The Chicago Fire (8-10-8, 32 pts.) take to the road to face Western Conference-leader Chivas USA (14-6-5, 47 pts.) this Saturday at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., in a contest featuring playoff implications. The Fire still hold onto the eighth and final playoff spot after netting two points out of a possible six last week with 1-1 draws at FC Dallas last Thursday and Sunday against D.C. United at TOYOTA PARK. Chivas USA are on an eight-game unbeaten tear as of late, a streak that included Saturday's 2-1 win over the Kansas City Wizards to take top place in the West and clinch a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Kick-off for Sunday's match is at 7:30 p.m. CT, and will be televised live on Comcast SportsNet and broadcast over the airwaves on Chicagoland radio station WRTO-AM 1200 (Spanish).
Chicago Fire Weekly Agenda
** Sites/times subject to change. Please call 708.496.6726 to confirm training schedule. All times Central.
Monday, Sept. 24 OFF
Tuesday, Sept. 25 Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 26 Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 9:00 a.m.
Thursday, Sept. 27 Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 10:30 a.m., Depart for Los Angeles.
Friday, Sept. 28 Training at The Home Depot Center, 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 29 Chicago Fire @ Chivas USA, 9:30 p.m. - The Home Depot Center
Sunday, Sept. 23 Chicago Fire Reserves @ Chivas USA Reserves, 12:00 p.m. - The Home Depot Center
Fire Playoff Picture
With a 1-1 tie against D.C. United on Sunday, the "Men in Red" held their eighth and final playoff spot with 32 points, just one point ahead of the Columbus Crew. The Fire own the head-to-head tiebreaker with Columbus, taking the season series with a 3-2 win on June 3, at TOYOTA PARK, drawing 0-0 on Aug. 4, in Bridgeview, and winning 1-0 at Crew Stadium on Sept. 8.
Chicago is also two points in front of the Colorado Rapids, who sit on 29 points after falling 1-0 to Real Salt Lake on Saturday. Four weeks remain in the regular season and as the Fire keep their current playoff position through the weekend, the eight teams below would qualify, with Chivas USA lined-up as the Fire's potential playoff opponent. The teams below are listed according to their would-be opponents in two-game, aggregate goals playoff series:
Eastern Conference Semifinals
D.C. United vs. Kansas City Wizards
New England Revolution vs. New York Red Bulls
Western Conference Semifinals
Chivas USA vs. Chicago Fire #
Houston Dynamo vs. FC Dallas
# As the fifth team to qualify from the Eastern Conference, Chicago would shift over to become the fourth seed in the Western Conference playoff bracket.
PLAYOFF TABLE (Includes Sunday's Results)
Team-Point-Games Left-Max. Pts. Possible
*D.C. United-50-4-62
*Chivas USA-47-5-62
*NE Revolution-46-4-58
*Houston Dynamo-45-4-57
FC Dallas-40-4-52
NY Red Bulls-38-4-50
Kansas City Wizards-36-4-48
Chicago Fire-32-4-44
Contenders
Columbus Crew-31-4-43
Colorado Rapids-29-4-41
Real Salt Lake-23-4-35
LA Galaxy-21-6-39
Toronto-21-5-36
* Clinched Playoff Berth
Rolfe's Rocket up for Sierra Mist "Goal of the Week" Award
Fire forward Chris Rolfe scored his fifth goal of the season in spectacular fashion against FC Dallas last Thursday, drilling a long-range strike from over thirty yards out past FCD goalkeeper Dario Sala and into the upper right corner netting in the 56th minute of play. Rolfe's impressive score was Chicago's lone goal in the 1-1 tie with the "Hoops". To vote for Rolfe's 30-yard bomb as the Week 25 winner, go to www.mlsnet.com.
Fire Reserves Tie 2-2 With D.C. United Reserves
Coming off the team's first victory of the 2007 MLS Reserve Division campaign on Sept. 16, the Chicago Fire Reserves (1-5-3, 6 pts.) tied the D.C. United Reserves (4-1-5, 17 pts.) 2-2 Sunday at the TOYOTA PARK practice field. A goal from forward Floyd Franks in the ninth minute gave the "Men in Red" an early lead, which was doubled in the 13th minute by midfielder John Thorrington - his second goal in two reserve games played. D.C. midfielder Guy-Roland Kpene cut the lead in half with a 16th minute penalty kick goal and former Fire forward Jerson Monteiro proved effective for his new club, notching the game-tying goal for D.C. in the 47th minute. The Chicago Fire Reserves play for the third-straight week when they face the Chivas USA Reserves (5-2-2, 17 pts.) at The Home Depot Center this Sunday, Sept. 30, at 12:00 p.m. CT.
Oct. 6 is Chicago Fire Remembrance Night, Presented by Walgreens
Celebrating the tenth anniversary of the founding of Chicago Fire Soccer on Oct. 8, 1997, and in remembrance of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the club will host Chicago Fire Remembrance Night, presented by Walgreens, on Saturday, Oct. 6. The first 10,000 fans to attend will receive an official 2007 Chicago Fire team photo, courtesy of Walgreens, while fire engines from around Chicagoland will be on display. While the action on the field between the Chicago Fire and New England Revolution (7:30 p.m. CT, Comcast SportsNet) will provide the sparks on the pitch, the real fireworks are set to go off at the conclusion of the day's game in a post-game fireworks show. Fans of the "Men in Red" are invited to stay after the night's game for an Oktoberfest-themed post-game party inside Gate C, with seasonal beer, live entertainment, and a large 10th anniversary birthday cake to celebrate the club's founding.
