CHICAGO - With at least eight players out due to a myriad of circumstances, including injuries, a suspension and national team selections, the Chicago Fire have called up forward Chris Carrieri from the Major Indoor Soccer League's (MISL) Chicago Storm for the Fire's Eastern Conference match against the Columbus Crew on Wednesday at Soldier Field (7:30 p.m. CT, HDNet).
Carrieri, 24, was signed by the Storm on loan from the A-League's Rochester Raging Rhinos on Sept. 20 after spending three seasons with the Colorado Rapids, where he registered a total of 19 goals and 17 assists for 55 points during this three-year MLS tenure. The University of North Carolina standout spent the 2004 season with the Rhinos, where he led the team in scoring with eight goals and eight assists for 24 points in 27 games played. Carrieri will don the #25 jersey tomorrow for the "Men in Red."
After being selected first overall by the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft, Carrieri was traded to the Colorado Rapids midway through the season. There, he registered five goals and four assists for 14 points in 14 appearances (11 starts), setting a new rookie scoring record for the Rapids.
In 2002, Carrieri finished in a first-place tie for the Rapids goal-scoring lead with 11 goals and five assists for 27 points. He also led the team and finished third in the league with five game-winning goals. The University of North Carolina product helped Colorado to the 2002 MLS Cup Playoff Semifinals, where the team fell to the eventual champion Los Angeles Galaxy. In five games (all starts), Carrieri scored one game-winning goal and two assists for four points. During the 2003 season, the 5'8", 160-pound forward finished fifth in MLS with eight assists, while scoring three goals and playing a career high 30 games (27 starts) for Colorado. Carrieri was waived by the Rapids prior to the start of the 2004 MLS season.
The Fire will be without the services of several international players due to World Cup Qualifying matches with their respective squads: Damani Ralph and Andy Williams (Jamaica), Andy Herron (Costa Rica) and Dipsy Selolwane (Botswana). In addition, the Fire will be missing Logan Pause (right foot stress fracture), Ante Razov (surgery), Justin Mapp (right knee Grade II LCL Sprain) to injury. Fire captain Chris Armas is questionable due to inflammation in his right knee and midfielder Nate Jaqua will be serving a one-game suspension after picking up a red card Saturday during the Fire's 3-3 draw with Columbus.
Razov under the knife again
Chicago Fire forward Ante Razov will undergo an adductor (groin) release procedure on Wednesday in Philadelphia. The procedure will be performed by Dr. William Meyers. The recovery time for the Fire's all-time scoring leader will be determined following the surgery, but it is estimated that Razov will be out approximately 2-3 months. Razov underwent ankle surgery on Aug. 11 to remove a bone spur and bone chips found in the striker's right foot. One of five remaining 'Fire Originals,' Razov appeared in 13 games (starting 11), scoring four goals and two assists for 10 points in his seventh season with Chicago in 2004. Razov has led Chicago's offensive corps since his arrival in 1998 and in 2003 he garnered his fifth Chicago Fire/Budweiser Scoring Champion title. He has made 161 career appearances, notching 192 points on 77 goals and 38 assists (Chicago and L.A. combined).
