Game Reports from Ian McMahon, Coach
Game 1 versus Houston Dynamo TIED 3 - 3
After leading 3-0 the team finally felt the impact of the travel (a 2.30am start), the heat and the altitude, and Houston tied the game with a PK in the third minute of added time.
Game 2 versus Colorado Rapids WON 3 - 0
A comfortable victory
Game 3 versus Los Angeles Galaxy LOST 0 - 3.
Both teams came into the game knowing only a win would place them into the next round. With 10 minutes left to play and the game still tied at 0-0, the Fire pushed for the elusive goal, but conceded. At 1-0 down they pushed forward and conceded two more late goals.
Game 4 versus Chivas WON 5 - 3.
After starting slowly and going 3-1 down, the team rallied back for another victory. Al Palar(Naperville) lead the way with a hat trick.
"The tournament was a huge success and the players should be very proud of their achievements, we were without doubt in the toughest group and did very well to get as close as we can. We showed that the Fire has a great deal of talent throughout the country” Said Ian McMahon
Chicago Fire Juniors to Participate in Inaugural SUM U-17 Cup
Tournament Includes 11 MLS Youth Teams Before 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game
BRIDGEVIEW, IL (July 12, 2007) – Chicago Fire Soccer has announced that its Chicago Fire Juniors U-17 squad will compete in Soccer United Marketing’s inaugural Youth Development soccer tournament, the SUM U-17 Cup. The competition begins on Friday, July 13 at the soccer complex at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo., held in conjunction with the 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game. The tournament features 12 MLS U-17 Youth Development teams and will culminate in the championship game on the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park stadium field the morning of Thursday, July 19 at 10 a.m. MT. Mississippi Fire players taking part are: Cameron Troutman, Jabril Smith, L.J. Allen, Gentry Smith, and Stephen Roberson.
“The U-17 Cup gives elite young players the chance to play in a first class tournament, with world-class facilities, against their counterparts at other MLS U-17 Youth Development Teams” said MLS Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis. “This is a very exciting first step for these new youth teams, and the winners of the tournament will move on to an internationally-renowned youth tournament in Spain that will test them against some of the best young players in the world.”
The 12-team pool is comprised of the U-17 teams of all MLS clubs excluding Toronto FC and the New England Revolution and with two teams representing the Colorado Rapids. The tournament format will feature three groups of four with the group winners and the best second place team advancing to the semi finals which take place on Tuesday, July 17. The champion will take home the SUM U-17 Cup and earns the opportunity to participate in the 2008 Torneo Quixote in Spain.
Participating coaches will benefit from coaching seminars led by Major League Soccer official Alfonso Mondelo, who serves as Technical Director of Player Programs. Additionally, this tournament is being hosted at no cost to all participants as Soccer United Marketing and participating MLS Teams are covering the costs of player travel, accommodations and tournament-related expenses.
The Fire’s preliminary SUM U-17 Cup schedule is as follows with the first three rounds and all semi-final matches to be held in the complex adjacent to Dicks Sporting Goods Park. The tournament final is scheduled to be played on the Colorado Rapids game field at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park the morning of the 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game. For a complete schedule of the SUM U-17 Cup, visit www.mlsnet.com. All times are local and times/locations are subject to change.
About the SUM U-17 Cup
As a part of the “Home Grown Initiative,” the SUM U-17 Cup will focus on player development while providing elite competition for those involved this year and every year thereafter. Offering its participants a great opportunity for dedicated, elite soccer players to meet in a high-level playing environment, the SUM U-17 Cup will be both challenging and rewarding for everyone involved.
About the Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game
The 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game will feature the best in Major League Soccer versus Celtic FC of the Scottish Premier League. The game will be played on July 19 at 7:00 p.m. MT at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo., the new home of the Colorado Rapids. This will be the fourth time that the Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game has followed this format, adopted to ensure the most intriguing All-Star spectacle in U.S. professional sports. Last year, the MLS All-Stars defeated English Premier League power Chelsea FC, 1-0, at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. on a goal by Houston Dynamo midfielder Dwayne De Rosario. In 2005, the MLS stars defeated English Premier League club Fulham FC, 4-1, at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. In 2003, the MLS All-Stars downed Mexican club Chivas de Guadalajara, 3-1, at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
About Soccer United Marketing
Founded in 2002, Soccer United Marketing (SUM) is the preeminent commercial soccer company in North America. SUM holds the exclusive rights to the most important soccer properties in the region, including: all commercial rights to Major League Soccer; the United States Soccer Federation; promotional and marketing rights to the Mexican National Team tour on U.S. soil; management of the CONCACAF Gold Cup™, the region’s premier tournament for national teams; marketing, promotional and broadcast rights to the prestigious Mexican club tournament - InterLiga™, and ownership and management of SuperLiga™ - the innovative club tournament in North America involving teams from MLS and Mexico’s First Division, which will decide the continent’s champion and secure an unprecedented $1 million dollars in prize money. Other properties managed by SUM include the FC Barcelona USA Tour 2006 and the Real Madrid American Tour 2005. This extensive list of holdings is represented by SUM’s slogan: One Sport. One Company.