The Chicago Fire will kickoff 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play , Tuesday, June 30, with a third round game against the Wilmington Hammerheads at Legion Stadium in Wilmington, North Carolina. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. CT and while the game will not be broadcast, Fire fans can follow the action on the official Chicago Fire blog, EN FUEGO. The Fire will also be providing fans with updates on Twitter.
The Wilmington Hammerheads advanced to the third round of play with a win over the Carolina Railhawks on Tuesday. The two teams played to a 3-3 tie before the Hammerheads advanced on penalty kicks, 4-3.
If the Fire defeat the Wilmington Hammerheads, the team will play the winner of the Rochester Rhinos (USL1) versus the Columbus Crew (MLS) match, also to be played on June 30. If Rochester advances, the Fire would play their quarterfinal match at Rochester Rhinos Stadium in Rochester, New York (6 p.m. CT), however if the Crew advance, the Fire will host the quarterfinal match at Bradley University’s Shea Stadium in Peoria, Illinois (7:30 p.m. CT).
The Fire enters 2009 as the undisputed kings of the modern era of the tournament, having hoisted the coveted Dewar Trophy four times – 1998, 2000, 2003 & 2006 – in just 11 years of play.
MLS LEAGUE PLAY CONTINUES THIS SATURDAY AS FIRE TRAVEL TO COLORADO
After a two week hiatus from league play, the Fire return to MLS action this Saturday, July 4th against the Colorado Rapids on the road at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado. Kickoff for the match is set of 8 p.m. CT and the match is available through the MLS Direct Kick broadcast package.
Chicago has been on fire on the road this season in league play, posting a 4-1-3 record in eight games played. The Fire’s composure on the road will be tested this weekend as the team travels to historically their most challenging market in MLS. The Fire will look to pick up three road points this weekend in Colorado, a feat the team has only accomplished two times since the team’s inception in 1998. The Fire has not recorded a win in the Mile High city since 1999 for an all-time road record of 2-8-4 against the Rapids.
After posting the longest undefeated streak to start a season in team history (11 games), the team hit a dry spell in June – recording three consecutive losses on May 31 versus FC Dallas, June 5 versus Houston, and June 13 at D.C. United. The losses were the first for the Fire in 2009 who have an overall record of 5-3-6 in 2009 league play.
Before their three game slide, the Fire had an impressive goal differential of +7, outscoring their opponents 20 to 13. Through the last three league matches the Fire’s goal differential fell to a +2 after conceding 6 goals in three matches and scoring just one (against D.C. United on June 13).
The last time the Fire posted three consecutive losses was in 2008: 6/7/08 versus D.C., 6/15/08 at Dallas, and 6/19/2008 at Chivas USA. The team has not posted four consecutive losses since 2007 (5/6 at New England, 5/12 at Toronto, 5/17 vs. Dallas, and 5/24 at New York). The Fire ended both losing streaks with ties.
The only season in which the Fire fell in five consecutive league matches was 1998 when the team won both the 1998 MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup championships. The team dropped five consecutive matches twice that season, 4/8 – 5/2/98 and 7/9 to 8/8/98.
The only teams in MLS that have dropped four consecutive contests this season are New York (5 consecutive) and San Jose (5 consecutive).
CHICAGO FIRE WEEKLY AGENDA
**Sites/times subject to change. Please call 708.496.6725 or 6726 to confirm training schedule. All times Central.
Tuesday, June 30 CHICAGO FIRE @ WILMINGTON HAMMARHEADS, LEGION STADIUM, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 1 OFF
Thursday, July 2 Fire Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 9:00 a.m.
Friday, July 3 Fire Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, July 4 CHICAGO FIRE @ COLORADO RAPIDS, DICKS SPORTING GOODS PARK, 8 p.m.
Sunday, July 5 OFF
FIRE ADVANCE TO SEMIFINALS OF 2009 SUPERLIGA TOURNAMENT
Despite a 2-1 loss to Tigres UANL last Saturday, the Fire advanced to the semifinals of the 2009 SuperLiga tournament with a record of 2-0-1 in Group A play and a goal differential of +1. With the win, Tigres UANL took the top spot in Group A and advanced to the semifinals of the tournament as well. As the second place finisher in Group A, the Fire will take on defending SuperLiga champion and 2009 Group B top seed, the New England Revolution on July 15 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. The match will be a part of the SuperLiga Semifinal doubleheader played at Gillette Stadium that night. Given the tournament’s semifinal matchups, the grand finale of the tournament will feature a Major League Soccer team hosting a Mexican League club. More information about semifinal kickoff times will be announced soon.
THREE CHICAGO FIRE PLAYERS RECEIVE GOLD CUP CALL
Fire players Jon Busch (USA), Logan Pause (USA), and Gonzalo Segares (Costa Rica) have been called up by their respective national teams for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup to be held July 3-26. Busch is one of three goalkeepers named to the USA’s Gold Cup roster and since the USA will travel only two goalkeepers, he will remain with the Fire unless needed due to suspension or injury. Pause and Segares have already joined their national teams. The USA will begin the 2009 Gold Cup tournament on July 4 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington against Grenada. Kickoff is set of 8 p.m. CT and the match will be televised live on both Fox Soccer Channel and TeleFutura. Segares and Costa Rica will first face El Salvador at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California out July 3 at 9 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on TeleFutura.
BAKARY IS BACK – BUT ON CAUTION WATCH
While the Fire will be without the defensive services of Gonzalo Segares and Logan Pause, Fire defender Bakary Soumare has returned from his national team duty with Mali. Soumare joined Mali for World Cup Qualifiers on June 7 against Ghana (2-0 loss) and June 21 against Benin (3-1 win). Soumare played 90 minutes in both matches. Soumare is also coming off a one game suspension served during the Fire’s June 13 match at D.C. United. Soumare was ejected from the Fire’s June 5 match versus the Houston Dynamo after he picked up two yellow cards in the game. Soumare is currently on caution watch as the player has accumulated four cautions and will serve a one game suspension if he picks up just one more. Fire midfielder John Thorrington is also on caution watch, carrying four cautions as well.
BUSCH UP FOR AN ESPY AWARD– VOTE NOW AT ESPYS.TV
Goalkeeper Jon Busch has been nominated for a 2009 ESPY award in the category of Best MLS Player for his outstanding play throughout the past year. Fans determine the winner of each of the 37 categories, including Best MLS Player, and can cast their vote online at www.ESPYS.tv or via mobile phone at www.espn.mobi starting today, June 25th through July 11th. The ESPY awards are designed to recognize excellence in sports performance and achievements and are presented by ESPN each year. The awards are given for individual and team athletic achievements during the year preceding the award ceremony. This year, the nominees in the Best MLS Player category include Jon Busch of the Chicago Fire, Juan Pablo Angel of the New York Red Bulls, Kenny Cooper of FC Dallas, Landon Donovan of LA Galaxy, and Guillermo Barros Schletto of the Columbus Crew. Chicago Fire midfielder Cuauhtémoc Blanco was nominated in the Best MLS Player category last year.
FIRE WAIVE GOALKEEPER NICK NOBLE
The Chicago Fire today announced that the team has waived goalkeeper Nick Noble. The Fire drafted Noble from West Virginia University in the first round (7th overall) of the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft. While he did not appear for the Fire in MLS league play through his two and a half seasons with Chicago, Noble appeared in the third round Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup win over the Cleveland City Stars last season, as well as international exhibitions against Club America, Veracruz of the Mexican Primera A, Everton FC of the English Premier League, and Wisla Krakow of the Polish First Divsiion. Noble played in 17 Reserve Division matches in his first two seasons with the club.
MLS ALL-STAR VOTING – GET YOUR VOTES IN NOW FOR FAVORITE CHICAGO FIRE NOMINEES
Major League Soccer fans have just one week left to vote for their favorite players to serve on the 2009 MLS All-Star Team. Fans, along with coaches, general managers, players, and media, will decide which players will be selected for the 2009 MLS All-Star team that will face Everton FC at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy Utah on July 29th. Fire fans have the chance to win a Fire jersey autographed by Chicago Fire All-Stars by voting online over the next week through July 6th. All fans who vote should send a screen shot or copy of confirmation text of their vote to [email protected] for the chance to win the autographed Fire jersey. The 14th annual MLS midsummer showcase will bring together the best in MLS for a marquee matchup against famed English Premier League club Everton FC. The game will be televised in the United States on ESPN2 and Telefutura at 8:30 p.m. CT.
Chicago Fire fans are encouraged to cast their online ballots and vote for their favorite Fire players up to 10 times a day by visiting the official web site of MLS, www.MLSnet.com, and selecting 11 players they would like to see in the 2009 MLS All-Star Game.
WILMAN CONDE IS UNIVISION CHICAGO’S FEATURED PLAYER OF THE MONTH
The Fire and Univision Chicago are partnering to feature a different Chicago Fire player or coach each month as the Univision Chicago Player of the Month. Defender Wilman Conde is the Fire Player of the Month for June and will not only be featured each Monday during the Univision 10 o’clock newscast during the “Chicago Fire: Conexión Máxima” segment, Thorrington will contribute to Univision Radio’s Nuevo Dia program on Monday mornings and connect with fans directly through a Live Chat and blog entries on Univsion.com. Head Coach Denis Hamlett was featured during the month of April, midfielder Marco Pappa was featured in May, and midfielder John Thorrington was featured in June.
4-v-4 FUTBOLITO TOURNAMENT COMES TO CHICAGO ON AUGUST 22
MLS Futbolito, the largest touring Hispanic event hosted by a U.S. professional sports league, comes to Chicago on August 22 at Riis Park, 6100 W. Fullerton Ave. The all-day 4-v-4 tournament is open to players of all ages, abilities and affiliations. Team rosters can consist of up to seven players (four field players and three substitutes) and each team will play in round-robin action, with the possibility of advancing to the single-elimination championship playoff. Teams registered for the competition will be divided according to age groups and competitive levels with winners in each division receiving prizes. In addition to the games, each registered player will receive a ticket to an MLS match (in applicable markets), a Futbolito t-shirt, and the chance to win prizes from the presenting sponsors as well as associate sponsors. For more information or to register a team, visit the official website: www.MLSFutbolito.com or call 888-MLS-FUTBOLITO.
PHISH SUMMER TOUR STOPS AT TOYOTA PARK
On their first summer tour in five years, Phish has announced a concert date at TOYOTA PARK on Tuesday, August 11th. Tickets are on sale now. Reserved and general admission tickets are priced at just $49.50 and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets including the TOYOTA PARK ticket offices, Ticketmaster.com and by calling (800) 745-3000.
BUFFETT RETURNS TO TOYOTA PARK
After the success of last summer’s two TOYOTA PARK concerts, Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band will return to the stadium again this summer for two more unforgettable concert experiences as part of the “Summerzcool” Tour 2009. The concert dates are set for Saturday, Aug. 8 and Saturday, Aug. 15. The seating setup at the stadium will be similar to last year’s concerts, as all seats will be reserved both on the field and in the stadium bowl. Tickets are on sale now through all Ticketmaster outlets including the TOYOTA PARK box office, Tickemaster.com, and by calling (800) 745-3000. For more information visit www.toyotapark.com.
BLANCO’S ‘DIRECTO AL BLANCO’ RADIO PROGRAM TUESDAY
“Directo al Blanco” a full-hour live radio program hosted by Fire midfielder Cuauhtémoc Blanco will air this and every Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. CT. Listeners are encouraged to call and talk to Blanco about the latest soccer-related news regarding the Chicago Fire, Major League Soccer, and the Mexican Primera Division. The show airs nationally on RadioCadena stations in Chicago (WRTO-AM), Las Vegas (KLSQ-AM), Los Angeles (KTNQ-AM), San Francisco (KLOK-AM), El Paso (KAMA-AM), San Antonio(KCOR-AM), Dallas (KFLC-AM), McAllen (KGBT-AM), Houston (KLAT-AM), New York (WADO-AM), and Miami (WQBA-AM).