Happy international friendly day! The Chicago Fire welcome Team for the World alliance partner Club America to Toyota Park Wednesday night (LIVE 7:30pm CT on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes).
Here are Five Things You Should Know about the game…
Ticket Information
Season Ticket Holders should use their Bonus Game #1 ticket to gain entry to tonight’s match. Yes, you’ve already used Bonus Games #2 and #3 but that’s why I’m writing this! Bring your Bonus Game #1 ticket.
Club America Roster
Club America is coming off of their first Mexican league title since 2005 after beating Cruz Azul on penalties in the Liga MX final back in May.
While the club is without goalkeeper Moises Munoz, defenders Adrian Aldrete, Juan Carlos Valenzuela and Miguel Layun as well as forward Raul Jimenez because of Gold Cup duty with Mexico, Aguilas manager Miguel Herrera has still brought a strong squad for tonight’s friendly.
See below:
Goalkeepers: Hugo Gonzalez, Carlos Lopez
Defenders: Paul Aguilar, Diego Camarena, Rodrigo Gonzalez, Aquivaldo Mosquera, Erik Pimentel, Javier Francisco Rodriguez, Jonathan Sanchez, Omar Vazquez
Midfielders: Christian Bermudez, Gil Buron, Gil Cordero, Carlos Gutierrez, Jesus Leal, Osvaldo Martinez, Juan Carlos Medina, Luis Mendoza, Jesus Molina, Rubens Sambueza
Forwards: Jose Luis Hernandez, Antonio Lopez, Narciso Mina, Luis Gabriel Rey
Chicago Fire and Club America Connections
Legendary Mexican midfielders Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Pavel Pardo suited up for both los Aguilas and the Men in Red during their storied careers.
Blanco played 333 games, scoring 125 goals from 1992-2007 before joining the Men in Red that summer. Blanco would appear in 77 competitive matches, tallying 19 goals and 25 assists through 2009.
PERUSE: TrueCar Chicago Fire Player Registry
Pardo meanwhile had two stints at America. He appeared in 244 matches, scoring 22 goals from 1999-2006 before making a move to the German Bundesliga with VfB Stuttgart. Having led that side to the 2006-07 Bundesliga title, Pardo returned to America in 2009, appearing in 86 matches and scoring three goals before joining the Fire in summer 2011.
In one and a half seasons with the Men in Red, Pardo made 43 appearances, scoring two goals and nine assists before retiring this past January.
TrueCar International Friendly Quiz
Get more knowledge on the Fire’s history in international friendlies by taking our TrueCar Quiz. Do it by 5pm Wednesday and be entered to win a signed 2013 Chicago Fire jersey…
If you keep reading, you might get an answer to one of the questions…
International Friendly Record
The Fire have faced Club America twice before, falling 2-1 on July 12, 2006 and on April 29, 2009 both at Toyota Park.
The Fire are 6-10-4 in international friendlies all-time, with the team’s last win coming with a 2-0 victory over English side Everton FC on July 30, 2008. The Fire are currently on a nine-match winless run in friendly play.
