The Chicago Fire Soccer Club finished the 2012 season by returning to the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2009. The Men in Red hosted the Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Knockout Match Oct. 31. A late, 83rd minute goal from Brazilian midfielder Alex wasn’t enough to overcome a Will Bruin brace as the Fire fell 2-1.
In his first full season as head coach, Frank Klopas led the Men in Red to a 17-11-6 regular season record and fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The 57 points the team earned in tied with the 2000 season for the highest point total in club history.
The Fire defense held opponents to 41 goals in the regular season, tied for second best in the Eastern Conference.
The Men in Red won the season series against Sporting Kansas City, New York Red Bulls, Houston Dynamo, Columbus Crew, Montreal Impact, Philadelphia Union and Toronto FC.
The Fire will continue to train at Toyota Park until Thursday, Nov. 15.
CHICAGO FIRE TRAINING SCHEDULE: Nov. 5 – Nov. 12
Monday, Nov. 5: Off
Tuesday, Nov. 6: Training 10:30 a.m. CT^
Wednesday, Nov. 7: Training 10:30 a.m. CT^
Thursday, Nov. 8: Training 10:30 a.m. CT^
Friday, Nov. 9: Off
Saturday, Nov. 10: Off
Sunday, Nov. 11: Off
Monday, Nov. 12: Off
Training is open to the media. Fire players and coaches will be made available immediately following training.
^Training times are subject to change. Please contact Brendan Hannan at 720.937.8962 for media requests.
CHICAGO FIRE TO HOLD FIFTH ANNUAL OPEN TRYOUTS DECEMBER 14-15 AT BRIDGEVIEW SPORTS DOME
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club will hold its Fifth Annual Open Tryouts on Friday, Dec. 14 and Saturday, Dec. 15 at the Bridgeview Soccer & Sports Dome at 8900 S. 77th Ave. in Bridgeview, IL 60455. A map to the Bridgeview Soccer & Sports Dome can be found here. The tryout is open to male soccer players ages 18 and older who believe they can succeed at the Major League Soccer level. Members of the Fire Technical Staff will be on hand at the tryouts to observe and rank players and the winner of the Open Tryout will be awarded the chance to train with the Fire first team during the club’s preseason camp.
At the Fire’s Third Annual Open Tryout in January 2011, Chicago Fire defender Pari Pantazopoulos emerged from a group of over 200 participants from 19 different countries to win the club’s Open Tryout and a spot on the first team’s preseason roster. The Mt. Prospect, IL product advanced through all three phases of the club’s preseason camp to sign on as a member of the Chicago Fire. Pantazopoulos made his first team debut on June 28, 2011 in a U.S. Open Cup match vs. the Rochester Rhinos and went on to appear in the club’s midseason friendly against English giants Manchester United at Soldier Field on July 23.
Tryout registration is $150 (non-refundable plus processing fees) with each player guaranteed an hour of playing time. Space at the tryout is limited. All interested players must register online by visiting Chicago-Fire.com: //www.chicago-fire.com/opentryout. Applications must be submitted online and applicants must have a valid e-mail address as registration forms will not be accepted via fax or over the phone. All registrants will be contacted with a schedule via e-mail on or before Tuesday, Dec. 11.
The registration deadline is Monday, Dec. 10 at 5 p.m. CT. No registration forms will be accepted after that date.
Questions can be answered by e-mailing opentryout@Chicago-Fire.com. For more information visit the club’s official website www.chicago-fire.com.
TRYOUT FORMAT:
The first round of tryouts will take place on Friday, Dec. 14 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CT. Each player is required to attend the first round of tryouts and is guaranteed one hour of playing time. Each registrant will receive their time slot via email on or before Tuesday, Dec. 11. All players will be notified on site if they are to return for Day Two of the tryouts on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 9:00 a.m. CT
Day 1 December 14 (All Participants)
Day 2 December 15 (Call backs from previous day)
Day (1)
Players will be placed into teams of (7) v (7) + goalkeepers and each team will be allocated a one hour time slot. Players will be notified on site if they have been selected for the next stage.
DAY (2)
Players will be placed into teams of (11) v (11) and each team will be allocated a one hour time slot. Systematically players will be selected to move onto the next stage or notified if they have been cut.
Information is subject to change.
FIRE IN THE NEWS
Fire mull over what might have been - Jack McCarthy - Chicago Tribune - November 1, 2012
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ct-spt-1102-fire-chicago--20121102,0,5773945.story
Fire’s season ended with 2-1 MLS playoff loss to Houston Dynamo - Seth Gruen - Chicago Sun-Times - October 31, 2012
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/soccer/fire/16078610-626/fires-season-ended-with-2-1-mls-playoff-loss-to-houston-dynamo.html
Chicago Fire have plenty to do in off-season - Orrin Schwarz - Daily Herald - November 3, 2012
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20121103/sports/711039809/
Fire’s late-season struggles persist in playoff loss to Houston - Len Ziehm - CSNChicago.com - November 1, 2012
http://www.csnchicago.com/soccer-chicago-fire/news/Fires-late-season-struggles-persist-in-p?blockID=796177&feedID=661
El mexicano Pável Pardo planea echar raíces en el Chicago Fire y la MLS - Jose Luis Sanchez Pando – Hoy - November 1, 2012
http://www.vivelohoy.com/deportes/8182684/pavel-pardo-quiere-jugar-uno-o-dos-anos-mas-y-luego-trabajar-en-el-chicago-fire
In do-or-die match, the Fire run out of Houdini-like escapes - Anthony Zilis - MLSsoccer.com - November 1, 2012
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/11/01/fire-run-out-houdini-escapes-east-ko-vs-dynamo
CHICAGO FIRE TEAM WRITER, JEFF CRANDALL FEATURES ON CHICAGO-FIRE.COM
Five Things You Should Know About Wednesday’s Game vs. Houston – October 31, 2012
//www.chicago-fire.com/news/2012/10/five-things-you-should-know-about-wednesdays-game-vs-houston
All-In with Patrick Nyarko – October 30, 2012
//www.chicago-fire.com/news/2012/10/all-patrick-nyarko
Lack of Playoff Experience Not a Problem for Young Fire Defenders – October 29, 2012
//www.chicago-fire.com/news/2012/10/lack-playoff-experience-not-problem-young-fire-defenders
Fire Focused on Return to the Playoffs – October 28, 2012
//www.chicago-fire.com/news/2012/10/fire-focused-return-playoffs
