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Chicago Fire Welcome Portland Timbers To The Windy City

Patrick Nyarko

FIRE HOST PORTLAND TIMBERS AT TOYOTA PARK
The Chicago Fire (3-7-2, 11 points) welcome the Portland Timbers (5-1-7, 22 points) to Toyota Park on Saturday, June 8 at 7:30 p.m. CT (My50/La Ley 107.9). The Men in Red will be searching for their first victory against the Timbers, as the side from the Rose City has emerged victorious in three previous matches.
Saturday’s match marks the only regular season meeting between the two squads this season. Jalil Anibaba scored his first goal of the season but the Fire fell 2-1 at JELD-WEN Field in Portland, Ore. on May 20, 2012.
Currently in third place in the Western Conference, the Timbers enter the match after a bye in MLS action. They most recently defeated USL-PRO side Wilmington Hammerheads 5-1 in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play on May 29.
The Timbers match marks the second of four consecutive home games for the Men in Red to start the month of June. Following the June 8 match, the Fire welcome the Columbus Crew in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup action on June 12 at 7:30 p.m. CT, and returning to MLS action when the Colorado Rapids visit Toyota Park on Wednesday, June 19 at 7:30 p.m. CT (My50/La Ley 107.9).
CHICAGO FIRE TRAINING SCHEDULE: June 4 – June 10
Tuesday, June 4            Training 10:00 a.m.^
Wednesday, June 5       Training 10:00 a.m.^ - Toyota Park Stadium Field
Thursday, June 6           Training 10:00 a.m.
^
Friday, June 7               Training 10:00 a.m.^
Saturday, June 8           Chicago Fire vs. Portland Timbers – Toyota Park – 7:30 p.m. CT (My50/La Ley 107.9)
Sunday, June 9             Off
Monday, June 10           Training 10:00 a.m.
^
*Training will take place on the Toyota Park Practice Field unless otherwise noted
^Times are approximate and subject to change. Fire players and coaches will be made available following training. Please contact the Chicago Fire Communications Department for updated times and locations. Please contact Eunice Kim for media requests.
CHICAGO FIRE vs. Portland Timbers
-The Fire hold a 0-3-0 all-time regular season record against the Portland Timbers. The Fire have previously hosted the Timbers once at Toyota Park, falling in a 1-0 loss July 16, 2011.
-The Men in Red are 3-3-0 at Toyota Park this season.
-The Fire’s 2-0 victory over D.C. United Sunday afternoon marked the Fire’s first regular season victory over D.C. United at Toyota Park since Sept. 17, 2006.
-     Magee’s 85th minute goal marked his first league goal in a Fire shirt and his second in two matches for the Fire. Magee scored the first goal of a 2-0 victory over the Charlotte Eagles on May 29 in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
-The victory over D.C. United marked the Fire’s third shutout of the season, and Fire ‘keeper Sean Johnson’s 18th career regular season shutout.
-Klopas holds a 21-12-13 all-time regular season record in matches played in the months of June through October. Klopas’ squads have tallied an overall record of 7-11-5 in the first three matches of the season.
CHICAGO FIRE MIDFIELDER JOEL LINDPERE NAMED TO ESTONIAN NATIONAL TEAM SQUAD FOR INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES
Chicago Fire midfielder Joel Lindpere has been selected by Estonian Men’s National Team manager Tarmo Rüütli to represent Estonia in their upcoming international friendlies against Trinidad and Tobago June 7 and Kyrgyzstan June 11 at A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn, Estonia.
Lindpere departed for Estonia on Sunday, June 2 and will return following the Kyrgyzstan match. He will miss the Fire’s match against the Portland Timbers at Toyota Park on June 8 at 7:30 p.m. CT (My50/La Ley 107.9) and the fourth round Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match against the Columbus Crew at Toyota Park on June 12 at 7:30 p.m. CT.
A product of Tallinn, Estonia, Lindpere made his international debut on Nov. 1, 1999 in a friendly against the United Arab Emirates. He scored his first international goal on Feb. 18, 2004 in a 1-0 win over Moldova, and has since scored six goals in 88 total appearances for his country. Lindpere most recently scored in Estonia’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Andorra on March 26.
TICKETS FOR THE CHICAGO FIRE VS. COLUMBUS CREW LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP FOURTH ROUND MATCH NOW ON SALE
Tickets for the Chicago Fire vs. Columbus Crew Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round match at Toyota Park on Wednesday, June 12 at 7:30 p.m. CT are now on sale.
Advance tickets for the match are available by calling 888-MLS-Fire, by visiting www.Chicago-Fire.com or Ticketmaster. The Open Cup match will serve as Bonus Game 2 in the Fire Season Ticket and Ten Game packages.
The Fire advance to the fourth round of the storied tournament with a 2-0 victory over the Charlotte Eagles (USL-PRO) May 29 at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C. Goals from Mike Magee and Chris Rolfe led the Men in Red to their first victory of the 100-year old tournament.
The Crew advanced with a 2-1 victory against USL-PRO side Dayton Dutch Lions on May 29 at Crew Stadium.
TICKETS FOR THE CHICAGO FIRE VS. CLUB AMERICA MATCH PRESENTED BY TRUECAR NOW ON SALE
Tickets for the Chicago Fire vs. Club América match Presented by TrueCar at Toyota Park on Wednesday, July 10 are now on sale.   
Advance tickets for the match 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 Season Ticket and Ten Game packages. The first 5,000 fans in the gates will receive a TrueCar car magnet.
Las Águilas have captured eleven titles in Mexico’s Primera División and have also experience success in the CONCACAF region as well, tied with Cruz Azul as the most successful club in the region with five titles to their credit. América were also crowned champions of the 2008 InterLiga tournament, a competition between Mexican clubs to determine qualifying spots for the Copa Libertadores.
Recently crowned the Liga MX Clasura champions, América’s roster currently boasts Mexican international defender Efraín Juárez and Ecuadorian striker Christian Benitez. Juárez, a 25-year-old right back has been capped 39 times for El Tri, and started three matches in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. América also feature currently Liga MX goal scoring leader, Ecuadorian striker Christian Benitez.  
WEEKLY RADIO SHOW JUEGA CON FIRE ON LA LEY 107.9 FM
La Ley 107.9 FM will broadcast the weekly show, “Juega Con Fire” this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. CT. Hosted by veteran Spanish language play-by-play broadcaster Oscar Guzman and long-time Chicago reporter and FutbolMLS.com correspondent Raquel Ortiz, the new weekly show will focus on the beautiful game in Chicago, MLS and abroad.
Fans can tune-in for a chance to win tickets and other prizes while listening to all things soccer.
TICKETS TO SELECT CHICAGO FIRE MATCHES AVAILABLE ON GROUPON
Tickets for the July 3 Chicago Fire vs. San Jose Earthquakes match and the Aug. 23 Chicago Fire vs. Sporting Kansas City match are now available through Groupon. Fire fans can choose from the following options:
Chicago Fire vs. San Jose Earthquakes on July 3 at Toyota Park
-$19 ($47.10 value) for one Corner Kick ticket, including a hot dog and soda
-$25 ($59.60 value) for one Premier ticket, including a hot dog and soda
Chicago Fire vs. Sporting Kansas City on Aug. 2 at Toyota Park
-$19 ($47.10 value) for one Corner Kick ticket, including bus transportation to Toyota Park from one of the following pick-up locations: Atlantic Bar and Grill, AJ Hudson's, Cleos, Fado, or Galway Arms
-$25 ($59.60 value) for one Premier ticket, including bus transportation to Toyota Park from one of the following pick-up locations: Atlantic Bar and Grill, AJ Hudson's, Cleos, Fado, or Galway Arms
Additional information on the Groupon deals can be found here.
CHICAGO FIRE TO HOST “FIRE, BREWS AND BITES” BEER TASTING EVENT
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club and the Chicago Fire Foundation will host the second annual "Fire, Brews and Bites" beer tasting event at Roots Pizza (1924 W. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622) on Saturday, June 15 from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. CT.
Hosted by the Chicago Fire Foundation and presented by MillerCoors, the club has partnered with Roots Pizza 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 Redd’s Apple Ale, Third Shift, Henry Weinhard’s IPA, Blue Moon Agave Nectar, Big Eddy Rye Wheat Wine and Proximity.
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 $25 and benefit the Chicago Fire Foundation, can be purchased here or by calling 708-496-6751. Included in the price of a ticket are beer tasting, appetizers and a commemorative gift item.
CHICAGO FIRE SEASON AND INDIVIDUAL TICKETS ON SALE
Individual single game tickets for the club’s 16th MLS season at Toyota Park are now on sale.
One of the most affordable live events in the Chicagoland area, single game ticket prices start as low as $20 and can be purchased via Ticketmaster.
Season Tickets are also available by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE, via Ticketmaster or by heading to the club’s official website at www.Chicago-Fire.com.