The Chicago Fire (5-8-4, 19 pts.) look to improve their Eastern Conference standing this Saturday night (7:30 p.m. CT, HDNet) against the Columbus Crew (6-5-7, 25 pts.) at TOYOTA PARK. The Fire are riding a wave of confidence coming off a 3-0 victory at Toronto FC last Sunday and a 1-1 draw at home with Celtic FC in an international friendly on July 22. Columbus comes to Bridgeview confident as well, as the Crew have lost just once in their last seven regular season games. This Saturday's Fire-Crew contest will be televised live from TOYOTA PARK via HDNet and over the airwaves on Chicagoland radio station WRTO-AM 1200 (Spanish).
Chicago Fire/AthletiCo "Recovery Room" :: August 3
Banner, Mike - R groin strain - OUT
Curtin, Jim - R Shoulder labral tear - OUT FOR SEASON
Mapp, Justin - L groin strain - DOUBTFUL
Rolfe, Chris - L ankle sprain - PROBABLE
Russolillo, Jordan - R hip labrum tear - OUT FOR SEASON
Telesford, Osei - L groin strain - OUT
Fire History vs. Crew
The "Men in Red" have found success against Columbus over its first nine seasons, compiling a 16-10-7 mark in regular season play against the Crew. The Fire have a leg up in games played at home as well, leading "America's Hardest Working Team" with a 9-5-3 mark in games contested in Chicagoland, including a 3-2 win over the Crew on June 3 at TOYOTA PARK. The Fire split the 2006 season series 1-1-2, with unlikely scorer C.J. Brown's first goal in 201 regular season games proving to be the game-winner in a 2-1 win at Columbus (9/9). The Fire and Crew dueled to a pair of draws earlier in the 2006 season, a 1-1 stalemate in Ohio's capital city (4/15) and a 0-0 tie in Columbus' TOYOTA PARK debut (7/29). The lone Fire loss came in a heavy 4-1 defeat (10/07) at TOYOTA PARK in the 2006 regular season finale.
Saturday Night is Polish Night at TOYOTA PARK
Chicago Fire Soccer will once again host Polish Night on Saturday and as part of the celebration, the club will also host a pre-game Polish festival featuring food, music, and live entertainment. The Fire will also induct former Fire head coach Bob Bradley into the club's Hall of Fame, the "Ring of Fire," during a halftime ceremony. Former Fire captain and current U.S. assistant coach Peter Nowak will be a part of the "Ring of Fire" presentation and a post-game autograph session.
The Fire's Polish Night will showcase Poland's rich musical and soccer heritage, as the Fire's opponent features Polish-American midfielder Danny Szetela and former Poland international midfielder Robert Warzycha, now an assistant coach of the Crew. A special pre-game FireFest beginning at 6:00 p.m. CT will feature a concert with Polish hip-hop artist "Funky Polak," as well as performances by the Polish Highlander Children Dancers & Singers.
Blanco to Make MLS Home Debut
The wait to see the Fire's biggest signing in club history, Cuauhtémoc Blanco, in MLS action is now over. This Saturday will mark the first-ever league home game for the Mexican National Team star forward in Chicago Fire red and white. The native of Mexico City, Mexico has already tallied a goal and an assist in just two games played (140 minutes) with the "Men in Red".
Wanchope Ready to Play Saturday
Chicago Fire Soccer announced Friday that forward Paulo Wanchope has been awarded his work visa and as a result will be available for head coach Juan Carlos Osorio for the game Saturday against the Columbus Crew. Wanchope is one of four Senior Internationals on the squad and will be placed on the 18-man Senior Roster, filling the slot vacated by defender Jim Curtin, as he has been placed on the season-ending injury list alongside Fire defender Jordan Russolillo.
Quick Kicks vs. Columbus Crew
• The Fire lead the regular season series with Columbus in shots (464), shots on goal (193), and fouls (550). Both sides are tied with 53 goals a piece in the series.
• The "Men in Red" lead the overall regular season series over Columbus with a sturdy 16-10-7 mark.
• Chicago defender Gonzalo Segares is the only member of the "Men in Red" to have played in every regular season game for the Fire through the 2007 campaign.
• Fire forward Paulo Wanchope celebrated his 31st birthday on Tuesday, July 31.
• The Crew are struggling on the road this season with a 1-4-3 mark, their sole away win at the Los Angeles Galaxy (6/23).
• Former Fire forward Andy Herron tallied two goals in 38 minutes for the Crew in a 2-2 draw with Toronto FC on May 26, and has not scored since.
• The Fire's active leaders against Columbus are: Games Played & Started - C.J. Brown (29), Goals - Chris Rolfe (5), Assists - Chris Armas (6), Fouls Committed - Chris Armas (43), Fouls Suffered - C.J. Brown (28), Minutes Played - C.J. Brown (2,600), Shots - Justin Mapp (22), Shots On Goal - Chris Rolfe (14).
• With Blanco making his Fire regular season debut on Sunday, he became the 27th player to appear in a regular season game for the "Men in Red" this year. The club record for most players used during a regular season is 28 in 2002.
• Caution Watch - Chad Barrett (3c), C.J. Brown (5c), Calen Carr (4c), Jeff Curtin (2c, 1e), Jim Curtin (2c), Diego Gutierrez (4c, 1e), Logan Pause (1c), Dasan Robinson (2c), Gonzalo Segares (3c), Bakary Soumare (1c, 1e), Thiago (3c).
