MEN IN RED HEAD TO LONE STAR STATE FOR FIRST MATCH OF SEASON AGAINST HOUSTON DYNAMO
The Chicago Fire (5-7-16, 31 points) hit the road for a crucial Eastern Conference clash against the Houston Dynamo (9-13-6, 33 points) at BBVA Compass Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. CT (UniMas/La Ley 107.9 FM).
This is the first of two matches between the two sides this season. The Fire host the return leg in the final match of the regular season at Toyota Park on Oct. 24.
The Dynamo enter the match after drawing the Philadelphia Union 0-0 at PPL Park on Saturday evening.
CHICAGO FIRE TRAINING SCHEDULE: Sept. 22 – Sept. 29
Tuesday, Sept. 23 Training 10:30 a.m. CT^
Wednesday, Sept. 24 Training 10:30 a.m. CT^
Thursday, Sept. 25 Off
Friday, Sept. 26 Training 10:30 a.m. CT* - Entire session open to media. Media availability will take place immediately following training
Saturday, Sept. 27 Training 10:30 a.m. CT^
Travel to Houston
Sunday, Sept. 28 MLS Regular Season – Chicago Fire at Houston Dynamo – BBVA Compass Stadium – 2 p.m. CT – UniMas/La Ley 107.9 FM
Return to Chicago
Monday, Sept. 29 Training 10:30 a.m. CT^
^Media availability will be held in the Toyota Park Media Room one hour prior to the listed start time of training and will run for approximately 45 minutes, typically from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Training will be open to media for the first 15 minutes of the session.
Media members interested in attending training are asked to RSVP to Eunice Kim at ekim@chicago-fire.comthe evening before each session with the names of the players they are requesting to speak with to ensure that players are notified and available for interviews. Training times and locations are subject to change. If you plan on attending training, please contact the Chicago Fire Communications Department for updated times and locations.
CHICAGO FIRE vs. HOUSTON DYNAMO
- The Fire hold a 4-7-7 all-time regular season record against the Dynamo and a 2-4-3 record in matches played in Houston.
- Fire defender Lovel Palmer will miss the match against his former side due to yellow card accumulation.
- Fire head coach Frank Yallop will face his former protégé in Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear. In his first season as the head coach of the San Jose Earthquakes in 2001, Yallop appointed Kinnear as his assistant coach. With Kinnear on his coaching staff, Yallop and the Earthquakes won the MLS Cup in 2001 and 2003.
- In 2000, the Fire acquired current Dynamo defender DaMarcus Beasley from the LA Galaxy. Beasley made 98 regular season appearances for the Men in Red, scoring 14 goals and adding 20 assists. Beasley was a three-time MLS All-Star and won MLS Best XI honors in 2003 before transferring to Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in July 2004.
CHICAGO FIRE SOCCER CLUB TO HOST SECOND ANNUAL SOCCER & STYLE FASHION SHOW
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club will host the Second Annual Soccer & Style Fashion Show featuring Fire players and coaches at Revel Downtown (440 West Randolph Ave., Chicago, IL 60606) on Thursday, Sept. 25 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. CT.
Good Day Chicago anchor Natalie Bomke will serve as emcee for the event as Fire players and coaches walk the runway in this season’s hottest looks in the name of charity. Benefitting the Chicago Fire Foundation, tickets to the show start at $50, which includes general admission and two drink tickets. VIP admission is $75, and includes three drink tickets, reserved seating and a gift item. Tickets can be purchased here.
TICKETS FOR 2014 CONCACAF WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP IN CHICAGO NOW ON SALE
Tickets for the first-round games of the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship at Toyota Park on Oct. 17-18 are now on sale via Ticketmaster or at the Toyota Park Box Office.
Toyota Park hosts the four sides from Group A (USA, Trinidad & Tobago, Guatemala and Haiti) on Oct. 17 and the four teams from Group B (Costa Rica, Mexico, Jamaica and Martinique) on Oct. 18. The United States face Guatemala at 8 p.m. CT at Toyota Park on Oct. 17.
The tournament format will see the top two teams in each group advance to Philadelphia for the semifinals on Oct. 24, when the winner of each group will face the runner-up of the opposite group. The third-place and championship games will be held on Oct. 26.
The top three finishers - the semifinal winners and the winner of the third-place match -- will qualify directly for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup June 6-July 5 in Canada, while the fourth-place team enters a playoff with a team from South America for the final World Cup slot.
