FIRE USE INTERNATIONAL BREAK TO REST, PREPARE FOR NEW YORK RED BULLS
The Chicago Fire (5-5-3, 18 points) will use the international break in MLS action to regroup and recuperate after a busy stretch of eight games in the span of five weeks. The past 34 days included two trips to the West coast for matches against Chivas USA and the Portland Timbers, two three-games in eight days stretches and matches in seven different cities.
In addition to the MLS Regular Season schedule, the Fire played a third-round Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match on Tuesday, May 29, falling 3-2 in overtime to the Michigan Bucks at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac, Mich.
The Fire return to action in an Eastern Conference showdown against the New York Red Bulls at Toyota Park on Sunday, June 17 at 4:00 p.m. CT live on NBC Sports Network and 97.5 ESPN Deportes.
CHICAGO FIRE TRAINING SCHEDULE: June 4 – June 11
Monday, June 4: Training 10:30 a.m.^
Tuesday, June 5: Training 10:30 a.m.^
Wednesday, June 6: Training 11:00 a.m.^
Thursday, June 7: OFF
Friday, June 8: OFF
Saturday, June 9: OFF
Sunday, June 10: OFF
Monday, June 11: Training 9:30 a.m.^
*Training is open to the media. Fire players and coaches will be made available immediately following training.
^Training times are subject to change. Please contact Brendan Hannan at 720.937.8962 for media requests.
MARCO PAPPA TO FACE THE UNITED STATES IN WORLD CUP QUALIFYING
Chicago Fire midfielder Marco Pappa will begin CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying this week when Guatemala take on Jamaica at Independence Park on Friday, June 8 at 8:30 p.m. CT. Pappa will then take on the United States at Estadio Mateo Flores on Tuesday, June 12 at 9:00 p.m. CT.
Midfielder Marco Pappa started and played 77 minutes in Guatemala’s 1-0 win over Costa Rica Friday night at the Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The game was Los Chapines’ final match before opening CONCACAF semifinal round World Cup Qualifying Friday in Jamaica.
Since his international debut in 2008, Pappa has earned 26 international caps for Guatemala.
CHICAGO FIRE DEFEATED BY NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 2-0
The Chicago Fire pressured throughout the match but fell victim to a pair of second half goals in the space of four minutes as they fell 2-0 to the New England Revolution (5-7-1; 16 pts.) Saturday night at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
In the 17th minute after Sebastian Grazzini was hauled down on the left by Fernando Cardenas resulting in a dangerous free kick 30 yards from goal. Midfielder Pavel Pardo’s take on the dead ball found the head of Gonzalo Segares who flicked it past Revs goalkeeper Matt Reis but off the back post.
The Fire nearly went ahead early in the second half on when Pardo cut into the box on the right, chipping for Barouch at the back post. The ball popped up back into the area, finding an open Oduro. The Ghanaian measured his header past Reis but off the post in the 47th minute.
In the 69th minute the Fire would see reacquired forward Chris Rolfe make his return to the field for the Men in Red, coming on for Dominic Oduro. Just seconds after his entry though, the Revolution would find the go-ahead goal when Feilhaber played Rowe into the box with a perfect through ball out of midfield. The substitute strolled in and flicked his effort inside the right post to give the home side a 1-0 lead.
The pair would link up again four minutes later to put the game away. This time it was Feilhaber who played a quick combination with Rowe before the rookie slotted him into the box on the right. Running onto the ball, the U.S. international calmly slotted his effort inside the back post to give the Revolution a 2-0 lead in the 73rd minute. The Revolution would hang on as the match ended with a final score of 2-0.
CHICAGO FIRE UPSET BY MICHIGAN BUCKS 3-2 IN LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP
The Fire’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run was cut short as the Michigan Bucks came back from down 2-1 and forward Nermin Crnkic tallied a 93rd minute goal in extra time to defeat the Fire 3-2 and eliminated the four-time champions from the 99-year old tournament at the Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac, Mich. on Tuesday, May 29.
The Fire were eliminated in the third round for the fifth time and move to 5-5-1 in third round matches. All five losses have come at the hands of lower division opponents.
Since 1997 the Fire have compiled an impressive 30-8-2 record in Open Cup play, reaching the semifinal round eight out of 14 times and the final six times. The Fire were defeated by Seattle Sounders FC 2-0 in the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final at CenturyLink Field.
CHICAGO FIRE AND QUAKER OATS LAUNCH RETAIL ACTIVATIONS ACROSS CHICAGOLAND
As part of the multi-year partnership between The Chicago Fire Soccer Club and Quaker Oats, a division of PepsiCo, the Chicago-based organizations announced the launch of new retail initiatives across the Chicagoland area. Activations will include Fire and Quaker branded in-store displays and an opportunity to win an Ultimate Chicago Fire Fan Experience to travel to a Fire away game.
Through one promotion, the Fire and Quaker will provide a special ticket offer to shoppers at a variety of stores throughout Chicagoland. The stores will feature Fire and Quaker co-branded in-store displays that encourage shoppers to purchase three Quaker products to receive a free ticket to a 2012 Chicago Fire regular season home match (seats are limited, no guarantee for same day ticket on a game day).
Additionally at participating Jewel stores, shoppers will have the chance to win the Ultimate Chicago Fire Fan Experience Sweepstakes. Shoppers who buy any Quaker product using their Jewel-Osco Preferred Customer Card® will automatically be entered for a chance to win one of the following prizes:
- Ultimate Fan Experience - One winner will have the opportunity to receive a travel package to attend a Chicago Fire away game. This package includes round-trip airfare, accommodations and Chicago Fire away jerseys for six people for the Chicago Fire vs. New York Red Bulls match on Saturday, October 6 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ.
- Tickets to the Chicago Fire vs. LA Galaxy – One winner will receive six tickets to Toyota Park when the Fire host defending MLS Cup Champions LA Galaxy on Sunday, July 8. The winner and their guests will receive Chicago Fire home jerseys and the chance to be on the field during pre-game warm-ups. The July 8 game is presented by Quaker Oats, and fans will have access to Quaker product sampling, games and a fan photo booth at Fire Fest in the parking lot before the game. Plus, the first 10,000 people to enter the stadium will receive a Quaker and Fire logo backpack.
- Other Sweepstakes Prizes – Sixty-five winners will receive prizes including tickets to a Chicago Fire home game, Fire jerseys, Fire and Quaker logo T-shirts, Fire scarves or Jewel-Osco gift cards.
More information on the Ultimate Chicago Fire Fan Experience can be found at www.QuakerOats.com/ChicagoFire.
CHICAGO FIRE TO HOST 'FIRE, BREWS AND BITES' EVENT
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club and the Chicago Fire Foundation will host the first "Fire, Brews and Bites" beer tasting event at Roots Pizza (1924 W. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622) on Saturday, June 9 from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. CT.
Hosted by the Chicago Fire Foundation, the club has partnered with Roots Pizza and MillerCoors for an afternoon filled with beer, food and fun. Guests will enjoy various selections from MillerCoors' unique portfolio while trying the selected paired food and a pizza buffet from Roots Pizza.
The beer selection from MillerCoors includes Crispin, Batch 19, Big Eddy Wee Heavy Scotch Ale, Big Eddy Imperial IPA, Vintage Blonde Ale and Blue Moon Belgian Pale Ale.
Food will be provided by West Town restaurant Roots Pizza, which is co-owned by Greg Mohr and Scott Weiner. Roots specializes in Quad Cities-style hand-tossed pizza, and is known for their scratch-made mozzarella sticks, build-your-own salads, gourmet sausages, and sandwiches.
Tickets to the event, which start at $30 and benefit the Chicago Fire Foundation, can be purchased http://firebrewsbites.eventbrite.com or by calling 708-496-6751. Included in the price of a ticket are a commemorative beer stein, beer sampling, two drink tickets each good for one 12-ounce beer, a raffle ticket and food.
CHICAGO FIRE TO HOST ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE SIDE ASTON VILLA ON SATURDAY, JULY 21 AT TOYOTA PARK
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced that the Fire will take on seven-time English League champions Aston Villa in an international friendly at Toyota Park on Saturday, July 21 at 7:30 p.m. CT.
Advance tickets for the Chicago Fire vs. Aston Villa are available by calling 888-MLS-Fire, by visiting www.Chicago-Fire.com or Ticketmaster. The international friendly will serve as Bonus Game 1 in the Fire’s Season Ticket Package, and is also a part of the Ten Game Plan.
Aston Villa, one of the oldest and most successful clubs in English football history, will make their first trip to Chicago. Since its founding in 1874, Villa has amassed 19 major domestic honors, including seven English Premier League titles and seven FA Cups. The Villans also won the 1981-1982 European Cup. One of the founding members of the Premier League in 1992, Aston Villa has competed in the top flight of English soccer ever since.
This is the second consecutive year the Fire will host an English Premier League team. In 2011, the Fire took on famed English club Manchester United in front of a sell-out crowd of more than 61,000 soccer supporters at Soldier Field, scoring first before falling 3-1 to the eventual Premier League Champions. The Fire currently hold a 2-1 record against English Premier League foes, defeating Everton FC by a score of 2-0 in 2008, and Derby County 1-0 in 1999.
Aston Villa features two former Chicago Fire PDL players, goalkeeper Brad Guzan, originally from Homer Glenn, Ill. and defender Eric Lichaj, a product of Downers Grove, Ill.
FIRE IN THE NEWS
Klopas loving every second as Fire coach - Jack McCarthy - Chicago Tribune - May 28, 2012
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ct-spt-0529-fire-klopas-anniversary--20120528,0,1698225.story
Influence of coach Frank Klopas is felt throughout Fire franchise - Seth Gruen - Chicago Sun-Times - May 29, 2012
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/soccer/fire/12832393-626/influence-of-coach-frank-klopas-is-felt-throughout-the-fire-franchise.html
Fire's depth being tested in busy stretch - Len Ziehm – CSNChicago.com - May 27, 2012
http://www.csnchicago.com/soccer-chicago-fire/news/Fires-depth-being-tested-in-busy-stretch?blockID=715018&feedID=5674
Fire discuss their recent losses and upcoming rivalry - CSN Chicago - May 31, 2012
http://www.csnchicago.com/pages/video?PID=svuUm_9eqtlShAAgU8VO2AfIhvyBpxaI
Fire's Nyarko responds to hard play with extra intensity - Anthony Zilis – MLSsoccer.com - May 31, 2012
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/05/31/fires-nyarko-responds-hard-play-extra-intensity
CHICAGO FIRE TEAM WRITER, JEFF CRANDALL FEATURES ON CHICAGO-FIRE.COM
Five Things You Should Know About Tonight’s Game at New England – June 2, 2012
//www.chicago-fire.com/blog/post/2012/06/02/five-things-you-should-know-about-tonights-game-new-england
Back to Boston with Michael Videira – June 1, 2012
//www.chicago-fire.com/blog/post/2012/06/01/back-boston-michael-videira
Getting to Know the Opponent…Michigan Bucks – May 28, 2012
//www.chicago-fire.com/blog/post/2012/05/28/getting-know-opponentmichigan-bucks
