MLS Chicago Fire FC

Fire Renews Rivalry With New England Revolution on Saturday

Published on April 6, 2007 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


BRIDGEVIEW, IL (April 6, 2007) - The Chicago Fire seeks its first-ever win in a season opener at home when the squad takes on the New England Revolution in a chilly match-up Saturday night at TOYOTA PARK in Bridgeview, IL. Kick-off from TOYOTA PARK is set for 7:30 p.m. CT, and the match can be followed live on Chicagoland radio stations WRTO-AM 1200 (Spanish) and WNVR-AM 1030 (Polish) and on television locally on Comcast SportsNet or nationwide via the MLS Direct Kick Package. Saturday's meeting between the two bitter rivals will be the first of three this regular season and the first since their hotly-contested 2006 Eastern Conference Semifinal Series clash last November.

Chicago Fire vs. New England Revolution

Saturday, Apr. 7 @ 7:30 p.m. CT :: TOYOTA PARK - Bridgeview, IL

TV: Comcast SportsNet Chicago; Direct Kick Package (DirecTV: Ch. 787; Dish Network: Ch. 458)

Satellite (TV38 NE): KU BAND; AMC 02, Tr. 02 Ch. B9; Uplink: 14035.5 (V); Downlink: 11735.5 (H)

Audio: WRTO 1200 AM (Spanish), WNVR 1030 AM (Polish)

Game Guide: http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/pdf/mls/2007/gameguides/04/407chine.pdf

Chicago Fire/Athletico "Recovery Room"

Bedrossian, Pascal - R hamstring strain - DOUBTFUL

Russolillo, Jordan - L eye hyphema - OUT

Fire History vs. New England

The Fire and New England Revolution will start right where they left off last season, renewing one of the most even and highly-contested series in the Eastern Conference that last saw last year's Chicago squad edged out on penalty kicks in the Conference Semifinals. The "Men in Red" are deadlocked 17-17-6 overall against the Revolution in MLS regular season, MLS Cup Playoff and U.S. Open Cup meetings, but took the 2006 regular season series with a 2-1-1 record. Chicago also has a slight advantage at home, holding onto a 5-4-5 lead in regular season home games contested against New England.

You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello

It's a brand new season for the Chicago Fire, and the cast of characters on the "Men in Red" roster has a new look since the squad last took to the field during the MLS Cup Playoffs last November. In comparison to last season, where only seven changes were made to the 28-man Fire roster, Fire Head Coach Dave Sarachan has brought in ten new faces to Chicago's 2007 team. Among the list of newcomers are eight draftees/trialists that have trained throughout the preseason - defenders Bakary Soumare, Osei Telesford, and Daniel Woolard; midfielders Mike Banner, Erik Hort, and Nate Norman, along with forward Jerson Monteiro and goalkeeper Nick Noble. Veteran leadership also joined late in the preseason with the signing of netminder Jon Busch and Mexican National Team forward Cuauhtémoc Blanco to aid in the attack.

Fire Moves Forward Production

After the preseason departure of veteran forwards Andy Herron and Nate Jaqua, Head Coach Dave Sarachan sent a clear message that he believes his young strike partnership of Chris Rolfe and Chad Barrett will get the job done in 2007. The duo was paired up at the start of the 2006 season and began to look comfortable together before injuries sidelined both players for sizable chunks of the summer. Backing up Barrett and Rolfe will be second-year forward Calen Carr, who showed his worth in the Fire's run to a fourth Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup last fall by scoring three goals in the competition. Providing depth up top will be University of Alabama-Birmingham product Jerson Monteiro, who the Fire took eighth overall in January's MLS SuperDraft. Veteran leadership for the young corps will arrive in the summer, as the Fire's recent Designated Player signing of Blanco should bring experience to the front-line sometime in July.

Are You Ready for Some Fútbol?

While both teams can play some of the more attractive and entertaining soccer in MLS, games between the Fire and Revolution have traditionally been physical in nature. Last year alone, the Fire was whistled for 79 fouls (nearly 20 a game) and saw 12 yellow cards in its four MLS regular season games against New England - both easily the most against any other MLS foe in 2006. The Revs remained somewhat civil against the Fire last season, committing only 47 fouls against the "Men in Red," but New England's eight cautions against the Fire also marked their most against an opposing side. Sticking to that script, the teams combined for 38 fouls committed and five yellow cards in Game One of the Semifinal Series last season in Bridgeview.

Quick Kicks vs. New England

Chicago is a sturdy 3-3-3 all-time in season opening games, 0-2-2 with Head Coach Dave Sarachan at the helm. New England is 2-6-3 in openers, and 1-1-2 under current Head Coach Steve Nicol.

Fire defender C.J. Brown can take hold of the all-time minutes played record with a 20+ minute effort on Saturday against the Revolution. Chicago's active minutes played leader is only 20 minutes behind former goalkeeper Zach Thornton (19,205 min.) with 19,185. Brown also holds the active record for most career fouls against the Revolution with 38.

Fire midfielder Chris Armas leads all active "Men in Red" players with five career assists versus New England and is second all-time behind former midfielder Jesse Marsch (7A).

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