Chicago Fire vs. New England Revolution – Saturday, October 6, 2007 – Fire Match #28 – MLS Match #178

 

TV: Comcast SportsNet (Kenn Tomasch, Kenny Stern, Chris Doran)

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

 

Chicago Fire vs. New England Revolution

The Chicago Fire (8-10-9, 33 pts.) look to extend a five-game unbeaten streak when they host the New England Revolution (14-6-7, 49 pts.) this Saturday at TOYOTA PARK in Bridgeview, Ill. The Fire still hold onto the eighth and final playoff spot after Saturday's 1-1 tie at Chivas USA, marking a club-record fourth-straight draw. New England comes off a 1-0 home win over the Colorado Rapids, and will face FC Dallas Wednesday in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final before facing the "Men in Red" in an Eastern Conference clash. Kick-off for Saturday’s match is at 7:30 p.m. CT, and will be televised live on Comcast SportsNet and broadcast over the airwaves on Chicagoland radio station WRTO-AM 1200 (Spanish).

 

Chicago Fire Weekly Agenda

** Sites/times subject to change.  Please call 708.496.6726 to confirm training schedule. All times Central.

Monday, Oct. 1               OFF

Tuesday, Oct. 2              Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 9:00 a.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 3         Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 9:00 a.m.

Thursday, Oct. 4            Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 9:00 a.m.

Friday, Oct. 5                 Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 9:00 a.m.

Saturday, Oct. 6           Chicago Fire vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. – TOYOTA PARK

Sunday, Oct. 7             Chicago Fire Reserves vs.  New England Revolution Reserves, 10:00 a.m. – TOYOTA PARK

 

Oct. 6 is Chicago Fire Remembrance Night, Presented by Walgreens

Celebrating the tenth anniversary of the founding of Chicago Fire Soccer on Oct. 8, 1997, and in remembrance of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the club will host Chicago Fire Remembrance Night, presented by Walgreens, on Saturday, Oct. 6.  The first 10,000 fans to attend will receive an official 2007 Chicago Fire team photo, courtesy of Walgreens, while fire engines from around Chicagoland will be on display. While the action on the field between the Chicago Fire and New England Revolution (7:30 p.m. CT, Comcast SportsNet) will provide the sparks on the pitch, the real fireworks are set to go off at the conclusion of the day’s game in a post-game fireworks show.  Fans of the "Men in Red" are invited to stay after the night's game for an Oktoberfest-themed post-game party inside Gate C, with seasonal beer, live entertainment, and a large 10th anniversary birthday cake to celebrate the club’s founding.

 

“Chicago Fire Soccer Weekly” Radio Show – Fire Midfielder Bakary Soumare

“Chicago Fire Soccer Weekly,” a half-hour weekly soccer talk show, will air its next broadcast via WXAV 88.3 FM from the campus of Saint Xavier University (SXU) this Tuesday, Oct. 2, at 6:00 p.m. CT, and each week throughout the rest of the Fire’s 2007 MLS campaign. Fire rookie midfielder Bakary Soumare makes his second appearance on the show, as hosts Kevin Kellam, Angelo Bonadonna, and Terry Bonadonna preview the upcoming match-up against New England. Fans are encouraged to call in at 773.429.0463 to talk about all things Fire-related - live over the airwaves and the internet, with podcasts available through Chicago Fire or WXAV subscriptions on iTunes. For more information visit www.wxav.com or www.chicago-fire.com.

 

First Rolfe’s Rocket, Now Blanco's Bomb up for Sierra Mist Goal of the Week” Honors

Cuauhtémoc Blanco's score Saturday against Chivas USA is among the nominees for the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week for Week 26. In the 24th minute, Blanco took a 10-yard running start on a 30-yard free kick and the shot sailed over the wall of defenders and just out of Guzan's diving reach. To vote for Blanco’s 30-yard stunner as the Week 25 winner, go to www.mlsnet.com. Fire forward Chris Rolfe took home the award in Week 25 for scoring his fifth goal of the season in spectacular fashion against FC Dallas on Sept. 20, drilling a long-range strike from over thirty yards out past FCD goalkeeper Dario Sala for Chicago's lone goal in a 1-1 tie.

 

Blanco Featured on Cover of ESPN Deportes Magazine October Issue

Fans looking for a collector's item should make a trip to the local newsstand, as Cuauhtémoc Blanco is featured on the cover of the October edition of ESPN Deportes La Revista. Blanco spent an afternoon with celebrated Chicago-based photographer Keith Claunch inside TOYOTA PARK to capture the Mexican National Team star in Fire gear to compliment the five-page ESPN article in the latest issue.

 

Fire Playoff Picture

With a 1-1 tie at Chivas USA on Saturday, the “Men in Red” held their eighth and final playoff spot with 33 points, just two points ahead of the Columbus Crew. The Fire own the head-to-head tiebreaker with Columbus, taking the season series with a 3-2 win on June 3, at TOYOTA PARK, drawing 0-0 on Aug. 4, in Bridgeview, and winning 1-0 at Crew Stadium on Sept. 8. Chicago is also four points in front of the Colorado Rapids, who sit on 29 points after falling 1-0 to New England on Saturday.

 

PLAYOFF TABLE (Includes Sunday’s Results)

 

Team                            Points  Games Left          Max. Pts. Possible

*D.C. United                  53                     3                      62

*NE Revolution               49                     3                      58

*Chivas USA                  48                     4                      60

*Houston Dynamo          48                     3                      57

FC Dallas                       40                     3                      49

NY Red Bulls                  39                     3                      48

Kansas City Wizards       36                     3                      45

CHICAGO FIRE             33                    3                      42

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Columbus Crew              31                     3                      40

Colorado Rapids             29                     3                      38

LA Galaxy                      27                     4                      39

Real Salt Lake                24                     3                      33

Toronto FC                     21                     4                      33

 

* Clinched Playoff Berth

 

Around the Town

Fans of the Fire should be on lookout as members of the "Men in Red" make public appearances around Chicagoland this week. On Thursday, Oct. 4, Fire forward Floyd Franks will be signing autographs and taking photos from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. CT at Centrum Sport, located at 5535 W. Belmont Ave., in Chicago.

 

Chicago Fire Reserves Lose 4-3 to Chivas USA Reserves

Despite Floyd Franks tallying two goals and John Thorrington scoring for the third straight game, the Chicago Fire Reserves (1-6-3, 6 pts.) dropped a 4-3 decision to the Chivas USA Reserves in a Major League Soccer Reserve Division match held on Field No. 6 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The Fire Reserves close their season Sunday, Oct. 7, when they play host to the New England Revolution Reserves (6-3-1., 19 pts.) at 10 a.m. CT at the TOYOTA PARK practice field. For more information on the MLS Reserve Division, visit http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/mls/reserve/.