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Chicago Fire Home Opener Preview

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FIRE WELCOME ‘QUAKES FOR OPENING NIGHT AT TOYOTA PARK

The Chicago Fire (0-1-1, 1 point) return home to TOYOTA PARK to welcome the San Jose Earthquakes (0-1-0, 0 points) for Opening Night, this Saturday at 7:30 PM CT live on Comcast SportsNet.

The Fire earned their first point of the 2010 MLS season, in a 2-2 draw with the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. During First Kick weekend the ‘Quakes fell to defending MLS Cup Champions Real Salt Lake 3-0 in their only match of the 2010 MLS season. In 13 matches at home against the San Jose Earthquakes, the Fire have never lost in regulation, building a 7-1-5 record since the clubs first met in 1998. The Fire’s only “defeat” came by shootout (2-0) in July of 1999 at Soldier Field.

CHICAGO FIRE VS. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES NOTES

  • It took Collins John just 62 minutes of MLS play to score his first MLS goal. The Dutch striker opened his MLS account by smashing a header past Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens in the 26th minute of last Saturday’s match. John didn’t score in 36 minutes of play in his MLS debut against the New York Red Bulls on First Kick weekend.
  • On Monday, March 29 the San Jose Earthquakes acquired former Chicago Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch to backup long-time ‘Quakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon. The last time Busch faced the Fire, as a member of the Columbus Crew, he had three saves as the Crew tied the Fire 1-1 on April 15, 2006.
  • Brian McBride has scored nine goals and added two assists against the ‘Quakes in his previous 10 seasons in MLSchicago fire logo
  • The Fire have never lost a home opener at TOYOTA PARK, going 3-0-1 in all games played in the Fire’s soccer-specific home in Bridgeview, IL. The Fire are 7-2-3 on Opening Night at home since 1998.
  • The Fire are 11-6-9 all-time against the San Jose Earthquakes, with a 7-1-5 home record against the Northern California based club.
  • The Fire have outscored the ‘Quakes 24 to 11 in 13 matches in the Windy City
  • The Fire tied and won against the ‘Quakes in 2009. Marco Pappa, Brian McBride and Chris Rolfe all scored to combat San Jose goals from Ryan Johnson, Bobby Convey and Arturo Alvarez to leave San Jose with a 3-3 tie. In the return leg, Patrick Nyarko and Cuauhtémoc Blanco scored to give the Fire a 2-0 victory at TOYOTA PARK.
  • San Jose and Chicago played in the 2003 MLS Cup. The ‘Quakes defeated the Fire 4-2 in front of a sold-out crowd at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA. Fire midfielder Justin Mapp entered the game in the 70th minute as a second half substitute. Current Fire players CJ Brown and Logan Pause were also part of the 2003 team that forged through to the 2003 MLS Cup Final.
  • Traditionally the Fire have come out of the gate quickly in both halves against the ‘Quakes, scoring 16 goals all-time at the start of a half. Eight goals in the first 15 minutes of the first half and eight goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half.

FIRE EARN FIRST POINT OF 2010 MLS SEASON WITH 2-2 DRAW IN COLORADO

The Chicago Fire fought back from a one-goal halftime deficit to tie the Colorado Rapids 2-2, earning their first draw and first point of the 2010 MLS season. In a match that featured goals from all four starting forwards, Collins John and Brian McBride tallied on both sides of intermission for the Fire, to erase first half goals from Rapids forwards Omar Cummings and Conor Casey. The tie gave Fire Head Coach Carlos de los Cobos his first MLS result and earned the team a vital road point heading into its third match of the season.

The game featured two other significant milestones, as newly signed Fire forward Collins John opened his MLS account with a cracking header off a Marco Pappa corner in the 26th minute. Former Fulham strike mate, Brian McBride, tallied his 75th career MLS goal when he technically finished a penalty kick to pull the Fire level at two goals apiece in the 51st minute.