Fire to Meet CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh in CONCACAF Champions Cup Quarterfinals
January 14, 2004 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release
CHICAGO, IL (Wednesday, January 14, 2004) - CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) announced today the results of the quarterfinal draw for the 2004 Champions Cup. The draw determined the Chicago Fire will face CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh of Trinidad & Tobago in the home-and-home quarterfinal series, which will take place on March 17 and 24. The Fire will travel the Caribbean nation of Trinidad & Tobago to face San Juan Jabloteh on Wednesday, March 17, and will host the return match one week later on March 24 at Soldier Field. 2004 Fire season ticket holders can use their "Bonus Game A" ticket for the match. Kickoff times for both matches will be released at a later date.
"This is an important tournament and we look forward to representing MLS," said Fire General Manager Peter Wilt. "It will be a great opportunity to introduce the 2004 Fire to Chicago and to showcase international soccer at Soldier Field."
The Fire earned its spot in the 2004 CONCACAF Champions Cup by capturing the MLS Supporters Shield as the MLS Regular Season Champion last season. This spring will mark the Fire's third appearance in the region's showcase event for club teams in just its seventh year of existence. The "Men in Red" have showed well in the competition in the past, registering a 4-1-2 overall record in the 1999 and 2002 competitions. The Fire defeated CSD Municipal of Guatemala 3-0 on aggregate in the Round of 16 in 2002 before falling to its now sister club Monarcas Morelia in the quarterfinals by a 3-2 aggregate margin. In 1999, the "Men in Red" disposed of Joe Public (TRI) 2-0 in the single-game quarterfinal round before bowing out to LD Alajuelense on penalty kicks 5-4 after a 1-1 draw in their semifinal contest. Chicago finished that tournament - which took place in Las Vegas, NV - with a 2-2 draw against D.C. United in the consolation match.
"We're excited about the opportunity to be in another Cup competition," said Fire Head Coach Dave Sarachan. "Last year's season provided us with this chance, and it is an honor to have an opportunity to challenge yourself inside the CONCACAF region with a championship at stake. We look forward to facing CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh and trying to bring another title back to Chicago."
San Juan Jabloteh claimed its first ever berth in the Champions Cup by winning the CFU (Caribbean Football Union) crown last month. The squad, who joined Trinidad and Tobago's Professional Football League in its inaugural season in 1999, won its first title in 2003 and can wrap up its second straight crown with a win in one of its remaining three contests in League play.
The Fire will join the MLS Cup 2003 Champion San Jose Earthquakes as the League's two representatives in the 2004 Champions Cup. CF Pachuca and CF Monterrey earned the two spots from the Mexican top division, while CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh of Trinidad & Tobago earned the Caribbean Region's berth. Costa Rica's Deportivo Saprissa and LD Alajuelense cemented two of UNCAF's (Unión Centroamerica de Fútbol) three spots, with the third being awarded by CONCACAF to El Salvador's Liga Mayor Apertura Champions Club Deportivo F.A.S after the governing body banned Guatemalan side CSD Communicaciones from the competition after a suspension was levied on the country's national federation by both CONCACAF and FIFA.
Should the Fire advance, it will square off against either CF Pachuca or Deportivo Saprissa in the semifinal round, which will be contested on April 14 and 21. The final round of the 2004 Champions Cup will be played on May 4 and 11. The winner of this year's Champions Cup will qualify, along with the 2003 Champion CD Toluca FC of Mexico, as the CONCACAF representatives to the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship, which will be played in the CONCACAF Region. The CONCACAF Champions Cup is the longest running international competition in the region and has been the premier club competition in the Confederation since its inception in 1962.
2004 CONCACAF Champions Cup Quarterfinal Pairings
Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) vs. CF Pachuca (MEX)
CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh (TRI) vs. Chicago Fire (USA)
CF Monterrey (MEX) vs. CD F.A.S. (SLV)
LD Alajuelense (CRC) vs. San Jose Earthquakes (USA)
* First team listed will host initial leg on Wednesday, March 17. The return leg is scheduled for Wednesday, March 24.
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