The Chicago Fire (4-8-7, 19 pts.) will return from a two-week break in MLS play tomorrow night when they host 2003 MLS Cup rival the San Jose Earthquakes (6-6-6, 24 pts.) at Soldier Field at 7:30 p.m. CT. The match can be followed live on Chicagoland radio stations WRTO 1200 AM (Spanish) and WNVR 1030 AM (Polish), and Fire fans worldwide can hear the match online at the team's official website, www.Chicago-Fire.com. The Fire will be looking to end their club-record nine-game winless streak in MLS play and climb back into the Eastern Conference race heading into the final third of the season. The squad will have to make that push without forward Ante Razov, who will undergo surgery on his right ankle tomorrow, keeping the Fire's all-time leading scorer out of action for 3-4 months.
Chicago Fire vs. San Jose Earthquakes
Wednesday, August 11 @ 7:30 p.m. CT
Soldier Field - Chicago, Ill.
TV: None
Satellite: VYVX Conf #1684316
Radio: WRTO 1200 AM (Spanish), WNVR 1030 AM (Polish), www.Chicago-Fire.com (English)
Chicago Fire ACE/Tru-Fit injury report
Marsch, Jesse - R ankle cartilage damage - questionable
Razov, Ante - R ankle bone spur - out
Whitfield, Evan - lower abdominal strain - probable
Fans and media reminded to use game ticket, parking pass #11 for Wednesday's Fire-Earthquakes match
With the numerous changes to the Fire's schedule over the second half of the season, fans and media members are reminded to pay close attention to the match numbers in regards to tickets and parking passes over the remaining two months of the season. For season ticket holders, Wednesday's Fire-Earthquakes match, originally scheduled for Aug. 18 as Match #11, will be Fire Match #10, as replacement tickets were distributed after the schedule changes were made. THE ORIGINAL SEASON TICKETS HAVE BEEN VOIDED AND FANS THAT PRESENT THOSE TICKETS AT THE SOLDIER FIELD GATES WILL NOT BE ADMITTED. However, ticket holders and media members are reminded to use Parking Pass #11 (with the Aug. 18 date) for Wednesday's contest. ONLY PARKING PASSES FOR MATCH #11 WILL BE HONORED AT SOLDIER FIELD WEDNESDAY NIGHT. A listing of the updated match dates and their corresponding Parking Pass numbers follows:
Aug. 11 vs. San Jose Earthquakes Parking Pass #11
Aug. 14 vs. Colorado Rapids Parking Pass #15
Sep. 1 vs. Kansas City Wizards Parking Pass #10
Sep. 4 vs. D.C. United Parking Pass #12
Sep. 25 vs. New England Revolution Parking Pass #14
Oct. 6 vs. Columbus Crew Parking Pass #13
Fire to host "Kids Night Out" Wednesday at Soldier Field
The Chicago Fire will host the first "Kids Night Out" event at Soldier Field for its match tomorrow night against the San Jose Earthquakes at Soldier Field, allowing thousands of children from across Chicagoland the chance to see a Fire match for free. So far, the generosity of hundreds of sponsors, corporations and individuals has allowed more than 3,500 complimentary tickets to tomorrow's Fire-Earthquakes match to be donated to charities that partner with the FireWorks for Kids Foundation, the charitable arm of the Chicago Fire.
Marsch and Whitfield closer to comebacks
A pair of veterans could make their presence felt on the field for the Fire this week, as midfielder Jesse Marsch and D/M Evan Whitfield have seen their medical status upgraded. Marsch, one of four remaining "Fire Originals" from the team's inaugural 1998 season, is back near full strength after sitting out since a January surgery to repair cartilage damage in his right ankle. The Princeton product is officially listed as questionable for Wednesday's match against San Jose. The six-year veteran Whitfield has officially logged one minute of playing time since a July 3 loss at Columbus, but has recovered enough from his strained lower abdominal to be listed as probable for Wednesday's match versus the Earthquakes.
Quick kicks vs. San Jose
