1998 Chicago Fire season
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.
| 1998 season | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Head coach | Bob Bradley | |
| Major League Soccer | West: 2nd Overall: 3rd | |
| MLS Cup Playoffs | Winners | |
| U.S. Open Cup | Winners | |
| Brimstone Cup | Winners | |
|
| ||
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. | Name | Nationality | Position | Date of Birth (Age)[A] | Previous Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | |||||
| Jorge Campos |  |
GK | October 15, 1966 (aged 32) | Cruz Azul | |
| Scott Coufal |  |
GK | September 27, 1974 (aged 24) | ||
| Kevin Rueda | |
GK | March 16, 1969 (aged 29) | ||
| Zach Thornton | |
GK | October 10, 1973 (aged 25) | ||
| David Winner | |
GK | April 23, 1971 (aged 27) | ||
| Defenders | |||||
| Diego Gutiérrez | |
DF | November 3, 1972 (aged 25) | ||
| Ritchie Kotschau | |
DF | November 22, 1975 (aged 22) | ||
| Luboš Kubík |  |
CB | January 20, 1964 (aged 34) | ||
| Francis Okaroh |  |
CB | August 25, 1963 (aged 35) | ||
| Mike Richardson | |
DF | October 8, 1968 (aged 30) | ||
| Tom Soehn | |
DF | April 15, 1966 (aged 32) | ||
| Brian Bates | |
DF | August 16, 1972 (aged 26) | Colorado Rapids | |
| C. J. Brown | |
CB | June 15, 1975 (aged 23) | San Francisco Bay Seals | |
| Andrew Lewis | |
DF | July 10, 1974 (aged 24) | ||
| Joe Carver | |
DF | June 11, 1971 (aged 27) | ||
| Midfielders | |||||
| Chris Armas | |
MF | August 22, 1972 (aged 26) | LA Galaxy | |
| Zak Ibsen | |
MF | June 2, 1972 (aged 26) | ||
| Josh Keller | |
MF | February 16, 1975 (aged 23) | ||
| Manny Lagos | |
MF | June 11, 1971 (aged 27) | ||
| Jesse Marsch | |
MF | November 8, 1973 (aged 24) | ||
| Peter Nowak |  |
MF | July 5, 1964 (aged 34) | ||
| Jorge Salcedo | |
MF | September 27, 1972 (aged 26) | ||
| Forwards | |||||
| Frank Klopas | |
FW | September 1, 1966 (aged 32) | ||
| Roman Kosecki | |
FW | February 15, 1966 (aged 32) | ||
| Tony Kuhn | |
FW | December 15, 1975 (aged 22) | ||
| Jerzy Podbrożny | |
FW | December 17, 1966 (aged 31) | ||
| Ante Razov | |
FW | March 2, 1974 (aged 24) | ||
| Josh Wolff | |
FW | February 25, 1977 (aged 21) | ||
- ^ Player's age during the 1998 season.
Team management
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| General Manager | Peter Wilt |
| Head Coach | Bob Bradley |
| Assistant Coach | |
| Assistant Coach | |
| Goalkeeper Coach |
Source:
Competitive
Major League Soccer
Western Conference
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | SOW | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 32 | 22 | 2 | 8 | 85 | 44 | +41 | 68 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 2 | Chicago Fire | 32 | 18 | 2 | 12 | 62 | 45 | +17 | 56 | |
| 3 | Colorado Rapids | 32 | 14 | 2 | 16 | 62 | 69 | −7 | 44 | |
| 4 | Dallas Burn | 32 | 11 | 4 | 17 | 43 | 59 | −16 | 37 | |
| 5 | San Jose Clash | 32 | 10 | 3 | 19 | 48 | 60 | −12 | 33 | |
| 6 | Kansas City Wizards | 32 | 10 | 2 | 20 | 45 | 50 | −5 | 32 |
Source: MLS
Overall table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | SOW | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles Galaxy (S) | 32 | 22 | 2 | 8 | 85 | 44 | +41 | 68 | CONCACAF Champions' Cup |
| 2 | D.C. United | 32 | 17 | 7 | 8 | 74 | 48 | +26 | 58 | |
| 3 | Chicago Fire (C) | 32 | 18 | 2 | 12 | 62 | 45 | +17 | 56 | |
| 4 | Columbus Crew | 32 | 15 | 0 | 17 | 67 | 56 | +11 | 45 | |
| 5 | Colorado Rapids | 32 | 14 | 2 | 16 | 62 | 69 | −7 | 44 |
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
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
Match reports
| March 21, 1998 1 | Miami Fusion | 0–2 | Chicago Fire | Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
| Report | Stadium: Lockhart Stadium Attendance: 14,653 Referee: Arturo Angeles |
| April 4, 1998 2 | Chicago Fire | 2–0 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | Chicago |
| Report | Stadium: Soldier Field Attendance: 36,444 Referee: Esse Baharmast |
| April 8, 1998 3 | Kansas City Wizards | 1–0 | Chicago Fire | Kansas City, Missouri |
|
Report | Stadium: Arrowhead Stadium Attendance: 4,130 Referee: Kevin Terry |
| April 11, 1998 4 | San Jose Clash | 1–0 | Chicago Fire | San Jose, California |
| Report |
|
Stadium: Spartan Stadium Attendance: 9,937 Referee: Marcel Yonan |
| April 17, 1998 5 | Chicago Fire | 0–1 | MetroStars | Chicago, Illinois |
|
Report | Stadium: Soldier Field Attendance: 24,661 Referee: Juan Carlos Paniagua |
| April 25, 1998 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 7 | Chicago Fire | 1–3 | D.C. United | Chicago, Illinois |
| Report | Stadium: Soldier Field Attendance: 27,136 Referee: Reggie Rutty |
| May 16, 1998 8 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 1–2 | Chicago Fire | Tampa, Florida |
|
Report | Stadium: Houlihan's Stadium Attendance: 6,391 Referee: Arturo Angeles |
| May 20, 1998 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 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 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 12 | Chicago Fire | 2–0 | Columbus Crew | Chicago, Illinois |
| Report |
|
Stadium: Soldier Field Attendance: 19,801 Referee: Noel Kenny |
| June 11, 1998 13 | Chicago Fire | 5–2 | San Jose Clash | Chicago, Illinois |
| Report | Stadium: Soldier Field Attendance: 7,598 Referee: Kevin Stott |
| June 14, 1998 14 | New England Revolution | 1–3 | Chicago Fire | Foxborough, Massachusetts |
| Report | Stadium: Foxboro Stadium Attendance: 17,054 Referee: Tim Weyland |
| June 17, 1998 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 16 | Chicago Fire | 4–1 | Kansas City Wizards | Chicago, Illinois |
| Report |
|
Stadium: Soldier Field Attendance: 13,396 Referee: Arturo Angeles |
| July 1, 1998 17 | Chicago Fire | 4–1 | Dallas Burn | Chicago, Illinois |
| Report | Stadium: Soldier Field Attendance: 13,615 Referee: Kevin Terry |
| July 4, 1998 18 | Dallas Burn | 0–1 | Chicago Fire | Dallas |
| Report | Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 12,372 Referee: Tim Weyland |
| July 9, 1998 19 | Columbus Crew | 3–0 | Chicago Fire | Columbus, Ohio |
| Report | Stadium: Ohio Stadium Attendance: 10,091 Referee: Paul Tamberino |
| July 18, 1998 20 | D.C. United | 4–1 | Chicago Fire | Washington, D.C. |
| Report |
|
Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 16,779 Referee: Esse Baharmast |
| July 25, 1998 21 | MetroStars | 3–2 | Chicago Fire | East Rutherford, New Jersey |
| Report | Stadium: Giants Stadium Attendance: 15,130 Referee: Brian Hall |
| July 29, 1998 22 | San Jose Clash | 3–0 | Chicago Fire | San Jose, California |
| Report | Stadium: Spartan Stadium Attendance: 12,299 Referee: Ricardo Valenzuela |
| August 8, 1998 23 | Chicago Fire | 1–2 | Los Angeles Galaxy | Chicago, Illinois |
| Report |
|
Stadium: Soldier Field Attendance: 37,122 Referee: Paul Tamberino |
| August 15, 1998 24 | Chicago Fire | 2–1 | San Jose Clash | Chicago, Illinois |
| Report | Stadium: Soldier Field Attendance: 16,610 Referee: Ted Covaciu |
| August 21, 1998 25 | Colorado Rapids | 0–2 | Chicago Fire | Denver, Colorado |
| Report | Stadium: Mile High Stadium Attendance: 24,450 Referee: Tim Weyland |
| August 29, 1998 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 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 28 | Dallas Burn | 3–2 | Chicago Fire | Dallas, Texas |
|
Report | Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 9,745 Referee: Ali Saheli |
| September 13, 1998 29 | Chicago Fire | 3–1 | Colorado Rapids | Chicago, Illinois |
| Report |
|
Stadium: Soldier Field Attendance: 15,014 Referee: Kevin Terry |
| September 17, 1998 30 | Chicago Fire | 1–0 | Kansas City Wizards | Chicago, Illinois |
| Report |
|
Stadium: Soldier Field Attendance: 8,283 Referee: Noel Kenny |
| September 23, 1998 31 | Chicago Fire | 3–2 | New England Revolution | Chicago, Illinois |
| Report | Stadium: Soldier Field Attendance: 11,244 Referee: Michael Kennedy |
MLS Cup Playoffs
Western Conference semifinals
Western Conference finals
MLS Cup
U.S. Open Cup
| July 6, 1998 Third round | Chicago Stingers  | 1–3 | Chicago Fire | Arlington Heights, Illinois |
| July 22, 1998 Quarterfinals | Chicago Fire | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p) |  San Jose Clash | Dallas, Texas |
|
|
Stadium: Cotton Bowl Attendance: 3,812 Referee: Kevin Terry | ||
| Penalties | ||||
| August 4, 1998 Semifinals | Chicago Fire | 3–2 |  Dallas Burn | Metairie, Louisiana |
| Stadium: Zephyr Field Attendance: 6,514 Referee: Rich Grady |
Statistics
Appearances and Goalscorers
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | MLS | MLS Cup | US Open Cup | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| 14 | MF | USA |
Chris Armas | 39 | 1 | 31 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | CZE |
Luboš Kubík | 40 | 11 | 31 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 2 | DF | USA |
C. J. Brown | 37 | 2 | 28 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | NGA |
Francis Okaroh | 33 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | USA |
Jesse Marsch | 38 | 3 | 25+4 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | POL |
Roman Kosecki | 28 | 10 | 25 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 9 | FW | POL |
Jerzy Podbrożny | 34 | 8 | 25+1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 12 | FW | USA |
Ante Razov | 38 | 11 | 24+6 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 2+1 | 1 |
| 10 | MF | POL |
Piotr Nowak | 31 | 7 | 24 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 18 | GK | USA |
Zach Thornton | 33 | 0 | 23+2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | USA |
Ritchie Kotschau | 26 | 4 | 23+1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 41 | FW | USA |
Frank Klopas | 33 | 8 | 17+10 | 6 | 1+2 | 0 | 2+1 | 2 |
| 8 | MF | USA |
Diego Gutiérrez | 21 | 2 | 8+5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 1 | GK | MEX |
Jorge Campos | 10 | 0 | 8+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| DF | USA |
Jorge Salcedo | 11 | 0 | 6+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 17 | DF | USA |
Andrew Lewis | 15 | 0 | 6+7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | USA |
Tom Soehn | 11 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | USA |
Zak Ibsen | 34 | 0 | 5+22 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 |
| 16 | FW | USA |
Josh Wolff | 23 | 9 | 4+10 | 8 | 3+2 | 0 | 3+1 | 1 |
| 19 | MF | USA |
Josh Keller | 9 | 0 | 3+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 |
| DF | USA |
Brian Bates | 4 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 22 | FW | USA |
Tony Kuhn | 7 | 0 | 1+4 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 24 | GK | USA |
Scott Coufal | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | USA |
Manny Lagos | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF |  ENG |
Michael Richardson | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goalscorers
| Rank | Pos. | No. | Player | MLS | MLS Cup | US Open Cup | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Transfers
Transfers in
| No. | Pos. | Player | From | Fee | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Transfers out
| No. | Pos. | Player | To | Fee | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loan in
| No. | Pos. | Player | Loaned from | Start | End | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loan out
| No. | Pos. | Player | Loaned to | Start | End | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Awards
See also
References
- "Chicago Fire Club History". chicago-fire.com.
External links
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