera Division. The show airs nationally on RadioCadena stations in Chicago (WRTO-AM), Las Vegas (KLSQ-AM), Los Angeles (KTNQ-AM), San Francisco (KLOK-AM), El Paso (KAMA-AM), San Antonio (KCOR-AM), Dallas (KFLC-AM), McAllen (KGBT-AM), Houston (KLAT-AM), New York (WADO-AM), and Miami (WQBA-AM).

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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.

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