USSF D-2 Minnesota United FC

NSC Minnesota Stars To Host Friendly Match Against MLS Chicago Fire

June 2, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Minnesota United FC News Release


Blaine, Minn. (June 2, 2010) - The NSC Minnesota Stars and the Chicago Fire have reached an agreement for the Stars to host a friendly match between the two teams at NSC Stadium at 5 p.m. on Father's Day, June 20.

Chicago plays out of the top level of professional soccer in the U.S., Major League Soccer, and brings a roster of with some of the best soccer players currently playing in the U.S.

"It's exciting any time you play a team like Chicago that has a great history and are a very high level," Stars coach Manny Lagos said. "It's a great challenge and honor. It's also exciting for Minnesota soccer and sports fans to come out and see a team like that."

Chicago was one of two teams added to MLS in 1998, which expanded the league to 12 teams at the time. Chicago won both the U.S. Open Cup and the MLS Cup in its inaugural season. Since then, the Fire has added three U.S. Open Cup trophies to its resume.

The Fire is captained by Chicago native Brian McBride, the former first overall draft pick for the inaugural MLS draft in 1996. McBride played three consecutive World Cups for the U.S. National Team in 1998, 2002 and 2006, and leads the Fire in goals scored this season.

"Brian McBride is an icon of American soccer and to me he encapsulates what this country's all about in terms of soccer," Lagos said.

The match against Chicago will mark the first time an MLS team has played at the NSC since June 2009, when the Minnesota Thunder played the Kansas City Wizards. It is also the first time the NSC Minnesota Stars will play against an MLS team.

The match will be the second Chicago has played against a USSF Division II team. The Fire defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 in a preseason match earlier this year in Phoenix.

"I'm looking forward to having a high-caliber team with some genuine MLS stars come here and play against our own NSC Stars," Lagos said.

The match against Chicago will be the Stars' second of the weekend. Minnesota also plays the Portland Timbers at home June 19 at 7 p.m. Ticket information for both matches is available online at www.nscminnesota.org or by contacting Rich Zellmer at 763.792.7346.

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U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from June 2, 2010


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