After concluding a brief three-game homestand at Soldier Field last Saturday with a 2-1 win over the Los Angles Galaxy, the Chicago Fire (12-9-3, 39 pts.) will begin an eight-week hiatus from the Windy City this Friday, Aug. 19 when it takes on the Kansas City Wizards at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. The contest will mark the first of five consecutive League matches away from Soldier Field, which the Fire will not step foot in again until Oct. 5 against the MetroStars. The Fire-Wizards match-up will kick-off live this Friday at 7:00 p.m. CT and can be seen live on Comcast SportsNet. Fans can also follow the action live on Chicagoland radio stations WRTO-AM 1200 (Spanish) and WNVR-AM 1030 (Polish) and the Fire's official website, www.Chicago-Fire.com (English), where links for the Spanish and Polish radio broadcasts can also be found.
Series History vs. Kansas City
While the Fire's 14-5-3 record over the Wizards shows its dominance in the series over the last eight seasons, Kansas City has reversed its fortunes against the "Men in Red" this season after taking their first-ever points out of Chicagoland via a win and draw in two meetings at Soldier Field. The two clubs' first meeting of the season on June 18 ended in a 1-1 draw, as a late goal from Wizards midfielder Preki canceled out Fire defender Jim Curtin's first goal in 75 League contests. In the second contest at Soldier Field last Wednesday, quick goals by Fire midfielder Thiago and forward Lubos Reiter in the first six minutes looked to start a Fire blowout. However, tallies by Wizards midfielder Sasha Victorine and former Fire striker Josh Wolff tied the match before the halftime whistle, and Wolff's second of the match in the 68th minute against a short-handed Fire squad would cap the scoring and the Kansas City comeback in a 3-2 Wizards victory. The Fire enters the first of its two contests at Arrowhead Stadium this season with an all-time record of 5-4-2 in Kansas City. The Fire and Wizards will wrap up their 2005 season series in Kansas City on Saturday, Oct. 1.
AthletiCo Injury Report
Buete, Scott - R 5th metatarsal fracture - Out
Capano, Craig - L torn ACL surgery - Out
Griffin, Leonard - abdominal strain - Out
Guerrero, Ivan - R foot contusion - Questionable
Herron, Andy - R toe sprain - Out
Jaqua, Nate - L ankle bone bruise - Out
Fire President/CEO John Guppy to Host Q&A Session With Fans Wednesday at The Globe Pub
The Fire has announced that club President/CEO John Guppy will take part in a question-and-answer session with soccer fans at The Globe Pub, located at 1934 W. Irving Park Rd., this Wednesday, Aug. 17 at 7:00 p.m. CT. The chat will take place as part of The Globe Pub's festivities surrounding that evening's World Cup Qualifier between the United States and Trinidad & Tobago. The Fire is encouraging fans to show up and take advantage of this opportunity to ask Guppy about all things Fire-related while also enjoying the important USA-T&T match at the city's best soccer establishment.
Dave & Buster's to Host Official Fire Watch Party for Friday's Fire-Wizards Match
Although the Fire will not be in Chicago for the next eight weeks, you can still get together and follow the club with your fellow fans at the official Fire Watch Parties! The Fire will host its next Watch Party at Dave & Busters, located at 1030 N. Clark St. in downtown Chicago, for this Friday night's clash at the Kansas City Wizards beginning at 7:00 p.m. CT. Fans in attendance can enjoy food and drink specials while also earning the chance to win one of several door prizes just by showing up and supporting the "Men in Red." Fans are encouraged to visit www.Chicago-Fire.com to check out future Fire Watch Party locations.
Armas to Goes from "Men in Red" to "Red, White & Blue" for World Cup Qualifier
Fire midfielder Chris Armas joined the United States Men's National Team on Sunday afternoon in Hartford, CT, as the Fire captain is one of 20 players brought in by U.S. MNT Manager Bruce Arena to prepare for a crucial World Cup qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago this Wednesday, Aug. 17 at Hartford's Rentschler Field (7:00 p.m. CT, live on ESPN2). The 32-year old Armas has compiled 64 career appearances (more than any current Fire player) for the U.S. MNT and has scored a pair of goals since making his senior international debut in 1998. Armas recently played in all six contests for the "Red, White & Blue" in helping the squad capture the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup in July and will be looking for his first "cap" in a World Cup qualifier since he started in a 1-1 draw at Jamaica nearly one year ago on Aug. 18, 2004. Armas is looking to help the U.S. come one step closer to clinching its spot for Germany 2006, and the "Red, White & Blue" are in great shape to do just that after going 4-0-1 over the first five games of the hexagonal final round of CONCACAF qualifying. Armas is expected to be available for selection by Fire Head Coach Dave Sarachan for this Friday's clash at the Kansas City Wizards.
Slovakia Calls In Red Hot Reiter for World Cup Qualifier
Fire forward Lubos Reiter departed the club last Thursday for his native Slovakia, where he has joined his countrymen in preparation for an important UEFA World Cup Qualifying contest this Wednesday, Aug. 17 at Liechtenstein (1:15 p.m. CT, 8:15 p.m. local time). Reiter joins Slovakia on a hot streak, as the 30-year-old forward has scored a goal in each of his last two contests for the "Men in Red." Reiter has amassed nine goals in only 26 career appearances for Slovakia and has served as the squad's "super sub" in the recent past, having scored three goals off the bench in five appearances during the final stage of qualifying for Germany 2006. Reiter tallied in his last appearance for Slovakia on June 8 at Luxembourg when he scored just two minutes into his 31-minute substitute appearance, capping the scoring in a crucial 4-0 road victory. After eight of 12 qualifying matches, Slovakia (5-1-2) currently sits in second place in the Group 3 standings on 17 points, just three points behind group favorite Portugal (6-0-2, 20 pts.) and three points clear of third-place Russia (4-1-2, 14 pts.). Reiter will miss at least this Saturday's Fire contest against the Los Angeles Galaxy, and his status for Chicago's road contest at the Kansas City Wizards on Aug. 19 remains uncertain.
Fire Welcomes Midfielder Marquinhos to Camp for Trial
The Fire has welcomed Brazilian midfielder Marquinhos to its Lake Forest training facility for a trial with the club. The right-sided midfielder, born Marcos Xavier de Camargo, arrived in Chicago late last week and is expected to train through the remainder of this week with the Fire. The 22-year-old native of Porto Feliz, Brazil is no stranger to at least one member of the "Men in Red," as he and current Fire playmaker Thiago were teammates during the 2003-2004 season with Brazilian club Ginásio Pinhalense de Esportes Atléticos. Chicago currently has one roster spot to fill on its 28-man roster.
Fire, Neurologic & Orthopedic Institute of Chicago and Alderman Gene Schulter Teaming Up to Host Youth Clinic
The Chicago Fire and the Neurologic & Orthopedic Institute of Chicago will join up with the Chicago Park District and Alderman Gene Schulter in sponsoring a Chicago Fire Youth Clinic and Sports Medicine Screening on Saturday, Aug. 27 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CT at Winnemac Park, located at 5101 N. Leavitt St. in Chicago. The event is open to Alderman Schulter's Kids Club members from ages 8 to 16, who will join Fire players in learning and testing new soccer skills. Sports medicine experts from the Neurologic & Orthopedic Institute of Chicago - a focused hospital on the city's North side - will also be on-hand to evaluate and discuss training, injuries, injury prevention, therapeutic options and strengthening. Kids on hand will be able to the meet the Chicago Fire mascot, get autographs from the Fire players in attendance and play games for prizes. To join the Alderman's kids club and register for this special event, please contact Garrett Fitzgerald at 773-348-8400 or :garrett.fitzgerald@cityofchicago.org.
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