MEN IN RED OPEN 2015 SEASON AGAINST DEFENDING MLS CUP CHAMPIONS
The Chicago Fire open the 2015 MLS season on the road when they visit defending MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy at The StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. on Friday, March 6, at 9 p.m. CT. UniMas, which will regularly carry Friday night MLS action throughout the season, will offer a Spanish as well as English broadcast to its national audience. Fans may change the default language of their broadcast by altering the SAP settings on their cable box.
The two sides met once during the 2014 season, battling to a 1-1 draw at Toyota Park on June 1. Jeff Larentowicz converted a penalty kick in the 68th minute after Quincy Amarikwa was fouled in the box before Landon Donovan equalized for the visitors in the 74th minute.
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Following the season opener, the Men in Red return home to host Opening Day at Toyota Park when they welcome Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, March 14 at 5 p.m. CT. Tickets for the match are available here and via Ticketmaster.
CHICAGO FIRE AT LA GALAXY
• The Fire are 15-19-5 all-time in regular season matches against the Galaxy, including a 6-10-3 record in matches played on the road.
• The last time the Fire won at The StubHub Center was a 3-2 victory over the Galaxy on Aug. 1, 2010. Five members of the Fire have ties with the Galaxy. Fire head coach Frank Yallop served as Galaxy head coach in 2006-07. In 2006, Yallop appointed current Fire Head of Scouting Trevor James as a Galaxy Assistant Coach.
• Greg Cochrane, who joined the Fire via trade with the Galaxy on March 3, 2014, was selected 38th overall by the Galaxy in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft. In his first season as a professional, Cochrane started nine of his 12 MLS appearances for the Galaxy, and started both CONCACAF Champions League matches in which he appeared. Cochrane also appeared once in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play.
• Chicago’s native son Mike Magee joined the Fire via trade with the Galaxy on May 25, 2013 after five seasons and two MLS Cup championship with the Galaxy. In five seasons with the Galaxy, Magee made 105 regular season appearances, scored 19 goals and added 11 assists.
• Naperville, Ill. product Michael Stephens signed with the Fire on Dec. 9, 2014. After a four-year collegiate career at UCLA, Stephens was selected in the first round (16th overall) by the LA Galaxy in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. In four seasons with the Galaxy, Stephens made 94 appearances, scoring two goals and tallying 12 assists in MLS play. Stephens also scored two goals in 17 CONCACAF Champions League matches and appeared in four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches during his time in Los Angeles.
Click to read more about Michael Stephens and his acclimation to his hometown Chicago Fire.
