Single-game week sees Fire focus on Saturday match-up against Los Angeles Galaxy, Landon Donovan
After getting back in the win column with Sunday's 1-0 victory over D.C. United, the Chicago Fire (11-9-8, 41 pts.) will look to continue its six-game home undefeated streak in MLS play when it welcomes U.S. National Team stalwart Landon Donovan and his Los Angeles Galaxy (9-13-6, 33 pts.) squad to TOYOTA PARK this Saturday, Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Fire-Galaxy contest, sponsored by Budweiser, will be telecast exclusively on HDNet, and fans can also follow the action live on Chicagoland radio station WRTO-AM 1200 (Spanish) and via an audio webcast on the Fire's official website, www.Chicago-Fire.com. Tickets for Saturday's contest are available by calling Ticketmaster at 312-559-1212 or by visiting www.Ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available at the TOYOTA PARK Box Office, located at 7000 S. Harlem Ave., in Bridgeview, open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. CT and on the day of the event. Fans can also purchase groups tickets (10 or more) by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE.
Saturday will mark the second and final contest between the Fire and Galaxy during the 2006 regular season, with nothing being decided in their first meeting after goals in the final 15 minutes by Los Angeles defender Chris Albright and Chicago defender Jim Curtin gave each team a point out of a 1-1 draw all the way back on Apr. 8 at The Home Depot Center. That result pushed the Fire's all-time regular season record against the Galaxy to 10-12-3, which includes a mediocre 6-6-0 mark in home contests for the "Men in Red." While Saturday's contest will finish their regular season slate, the Fire and Galaxy will meet again just four days later in the championship match of the 2006 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at TOYOTA PARK, marking the first time the two Open Cup giants will have met in the tournament final.
Fire to Present Sixth Annual Budweiser Hispanic Heritage Night during Saturday match vs. Galaxy
For the sixth consecutive year, the Chicago Fire will be presenting Budweiser Hispanic Heritage Night, to be held this Saturday, Sept. 23 during the Fire's match against the Los Angeles Galaxy at TOYOTA PARK (7:30 p.m., HDNet). As part of the celebration, the Fire and Budweiser will recognize 50 individuals who have made significant contributions to Chicago's Hispanic community in the areas of education, sports, arts & sciences and social work. In addition, the Chicago Fire and Anheuser Busch will also be awarding an academic scholarship to a college bound individual amongst this year's honorees. Along with Budweiser, the Fire would like to thank Western Union, James Hardie, DeVry University and Federal Life and media partners Univision Radio, Extra Newspaper and Telemundo Chicago for their support of this year's Hispanic Heritage Night.
The Fire's rendering of Budweiser Hispanic Heritage Night promises to again showcase Latin America's rich musical and soccer heritage. The day's events will begin at 6:00 p.m. with the popular Hispanic Festival, featuring musical acts representing various Latin American cultures. The pre-game program will include live performances by Mariachi Monumental, Grupo Duranguense, Tierra Caliente and a Brazilian samba group- all of which will start at 6:00 p.m. on the Budweiser Party Deck. For more information on Budweiser Hispanic Heritage Night, please visit www.Chicago-Fire.com.
Chelsea FC to sponsor group from Centro Romero for Fire's Hispanic Heritage Night this Saturday at TOYOTA PARK
Chelsea Football Club has announced that they will sponsor 200 children from Centro Romero to attend the Chicago Fire's match against the Los Angeles Galaxy this Saturday, Sept. 23 at TOYOTA PARK, during which the Fire will host its annual Budweiser Hispanic Heritage Night. Chelsea, the two-time defending English Premier League champion, recently visited Chicago in August and competed in the 2006 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game at TOYOTA PARK, helping showcase the new home of the Fire to an international audience. The Fire is hosting its sixth edition of Hispanic Heritage Night on Saturday, recognizing more than 50 outstanding leaders in the Chicago Hispanic community.
Centro Romero, a community-based organization, serves the Hispanic refugee immigrant population on the northeast side of Chicago. The children receiving Chelsea-sponsored tickets for the Fire match participate in Centro Romero's Youth and Leadership Development Program - an after-school program for children from low-income Latino families. The children of Centro Romero will each receive a ticket to the Fire-Galaxy match, a Chelsea souvenir t-shirt, and a hot dog at the event.
Lyons Township and Warren to battle for Pepsi Showdown title Saturday at TOYOTA PARK
The championship of the Third Annual Pepsi Showdown boys high school soccer tournament has been set, as #12-seed Lyons Township will hope to cap off its upset-filled run towards the title with a win against third-seeded Warren this Saturday, Sept. 23 at TOYOTA PARK, with kick-off for the final set for 3:00 p.m. CT. Fans wanting to see the Pepsi Showdown championship can purchase a special doubleheader ticket for $25 that will also include a seat to the Fire's regular season contest against Landon Donovan and the Los Angeles Galaxy, which is set for a 7:30 p.m. kick. For more information on the Pepsi Showdown, including the full tournament bracket, visit www.pepsishowdown.us.
Fire places Chad Barrett and Jeff Curtin on Season Ending Injury list, adds Idris Ughiovhe and Adam Ruud to roster
The Chicago Fire has announced that the has club added forward Chad Barrett and defender Jeff Curtin to the team's season ending injury list and filled their roster spots by signing defender Idris Ughiovhe and midfielder Adam Ruud to developmental contracts. The Fire is familiar with Ughiovhe, who the club selected in the fourth round (42nd overall) of the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft in January. Ughiovhe was one of the final cuts from the Fire during the preseason, but has played in eight of the Fire Reserves' nine contests (five starts), logging 588 minutes for the squad. Ruud, a local product out of south suburban Hanover Park, played for both Loyola University and the College of DuPage before joining current Fire teammate Floyd Franks at UNC-Charlotte for his final two collegiate seasons in 2004-05. Ruud, a graduate of Glenbard North H.S., was a rookie of the year candidate this past season in the USL Second Division after scoring five goals for the Charlotte Eagles and made his debut for the Fire Reserves last weekend at Columbus, playing 58 minutes in a 3-2 victory. Both players are expected to join the rest of the "Men in Red" for full training on Tuesday at the team's Lake Forest College practice facility.
Chicago Fire/Performance PT "Recovery Room"
Barrett, Chad - R fractured fifth metatarsal - OUT (Season Ending Injury list)
Capano, Craig - L knee derangement - OUT (Season Ending Injury list)
Curtin, Jeff - R adductor strain - OUT (Season Ending Injury list)
Guerrero, Ivan - L hamstring strain - OUT
Jaqua, Nate - concussion - DOUBTFUL
Montz, Jared - L adductor strain - OUT (Season Ending Injury list)
Thornton, Zach - R quadriceps strain - QUESTIONABLE
Thorrington, John - R hamstring strain - OUT
Herron's heroics put forward up for Sierra Mist MLS Goal of the Week honor
Fire forward Andy Herron's cool finish in the 61st minute of Sunday's 1-0 win over D.C. United is one of four nominees up for the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week award for Week 25. The goal, which was Herron's team-best tying seventh of the season and third of the game-winning variety, started at the midfield stripe, where rookie midfielder Brian Plotkin intercepted a Jaime Moreno back-pass before slotting a perfect through ball towards the D.C. penalty area. Plotkin's pass and Herron's perfectly-timed run put the "tico" in one-on-one against D.C. United 'keeper Troy Perkins, who Herron beat with a low shot from 15 yards out that would prove to be the only scoring in the hotly-contested match. To vote for Herron's game-winner, visit www.MLSnet.com and click on the "Sierra Mist Goal of the Week" link.
Fire and Rose Paving push for donations in final week of "Steamroll Hunger" Food Drive
The Chicago Fire and Rose Paving Company will conclude the 1st Annual Steamroll Hunger Food Drive next Monday, Sept. 25, meaning only one week remains for fans to help the organizations collect non-perishable food items for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The Fire and Rose Paving continue to strive towards their goal of collecting 1,000 pounds of food for the GCFD by the end of the drive. Donations can be dropped off at Rose Paving's Headquarters (7300 W. 100th Place) or at TOYOTA PARK (7000 S. Harlem Ave), where the Fire will also be collecting donations at entrance gates this Saturday for the team's showdown with the Los Angeles Galaxy at 7:30 p.m. CT.
Fire to host 2006 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final against defending champion Los Angeles Galaxy on Sept. 27
The Chicago Fire will host the 2006 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final at Bridgeview's TOYOTA PARK next Wednesday, Sept. 27, when the Fire will shoot for its fourth Open Cup title against the defending champion Los Angeles Galaxy. Kick-off for the championship of the nation's oldest soccer tournament is set for 7:00 p.m. CT for a match that will be broadcast nationwide live on Fox Soccer Channel. Tickets for the contest can be purchased on a first-come, first-served basis for $25 (excluding Club Seating) by calling Ticketmaster at 312-559-1212 or by visiting www.Ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available at the TOYOTA PARK Box Office, located at 7000 S. Harlem Ave., in Bridgeview, open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. CT and on the day of the event. Groups of 10 or more can purchase groups tickets for $20 each by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE. The 2006 U.S. Open Cup Final brings together MLS's two most successful sides in the 93-year-old domestic tournament, with the Fire's 23-5-2 (.800) record and three championships (1998, 2000 & 2003) matched closely by the Galaxy, who will come into Bridgeview as the only other MLS team to win multiple Dewar Trophies (2001 & 2005) and with an equally as impressive 21-5-0 Open Cup record (.808).
FireWorks for Kids and Muscular Dystrophy Association to host "Cruise with the Fire" outing on Sunday, Oct. 8
The FireWorks for Kids Foundation (FWFK), the Chicago Fire's charitable arm, in conjunction with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) will host the fourth annual "Cruise with the Fire" outing on Sunday, Oct. 8 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The family-friendly event will depart from beautiful and historic Navy Pier and board the eloquent Mystic Blue, a sleek, silvery-blue 600-passenger vessel built specifically for cruising the Chicago skyline. Tickets for the event are $75 for adults and $55 for children 12 and under. The event includes a full buffet brunch, two drink tickets, live DJ, silent auction, raffles, and an autograph and photo session with Chicago Fire players (to be determined). Families and Fire fans of all ages are welcome to attend, as the cruise will be an excellent way for all to spend an afternoon. To purchase tickets or find out more about the event or to make a tax-deductible donation, please contact the FireWorks for Kids Foundation at 708-496-6740 or visit www.Chicago-Fire.com.
Etc.
