Pat and Alex break down a busy week for the Fire. Gaga Slonina sold to Chelsea, Georg Heitz speaks, and the MLS transfer window closes. We look back at the Fire’s 0-0 draw with Atlanta, and look ahead to their first ever match with Charlotte FC. https://youtu.be/V9_R9zKJsW0
Moments after the Chicago Fire came off the pitch after a 3-2 loss to the Columbus Crew on July 9, players and coaches held a meeting to reflect on what had just happened. Up 2-0 at halftime, the Fire lost 3-2 to the Crew. They were out-played, out-worked, and out-coached by their rivals from Ohio. “We sat down, we talked,”…
In the parking lot at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview sits a giant, Ford F-150 pickup truck. It looks like something fit for a country music singer or maybe a Texas rancher, with giant tires, and an all-black trim kit. But this All-American truck doesn’t belong to an American at all. This hulking machine belongs to Chicago Fire captain Rafael Czichos.…
If two recent games between these teams are any indication, tonight’s match between the Chicago Fire and Toronto FC at Soldier Field (7 p.m. CT, WGN-TV) should at least be interesting. Back in May in Ontario, the Fire outshot TFC 33-5, and managed to lose 3-2. And last time they met at Soldier Field last summer, the Fire outshot Toronto…...
Every time Alex Campbell and I solicit questions for our CHGO Fire Podcast mailbag, there’s always one question that goes something like this: This team is great on paper, but continues to struggle on the field. How much of this is on Ezra Hendrickson? Sometimes, it’s more direct: This team is a disaster. Should the Fire dump Ezra Hendrickson? Through…
Wednesday’s midweek match between the Chicago Fire and Philadelphia Union marks the first time Kacper Przybylko will play against his old teammates since joining the Fire on a three-year deal this past offseason. Philly clearly thought the 29-year-old Polish striker’s best days were behind him, opting to deal him to Chicago for $1.15 million in General Allocation Money. Thus far,…...
For the second straight international break, Xherdan Shaqiri has returned with a leg injury that will see him miss action for the Chicago Fire. The Swiss star picked up a hamstring issue after playing a recent run of games for his country, and will not play for the Fire Saturday against D.C. United at Soldier Field. It’s unfortunate, because the…...
For most MLS fans–especially neutrals–Saturday’s matchup between the Chicago Fire and D.C. United doesn’t spark a ton of interest. It’s a battle between 13th and 14th in the Eastern Conference. In Europe it’d be a relegation six-pointer, but here, it’s just two teams trying to climb out of the early season holes they’ve dug themselves. But for listeners of a…
The Chicago Fire are looking to change venues for two home games later this year, CHGO has learned. After the Bears NFL schedule dropped, it created conflicts on two previously-scheduled Fire matches at Soldier Field. The September 10 match against Inter Miami, and the October 9 “Decision Day” match against the New England Revolution will have to be played somewhere…