MLS Chicago Fire FC

Race For First Continues in Naperville on 'Soccer Saturday'

Published on June 23, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


The Chicago Fire (5-3-3, 18 points) will look to take back the top spot in the Eastern Conference standings Saturday afternoon when it plays host to the Conference-leading MetroStars (6-3-2, 20 pts.) in a first-place showdown at North Central College's Cardinal Stadium at 3:00 p.m. CT. The match will be nationally televised live on ESPN2's "Soccer Saturday" broadcast, marking the first time in 2003 the Fire will host network's featured MLS contest.

The Fire will pay tribute to one of its most talented players during the weekend, as the Fire has proclaimed Saturday Peter Nowak Day at Cardinal Stadium. Prior to the game, fans will have the opportunity to meet Nowak during an autograph session at Cardinal Stadium at 1:30 p.m. The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a commemorative Peter Nowak T-shirt, courtesy of LaSalle Bank, upon entrance to the stadium. Upon his retirement earlier this year, Nowak wrapped up the last chapter of a playing career that spanned nearly 23 years, the last five of which he spent as the Fire's first and only captain. He helped Chicago to three championships (MLS Cup '98 and 1998 and 2000 U.S. Open Cup Championships). He was named to the Pepsi MLS Best XI in 1998, 2000, and 2001, and received Fire/Honda Team MVP honors for his contributions in 1998, 2000, and 2001.

For the first time since a 4-1 win at San Jose on May 31, the Fire's U.S. National Team trio of midfielders Chris Armas and DaMarcus Beasley and defender Carlos Bocanegra will be available for selection by Head Coach Dave Sarachan. The Fire will hold another homecoming on Saturday as MetroStars Head Coach Bob Bradley, who led the Fire to three championships while at the helm of the Fire from 1998-2002, will make his first visit to Chicagoland since leaving the "Men in Red" last October to rebuild the MetroStars.

The Fire has taken the last three meetings against the MetroStars, boosting its advantage in the all-time series between the Eastern Conference rivals to 9-4-0. The "Men in Red" used a three-assist effort by midfielder Andy Williams and a pair of goals by forward Ante Razov to defeat the MetroStars 3-2 in the only meeting between the two clubs this season on June 14 at Giants Stadium. The Fire leads the regular season series in Chicagoland 4-2-0, including a 3-0 blanking of the Metros in their last meeting at Cardinal Stadium on July 27, 2002.

"Men in Red" Split Pair Against Western Conference Foes

The Fire concluded its busiest stretch of the 2003 season by taking one out of two games last week. The "Men in Red" began the week in fine form Wednesday night by defeating the Dallas Burn 4-1 at Cardinal Stadium. Forward Ante Razov's two-goal, two-assist effort spurred the Fire into first place in the Eastern Conference standings for the first time this season and also catapulted him into first place atop the MLS Budweiser Scoring chart. Rookie Damani Ralph came through in the clutch again by scoring his League-leading third game-winning goal of the season. The Fire couldn't keep pace with Kansas City Saturday, falling to the Wizards 4-2 at Arrowhead Stadium. Ralph and Razov both stretched their goal scoring streaks to three games, but the goals weren't enough to withstand a five-point night from Kansas City midfielder Preki.

Chicago Fire ACE/Tru-Fit Injury Report
Marsch, Jesse - right fibula stress fracture - probable

Fire's Strike Force of Razov and Ralph Continues to Shine

It's no coincidence that the Fire's offense has improved since the forward tandem of Ante Razov and Damani Ralph were paired up at the top of the Chicago attack. In the six games since the dynamic duo were slotted in the starting eleven against the Colorado Rapids on May 25, the pair has tallied 12 goals and four assists while leading the Fire to a 4-0-2 record in that stretch. Razov's nine-point effort in a pair of games last week against Dallas and Kansas City has catapulted the Fire's all-time leading scorer into second place on the MLS Budweiser Scoring chart with 19 points on the season, just one point behind first-place Preki of Kansas City. Razov currently holds first place in two MLS categories- goals (8) and points per game (2.38)- despite having played only eight games this season. After starting the year on the bench, Ralph has earned himself not only a permanent place in Chicago's starting eleven, but serious consideration for the MLS Rookie of the Year award. The Jamaican forward has proven to be a consistent scoring threat for Head Coach Dave Sarachan by tallying five goals (T-7th in MLS) and a League-high three game-winning strikes this season.

Veteran Marsch Returns

After sitting out the Fire's first nine games of the season due to a right fibula stress fracture, midfielder Jesse Marsch made his 2003 debut in last Wednesday's 4-1 home victory over Dallas. Marsch - the club's career co-leader in games played along with Zach Thornton (145) - saw his first 11 minutes of action after replacing Andy Williams in Wednesday night's win. Marsch continued his progress in Saturday's 4-2 loss at Kansas City by coming in for defender Orlando Perez in the 63rd minute and playing 27 minutes.

Fire Trio to Return Stateside After Confederations Cup

After competing in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup in France, Fire captain Chris Armas and young stars DaMarcus Beasley and Carlos Bocanegra are expected to rejoin the "Men in Red' and be available for selection for this Saturday's showdown against the MetroStars. Beasley got the U.S. side off to a promising start in the tournament last Thursday in the opening contest versus Turkey by scoring his fourth career international on a header in the 38th minute to give the Americans a 1-0 lead. Beasley and Armas both played the full 90 minutes in the match, which Turkey eventually took over and won 2-1. Beasley and Bocanegra were both in the starting eleven against defending World Champions Brazil Saturday afternoon, and both went the distance in a hard-fought 1-0 loss at the Stade de Gerland in Lyon. In his 50th career appearance for the National Team, Armas was named the team captain by U.S. boss Bruce Arena for the Americans' final contest against Cameroon this afternoon, which ended in a scoreless draw. Armas and Bocanegra again played the full 90 minutes while Beasley saw action in his third game of the tournament as a second-half substitute.

Etc.

· A pair of Fire strikes from last Wednesday's 4-1 win over Dallas are up for the Pepsi Goal of the Week award. Defender/midfielder Kelly Gray's perfectly placed volley - his first goal in over a year - was rewarded as one of the five finalists, as was forward Ante Razov's bending strike in the waning moments of the match. Fans can vote by visiting www.mlsnet.com and clicking on the Pepsi Goal of the Week logo.

· The Chicago Fire will resume its weekly media luncheons this Wednesday, June 25 at 12:00 p.m. at the team's practice facility at Lake Forest College.

· The Fire family would like to send Happy Birthday wishes to defender Jim Curtin and defender/midfielder Evan Whitfield. The duo turn 24 and 26 respectively today.

· Midfielder Craig Capano will be away from the club this week while he attends the U.S. Under-18 National Team's training camp at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA. The camp will be the first for the U-18 squad at the HDC, which is the new permanent training ground for the U.S. Soccer Federation. Capano will be available for selection for Saturday's home match against the MetroStars.

· The Chicago Fire will be hosting its fourth annual Sports Career Day at Cardinal Stadium this Saturday before the Fire's game versus the MetroStars. Registration for the event begins at 12:30 p.m. The $20 fee for the event includes the chance for participants to network with staff from ten Chicagoland area sports affiliated businesses and university programs, a free meal and a game ticket to the afternoon's match. For more information, contact the Fire at 312-405-7262.

· Chicago Fire season ticket holders will get their chance to see the "Men in Red" up close and personal this Sunday when the Fire holds its annual "Meet the Team" Day at Enchanted Castle in Lombard, IL. All Fire players and coaches will be on hand to spend their day with and sign autographs for Major League Soccer's most loyal fan base.

· The Chicago Fire Reserves continued its stellar play in the Heartland Division of the PDL over the weekend by blanking the Kansas City Brass 4-0 at the Lemont Community High School Soccer Complex. Tighe Dombrowski netted a pair of goals while goalkeeper Matt Pickens, fresh off his PDL Team of the Week performance, collected the squad's fourth consecutive shutout. The Reserves will work on continuing their eight-game win streak this weekend when it takes to the road to play a pair of games in Missouri. The Reserves will kick off the trip on Friday night against the St. Louis Strikers at the Sportport Soccer Complex at 7:30 p.m. CT and finish the road slate on Saturday evening against the Kansas City Brass at the Blue Valley District Activities Center at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Reserves are one of only four teams in the 51-team PDL with only one loss and remain just one point behind the Des Moines Menace in the Heartland Division with a pair of games in hand on the frontrunners.

· The U-19 squad of the Fire's sister team Monarcas Morelia is concluding its tour of the Midwest this week. The three-game trip began successfully for the Monarcas youth team last week as it defeated Juventus's youth squad, Primavera, 4-2 at Eisenhower HS in Blue Island, IL on Friday night. The tour continued on Sunday in Des Moines, IA, where the Monarcas side defeated the Iowa High School All-Stars 3-1. The Monarcas tour will conclude this week with a match against the Sioux Fire Spitfire of the Premier Developmental League on Thursday, June 26 in Sioux Falls, SD at 7:30 p.m.

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Major League Soccer Stories from June 23, 2003


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