BRIDGEVIEW, IL (June 8, 2007) The Chicago Fire (4-4-2, 14 pts.) close out a three-game home stretch against Chivas USA (3-3-2, 11 pts.) this Saturday night at TOYOTA PARK. The "Men in Red" snapped a five-game winless streak with a physical 3-2 win at home Sunday night against the Columbus Crew. Chivas USA should be well-rested, as the Los Angeles-based club did not play first team MLS action last weekend due to a bye in Week 9. The Fire have regained fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 14 points, six points behind the conference-leading New York Red Bulls (6-2-2, 20 pts.). Kick-off from Bridgeview is set for 7:30 p.m. CT and will be live on Chicagoland radio station WRTO-AM 1200 (Spanish), and on television nationwide via Fox Soccer Channel.
Chicago Fire vs. Chivas USA :: Fire Match #11 MLS Match #62
Saturday, June 9 @ 7:30 p.m. CT :: TOYOTA PARK Bridgeview, Ill.
TV: Fox Soccer Channel
Satellite: KU BAND (Encrypted), AMC 1, Tr. 16 Lower, U/L: 14324.5(H), D/L: 12024.5(V), Symbol Rate: 6.1113, Data Rate: 8.448, FEC: ¾
Audio: WRTO-1200 AM (Spanish)
Game Guide: http://www.sportssystems.com/novell/efx%5Cfax%5CMLS%5C06704J01.pdf
Chicago Fire/AthletiCo "Recovery Room" :: June 8
Bedrossian, Pascal L hamstring strain DOUBTFUL
Pause, Logan concussion, facial laceration OUT
Rolfe, Chris L ankle sprain OUT
Telesford, Osei L groin strain OUT
Thiago R groin strain OUT
The Chicago Fire and Chivas USA will meet for the first of a two-game, home-and-away, regular season series this Saturday, with the "Men in Red" looking to inch ahead in the overall season series knotted with an even 2-2-0 mark. The Fire are looking to rebound after dropping both 2006 contests, losing a 1-0 decision on May 27 on the road and falling 2-1 in the first-ever TOYOTA PARK meeting between the two clubs on Aug. 12. Chicago swept the 2005 season series with an emphatic 5-2 win at Soldier Field on June 4 in the first game ever played between the Fire and Chivas USA, with the "Men in Red" also posting a 1-0 result away at The Home Depot Center on July 2.
Fans of the Fire may have done a double-take once again this past Sunday as veteran Chicago Fire defender Jim Curtin came on in the 73rd minute in order to fill a defensive gap left by his younger brother, sophomore defender Jeff Curtin, who was ejected in minute 63 with a dual yellow booking. Younger Curtin, a four-year Georgetown product, missed almost his entire 2006 rookie season due to a season-ending surgery to repair an athletic Pubalgia (sports hernia) condition (5/10). He and older brother Jim are the ninth set of brothers to make the ranks of MLS, and the second to do so as members of the Fire, joining Jamar and DaMarcus Beasley.
Fans may want to ensure they get to their seats early Saturday night as members of the 2006 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup-championship squad are honored prior to the start of the match. A highlight video tribute to the "Men in Red" will be shown, with Fire President/CEO John Guppy on hand to present each Open Cup-winning player and coach with a 2006 U.S. Open Cup Championship ring prior to the Fire-Chivas USA kick-off. The Fire clinched their MLS club-record fourth Open Cup title on Sept. 27, 2006, defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-1 at TOYOTA PARK.
Fire midfielder Logan Pause has been ruled out of Fire Head Coach Dave Sarachan's line-up for the time being as he tends to a severe concussion injury suffered in last Saturday's practice leading up Columbus game. Pause went up for a header off a corner kick attempt and collided heads with defender Jeff Curtin, resulting in an injury that required five stitches, though he did not break any facial bones. Pause could miss two to four weeks of practice, and may wear a protective headgear unit upon his return.
Fire Reserves Game on Sunday Cancelled
The Chicago Fire Reserves (0-3-2 2 pts.) will have to wait yet another day to snag the team's first elusive win of the 2007 campaign as the side has cancelled its previously-schedule Sunday match-up versus the Chivas USA Reserves due to severe lack of healthy players. As a result the Fire Reserves will not play on Sunday versus the Chivas USA Reserves, and will announce in the future a possible make-up date for the contest.
· Fire defender Jeff Curtin has been fined $250 by the MLS Disciplinary Committee and is suspended for Saturday's game against Chivas USA for his double-yellow card ejection Sunday versus the Columbus Crew.
· The Fire leads the regular season series with Chivas USA in goals (7), shots (51), shots on goal (23), and corner kicks (28).
· Defender Dasan Robinson celebrated his 23rd birthday this Wednesday, June 6.
· The "Men in Red" are even with Chivas USA in the overall regular season series with a 2-2-0 mark.
· Sunday's three-goal outburst ended a stretch of 6 games where the Fire failed to record a multi-goal game. Only once in team history have the Fire had a longer stretch without a 2+ goal game. The Fire went eight regular season games from June 19, 2004 to July 28, 2004 without a multi-goal game.
· Fire Head Coach Dave Sarachan celebrated his 53rd birthday on Thursday, June 7.
· Curtin's goal on Sunday was the first goal scored off a corner kick since forward Chris Rolfe's tally on May 12 at Toronto FC. The last time the Fire scored off a corner before that came on Sept. 9, 2006 courtesy of a C.J. Brown game-winning header at Columbus.
· The Fire allowed 11 goals in May. Only once have they allowed more than 11 goals in a month. In July 1998 they gave up 14 goals across six games played.
· Caution Watch Chad Barrett (2c), C.J. Brown (2c), Calen Carr (3c), Diego Gutierrez (2c, 1e), Jeff Curtin (2c, 1e) Jim Curtin (2c), Logan Pause (1c), Dasan Robinson (2c), Gonzalo Segares (4c), Thiago (1c).