By Jeff Vorva
Staff writer
The Chicago Fire will play again this season at SeatGeek Stadium after all.
After playing three games in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Cup at its former home in Bridgeview, it appeared the rest of the team’s home games would be played at Soldier Field.
But the Fire worked its way up in the MLS standings and qualified for the inaugural Leagues Cup, punching its ticket for at least one more game at SeatGeek this season. They will host Puebla (Mexico) at 7:30 p.m. on July 31 in a Central 2 group match.
The Fire opens the tournament July 27 against MLS foe Minnesota at Allianz Field in St. Paul.
Dates and locations after the group rounds have not been announced.
The Leagues Cup is a World Cup-style tournament that features 47 first-division clubs from Canada, Mexico and the United States. The championship match will be held August 19.
The champion, as well as the second and third-place finishers, will qualify for the Concacaf Champions League and have an opportunity to earn a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Fire’s battle against Puebla will mark the first-ever meeting between the two teams in an official competition.
Every team will play two matches in the group stage, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout round of 32.
Earlier this season, the Fire went 2-1 in Bridgeview in U.S Open Cup play, beating the Chicago House, 3-0, and St. Louis, 2-1, and losing to Houston, 4-1.
Red Stars fall in Louisville
The Chicago Red Stars started July off with two promising 1-0 NWSL victories. After a break, they returned to the pitch in Challenge Cup play on July 21 and lost 2-0 to Louisville.
Louisville (4-0-0 in the Challenge Cup standings) got goals by Jordan Baggett and Paige Monaghan in the first 20 minutes. That was all it needed to beat the Red Stars (0-4-0).
“We started slow and we paid for it,” Red Stars coach Chris Petrucelli said. “In the second half we created some chances, but we weren’t great around the penalty area.”
Louisville outshot the Red Stars 26-8 and had an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal.
The Red Stars continue Challenge Cup play at 7 p.m. on July 29 against Kansas City at SeatGeek Stadium. The last time they played at home was July 1 – a 1-0 victory over San Diego in an NWSL game.
Fire II drop thriller
The Chicago Fire II gave up a goal in the 72nd minute and dropped a wild 3-2 MLS NXT Pro to Orlando on the road July 23.
Billy Hency scored in the 35th minute and Luke Prpa added one in the 50th minute to give the Fire II (6-7-6) a 2-1 lead, but they allowed a pair of goals in the 64th and 72nd minute to Orlando (10-7-2).
The Fire II host New England at 5 p.m. July 30 at SeatGeek Stadium.
The team rescheduled its Aug. 4 game against Atlanta to 6 p.m. on Aug. 3 in Bridgeview.
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