SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES vs CHICAGO FIRE
AVAYA STADIUM, San Jose, Calif.
March 22, 2015 (WEEK 3, MLS Game #26)
4 p.m. PT (Fox Sports 1)
Major League Soccer’s newest cathedral for the sport has its grand opening as the San Jose Earthquakes play host to the Chicago Fire in the inaugural match at Avaya Stadium before a FOX Sports 1 audience. The Earthquakes put an end to a long winless run last weekend, coming back for a 3-2 win at Seattle Sounders FC. The Fire are still looking for their first points and first goals of the new year, kicking off their home campaign with a 1-0 loss to Vancouver Whitecaps FC last weekend at Toyota Park.
- It’s the opening match at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, the 13th stadium in Major League Soccer purpose-built from ground up for soccer. It will be the eighth stadium the Earthquakes have called home during their Major League Soccer history.
- Chris Wondolowski scored his first two goals of the season, netting twice in leading the Quakes to their first victory of 2015, a 3-2 win at Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday evening. Wondolowski has 16 career multiple-goal games, tied for fifth all-time in MLS history.
- The Fire are still looking for their first points and first goals of 2015, beginning their home campaign with a 1-0 loss to Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday afternoon at Toyota Park.
- The Earthquakes took the lone meeting between the teams a year ago by a 5-1 scoreline, July 23 at Buck Shaw Stadium, the heaviest defeat in the long history of the series. Neither team has won on the road in the series since 2010, when each team won away in the two meetings that year.
REFEREE: Ricardo Salazar. AR1 (bench): Ian Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Mike Kampmeinert; 4th: Allen Chapman
MLS Career: 195 games; FC/gm: 26.7; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 56; pens: 68
SUSPENDED: SJ: Victor Bernardez (through March 22)
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (33 meetings): Earthquakes 9 wins (1 shootout), 40 goals … Fire 13 wins (0 shootout), 48 goals … Ties 11
AT SAN JOSE (17 meetings): Earthquakes 7 wins (0 shootout), 23 goals … Fire 5 wins (0 shootout), 18 goals … Ties 5
LAST YEAR (MLS):
7/23: CHI 1, SJ 5 (Ward 75 – Salinas 45; Harris 52; Wondolowski 62; Djalo 79; Cato 84)
- This is the only league meeting between the teams this season.
- The Earthquakes took the lone meeting between the teams a year ago by a 5-1 scoreline, July 23 at Buck Shaw Stadium, the heaviest defeat in the long history of the series.
- Neither team has won on the road in the series since 2010, when each team won away in the two meetings that year.
- Coaches record: Dominic Kinnear vs. CHI: P23 W9 L7 D9 … Frank Yallop vs. SJ: P1 W0 L1 D0
CHECK OUT THE INJURY REPORT HEADING INTO THE MATCH
CHECK OUT THE DISCIPLINARY REPORT HEADING INTO THE MATCH
After many years, Earthquakes have found their home at Avaya Stadium
San Jose rookie Alashe holds own against some of league's best
Fire coach Yallop excited, emotional ahead of Earthquakes' first game at new venue
