2008 Chicago Fire season

Chicago Fire S.C.
2008 season
ChairmanAndrew Hauptman
ManagerDenis Hamlett
MLS3rd overall (2nd in Eastern Conference)
MLS Cup PlayoffsConference Final
U.S. Open CupQuarterfinals
Brimstone CupRunners-up
Top goalscorerLeague: Chris Rolfe (9)[1]
All: Chris Rolfe (10)
Average home league attendance17,052[2]
← 2007
2009 →

The 2008 Chicago Fire season was the club's 10th year of existence, as well as their 11th season in Major League Soccer and 11th consecutive year in the top-flight of American soccer. It began with a 3-1 away win over Real Salt Lake on March 29, 2008 and ended with a 2-1 loss to Columbus Crew in the Eastern Conference Final on November 13, 2008. Denis Hamlett made his debut as the Chicago Fire coach after being promoted.

Roster

Squad

  • Players in bold have had senior international caps for their respective national squads.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
0 GK United States USA Tyler Kettering
1 GK United States USA Jon Busch
2 DF United States USA C.J. Brown (Vice-captain)
3 FW United States USA Calen Carr
4 MF Mali MLI Bakary Soumare
5 MF United States USA Brian Plotkin
6 DF United States USA Brandon Prideaux
7 MF United States USA Logan Pause
8 MF United States USA Diego Gutiérrez
9 FW Poland POL Tomasz Frankowski
10 MF Mexico MEX Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Captain)
11 MF United States USA John Thorrington
12 FW Ghana GHA Patrick Nyarko
16 MF Guatemala GUA Marco Pappa
17 FW United States USA Chris Rolfe
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 MF United States USA Mike Banner
20 FW United States USA Brian McBride
21 MF United States USA Justin Mapp
22 DF Colombia COL Wilman Conde
23 MF Paraguay PAR Líder Mármol
24 DF United States USA Daniel Woolard
25 DF Costa Rica CRC Gonzalo Segares
26 FW Costa Rica CRC Andy Herron
28 GK United States USA Nick Noble
29 MF United States USA Peter Lowry
32 DF United States USA Dasan Robinson
33 MF United States USA Stephen King
34 DF United States USA Austin Washington
36 MF United States USA Kai Kasiguran
70 MF France FRA Saad Karim Hadji

Transfers

In

Out

Club

Management

Other information

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Last updated on June 5, 2008.
No. Pos Nat Player Total MLS Season
Apps Goals Apps Goals
0 GK United States USA Tyler Kettering 0 0 0 0
1 GK United States USA Jon Busch 30 0 30 0
2 DF United States USA C.J. Brown 3 0 3 0
3 FW United States USA Calen Carr 9 2 9 2
4 MF Mali MLI Bakary Soumare 28 0 28 0
6 DF United States USA Brandon Prideaux 27 0 27 0
7 MF United States USA Logan Pause 27 0 27 0
8 MF United States USA Diego Gutiérrez 20 0 20 0
9 FW Poland POL Tomasz Frankowski 17 2 17 2
10 MF Mexico MEX Cuauhtémoc Blanco 27 7 27 7
11 MF United States USA John Thorrington 23 5 23 5
12 FW Ghana GHA Patrick Nyarko 9 1 9 1
16 MF Guatemala GUA Marco Pappa 6 0 6 0
17 FW United States USA Chris Rolfe 26 10 26 10
18 MF United States USA Mike Banner 11 0 11 0
20 FW United States USA Brian McBride 11 5 11 5
21 MF United States USA Justin Mapp 30 2 30 2
22 DF Colombia COL Wilman Conde 22 1 22 1
23 DF Paraguay PAR Lider Marmol 2 0 2 0
24 DF United States USA Daniel Woolard 8 1 8 1
25 DF Costa Rica CRC Gonzalo Segares 23 2 23 2
26 FW Costa Rica CRC Andy Herron 17 0 17 0
28 GK United States USA Nick Noble 0 0 0 0
29 MF United States USA Peter Lowry 0 0 0 0
32 DF United States USA Dasan Robinson 2 0 2 0
33 MF United States USA Stephen King 20 2 20 2
34 DF United States USA Austin Washington 1 0 1 0
36 MF United States USA Kai Kasiguran 0 0 0 0

Competitions

Overall

Competition Started round Current
position / round
Final
position / round
First match Last match
MLS March 29, 2008

Updated to match played July 21, 2009
Source: Competitions

Major League Soccer

Standings

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Columbus Crew 30 17 7 6 50 36 +14 57 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 Chicago Fire 30 13 10 7 44 33 +11 46
3 New England Revolution 30 12 11 7 40 43 −3 43
4 Kansas City Wizards 30 11 10 9 37 39 −2 42
5 New York Red Bulls 30 10 11 9 42 48 −6 39
6 D.C. United 30 11 15 4 43 51 −8 37
7 Toronto FC 30 9 13 8 34 43 −9 35
Source: MLS
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Columbus Crew (C, S) 30 17 7 6 50 36 +14 57 CONCACAF Champions League
2 Houston Dynamo 30 13 5 12 45 32 +13 51
3 Chicago Fire 30 13 10 7 44 33 +11 46 North American SuperLiga
4 Chivas USA 30 12 11 7 40 41 −1 43
5 New England Revolution 30 12 11 7 40 43 −3 43
6 Kansas City Wizards 30 11 10 9 37 39 −2 42
7 Real Salt Lake 30 10 10 10 40 39 +1 40
8 New York Red Bulls 30 10 11 9 42 48 −6 39 CONCACAF Champions League
9 Colorado Rapids 30 11 14 5 44 45 −1 38
10 D.C. United 30 11 15 4 43 51 −8 37 CONCACAF Champions League
11 FC Dallas 30 8 10 12 45 41 +4 36
12 Toronto FC 30 9 13 8 34 43 −9 35 CONCACAF Champions League[a]
13 LA Galaxy 30 8 13 9 55 62 −7 33
14 San Jose Earthquakes 30 8 13 9 32 38 −6 33
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head record; 3) goal difference; 4) number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (S) Supporters' Shield
Notes:
  1. ^ As winners of the 2009 Canadian Championship

Results summary

Overall Home Away
Pld Pts W L T GF GA GD W L T GF GA GD W L T GF GA GD
30 46 13 10 7 44 33  +11 7 5 3 23 17  +6 6 5 4 21 16  +5

Last updated: July 21, 2009
Source: Major League Soccer
Pld = Matches played; Pts = Points; W = Matches won; T = Matches tied; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
StadiumAHAHHAAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAAHAHHAHAH
ResultTWWLWWWLWLLLTTWTTWWLWLWLLWTTLW
Source: Chicago Fire
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; L = Loss; T = Tie

Matches

  Win   Tie   Loss

MLS regular season

March 29, 2008 Real Salt Lake 1–1 Chicago Fire Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Joy Yellow card 51'
Soumare 71' (o.g.)
Findley Yellow card 80'
Beckerman Yellow card 87'
Report[permanent dead link] Pause Yellow card 89'
Blanco 92+'
Stadium: Rice-Eccles Stadium
Attendance: 20,272
Referee: Terry Vaughn
April 3, 2008 Chicago Fire 4–0 New England Revolution Bridgeview, Illinois, United States
Barrett 4'
Mapp Yellow card 17'
Frankowski 22'
Blanco 37' (pen.)
Frankowski 39'
Barrett Yellow card 50'
Gutierrez Yellow card 89'
Report Larentowicz Red card 7'
Joseph Yellow card 7'
Mansally Yellow card 23'
Stadium: Toyota Park
Attendance: 15,553
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
April 12, 2008 San Jose Earthquakes 0–1 Chicago Fire Oakland, California, United States
Cochrane Yellow card 65'
Riley Yellow card 94+'
Report[permanent dead link] Barrett 19'
Soumare Yellow card 55'
Stadium: McAfee Coliseum
Attendance: 20,038
Referee: Kevin Stott
April 20, 2008 Chicago Fire 0–1 Kansas City Wizards Bridgeview, Illinois, United States
Prideaux Yellow card 46' Report[permanent dead link] Jewsbury 4'
Harrington Yellow card 57'
Trujillo Yellow card 76'
Stadium: Toyota Park
Attendance: 17,121
Referee: Jair Marrufo
April 26, 2008 Chicago Fire 2–1 Colorado Rapids Bridgeview, Illinois, United States
Segares Yellow card 45'
Thorrington 53'
Thorrington 84'
Gutierrez Yellow card 88'
Report Gomez Yellow card 45'
Gomez Yellow card 64'
Gray Yellow card 66'
McManus 86'
Stadium: Toyota Park
Attendance: 14,251
Referee: Tim Weyland
May 3, 2008 New England Revolution 0–3 Chicago Fire Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States
Report[permanent dead link] Rolfe 29'
Thorrington 50'
King 76'
Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Attendance: 10,858
Referee: Jair Marrufo
May 8, 2008 D.C. United 0–2 Chicago Fire Washington, D.C., United States
Burch Yellow card 30'
Dyachenko Yellow card 40'
Namoff Yellow card 73'
Report[permanent dead link] Mapp 38'
Blanco 62'
Prideaux Yellow card 77'
Thorrington Yellow card 92'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 18,605
Referee: Terry Vaughn
May 17, 2008 Chicago Fire 1–2 Houston Dynamo Bridgeview, Illinois, United States
Carr 28'
Segares Yellow card 92'
Blanco Yellow card 95'
Report[permanent dead link] De Rosario 17'
Clark Yellow card 48'
De Rosario Yellow card 58'
Boswell 82'
Stadium: Toyota Park
Attendance: 17,183
Referee: Paul Ward
May 25, 2008 New York Red Bulls 1–5 Chicago Fire East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States
Angel Yellow card 68'
Altidore 74'
Report[permanent dead link] Barrett 8'
Rolfe 48'
Blanco 55'
Barrett 60'
Segares 62'
Soumare Yellow card 68'
Stadium: Giants Stadium
Attendance: 14,754
Referee: Ricardo Salazar
June 7, 2008 Chicago Fire v D.C. United Bridgeview, Illinois
Stadium: Toyota Park
June 15, 2008 F.C. Dallas v Chicago Fire Fort Worth, Texas
Stadium: Toyota Stadium
June 19, 2008 Chivas USA v Chicago Fire Carson, California
Stadium: Home Depot Center
June 28, 2008 Chicago Fire v San Jose Earthquakes Bridgeview, Illinois
Stadium: Toyota Park
July 5, 2008 Columbus Crew v Chicago Fire Columbus, Ohio
Stadium: MAPFRE Stadium
July 12, 2008 Chicago Fire v Toronto FC Bridgeview, Illinois
Stadium: Toyota Park
July 19, 2008 Chicago Fire v Real Salt Lake Bridgeview, Illinois
Stadium: Toyota Park
July 27, 2008 Kansas City Wizards v Chicago Fire Kansas City, Kansas
Stadium: CommunityAmerica Ballpark
August 2, 2008 Chivas USA v Chicago Fire Carson, California
Stadium: Home Depot Center
August 9, 2008 New England Revolution v Chicago Fire Foxborough, Massachusetts
Stadium: Gillette Stadium
August 16, 2008 Chicago Fire v D.C. United Bridgeview, Illinois
Stadium: Toyota Park
August 21, 2008 Los Angeles Galaxy v Chicago Fire Carson, California
Stadium: StubHub Center
August 31, 2008 Houston Dynamo FC v Chicago Fire Houston, Texas
Stadium: Robertson Stadium
September 6, 2008 Chicago Fire v New York Red Bulls Bridgeview, Illinois
Stadium: Toyota Park
September 14, 2008 Colorado Rapids v Chicago Fire Commerce City, Colorado
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
September 21, 2008 Chicago Fire v FC Dallas Bridgeview, Illinois
Stadium: Toyota Park
September 25, 2008 Chicago Fire v Los Angeles Galaxy Bridgeview, Illinois
Stadium: Toyota Park
October 5, 2008 Kansas City Wizards v Chicago Fire Kansas City, Kansas
Stadium: CommunityAmerica Ballpark
October 12, 2008 Chicago Fire 2–2 Columbus Crew Bridgeview, Illinois, United States
McBride 13', 79' Report, Report Gaven 59'
Busch Yellow card 45'
Schelotto 61'
Carroll Yellow card 86'
Stadium: Toyota Park
Attendance: 14,994
Referee: Shane Moody
October 18, 2008 Toronto FC v Chicago Fire Exhibition Place
Stadium: BMO Field
October 23, 2008 Chicago Fire v New York Red Bulls Bridgeview, Illinois
Stadium: Toyota Park

MLS Cup Playoffs

October 30, 2008 Conference Semifinals New England Revolution 0–0 Chicago Fire Foxborough, Massachusetts
6:30 p.m. CDT Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Attendance: 5,221
Referee: Alex Prus
November 6, 2008 Conference Semifinals Chicago Fire 3–0 New England Revolution Bridgeview, Illinois
7:30 p.m. CDT
Stadium: Toyota Park
Attendance: 17,312
Referee: Jair Marrufo
November 13, 2008 Conference Finals Columbus Crew 2–1 Chicago Fire Columbus, Ohio
6:30 p.m. CDT
Stadium: Columbus Crew Stadium
Attendance: 14,688
Referee: Terry Vaughn

U.S. Open Cup

June 10, 2008 MLS Qualifier Chicago Fire 3–2
(AET)
Columbus Crew Peoria, Illinois, United States
19:00 CDT King 10'
Herron 65'
Prideaux Yellow card 82'
Herron 116'
Report[permanent dead link] Ekpo 63'
Garey 67'
Zayner Yellow card 79'
Rogers Yellow card 100'
Stadium: Shea Stadium
Attendance: 3,829
Referee: Tony Russo
July 1, 2008 Third round Chicago Fire 4–1 Cleveland City Stars (USL-2) Bridgeview, Illinois, United States
19:30 CDT Banner 13'
Carr 23'
Barrett 26'
Marmol Yellow card 57'
Banner 73'
Report McClung 61'
Stewart Yellow card 78'
Stadium: Toyota Park
Referee: Hidajet Tica
July 8, 2008 Quarterfinals D.C. United 2–1
(AET)
Chicago Fire Germantown, Maryland, United States
19:30 EDT Doe Yellow card 52'
Doe 77'
Moreno Yellow card 89'
Namoff 99'
Fred Yellow card 107'
Burch Red card 108'
Report Woolard 36'
Soumare Yellow card 48'
Pause Yellow card 78'
Thorrington Yellow card 81'
Blanco Red card 108'
Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 4,118
Referee: Shane Moody

Friendlies

May 21, 2008 Chicago Fire United States 0–0 Poland Wisła Kraków Bridgeview, Illinois, United States
19:30 CDT Robinson Yellow card 20'
Conde Yellow card 75'
Brown Yellow card 78'
Woolard Yellow card 81'
Report[permanent dead link] Cléber Yellow card 51'
Cantoro Yellow card 54'
Díaz Yellow card 55'
Stadium: Toyota Park
Attendance: 14,040
Referee: Mark Kadlecik
July 30, 2008 Chicago Fire United States 2–0 England Everton F.C. Bridgeview, Illinois, United States
19:30 CDT Rolfe 42'
Frankowski 70'
Report Baxter Yellow card 45'
Gosling Yellow card 81'
Vaughan Red card 92+'
Stadium: Toyota Park
Attendance: 9,125
Referee: Landis Wiley

References

  1. ^ "MLSSoccer.com 2008 Stats".
  2. ^ "USA Major League Soccer - Attendance - 2008". ESPN Soccernet. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2009.