BRIDGEVIEW, IL (August 21, 2007) - The Chicago Fire (6-8-5, 23 pts.) will see double this week as they take on the Kansas City Wizards (8-7-5, 29 pts.) this Wednesday night (7:00 p.m. CT, DIRECT KICK, MLSLive.tv) at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. and Saturday night (7:30 p.m. CT, HDNet) in a return leg clash at TOYOTA PARK in Bridgeview. Chicago comes to Kansas City with confidence, as the "Men in Red" offense sparkled in a 2-0 win at Real Salt Lake Saturday that saw MLS career-first tallies from high-profile signings Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Paulo Wanchope. Kansas City looks to bounce back into form after winning just one out of their last four league games and falling 1-0 to the New England Revolution at home this past Sunday. Both Fire - Wizards match-ups will be broadcast live over the airwaves locally on Chicagoland radio station WRTO-AM 1200 (Spanish).
Chicago Fire @ Kansas City Wizards :: Fire Match # 20 MLS Match # 131
Wednesday, August 22 @ 7:00 p.m. CT :: Arrowhead Stadium - Kansas City, Mo.
TV: DIRECT KICK, MLSLive.tv
Satellite: Local Fiber Loop, Directv: 786, DishNet: 458
Audio: WRTO-1200 AM (Oscar Guzman, "Batata" DaSilva, Enrique "Tico" Fernandez)
Game Guide: http://www.sportssystems.com/novell/efx%5Cfax%5CMLS%5C06704X01.pdf
Chicago Fire/AthletiCo "Recovery Room" :: August 21
Curtin, Jim - R Shoulder labral tear - OUT FOR SEASON
Russolillo, Jordan - R hip labrum tear - OUT FOR SEASON
Telesford, Osei - L groin strain - OUT
Fire History vs. Kansas City Wizards
Eastern Conference sides collide Wednesday as the Chicago Fire meet the Kansas City Wizards at Arrowhead Stadium, their second meeting of the 2007 campaign. The "Men in Red" took this season's first meeting 2-1 at TOYOTA PARK on April 21, courtesy of strikes from forward Chad Barrett (36') and Chris Rolfe (73'). Chicago also fared well against the Wizards through 2006, taking regular season series 2-1-1, capped by the Fire's 2006 U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round 2-0 blanking of Kansas City on August 14, 2006 to advance to the Quarterfinals. Competing in 29 previous regular season meetings, the Fire now sit on a comfortable 18-7-4 regular series advantage, with a 20-9-3 overall mark against the Wizards across all competitions (MLS regular season, U.S. Open Cup & MLS Cup Playoffs). Chicago and Kansas City are even with a 6-6-3 record in regular season games contested at Arrowhead.
Fire Sign Defender Wilman Conde
Chicago Fire Soccer announced Monday the signing of Colombian international defender Wilman Conde (pronounced will-mahn côn-DAY) and will be available to play for the "Men in Red" pending work visa approval and the opening of a roster spot. Per Major League Soccer (MLS) and team policy, specific terms of the deal were not disclosed. Conde, 24, has been with Millonarios in the Mustang Cup first division since the 2006 season, where he played under Fire head coach Juan Carlos Osorio. The native of Cali, Colombia has represented his country at the U15, U17, U20, and U23 levels and has also played for Colombian clubs Aucas (2005), Deportivo Cali (2001-04), and Deportes Quindio (2000). Osorio brought Conde to Millonarios after the defender trained with Argentine club Tigre and Colombian side Real Cartegena through the beginning of the 2006 season.
Midfielder Willian Oliveira Waived
The Chicago Fire also announced Monday that the team has placed midfielder Willian Oliveira on waivers, effective immediately. As a result, the Fire have opened a Youth International slot on the team's 28-man full roster. The native of Sao Paulo, Brazil played eight games (four starts) for the "Men in Red" in 2007, his lone MLS career goal proving to be a game-tying one on June 3, helping the Fire defeat Columbus Crew 3-2 at TOYOTA PARK.
Revolving (Re-evolving) Door
What can be attributed to a slew of injuries and a changing of the guard at the helm, the "Men in Red" have seen a record number of new faces don the red and white in 2007. With Blanco making his Fire regular season debut on July 29 at Toronto, he became the 27th player to appear in a regular season game for Chicago this year. The club record for most players used during a regular season is 28 set in 2002, tied by fire forward Paulo Wanchope's 58th minute appearance on Aug. 4. Newly-signed defender Wilman Conde could set the record-breaking player appearance mark if he steps onto the pitch this week.
Quick Kicks vs. Kansas City
• 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.
• Goalkeeper Matt Pickens finished Saturday's 2-0 win with five saves, his seventh shutout of the 2007 season, third-best in MLS.
• Fire midfielder Logan Pause will celebrate his 26th birthday this Wednesday.
• The Fire own a 3-5-1 mark in regular season road games contested in 2007.
• Chicago lead the season series over the Wizards in goals (63), shots (381), shots on goal (171), fouls (434) and corner kicks (140).
• Kansas City midfielder Carlos Marinelli will not be able to play Wednesday as he serves a one-game suspenion for yellow card accumulation. Wizards players Davy Arnaud, Jose Burciaga Jr., and Jack Jewsbury are one caution away from suspension, as all three sit on four yellow card cautions.
• Caution Watch - Chris Armas (1c), Chad Barrett (3c), C.J. Brown (3c), Calen Carr (4c), Jeff Curtin (3c, 1e), Jim Curtin (2c), Diego Gutierrez (5c,1e), Logan Pause (1c), Dasan Robinson (2c), Gonzalo Segares (3c), Bakary Soumare (3c, 1e), Thiago (3c).
