BRIDGEVIEW, IL (June 15, 2007) – The Chicago Fire (4-5-2, 14 pts.) face D.C. United (4-3-2, 14 pts.) in the nation's capital for the first of three Eastern Conference regular season series match-ups starting this Saturday, June 16, at RFK Stadium (6:30 p.m. CT, HDNet). Chicago travels to D.C. hungry for a win, dropping a 1-0 decision in Week 10 to Chivas USA Saturday night at TOYOTA PARK. D.C. United is coming off a 4-2 home result over the East-leading New York Red Bulls (6-2-2, 20 pts.) last Sunday at RFK. The Fire are tied with D.C. United for fourth in the conference with 14 points, while D.C. United has two games in hand over "Men in Red". The game will be broadcast live on television exclusively via HDNet and over the airwaves live on Chicagoland radio stations WRTO-AM 1200 (Spanish) and WNVR-AM 1030 (Polish).

Chicago Fire @ D.C. United :: Fire Match #12 – MLS Match #69

Saturday, June 16 @ 6:30 p.m. CT :: RFK Stadium – Washington, D.C.

TV: HDNet

Sat: KU BAND, SBS6 Tr. 09 Upper, Lower, U/L: 14230(V), D/L: 11930(H), DIRECTV: 79, DISHNET: 9422

Audio: WRTO-1200 AM (Spanish), WNVR-1030 AM (Polish)

Game Guide: http://www.mlsnet.com/pdf/mls/2007/gameguides/06/616dcchi.pdf

Chicago Fire/AthletiCo "Recovery Room" :: June 15

Armas, Chris – L hip pain – OUT

Bedrossian, Pascal – L hamstring strain – QUESTIONABLE

Pause, Logan – concussion, facial laceration – OUT

Rolfe, Chris – L ankle sprain – OUT

Telesford, Osei – L groin strain – OUT

Thiago – R groin strain – OUT

Fire History vs. United

Last year the Fire fared well against D.C. United, notching a 3-1-1 mark in the 2006 overall series across all MLS regular season and U.S. Open Cup play. Chicago dropped its first road test at D.C. on June 21, dropping a 1-0 decision at RFK Stadium, but would bounce back with a 1-1 draw on July 22 in the first-ever meeting at TOYOTA PARK. The Fire evened the 2006 over series on Sept. 6, with an emphatic 3-0 win over United in the U.S. Open Cup Semifinals at TOYOTA PARK, and notched another home victory 1-0 over D.C. just a few weeks later on Sept. 17. In Chicago's 2006 regular season finale on Oct. 15, the "Men in Red" came back from a 2-0 deficit to pull out a 3-2 win on D.C. soil. Chicago has done exceptionally well versus D.C. in the playoffs as well, boasting an undefeated 4-0-1 record in five all-time postseason match-ups. The Fire are now 12-11-5 in regular season matches against D.C. United, but just 4-8-2 in games contested inside the beltway.

Fire @ United an HDNet Exclusive Broadcast

Saturday's broadcast will be the second of six total HDNet broadcasts covering the "Men in Red" during their 2007 MLS regular season campaign. The broadcast booth duo of Glenn Davis and Marcelo Balboa will be on hand as the Fire take on D.C. United at RFK Stadium in glorious high-definition quality on HDNet exclusively. A complete listing of HDNet MLS matches can be found at http://www.hd.net/mls.html.

Blanco Watch

Cuauhtémoc Blanco, the Chicago Fire's Designated Player signing, scored a penalty kick-goal in the 29th minute for Mexico's lone tally before being sent off in the 49th minute in last Sunday's 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup group play, falling 2-1 to Honduras at Giants Stadium.  The 34-year-old attacker has been selected to the Mexican National Team after closing out his career with Mexican First Division side Club América. Overall, the native of Mexico City, Mexico tallied seven goals and six assists through 1,530 minutes of action for the 2007 Clausura regular season. 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 Colorado Rapids at TOYOTA PARK (6:00 p.m. CT, Comcast SportsNet).

Quick Kicks vs. D.C. United

·          The Chicago Fire waived defender Erik Hort from the developmental roster on Wednesday, June 13.

·          Chicago averages 10.9 shots per game, 5.27 shots on goal per game through 2007.

·          Not one player on the D.C.'s current roster has ever suited up for the Fire. Chicago midfielder Justin Mapp made three appearances (7/24, 8/17, 9/14) for United during his 2002 rookie season, while Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch was part of the D.C. United roster during the 1999 campaign, but did not play.

·          Only goalkeeper Matt Pickens and defenders Gonzalo Segares and C.J. Brown have played every game this season for the "Men in Red", with Pickens and Segares playing all 990 possible minutes across 11 games.

·          Chicago has seen at least one yellow card caution in each of its 11 regular season games this season.

·          No player on United's current roster has ever suited up for the Fire, but the "Men in Red" are quite with familiar United Head Coach Tom Soehn, who played for the Fire from 1998-2000 and served as an assistant coach for the following three seasons. Soehn is also a Chicago native, having played his collegiate ball at Western Illinois University.

·          Fire defender C.J. Brown celebrates his 32nd birthday on Friday, June 15.

·          The Fire's active leaders against D.C. United are: Games Played – C.J. Brown (26), Goals – Chris Rolfe (3), Assists – Chris Armas (6), Fouls Committed – C.J. Brown (51), Fouls Suffered – Chris Armas, C.J. Brown (35), Minutes Played – C.J. Brown (2,304), Shots – Chris Rolfe (19), Shots On Goal – Chris Rolfe (9).

·          Caution Watch – Chad Barrett (2c), C.J. Brown (3c), Calen Carr (3c), Diego Gutierrez (2c, 1e), Jeff Curtin (2c, 1e), Jim Curtin (2c), Logan Pause (1c), Dasan Robinson (2c), Gonzalo Segares (4c), Bakary Soumare (1c), Thiago (1c).