CHICAGO, IL (Nov. 9, 2011) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced today the club will participate in the 2012 Carolina Challenge Cup, hosted by the United Soccer Leagues’ Charleston Battery.
Set to be played at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, SC from February 25-March 4 the Fire will rejoin the Battery, fellow MLS side and two-time defending tournament champions D.C. United and one yet-to-be named team from Major League Soccer for the ninth edition of the United States premier preseason tournament.
In the 2011 edition, the Men in Red went 1-1-1 in the round-robin competition, defeating Toronto FC 1-0 before falling 1-0 to D.C. United and playing to a 0-0 draw with the Charleston Battery.
The Fire previously played two close Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup encounters with the third division side, downing the Battery 1-0 in extra time on August 25, 2004 at Cardinal Stadium in Naperville, IL before drawing 0-0 and eventually falling on penalties on June 30, 2010. Charleston finished the 2011 USL PRO season in fourth place in the America Division with a 10-9-5 record.
