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MLS Chicago Fire FC

Top Two Teams In The East Battle For First Place

September 15, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


The Chicago Fire (10-6-9, 39 points) will play host to the Columbus Crew (11-4-9, 42 points) as the two top teams in the Eastern Conference battle for first place bragging rights this Sunday, September 20th at TOYOTA PARK (2 p.m. CT, My50 Chicago). The Fire currently sit just three points behind Columbus and with a win on Sunday, Chicago would not only share the top spot with their opponent, but also take the season series and make a strong push toward earning 2009 Supporters Shield honors.

The match will be the third between the two rivals this season, and the second in Chicago at TOYOTA PARK.

The two teams met for the first time in 2009 at Crew Stadium on April 25, in an exciting match that ended in a 2-2 tie. The Crew opened scoring with a header goal from defender Chad Marshall in the 24th minute of play and doubled the lead just 10 minutes layer as Alejandro Moreno averted goalkeeper Jon Busch on the end line and then defender Wilman Conde as he cut back to the center of the goal, finishing the play with a controlled shot into the net. The Fire continued to fight through the second half and Brian McBride cut the Crew's lead in half, scoring a header goal in the 86th minute. With less than two minutes left in regulation time, defender Gonzalo Segares supplied the Fire with the game-tying goal sending a rocket of a shot from 20-yards out past Crew goalkeeper Andy Gruenbaum.

In their second meeting of the season, the team's again battled to a tie with a 0-0 result at TOYOTA PARK on July 11th. The scoreless draw is one of just two 0-0 ties the Fire have posted in 2009, only posting the same result against the Seattle Sounders FC just two games later. Goalkeeper Jon Busch posted the home shutout, one of eight shutouts this season, one of four shutouts at home.

EVENLY MATCHED

The Fire and Crew have recorded five ties in their last seven regular season matches, dating back to the beginning of the 2007 MLS season. The other two games through that span have seen the Fire victorious - a 3-2 win on June 3, 2007 and a 1-0 win on September 8, 2007. Neither team has taken full points through the last two seasons and the Fire will be looking to change that streak on Sunday by earning the three points.

The Fire and Crew are also closely matched in goal scoring. Chicago has posted 60 goals through league play against Columbus and conceded just 59, therefore enjoying a one-goal advantage in all-time scoring.

TOYOTA PARK: HOME SWEET HOME

While the Fire has posted a 4-4-4 record at home this season, the team will still enjoy home-field advantage over Columbus as the Crew have won just one game in Chicago through their six visits to TOYOTA PARK, winless in Chicago since 2006. The Fire have also outscored Columbus 31 to 26 through their all-time league play in Chicago.

Check out the Chicago Fire FC Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from September 15, 2009


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