CHICAGO, Ill. (March 25, 2013) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Monday that it will play a friendly match against Minnesota United FC at Toyota Park on Friday, March 29 at 10:00 a.m. CT. The match is open to the public and free to attend. The Fire will challenge the NASL side during a bye week in MLS play.
Formerly the NSC Minnesota Stars, the side began play in 2010 as a team owned and operated by the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn. The next year, the Stars won the 2011 NASL crown in the first season of the re-launched league. On January 9, 2012, the Stars unveiled their new look and announced that the team would now be known as Minnesota Stars FC.
Minnesota United FC are coached by former Fire midfielder Manny Lagos, who appeared 10 times with the Fire from 1998-99.
This is the third consecutive year that the Fire will take on the side from Minnesota. Goals from Dominic Oduro, Daniel Paladini and Orr Barouch led the Fire to a 3-1 victory over Minnesota in their final preseason match March 9, 2012.
The Fire will return to MLS action when they welcome the New York Red Bulls to Toyota Park on Sunday, April 7 at 4:00 p.m. CT live on ESPN2 and La Ley 107.9. Tickets for the match are available by calling 888-MLS-Fire or by visiting www.Chicago-Fire.com.
