Fire and Red Bulls Meet in Eastern Conference Clash Saturday

 

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (Sept. 14, 2007) – The Chicago Fire (8-10-5, 29 pts.) return from a two-game road stint to host the New York Red Bulls (11-10-3, 36 pts.) at TOYOTA PARK. The “Men in Red” enter their third-straight Eastern Conference contest, coming off a 1-0 rain-soaked victory over the Columbus Crew on Saturday at Crew Stadium. The Red Bulls look for better luck on the road, falling 3-0 to Chivas USA last Sunday, the team’s third-consecutive road loss. Kick-off for Saturday’s match is 7:30 p.m. CT and will be televised live on Fox Soccer Channel and broadcast over the airwaves on Chicagoland radio station WRTO-AM 1200 (Spanish).

 

Chicago Fire vs. New York Red Bulls :: Fire Match # 24 MLS Match # 156

Saturday, September 15 @ 7:30 p.m. CT :: TOYOTA PARK – Bridgeview, Ill.

TV: Fox Soccer Channel

Satellite: FSC, FSE, KU BAND, AMC 2, Tr. 4 Ch. 9, D/L: 11784.5(H), Symbol Rate: 6.1113, Data Rate: 8.448, FEC: 3/4

Audio: WRTO-1200 AM (Oscar Guzman, “Batata” DaSilva, Enrique “Tico” Fernandez)

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

 

Fire History vs. Red Bulls/MetroStars

In the third regular 2007 season meeting between the Fire and Red Bulls, the “Men in Red” hope to avenge two previous road losses in the Big Apple; a 1-0 loss on Sept. 1 and an earlier 3-0 loss at Giants Stadium on May 24, their second-worst defeat of the 2007 campaign. Taking the 2006 season series with 2-1-1 mark, the Fire collected a pair of three point results at TOYOTA PARK, officially opening up the club’s Bridgeview home with a 2-0 triumph on June 25 before holding on for a 2-1 victory on Sept. 3, yet came away with a 1-1 draw on May 13 and a loss on Sept. 30 in the Big Apple.  This year’s results have set the Fire’s all-time regular season mark in MLS play against the New York franchise to 15-10-5, which includes 8-3-3 in games contested in Chicagoland. The Fire and Red Bulls/MetroStars have met three times in postseason play, with Chicago taking both games at home (9/26/00, 10/06/00) and losing once at the Meadowlands (9/30/00).

 

Fire to Face Cruz Azul on Oct. 10, presented by Boost Mobile®

Chicago Fire Soccer has scheduled its fourth international friendly of the 2007 campaign, as the Chicago Fire are set to play Club Deportivo Social y Cultural Cruz Azul, or simply Cruz Azul, of the Mexican Primera División on Wednesday, Oct. 10, at TOYOTA PARK. Kick-off for the exhibition match in Bridgeview, Ill. is set for 7:30 p.m. CT, for the Fire’s first-ever match against the Mexico City, Mexico-based club. Fire season ticket holders and media are asked to use Bonus Game B tickets and parking passes for the exhibition match.

 

The Fire have played in two of three scheduled “friendlies” versus international competition this season. The “Men in Red” first faced Polish side MKS Cracovia on June 22 and took away a hard-fought 1-0 win, then drew 1-1 with Scottish power Celtic FC a month later on July 22. Three days later the Fire were to meet Santos Laguna of the Mexican Primera División in La Joya, Texas, but the game was cancelled due to inclement weather.

 

“This will be another test to see how well we can play against strong competition,” said Fire Head Coach Juan Carlos Osorio. “I expect the teams will come out and play their best because both will be in mid-season form and will want to give the fans a good show.”

 

Quick Kicks vs. New York

•           Chicago defender Gonzalo Segares will once again be available to play for the Fire after returning from national team duty. Prior to his call-up, the Costa Rica native missed just one game (vs. KC, 8/25) due to yellow card accumulation.

•           Goalkeeper Matt Pickens can tie the Fire regular season shutout record with 9 if he records a clean sheet Saturday night.  Former netminder Zach Thornton set the original record through the 2001 campaign.

•           Fire midfielder Bakary Soumare will not be available this Saturday as he serves a one-game suspension due to yellow card accumulation.

•           The “Men in Red” wore non-traditional red tops, white shorts, and red socks for both away games this season at New York (May 24, Sept. 1) but will go back to the “all reds” this Saturday.

•           The Fire own a 4-7-1 record in regular season road games contested in 2007, while going 4-3-4 in games at TOYOTA PARK.

•           Chicago’s all-time regular season record in MLS play against the New York-area franchise is 15-10-5, including a 8-3-3 mark in games contested in Chicagoland.

•           Chicago leads the season series against New York in goals (45), shots (452), shots on goal (214), offsides (92), and corner kicks (169).

•           Not one player on the Fire’s current roster has ever suited up for the New York franchise.

•           The Fire’s active leaders against New York are: Games Played & Started – C.J. Brown (23), Goals – Chris Armas (3), Assists – Chris Armas (6), Fouls Committed – Chris Armas (37), Fouls Suffered – C.J. Brown (37), Minutes Played – C.J. Brown (2,006), Shots – Justin Mapp (22), Shots On Goal – Chris Armas (8).

•           Caution Watch – Chad Barrett (3c), C.J. Brown (6c), Calen Carr (4c), Jeff Curtin (3c, 1e), Diego Gutierrez (7c, 1e), Dasan Robinson (4c), Gonzalo Segares (4c, 1e), Bakary Soumare (4c, 1e).