[Frank Cunha]

Press Release Thursday
February 26, 2004
Chicago Fire 0, Acádemica de Coimbra 2
Armas, Beasley and Razov Selected to U.S. MNT Roster for March 13 Friendly Vs. Haiti

CHICAGO, IL (Thursday, February 26, 2004) - Portuguese SuperLiga (First Division) club Acádemica de Coimbra staved off a spirited second half offensive attack from the Chicago Fire and used a goal in each half to defeat the Fire 2-0 in an exhibition match in Coimbra, Portugal. The result evens Chicago’s record during its 11-day Portugal training camp at 1-1-0 and moves its overall preseason mark to 2-4-0. The friendly match was held at the Estadio Cidade de Coimbra, a sparkling new 30,000-seat venue that was constructed for this summer’s Euro 2004 Championships.

Acádemica took advantage of a Fire defensive miscue on a set piece to take a quick lead just nine minutes into the match. The mistake occurred when Fire goalkeeper Henry Ring went after a corner kick in his area and collided with teammate Kelly Gray. The ball fell to an attacking Acádemica player, who deposited the ball into the empty net from eight yards out to give the SuperLiga club the 1-0 advantage. AA Coimbra would score its second goal of the match in the 53rd minute off a 3-on-2 break that began at the midfielder stripe. Acádemica would work the ball quickly up the field, leading to a shot from 12 yards out that found its way underneath and past Chicago’s second half netminder D.J. Countess and into the back of the net. The Fire would pick up its offense as the second stanza moved on and would see no less than four attempts on goal cleared off the line by Acádemica defenders. Two of those chances would come in the 61st minute when defender Jim Curtin had an attempt off a corner kick knocked off the line and forward Nate Jaqua had a subsequent rebound header cleared away from danger.

Fire Lineup (4-4-2): GK-Henry Ring (D.J. Countess 46), D-Kelly Gray, D-Jim Curtin, D-Denny Clanton (Leonard Griffin 48), D-Evan Whitfield (Ryan McGowan 66), M-Scott Buete (Ian Pilarski 66), M-Chris Armas (Sumed Ibrahim 46), M-Logan Pause (Craig Capano 66), M-Andy Williams (Khari Stephenson 55), F-Damani Ralph, F-Nate Jaqua.

Arena Calls on Armas, Beasley and Razov for Haiti Friendly
U.S. Men’s National Team boss Bruce Arena has named a trio of Fire players - midfielders Chris Armas and DaMarcus Beasley and forward Ante Razov - to the 18-man roster that will face Haiti in an international friendly on March 13 in Miami, FL. Armas has collected 52 caps in his international career, including three stints as captain, and has notched a pair of goals. The 21-year-old Beasley - who donned the Red, White and Blue alongside Armas in last week’s 1-0 U.S. loss at Holland - has already amassed 29 career international appearances and has struck the back of the net four times. After a one-game absence, Razov will return to the National Team roster in an attempt to build on his 26 caps and six goals.

Fire Training Camp Notes

· The Fire got a visit from a familiar face during yesterday’s training session, as former goalkeeper Zach Thornton dropped by the club’s Rio Maior camp to see his old teammates. The Fire will return the favor this Sunday when it travels to Lisbon to see Thornton’s new club, Benfica, in action against Moreirense.

· Trialists Ronen Faigenbaum and Jonothan Carlos Elliott have both departed the Fire’s training camp after completing three-day tryouts with the squad.

· Forward Dipsy Selolwane left camp today to join the Botswana National Team in advance of its Cosafa Castle Cup 2004 match against Lesotho. The contest will take place this Saturday, Feb. 28 in Maseru, Lesotho.

· Midfielder DaMarcus Beasley joined his Fire teammates this morning in Portugal. The midfielder had been allowed some time off after a hectic schedule during the past month, which included the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico with the U.S. U-23 National Team and an international friendly last week with the U.S. Senior side against Holland in Amsterdam.

· Defender C.J. Brown is expected to join his teammates this Saturday. The “Fire Original” stayed behind in Chicago to be with his wife Kim during the birth of their first child, daughter Canessa J-Lyn Brown, on Tuesday afternoon. Mother, father and child are all reported as doing well.

2004 Chicago Fire Preseason Results
Date Opponent Site Score/Time Record
2-08 U.S. Men’s National Team IMG Academy-Bradenton, FL 0-1 L 0-1-0
2-08 U.S. Under-17 National Team IMG Academy-Bradenton, FL 2-2 T 0-1-1
2-10 MetroStars IMG Academy-Bradenton, FL 4-1 W 1-1-1
2-12 U.S. Men’s National Team IMG Academy-Bradenton, FL 0-0 T 1-1-2
2-14 Colorado Rapids IMG Academy-Bradenton, FL 0-1 L 1-2-2
2-17 Kansas City Wizards IMG Academy-Bradenton, FL 1-2 L 1-3-2
2-24 Atletico Marinhense (POR) Marinha Grande, Portugal 4-2 W 2-3-2
2-26 Acádemica de Coimbra (POR) Coimbra, Portugal 0-2 L 2-4-2
2-29 Uniao de Santarem (POR) Santarem, Portugal 3:00 p.m. local (9:00 a.m. CT)
3-02 Belenenses (POR) Belenenses, Portugal 4:00 p.m. local (10:00 a.m. CT)