Fire Start Three Game Road Trip Sunday at Houston Dynamo

BRIDGEVIEW, IL (April 27, 2007) – The Chicago Fire (2-0-1 7 pts.) pay a visit to the defending 2006 MLS Cup Champion Houston Dynamo (1-1-1 4 pts.) Sunday night in the "Lonestar State". Kick-off from the Dynamo's Robertson Stadium is set for 6:00 p.m. CT, and the match can be followed live on television locally through Comcast SportsNet and nationwide via the MLS Direct Kick Package, as well as Chicagoland radio station WRTO-1200 AM(Spanish).

Chicago Fire @ Houston Dynamo

Sunday, April 29 @ 6:00 p.m. CT :: Robertson Stadium – Houston, TX

TV: Comcast SportsNet – Chicago (DirecTV: 785; Dish Network: 456)

Satellite: KU BAND; AMC 2, Tr. 4 Ch. A18; Uplink: 14071(V); Downlink: 11771(H);

Symbol Rate: 13.235, Data Rate: 18.295, FEC: ¾

Audio: WRTO -1200 AM (Spanish)

Game Guide: http://www.sportssystems.com/novell/efx%5Cfax%5CMLS%5C06704C01.pdf

Chicago Fire/AthletiCo "Recovery Room"

Carr, Calen – L knee contusion – PROBABLE

Mapp, Justin – L hamstring strain – DOUBTFUL

Plotkin, Brian – L hip strain – QUESTIONABLE

Fire History vs. Dynamo

Sunday's match-up at Houston marks the Fire's second ever appearance at Robertson Stadium and the third ever meeting between the two sides during the MLS regular season. Chicago's previous road clash against the Dynamo occurred on May 20, 2006 when the Fire downed Houston 1-0 off a brilliant Thiago strike in the 50th minute. The Dynamo returned on August 30, 2006 and saw a wonder-goal from Houston midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, beating Fire goalkeeper Zach Thornton with a half-line chip in the 59th minute for a 2-1 score. A 75th minute penalty kick from Chicago's forward Andy Herron knotted the game for an eventual 2-2 result.

Red-Hot Rolfe

Fire forward Chris Rolfe has a goal and three assists in three games played to start the 2007 campaign, the first season the University of Dayton product has assisted in three-straight MLS games. In the season opener, Rolfe sent a pass to Justin Mapp for a cross into the box for midfielder Logan Pause to deflect in for a 1-0 result. In Week 2, it was Rolfe's helper that freed forward Chad Barrett behind the Rapids backline for the game-tying goal in the 85th minute to grab a late one-pointer. Last Saturday, Rolfe's assist led to Barrett's game-tying goal in the 36th minute and the 24-year-old forward got his first tally of the 2007 season with a penalty kick goal in the 73rd minute.

Grind (away from the) House

Sunday will mark the Fire's longest consecutive road game stretch of the 2007 regular season, as the team travels to Houston (April 29), New England (May 6), and Toronto (May 12) before returning on May 17 to host FC Dallas at TOYOTA PARK. The "Men in Red" are enjoying good form as of late with a 2-0-1 mark for seven points, the second-best start in franchise history since the 1999 Fire campaign saw Chicago win three-straight on the road. Traveling should be old hat for a number of Fire players who endured the team's grueling nine-game road start that saw the squad pick up just ten points before the opening of TOYOTA PARK last June.

Virginia Tech Tribute on Sunday

The recent tragedy at Virginia Tech University has prompted the Houston Dynamo to organize a special tribute and fundraiser throughout the Fire-Dynamo match-up to assist the University's Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund. To commemorate the event, the Dynamo will be wearing special uniforms consisting of the school's colors. The distinctive maroon game-worn uniforms will be auctioned off with all proceeds going directly to the University's Fund. In addition, Hokie Men's Soccer Head Coach Oliver Weiss will be in attendance and will give the ceremonial coin flip. Fans attending the game can use the promo code "VT" to have $8 from every ticket sold through the promotion go directly to the Spirit Memorial Fund. For more information about all the day's events in Houston, log onto:

http://houston.mlsnet.com/t200/community/2007/hokie_spirit_fund/

Blanco Watch

Cuauhté moc Blanco, the Chicago Fire's Designated Player signing, is wrapping up the 2007 Clausura season with Mexican First Division side Club Am érica. In Week 16, "Temo" started and played the full 90 minutes for América, registering an assist (Ricardo Rojas, 12') for the game's only goal in a 1-0 win over Atlante on Sunday. Blanco will become an official member of the "Men in Red" on July 1 and will be eligible to play that day in Chicago's match-up with the Rapids at TOYOTA PARK (6:00 p.m. CT, Comcast SportsNet).

Quick Kicks vs. Houston Dynamo

· One player on the Dynamo roster has Fire first team ties; Houston defender/midfielder Kelly Gray suited up for the "Men in Red" during his first four seasons in MLS from 2002-2005.

· Pickens is now second all-time in Fire career goalkeeper wins with nine.

· Should Fire Head Coach Dave Sarachan make a change of personnel during the game on Sunday, he will have been in charge in each of the Fire's 100 straight games played with a substitution.

· Fire forward Chad Barrett could score on the eve of his birthday this Sunday. The 21-year-old striker was born on April 30, 1985.