FIRE KICKSTART A THREE-GAME HOMESTAND VS. REAL SALT LAKE
After last Saturday’s 0-0 draw against the New York Red Bulls, Chicago Fire FC returns to the lakefront for a trifecta of home matches at Soldier Field. In their first leg of the homestand, the Fire will host Western Conference side Real Salt Lake in the Windy City. A rare matchup for Chicago, Saturday marks the first match against Real Salt Lake since the 2021 season, in what was a 1-0 victory for the Fire on home field.
The last time these two sides met, the Fire hosted Real Salt Lake at Soldier Field for just the second time in matchup history. After the team returned to Soldier Field in 2020, the two sides met along the lakefront on Oct. 23, 2021. In the match, Chicago recorded a 1-0 victory in front of 31,208 fans at Soldier Field in the home finale of the 2021 season.
Since their first matchup in 2005, the Fire have only played the Utah-based side on 23 occasions during the regular season. The Fire hold an all-time record of 8-7-8, including three straight unbeaten matches at home dating back to the 2017 season.
Kickoff for Saturday's match is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT. The match will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and will also be transmitted locally on wlsam.com (English) and WRTO 1200 AM (Spanish).
Game Information
CHICAGO FIRE FC (2-3-3, 9 points) vs. REAL SALT LAKE (3-2-3, 12 points)
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Soldier Field – Chicago
All-Time Record vs. RSL: (8-7-8)
Last Game vs. RSL: Oct. 23, 2021 (1-0 W) – Soldier Field – Chicago (Match Recap)
Last Game at RSL: June 22, 2019 (1-1 D) – America First Field – Sandy, Utah (Match Recap)
BY THE NUMBERS
1 – With his clean sheet on Saturday, goalkeeper Chris Brady recorded his first clean sheet of the 2024 regular season. Brady notched his ninth career clean sheet with five saves in the 0-0 draw against the New York Red Bulls.
910 – The number of days in between matchups for Chicago Fire FC and Real Salt Lake. With Saturday marking just the 24th matchup between the two clubs since their first meeting in 2005, it will be a rare contest against the Western Conference opponent. Two years, five months, and 28 days separate the last time Chicago hosted the Utah-based side.
3 – Heading into Saturday’s match against Real Salt Lake, Homegrown Brian Gutiérrez continues to impress offensively. With three goals scored, Gutiérrez has the most goals by a player under the age of 21 in MLS. Additionally, he is tied for the League lead in goals for players under age 23, with more goals than prospects such as Thiago Almada (ATL), Aiden Morris (CLB), and Quinn Sullivan (PHI).
CHICAGO FIRE FC II HOSTS INDY ELEVEN IN THIRD ROUND OF U.S. OPEN CUP ON WEDNESDAY
This Wednesday, Chicago Fire FC II hosts USL Championship side Indy Eleven in the Third Round of the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Chicago enters the Third Round with back-to-back clean sheet victories in U.S. Open Cup play. In the opening round, the Fire defeated USL League Two side Chicago City SC, 6-0, following goals from three different Academy products. In the next round, Chicago hosted USL League One side Forward Madison FC and defeated the Wisconsin-based club 2-0 at home. Goals from captain David Poreba and 2024 MLS SuperDraft pick Jason Shokalook gave Chicago the advantage and the victory at SeatGeek Stadium.
Broadcasts of all matches will continue to be streamed live on usopencup.com, mlssoccer.com, and uslsoccer.com during the Third Round as well as the Rounds of 32 and 16. Admission for the match will be $10 for the general public and $5 for Chicago Fire Season Ticket Members.
Pending registration, the following First Team players are eligible for selection for Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup match vs. Indy Eleven:
- Tom Barlow
- Javier Casas
- Bryan Dowd (GK)
- Jeff Gal (GK)
- Andrew Gutman
- Georgios Koutsias
- Federico Navarro
- Wyatt Omsberg
- Sergio Oregel
- Spencer Richey (GK)
CHICAGO FIRE FC HEADLINES
Chicago Fire FC Ties New York Red Bulls 0-0 at Red Bull Arena
Chicago Fire FC Announces Details for Legendary Goalkeeper Zach Thornton’s Ring of Fire Induction Ceremony
Midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri Selected to MLS Team of the Matchday
Chicago Fire FC II Completes Five-Goal Comeback to Earn 5-5 Draw at New York Red Bulls II
Chicago Fire FC II Shuts Out Crown Legacy FC 2-0 for First Home Win of 2024 Chicago Fire Academy Wins Premier Division of the 2024 Generation adidas Cup