Fire Hopes to Continue Magic Saturday at Eastern Conference Leading Kansas City Wizards
After notching its first win of the 2006 MLS season yesterday at New England, the Chicago Fire (1-1-2, 5 pts.) will look to extend its unbeaten streak to four games this Saturday, May 6 when it travels to Kansas City, MO to face the Eastern Conference leading Kansas City Wizards (4-1-0, 12 pts.) at Arrowhead Stadium at 7:30 pm. CT (live on HDNet). Saturday's match will mark the third of four straight against Eastern Conference opposition for the "Men in Red" in addition to the halfway point of the Fire's season-starting nine-game road trip. Coincidentally, the Fire bookended last year's 56-day road trip with a pair of tilts at Arrowhead, first falling 3-0 on Aug. 19 before bouncing back for a 1-0 victory on Oct. 1, a result which proved pivotal to the Fire's return to the postseason. Despite losing the 2005 series to Kansas City by a 1-2-1 margin, the Fire still holds a commanding 15-6-3 record in the all-time regular season series, including a 6-5-2 mark in games contested in the "Show Me State."
Fire Rewind: A Close Shave as Fire Defeats New England 2-1 at Gillette Stadium for First Win of 2006
The same old script for the Fire in Foxborough appeared to be repeating itself Sunday against the New England Revolution, but goals from midfielder Thiago and forward Chris Rolfe midway through the second half reversed Chicago's fortunes and resulted in a 2-1 victory in front of 11,762 fans at Gillette Stadium. The victory, the first for Chicago in four tries in 2006, pushed the club's undefeated streak to three games while also snapping a nine-game overall losing streak at Gillette Stadium that dated back to the 2002 MLS Cup Playoffs. Despite controlling play for much of the contest, the Fire found itself down a goal in the 54th minute when Revs forward Taylor Twellman struck for his first tally of the season on a close-range header to put New England up in its home opener. But the Fire stayed patient, using Thiago's Sierra Mist Goal of the Week candidate to even up the match ten minutes later and Rolfe's third tally of the season in the 68th minute to go ahead for good.
Individual Game Tickets for Inaugural Season at Bridgeview Stadium Now on Sale; Club Seats Nearly Sold Out
The Fire has announced that individual game tickets for the Fire's highly anticipated Inaugural Season at Bridgeview Stadium are now on sale. The "Men in Red" will kick off their 16-game MLS home campaign on Sunday, June 11 with a public safety match which is open only to Chicago Fire season ticket holders and Bridgeview residents, while tickets to the Fire's remaining 15 home matches at Chicagoland's newest live entertainment venue can be purchased through TicketMaster outlets by calling 312-559-1212 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the Chicago Fire Offices, located at 980 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1998 (corner of Oak/Michigan), in Chicago. To order season tickets or for group discounts, please call 1-888-MLS-FIRE.
The Fire has also announced that only 100 Club Level Seats remain in Section 127, as Sections 128 and 129 were sold out earlier this year. For more information on Club Seat availability for the Fire's 2006 campaign at Bridgeview Stadium, please contact Steve DiLenardi of the Fire's Premium Seating Department at 312-705-7231 or via email at SdiLenardi@Chicago-Fire.com.
Defender Jack Stewart Earns Invite to Canada Camp in Florida
The Canadian Soccer Association has announced that Fire defender Jack Stewart is one of 16 players invited by Canada Men's National Team Head Coach Frank Yallop to participate in an eight-day mini-camp in Sunrise, FL from May 1-8. Stewart is making his first appearance with any Canadian National Team during the camp, which will feature several players eligible for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Stewart, who was born and raised in Torrance, CA, is eligible for Canadian citizenship since all four of his grandparents hail from America's neighbor to the north.
Thiago's "Flick and Fire" Tally Up for Sierra Mist Goal of the Week Honors
As if scoring his first goal of the season wasn't enough, Thiago might be able to extend his goal celebration as his "flick and fire" strike in the 64th minute of yesterday's 2-1 win at New England is one of the five nominees for the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week award for Week 5. Thiago brought some Brazilian flair to the Gillette Stadium field, first flicking Logan Pause's pass just inside the top of the penalty area past Revolution defender Michael Parkhurst before using his next touch to rocket a right-footed half-volley from 10 yards high into the left-side netting to equalize the match. Fans can vote for Thiago's strike by clicking on the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week link at www.mlsnet.com.
Pair of Season Tickets Up for Grabs This Thursday Night at The Globe Pub
The Globe Pub, in association with Young's Saint Georges Ale and Chicago Fire Soccer, will be giving away two season tickets for the Fire's inaugural season in Bridgeview this Thursday, May 4 at 9:00 p.m. CT at The Globe Pub, located at 1934 W. Irving Park in Chicago. Fire D/M Logan Pause will be on hand to sign autographs and pull the winning ticket for the raffle, which will also include other Fire prizes. Fans must be present at the draw to be eligible. For more information on Thursday's event, and other goings on at The Globe Pub, the "Official Bar of the Fire," please visit www.theglobepub.com/events.shtml.
Chicago Fire Weekly Agenda
** Sites/times subject to change. LFC=Lake Forest College. All times Central.
Tuesday, May 2: Training at LFC, 10:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CT
Wednesday, May 3: Training at LFC, 10:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CT
Thursday, May 4: Training at LFC, 10:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CT
Friday, May 5: Training at LFC, 10:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CT; Travel to Kansas City, MO
Saturday, May 6: Fire @ Kansas City Wizards - Arrowhead Stadium - 7:30 p.m. CT (Live on HDNet)
Sunday, May 7: Return to Chicago; Off Day
Chicago Fire/Performance PT "Recovery Room"
Segares, Gonzalo - L ankle sprain - OUT
Kick-Off for Fire's May 27 Visit to Chivas USA Pushed Back One Hour
The Chicago Fire, Chivas USA and MLS have announced that the kick-off time for the Fire's tilt against Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center on Saturday, May 27 has been changed to 10:00 p.m. CT. The contest, originally scheduled for a 9:00 p.m. CT kick, will still be televised regionally on Comcast SportsNet Chicago. For the Fire's full 2006 MLS schedule, please visit www.Chicago-Fire.com.
Tryouts for Chicago Fire Premier Set for This Saturday at Moraine Valley CC in Palos Hills
The Chicago Fire Premier, the Fire's affiliate in the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League (PDL), has announced that tryouts for the perennial PDL powers will take place this Saturday, May 6 at Moraine Valley Community College, located at 9000 W. College Parkway in Palos Hills, IL, beginning at 4:00 p.m. CT. A fee of $50 is required for the tryout and all players must complete a registration form and waiver and bring proper identification to participate. All foreign players interested in trying out must also have a status that allows them to remain in the United States for the entire 2006 PDL season. Additionally, players that have competed on clubs outside of the United States must have information to contact their previous clubs in order to obtain FIFA international clearance. The Fire Premier will kick off their PDL schedule on May 17 against the West Michigan Edge in the first of four league matches that will also count as qualifiers for this year's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a tournament in which the Fire Premier has qualified for the last two seasons.
Fire Juniors Tryouts for Senior Development Program Just Two Weeks Away
The Chicago Fire Juniors has announced that tryouts for its Men's Senior Development Program (SDP) squad for the summer of 2006 will be held on May 13-14 at Wheaton North High School, located at 701 W. Thomas Road in Wheaton, IL, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. CT on the Stadium Field. Players must attend both nights of the tryout to be considered for a spot on the Fire Juniors SDP team. 2006 will mark the third year for the Fire Juniors SDP, which has taken on a variety of opponents across its first two years of existence including Monarcas Morelia's U-23 squad, the Croatian U-21/Olympic Team, the Chicago Fire's MLS Reserve Division squad and numerous teams from the USL's Premier Development League, including the Chicago Fire Premier. To get more information on the Fire Juniors SDP squad, including a registration form for this month's tryouts, please visit www.chicagofirejuniors.com.
Blues in Chicago: Tickets to 2006 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game at Bridgeview Stadium on Sale Now
Tickets for the 2006 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game on Saturday, Aug. 5 at Bridgeview Stadium, pitting the League's brightest stars against two-time defending Barclay's English Premier League champion Chelsea FC, are available now exclusively for Chicago Fire season ticket holders and can be purchased by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE. Fans will also have the chance to purchase tickets to Chelsea's practice session at Bridgeview Stadium on Friday, Aug. 4 at 5:30 p.m. CT. For more information on this exclusive pre-sale and how to become a Fire season ticket holder, please visit www.Chicago-Fire.com.
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