1998 Chicago Fire season

Last updated

Chicago Fire
1998 season
Chicago Fire SC wordmark secondary.svg
Head coach Bob Bradley
Major League Soccer West: 2nd
Overall: 3rd
MLS Cup Playoffs Winners
U.S. Open Cup Winners
Brimstone Cup Winners
1999  

The 1998 Chicago Fire season was the Chicago Fire Soccer Club's inaugural season of existence, and their first season in Major League Soccer, the top tier of American soccer.

Contents

The Chicago Fire enjoyed one of the strongest debuts for an expansion club in the history of American soccer and of the North American sports leagues in general. The Fire won the double by winning both MLS Cup '98 and the 1998 U.S. Open Cup Final, both in a five-day timespan. It was the first time that an expansion franchise in any of the major American sports leagues won the league championship. The next time an expansion franchise would reach the championship of their respective sports league would be 20 years later, when the first-year Vegas Golden Knights NHL ice hockey team reached the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals.

Background

The last professional soccer club to play in the Chicago area was the Chicago Sting, who played in the original NASL from 1974 to 1983, and then in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1984 to 1988. The Sting won two Soccer Bowl championships: in 1981 and again in 1984.

The Chicago Fire were one of two new MLS expansion teams to join MLS in 1998, and the first two ever expansion teams in league history, the other team being the now-defunct Miami Fusion. The Fire were founded on October 8, 1997, [1] on the 126th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire. The club was named after the event. The club focused on recruiting players of various descent to reflect on the diversity of the region. The team brought in Polish players Piotr Nowak, Jerzy Podbrożny, and Roman Kosecki; the Mexican Jorge Campos; and the Czech Luboš Kubík.

Club

Roster

No.NameNationalityPositionDate of Birth (Age) [A] Previous Club
Goalkeepers
Jorge Campos Flag of Mexico.svg GK October 15, 1966 (aged 32) Flag of Mexico.svg Cruz Azul
Scott Coufal Flag of the United States.svg GK September 27, 1974 (aged 24)
Kevin Rueda Flag of the United States.svg GK March 16, 1969 (aged 29)
Zach Thornton Flag of the United States.svg GK October 10, 1973 (aged 25)
David Winner Flag of the United States.svg GK April 23, 1971 (aged 27)
Defenders
Diego Gutiérrez Flag of the United States.svg DF November 3, 1972 (aged 25)
Ritchie Kotschau Flag of the United States.svg DF November 22, 1975 (aged 22)
Luboš Kubík Flag of the Czech Republic.svg CB January 20, 1964 (aged 34)
Francis Okaroh Flag of Nigeria.svg CB August 25, 1963 (aged 35)
Mike Richardson Flag of the United States.svg DF October 8, 1968 (aged 30)
Tom Soehn Flag of the United States.svg DF April 15, 1966 (aged 32)
Brian Bates Flag of the United States.svg DF August 16, 1972 (aged 26) Flag of the United States.svg Colorado Rapids
C. J. Brown Flag of the United States.svg CB June 15, 1975 (aged 23) Flag of the United States.svg San Francisco Bay Seals
Andrew Lewis Flag of the United States.svg DF July 10, 1974 (aged 24)
Joe Carver Flag of the United States.svg DF June 11, 1971 (aged 27)
Midfielders
Chris Armas Flag of the United States.svg MF August 22, 1972 (aged 26) Flag of the United States.svg LA Galaxy
Zak Ibsen Flag of the United States.svg MF June 2, 1972 (aged 26)
Josh Keller Flag of the United States.svg MF February 16, 1975 (aged 23)
Manny Lagos Flag of the United States.svg MF June 11, 1971 (aged 27)
Jesse Marsch Flag of the United States.svg MF November 8, 1973 (aged 24)
Peter Nowak Flag of Poland.svg MF July 5, 1964 (aged 34)
Jorge Salcedo Flag of the United States.svg MF September 27, 1972 (aged 26)
Forwards
Frank Klopas Flag of the United States.svg FW September 1, 1966 (aged 32)
Roman Kosecki Flag of Poland.svg FW February 15, 1966 (aged 32)
Tony Kuhn Flag of the United States.svg FW December 15, 1975 (aged 22)
Jerzy Podbrożny Flag of Poland.svg FW December 17, 1966 (aged 31)
Ante Razov Flag of the United States.svg FW March 2, 1974 (aged 24)
Josh Wolff Flag of the United States.svg FW February 25, 1977 (aged 21)
  1. ^
    Player's age during the 1998 season.


Team management

PositionStaff
General Manager Peter Wilt
Head Coach Bob Bradley
Assistant Coach
Assistant Coach
Goalkeeper Coach

Source: [ citation needed ]

Competitive

Major League Soccer

Standings

Western Conference
PosTeamPldWSOWLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Los Angeles Galaxy 3222288544+4168 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 Chicago Fire 32182126245+1756
3 Colorado Rapids 32142166269744
4 Dallas Burn 321141743591637
5 San Jose Clash 321031948601233
6 Kansas City Wizards 32102204550532
Source: MLS
Overall table
PosTeamPldWSOWLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Los Angeles Galaxy (S)3222288544+4168 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
2 D.C. United 3217787448+2658
3 Chicago Fire (C)32182126245+1756
4 Columbus Crew 32150176756+1145
5 Colorado Rapids 32142166269744
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

Results by round

Matchday1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132
StadiumAHAAHAHAHHAHHAHHHAAAAAHHAAHAHHHA
ResultWWLLLLLWWWSOWWWWWWWLLLLLWWWWLWWWL
Source: Chicago-Fire.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; L = Loss; SO = Shootout Win

Match reports

March 21, 1998 (1998-03-21)1 Miami Fusion 0–2 Chicago Fire Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Report
Stadium: Lockhart Stadium
Attendance: 14,653
Referee: Arturo Angeles
April 4, 1998 (1998-04-04)2 Chicago Fire 2–0 Tampa Bay Mutiny Chicago
Report
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 36,444
Referee: Esse Baharmast
April 8, 1998 (1998-04-08)3 Kansas City Wizards 1–0 Chicago Fire Kansas City, Missouri
Report Stadium: Arrowhead Stadium
Attendance: 4,130
Referee: Kevin Terry
April 11, 1998 (1998-04-11)4 San Jose Clash 1–0 Chicago Fire San Jose, California
Report
Stadium: Spartan Stadium
Attendance: 9,937
Referee: Marcel Yonan
April 17, 1998 (1998-04-17)5 Chicago Fire 0–1 MetroStars Chicago, Illinois
Report
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 24,661
Referee: Juan Carlos Paniagua
April 25, 1998 (1998-04-25)6 Colorado Rapids 4–4
(3–1 SO)
Chicago Fire Denver, Colorado
Report
Stadium: Mile High Stadium
Attendance: 10,736
Referee: Refugio Ramirez
Shootout
May 2, 1998 (1998-05-02)7 Chicago Fire 1–3 D.C. United Chicago, Illinois
Report
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 27,136
Referee: Reggie Rutty
May 16, 1998 (1998-05-16)8 Tampa Bay Mutiny 1–2 Chicago Fire Tampa, Florida
Report
Stadium: Houlihan's Stadium
Attendance: 6,391
Referee: Arturo Angeles
May 20, 1998 (1998-05-20)9 Chicago Fire 3–1 Los Angeles Galaxy Chicago, Illinois
Report
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 10,520
Referee: Alex Prus
Note: Match originally scheduled for May 9, 1998
May 23, 1998 (1998-05-23)10 Chicago Fire 5–0 Colorado Rapids Chicago, Illinois
Report
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 23,789
Referee: Marcel Yonan
Note: Match originally scheduled for May 24, 1998
May 30, 1998 (1998-05-30)11 Los Angeles Galaxy 1–1
(1–3 SO)
Chicago Fire Pasadena, California
Report
Stadium: Rose Bowl
Attendance: 28,241
Referee: Rich Grady
Shootout
June 6, 1998 (1998-06-06)12 Chicago Fire 2–0 Columbus Crew Chicago, Illinois
Report
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 19,801
Referee: Noel Kenny
June 11, 1998 (1998-06-11)13 Chicago Fire 5–2 San Jose Clash Chicago, Illinois
Report
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 7,598
Referee: Kevin Stott
June 14, 1998 (1998-06-14)14 New England Revolution 1–3 Chicago Fire Foxborough, Massachusetts
Report
Stadium: Foxboro Stadium
Attendance: 17,054
Referee: Tim Weyland
June 17, 1998 (1998-06-17)15 Chicago Fire 1–0 Dallas Burn Chicago, Illinois
Report
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 9,638
Referee: Michael Kennedy
Note: Match originally scheduled for May 13, 1998
June 24, 1998 (1998-06-24)16 Chicago Fire 4–1 Kansas City Wizards Chicago, Illinois
Report Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 13,396
Referee: Arturo Angeles
July 1, 1998 (1998-07-01)17 Chicago Fire 4–1 Dallas Burn Chicago, Illinois
Report
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 13,615
Referee: Kevin Terry
July 4, 1998 (1998-07-04)18 Dallas Burn 0–1 Chicago Fire Dallas
Report
Stadium: Cotton Bowl
Attendance: 12,372
Referee: Tim Weyland
July 9, 1998 (1998-07-09)19 Columbus Crew 3–0 Chicago Fire Columbus, Ohio
Report Stadium: Ohio Stadium
Attendance: 10,091
Referee: Paul Tamberino
July 18, 1998 (1998-07-18)20 D.C. United 4–1 Chicago Fire Washington, D.C.
Report
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 16,779
Referee: Esse Baharmast
July 25, 1998 (1998-07-25)21 MetroStars 3–2 Chicago Fire East Rutherford, New Jersey
Report
Stadium: Giants Stadium
Attendance: 15,130
Referee: Brian Hall
July 29, 1998 (1998-07-29)22 San Jose Clash 3–0 Chicago Fire San Jose, California
Report
Stadium: Spartan Stadium
Attendance: 12,299
Referee: Ricardo Valenzuela
August 8, 1998 (1998-08-08)23 Chicago Fire 1–2 Los Angeles Galaxy Chicago, Illinois
Report
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 37,122
Referee: Paul Tamberino
August 15, 1998 (1998-08-15)24 Chicago Fire 2–1 San Jose Clash Chicago, Illinois
Report
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 16,610
Referee: Ted Covaciu
August 21, 1998 (1998-08-21)25 Colorado Rapids 0–2 Chicago Fire Denver, Colorado
Report
Stadium: Mile High Stadium
Attendance: 24,450
Referee: Tim Weyland
August 29, 1998 (1998-08-29)26 Kansas City Wizards 2–2
(2–3 SO)
Chicago Fire Kansas City, Missouri
Report
Stadium: Arrowhead Stadium
Attendance: 8,621
Referee: Sandra Hunt
Shootout
September 2, 1998 (1998-09-02)27 Chicago Fire 3–2 Miami Fusion Chicago, Illinois
Report
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 11,319
Referee: Jose Manuel Garcia Aranda
Note: Match originally scheduled for July 11, 1998
September 10, 1998 (1998-09-10)28 Dallas Burn 3–2 Chicago Fire Dallas, Texas
Report
Stadium: Cotton Bowl
Attendance: 9,745
Referee: Ali Saheli
September 13, 1998 (1998-09-13)29 Chicago Fire 3–1 Colorado Rapids Chicago, Illinois
Report
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 15,014
Referee: Kevin Terry
September 17, 1998 (1998-09-17)30 Chicago Fire 1–0 Kansas City Wizards Chicago, Illinois
Report
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 8,283
Referee: Noel Kenny
September 23, 1998 (1998-09-23)31 Chicago Fire 3–2 New England Revolution Chicago, Illinois
Report
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 11,244
Referee: Michael Kennedy
September 27, 1998 (1998-09-27)32 Los Angeles Galaxy 1–0 Chicago Fire Pasadena, California
Report Stadium: Rose Bowl
Attendance: 20,105
Referee: Ali Saheli

MLS Cup Playoffs

Western Conference semifinals

October 1, 1998 (1998-10-01)Game 1 Chicago Fire 1–1
(3–2 SO)
Colorado Rapids Chicago, Illinois
Report
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 12,610
Referee: Kevin Terry
Shootout
October 5, 1998 (1998-10-05)Game 2 Colorado Rapids 0–1 Chicago Fire Denver, Colorado
Report
Stadium: Mile High Stadium
Attendance: 6,582
Referee: Noel Kenny

Western Conference finals

October 10, 1998 (1998-10-10)Game 1 Los Angeles Galaxy 0–1 Chicago Fire Pasadena, California
Report
Stadium: Rose Bowl
Attendance: 25,107
Referee: Kevin Terry
October 16, 1998 (1998-10-16)Game 2 Chicago Fire 1–1
(2–1 SO)
Los Angeles Galaxy Chicago, Illinois
Report
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 32,744
Referee: Paul Tamberino
Shootout

MLS Cup

October 25, 1998 (1998-10-25) MLS Cup Chicago Fire 2–0 D.C. United Pasadena, California
Report
Stadium: Rose Bowl
Attendance: 51,350
Referee: Kevin Terry

U.S. Open Cup

July 6, 1998 (1998-07-06)Third round Chicago Stingers Flag of Illinois.svg 1–3 Flag of Illinois.svg Chicago Fire Arlington Heights, Illinois
July 22, 1998 (1998-07-22)Quarterfinals Chicago Fire Flag of Illinois.svg 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)
Flag of California.svg San Jose Clash Dallas, Texas
Stadium: Cotton Bowl
Attendance: 3,812
Referee: Kevin Terry
Penalties
August 4, 1998 (1998-08-04)Semifinals Chicago Fire Flag of Illinois.svg 3–2 Flag of Texas.svg Dallas Burn Metairie, Louisiana
Stadium: Zephyr Field
Attendance: 6,514
Referee: Rich Grady
October 30, 1998 (1998-10-30) Final Chicago Fire Flag of Illinois.svg 2–1 (a.e.t.) Flag of Ohio.svg Columbus Crew Chicago, Illinois
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 18,615
Referee: Arturo Angeles

Statistics

Appearances and Goalscorers

No.PosNatPlayerTotal MLS MLS Cup US Open Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
14 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Chris Armas 3913115030
5 DF Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  CZE Luboš Kubík 40113175242
2 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA C. J. Brown 3722825040
20 DF Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Francis Okaroh 3302605020
15 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jesse Marsch 38325+425140
11 FW Flag of Poland.svg  POL Roman Kosecki 28102591021
9 FW Flag of Poland.svg  POL Jerzy Podbrożny 34825+165131
12 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ante Razov 381124+610502+11
10 MF Flag of Poland.svg  POL Piotr Nowak 317246511+10
18 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Zach Thornton 33023+205030
3 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ritchie Kotschau 26423+140020
41 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Frank Klopas 33817+1061+202+12
8 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Diego Gutiérrez 2128+505131
1 GK Flag of Mexico.svg  MEX Jorge Campos 1008+100010
DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jorge Salcedo 1106+500000
17 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Andrew Lewis 1506+700020
6 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Tom Soehn 110600+5000
25 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Zak Ibsen 3405+2200+302+20
16 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Josh Wolff 2394+1083+203+11
19 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Josh Keller 903+30001+20
DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Brian Bates 402+200000
22 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Tony Kuhn 701+400+1010
24 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Scott Coufal 20100010
7 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Manny Lagos 100+100000
4 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Michael Richardson100+100000

Goalscorers

RankPos.No.PlayerMLSMLS CupUS Open CupTotal

Transfers

Transfers in

No.Pos.PlayerFromFeeDateSource

Transfers out

No.Pos.PlayerToFeeDateSource

Loan in

No.Pos.PlayerLoaned fromStartEndSource

Loan out

No.Pos.PlayerLoaned toStartEndSource

Awards

See also

Related Research Articles

The 2002 Major League Soccer SuperDraft was held on February 10, 2002 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

The 2001 Major League Soccer SuperDraft was held on February 5, 2001, at the Signature Grand in Davie, Florida.

The 2000 Major League Soccer SuperDraft was held on February 6, 2000 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and consisted of six rounds.

The 1998 Major League Soccer College Draft was held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on January 31 and February 1, 1998. The College Draft was followed by the 1998 MLS Supplemental Draft.

The 1998 Major League Soccer supplemental draft was held on February 1, 1998, at the Airport Hilton in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The Western Conference is one of Major League Soccer's two conferences, along with the Eastern Conference. As of 2023, the division of the Conferences broadly follows the path of the Mississippi River from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, with clubs on, or west of the River in the Western Conference.

The 2001 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup ran from June through October 2001, open to all soccer teams in the United States.

The 2000 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup ran from June through October, 2000, open to all soccer teams in the United States.

The 1998 D.C. United season was the clubs' fourth year of existence, as well as their third season in Major League Soccer.

The 1997 Dallas Burn season was the second season of the Major League Soccer team. The team made the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The team also won the U.S. Open Cup during the season.

The 1998 Dallas Burn season was the third season of the Major League Soccer team. The team made the playoffs for the third consecutive year.

The 1999 Dallas Burn season was the fourth season of the Major League Soccer team. The team made the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.

The 2000 Dallas Burn season was the fifth season of the Major League Soccer team. The team made the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. It would be the final season that Dave Dir was head coach.

The 2001 Dallas Burn season was the sixth season of the Major League Soccer team. The team made the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year. Due to the September 11 attacks, the final two games of the season were cancelled. It was the first season under new head coach Mike Jeffries. The season was full of highs and lows. The team set the franchise record for highest attended playoff game on September 23, a record which still stands. The team also had their worst run in the U.S. Open Cup in franchise history, losing to the Seattle Sounders in overtime of the second round.

The 2001 San Jose Earthquakes season was the sixth season of the team's existence, and saw the franchise win its first MLS Cup.

The 2001 Miami Fusion season was the fourth and final season of the Miami Fusion's existence. They competed in Major League Soccer and played their home matches at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They won the club's first and only trophy by securing the Supporters' Shield as the team with the best regular season record. Outside of MLS, they competed in the U.S. Open Cup where they were eliminated by Columbus Crew in the Third Round. Due to financial problems, the club folded in January 2002.

The 2000 San Jose Earthquakes season was the fifth season of the team's existence, and the first year that the MLS team used the "Earthquakes" name. The team finished with the worst record Western conference as well as the league.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1998 San Jose Clash season</span> San Jose Clash 1998 soccer season

The 1998 San Jose Clash season was the third season of the team's existence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1999 San Jose Clash season</span> San Jose Clash 1999 soccer season

The 1999 San Jose Clash season was the fourth season of the team's existence. The San Jose Clash were purchased and owned by the Kraft Group Sports on November 18, 1999. San Jose revamped their roster for the 1999 season adding an influx of youth utilizing the draft with Jamie Clark, Jimmy Conrad, Scott Bower, Caleb Porter, Maxi Viera, Carlos Farias and Anthony Farace. They also picked up Joe Cannon, Leighton O'Brien, Adam Frye and Joey Martinez. The team set an MLS best in shootouts with 11 wins in 1999.

References

  1. "Chicago Fire Club History". chicago-fire.com.