Sports stats



MLS Chicago Fire FC

In the Hunt

July 29, 2002 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


After recording a sound 3-0 trouncing of the Eastern Conference leading MetroStars last weekend, the Chicago Fire will host three-time MLS Cup champion DC United this Wednesday, July 31 at 7:30 p.m. CT from Cardinal Stadium in Naperville. The meeting will mark the fourth and last time the teams meet in regular season action, and the "Men in Red" are 1-1-1 vs. DC in the 2002 campaign...Chicago (8-8-3, 27 points) is now in second-place in the Eastern Conference - two points behind the Metros and two ahead of the Columbus Crew, which face each other also on Wednesday. The Fire can move into first place in the East with a win against DC and a Columbus victory over the Metros. Tickets to the Fire's game vs. DC or any other home game can be purchased through Ticketmaster outlets or by calling 312-559-1212 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets can also by purchased at the Cardinal Stadium Box Office, 455 S. Brainard in Naperville, Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For groups of 15 or more, please call 1-888-MLS-FIRE.

Josh Wolff "On Fire" Tonight on CLTV

The Chicago Fire's call-in show, Chicagoland Television's (CLTV) "SportsPage" with its new host Lou Canellis has returned to its Monday night slot. The show will air from 9:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and will feature interviews with Fire players/coaches and calls from fans. Tonight's guest will be United States World Cup star and Fire forward Josh Wolff, who recorded two assists in a 3-0 win over the MetroStars last weekend and has tallied three goals and four assists in five games, since returning from the World Cup. The number to call and ask questions is 630-575-8255. CLTV is Chicago's 24-hour cable news station.

Ante Does it Again

Fire forward Ante Razov was named MLS's Player of the Week for the week ending July 28. With two goals and an assist, Razov was involved in all three Chicago goals against the MetroStars last Saturday, as the Fire went on to defeat the Eastern Conference leaders 3-0 at Cardinal Stadium. The Fire's all-time leading scorer (55g, 26a, for 136 points) moved into fourth place in the Budweiser Scoring Championship with 26 points (11g, 4a) in 16 games. It is the sixth time Razov receives the honors, and the second time this year.

Bocanegra, Kovalenko vs. Beasley, Wolff

Fire defender Carlos Bocanegra, midfielders DaMarcus Beasley and Dema Kovalenko, and forward Josh Wolff have been named as participants in the 2002 Pepsi MLS All-Stars game, which features the U.S. National Team against the MLS All-Stars this Saturday, Aug. 3 at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC, starting at 2:30 p.m. CT, live on ABC. Wolff and Beasley will be featured with the U.S. squad, while Bocanegra and Kovalenko have been elected as starters for the MLS side. Injured Fire midfielder Chris Armas has been named as an honorary captain for the U.S. and will join his Fire teammates in the celebration of soccer in America. San Jose Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop will coach the MLS squad after leading the defending MLS champion to the best record in the League through the midway point of the 2002 season (8-4-2, 26 points).

ACE/Tru-Fit Injury Report

Armas, Chris - ACL tear in right knee - IR
Daniv, Sergi - ligament repair on great toe of right foot - IR
Nowak, Peter - Grade Two MCL sprain in left knee - IR
Nugent, Mike - torn lateral meniscus in left knee - IR
Razov, Ante - right knee tendinitis - probable
Whitfield, Evan - ACL tear in left knee - IR

Getting Closer

Head Coach Bob Bradley's 79 wins with the club put him in sole-possession of third-place on MLS' all-time coaching win list, breaking the tie with the MetroStars' Octavio Zambrano after the Fire dispatched the MetroStars 3-0 last weekend. Former Dallas Burn Head Coach Dave Dir is in second with 81 as former DC, New England, and Tampa Bay head man Thomas Rongen leads all coaches in league history with 82 victories. Bradley has also earned 12 playoff wins putting him just two behind U.S. National Team and former DC United Head Coach Bruce Arena for the all-time lead.

Weekend with the Affiliates

Sunday, July 28
(A-League) Pittsburgh Riverhounds 0 :: 0 Milwaukee Rampage - OT

Saturday, July 27
(A-League) Pittsburgh Riverhounds 0 :: 3 Minnesota Thunder
MIN: Kilickan (Torres) 59
MIN: Schmidt (Menyongar) 84
MIN: Menyongar (Kilickan) 90

Milwaukee Rampage 1 :: 0 Indiana Blast
MIL: Fadeski (Aldrich) 74

Etc.

* More than 80 lbs. of non-perishable food and over $100 in cash was raised in last Saturday's "Feed the Fire" campaign at Cardinal Stadium, exceeding last year's total...One-hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit the Chicago Anti-Hunger Federation.

* Fire goalkeeper Zach Thornton is currently riding a 137-minute scoreless streak. His season high is 152, which ended on July 24 @ San Jose. Thornton has only allowed one goal in the last 280 minutes.

* Fire midfielder DaMarcus Beasley has suffered a team-high 41 fouls suffered in 10ames for an average of 4.1fouls a game. Ante Razov is second on the team with 35.

* The Fire has earned a record of 7-2-2 against the Eastern Conference, best record within a conference in MLS. Chicago has a 1-6-1 mark against the West.

Check out the Chicago Fire FC Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from July 29, 2002


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.

OurSports Central