The Fire, playing in their third match in seven days, were upended by the Portland Timbers Saturday night at TOYOTA PARK. Jack Jewsbury’s converted penalty proved the difference and Yamith Cuesta was sent off in the 63rd minute following a second yellow card. The Fire will return to league play on Wednesday, Aug. 3 against the Philadelphia Union at TOYOTA PARK at 8:00 p.m. CT (My50).
The Fire will return to Soldier Field where the club played from its inception in 1998 to 2001, and again at the new Soldier Field from 2003 – 2005. The Men in Red are 62-23-10 in games played in the Stadium in a Park.
CHICAGO FIRE WEEKLY TRAINING SCHEDULE: July 18 – July 24
Monday, July 18: Training 10 a.m. – TOYOTA PARK practice field
Tuesday, July 19: Training 10:00 a.m. – TOYOTA PARK practice field
MLS Reserve League: Chicago Fire at Sporting Kansas City – Livestrong Sporting Park – 10:00 a.m. –
Wednesday, July 20: Training 10:00 a.m. – TOYOTA PARK practice field
Thursday, July 21: Training 10:00 a.m. – TOYOTA PARK practice field
Friday, July 22: Training 4:00 p.m. – Soldier Field (1410 S. Museum Campus Drive, Chicago, IL 60605)
Saturday, July 23: Chicago Fire vs. Manchester United – Soldier Field – 4:00 p.m. – ESPN2/ESPN DEPORTES
Sunday, July 24: OFF
CHICAGO FIRE vs. Manchester United
The Fire are 6-8-3 all-time in international friendlies since 1998. The Fire have played 17 friendlies against teams from Mexico, England, Italy, Germany, France, Scotland and Poland.
The Fire are 2-0-0 all-time in friendly matches against English Premier League opposition. The club defeated Derby County 1-0 on July 20, 1999 at Soldier Field and downed Everton FC 2-0 on July 30, 2008 at TOYOTA PARK.
The match marks the club’s return to Soldier Field for the first time since a 0-0 draw in the MLS Cup playoffs against D.C. United on October 21, 2005.
Manchester United is coming off of their English record 19th league title during the 2010-11 Barclays Premier League season.
The match marks the third game of Manchester United’s North American tour. The Red Devils defeated the New England Revolution 4-1 at Gillette Stadium in Foxbrough, MA on July 13 and will visit the Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, WA on Wednesday, July 20 before coming to Chicago.
ROONEY, FERDINAND AND NANI HIGHLIGHT MANCHESTER UNITED’S ROSTER FOR GAMES IN THE U.S.
English Premier League champion Manchester United announced its provisional travel roster for their five-game tour of the United States this summer, which includes the 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star Game, their participation in the Herbalife World Football Challenge 2011 – including the Chicago Fire – Manchester United match at Soldier Field on Saturday, July 23 at 4:00 p.m. CT (ESPN2) – and an international match against the Seattle Sounders FC.
MANCHASTER UNITED TOUR ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS: Ben Amos (ENG), David de Gea (ESP)*, Sam Johnston (ENG), Andres Lindegaard (DEN)
DEFENDERS: Fabio Da Silva (BRA), Rafael Da Silva (BRA), Jonny Evans (NIR), Patrice Evra (FRA), Rio Ferdinand (ENG), Phil Jones (ENG)*, Chris Smalling (ENG)*, Nemanja Vidic (SRB)
MIDFIELDERS: Anderson (BRA), Michael Carrick (ENG), Tom Cleverley (ENG)*, Ryan Giggs (WAL), Nani (POR), Gabriel Obertan (FRA), Ji-Sung Park (KOR)
FORWARDS: Dimitar Berbatov (BUL), Mame Biram Diouf (SEN), Javier Hernandez (MEX)*, Federico Macheda (ITA), Michael Owen (ENG), Wayne Rooney (ENG), Danny Welbeck (ENG)*, Ashley Young (ENG)
MANAGER: Sir Alex Ferguson
* Indicates player will join tour in progress.
Source: Chicago Fire Communications