Chicago Fire Soccer has scheduled its third international friendly of the 2007 campaign, as the Chicago Fire are set to play Club Santos Laguna of the Mexican Primera División on Wednesday, July 25, at Los Coyotes Stadium, in La Joya, Texas. Kick-off for the exhibition match is set for 7:00 p.m. CT, for the Fire's first-ever match in club history against the "Guerreros," or Warriors, of Santos.
"I think it will be a very special occasion," said Fire head coach Juan Carlos Osorio. "It is a friendly international to give us a chance to play against a top team at the club level. Hopefully also a chance for us to try new players in new positions in a system that will help down the road."
Club Santos Laguna debuted in Mexico's top division in the 1988, and have won the league championship twice since that time. Santos first took the top prize in the 1996 Invierno tournament and then again in the 2001 Clausura campaign. The Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico side was also runner-up in the 1993/94 season and the 2000 Clausura tournament. The club features its captain, Mexican National Team goalkeeper Oswaldo Sánchez, who recently participated for "El Tri" in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup and Copa America competitions.
