The Chicago Fire return to league play Sunday, welcoming 2011 Eastern Conference champions the Houston Dynamo back to Toyota Park (TICKETS). Be sure to tweet your questions about the match using #FireTV for Dan Kelly and Evan Whitfield to answer during the pre-game shown beginning at 5:30pm CT on CSN Chicago. Kickoff is set for 6:00pm CT on CSN Chicago, Galavision (Channel Listing by Provider) or listen via ESPN Deportes Radio 97.5FM beginning at 6:00pm CT.
Below, five things Jeff Crandall thinks every Fire fan should know going into Sunday's Dynamo clash.
1) NYARKO A CENTURION… I’ve been on this one for a few weeks but coming off his re-signing with the club 10 days ago, Ghanaian attacker Patrick Nyarko will write his name among 13 other players past and present by making his 100th career regular season appearance for the Fire Sunday night vs. Houston. The timely milestone points to what a coup re-signing the five-year Fire veteran was.
Listen to what Patrick had to say on April 5 about what making his 100th appearance at home would mean via the All-In Podcast (April 5).
2) MISSIN’ #5... The news that veteran Fire defender Cory Gibbs would be out four-to-six months following meniscus surgery on Friday came as a pretty big blow. Missing your previous season’s Defender of the Year isn’t happy news for anyone however the Fire have done reasonably well without Cory, going 3-1-6 in matches that Gibbs missed or played less than 45 minutes in last season and unbeaten at home (2-0-3) without the former U.S. international.
Pre-Game Video vs. Houston