CHICAGO FIRE vs. NEW YORK CITY FC
TOYOTA PARK, Bridgeview, Illinois
March 6, 2015 (WEEK 1, MLS Game #3)
2:00 PM ET (MLS LIVE)
Two teams looking to pull themselves into the postseason reckoning open the new campaign against each other when the Chicago Fire face New York City FC at Toyota Park to start the 2016 season. The Fire are looking to put an end to a three-game postseason drought, guided by a new head coach in Veljko Paunovic. NYCFC also have a new field boss in their second MLS campaign – French international legend Patrick Vieira – after finishing in a tie for eighth place in the Eastern Conference in their inaugural MLS season.
- The Fire concluded their preseason schedule undefeated, capturing the Simple Invitational tournament in Portland with a 2-0 victory against the host Timbers on Saturday evening. Arturo Alvarez and Gilberto scored for the Fire, who won all three of their preseason matches against MLS competition.
- NYCFC completed their preseason with a 2-1 victory against Icelandic side KR Reykjavik on Saturday evening at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Andrea Pirlo scored the opening goal – his first since arriving at the club – and Mix Diskerud headed home the late game-winner. NYCFC played one preseason game vs. an MLS foe – a 1-0 win vs. Montréal in mid-February.
- The Fire were undefeated against New York City FC in the club’s inaugural season. The Fire claimed a 1-0 win April 24 at Toyota Park; the teams reached a 2-2 draw May 15 at Yankee Stadium.
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REFEREE: Armando Villarreal. AR1 (bench): Corey Parker; AR2 (opposite): Peter Manikowski; 4th: Hilario Grajeda
MLS Career: 62 games; FC/gm: 22.9; Y/gm: 2.8; R: 18; pens: 16
SUSPENDED: none
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (2 meetings): Fire 1 win, 3 goals … NYCFC 0 wins, 2 goals … Ties 1
AT CHICAGO (1 meeting): Fire 1 win, 1 goal … NYCFC 0 wins, 0 goals … Ties 0
RETURN MATCHES: 4/10: New York City FC vs. Chicago Fire, 7 p.m. (FS1); 9/23: New York City FC vs. Chicago Fire, 8 p.m.
LAST YEAR (MLS):
4/24: CHI 1, NYC 0 (Accam 20)
5/15: NYC 2, CHI 2 (Ballouchy 46+; Shelton 91+ -- Cocis 14; Larentowicz 27)
- The Fire were undefeated against New York City FC in the club’s inaugural season. The Fire claimed a 1-0 win April 24 at Toyota Park; the teams reached a 2-2 draw May 15 at Yankee Stadium.
- Coaches record: Patrick Vieira vs. CHI: first game … Veljko Paunovic vs. NYC: first game
