The 2008 Chicago Fire season was the club's 13th 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.
| 2008 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Chairman | Andrew Hauptman | ||
| Manager | Denis Hamlett | ||
| MLS | 3rd overall (2nd in Eastern Conference) | ||
| MLS Cup Playoffs | Conference Final | ||
| U.S. Open Cup | Quarterfinals | ||
| Brimstone Cup | Runners-up | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Chris Rolfe (9)[1] All: Chris Rolfe (10) | ||
| Average home league attendance | 17,052[2] | ||
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Roster edit
Squad edit
- Players in bold have had senior international caps for their respective national squads.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Transfers edit
In edit
Patrick Nyarko Drafted 7th overall in 2008 MLS Superdraft
Dominic Cervi Drafted 12th overall in 2008 MLS Superdraft- Peter Lowry Drafted 26th overall in 2008 MLS Superdraft
- Dwight Barnett Drafted 38th overall in 2008 MLS Superdraft
- Stephen King Drafted 40th overall in 2008 MLS Superdraft
- Austin Washington Drafted 54th overall in 2008 MLS Superdraft
Andy Herron Rights acquired from Columbus Crew for 4th round pick in the 2010 Superdraft 
Tomasz Frankowski Signed from 
Wolverhampton Wanderers- Brandon Prideaux Acquired in waiver draft from Colorado Rapids
Líder Mármol Signed as free agent.- Brian McBride Free agent
Saad Karim Hadji Free agent
Out edit
- Matt Pickens To Queens Park Rangers
Iván Guerrero Lost to San Jose Earthquakes in the Expansion Draft- Jim Curtin Traded to Chivas USA
- Chris Armas Retired
- Paulo Wanchope Retired
- Jeff Curtin Waived, later signed with D.C. United
Osei Telesford Waived, later signed with 
Puerto Rico Islanders- Chad Barrett Traded to Toronto FC in Brian McBride deal
- Brian Plotkin Waived, later signed with Columbus Crew
Club edit
Management edit
Other information edit
Statistics edit
Appearances and goals edit
- Last updated on June 5, 2008.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | MLS Season | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| 0 | GK |  USA
|
Tyler Kettering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | GK | USA
|
Jon Busch | 30 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | USA
|
C.J. Brown | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | FW | USA
|
Calen Carr | 9 | 2 | 9 | 2 |
| 4 | MF |  MLI
|
Bakary Soumare | 28 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | USA
|
Brandon Prideaux | 27 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | USA
|
Logan Pause | 27 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | USA
|
Diego Gutiérrez | 20 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| 9 | FW |  POL
|
Tomasz Frankowski | 17 | 2 | 17 | 2 |
| 10 | MF |  MEX
|
Cuauhtémoc Blanco | 27 | 7 | 27 | 7 |
| 11 | MF | USA
|
John Thorrington | 23 | 5 | 23 | 5 |
| 12 | FW |  GHA
|
Patrick Nyarko | 9 | 1 | 9 | 1 |
| 16 | MF |  GUA
|
Marco Pappa | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | USA
|
Chris Rolfe | 26 | 10 | 26 | 10 |
| 18 | MF | USA
|
Mike Banner | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | USA
|
Brian McBride | 11 | 5 | 11 | 5 |
| 21 | MF | USA
|
Justin Mapp | 30 | 2 | 30 | 2 |
| 22 | DF |  COL
|
Wilman Conde | 22 | 1 | 22 | 1 |
| 23 | DF |  PAR
|
Lider Marmol | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | USA
|
Daniel Woolard | 8 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| 25 | DF |  CRC
|
Gonzalo Segares | 23 | 2 | 23 | 2 |
| 26 | FW | CRC
|
Andy Herron | 17 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| 28 | GK | USA
|
Nick Noble | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | MF | USA
|
Peter Lowry | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | DF | USA
|
Dasan Robinson | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 33 | MF | USA
|
Stephen King | 20 | 2 | 20 | 2 |
| 34 | DF | USA
|
Austin Washington | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 36 | MF | USA
|
Kai Kasiguran | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Competitions edit
Overall edit
| 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 edit
Standings edit
| 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:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head record; 3) goal difference; 4) number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (S) Supporters' Shield
Notes:
- ^ As winners of the 2009 Canadian Championship
Results summary edit
| 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
Matches edit
Win Tie Loss
MLS regular season edit
This section needs to be updated. (January 2023) |
| March 29, 2008 | Real Salt Lake | 1–1 | Chicago Fire | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
Joy  51'Soumare  71' (o.g.)Findley 80'Beckerman 87' |
Report[permanent dead link] | Pause 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 17'Frankowski 22'Blanco 37' (pen.)Frankowski 39'Barrett 50'Gutierrez 89' |
Report | Larentowicz  7'Joseph 7'Mansally 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 65' Riley 94+' |
Report[permanent dead link] | Barrett 19' Soumare 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 46' |
Report[permanent dead link] | Jewsbury 4' Harrington 57'Trujillo 76' |
Stadium: Toyota Park Attendance: 17,121 Referee: Jair Marrufo |
| April 26, 2008 | Chicago Fire | 2–1 | Colorado Rapids | Bridgeview, Illinois, United States |
| Segares 45' Thorrington 53'Thorrington 84'Gutierrez 88' |
Report | Gomez 45' Gomez 64'Gray 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 30' Dyachenko 40'Namoff 73' |
Report[permanent dead link] | Mapp 38' Blanco 62'Prideaux 77'Thorrington 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 92'Blanco 95' |
Report[permanent dead link] | De Rosario 17' Clark 48'De Rosario 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 68' Altidore 74' |
Report[permanent dead link] | Barrett 8' Rolfe 48'Blanco 55'Barrett 60'Segares 62'Soumare 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 45'Schelotto 61'Carroll 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 edit
| 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 edit
| June 10, 2008 MLS Qualifier | Chicago Fire | 3–2 (AET) | Columbus Crew | Peoria, Illinois, United States |
| 19:00 CDT | King 10' Herron 65'Prideaux 82'Herron 116' |
Report[permanent dead link] | Ekpo 63' Garey 67'Zayner 79'Rogers 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 57'Banner 73' |
Report | McClung 61' Stewart 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 52' Doe 77'Moreno 89'Namoff 99'Fred 107'Burch 108' |
Report | Woolard 36' Soumare 48'Pause 78'Thorrington 81'Blanco 108' |
Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex Attendance: 4,118 Referee: Shane Moody |
Friendlies edit
| May 21, 2008 | Chicago Fire | 0–0 | Wisła Kraków | Bridgeview, Illinois, United States |
| 19:30 CDT | Robinson 20' Conde 75'Brown 78'Woolard 81' |
Report[permanent dead link] | Cléber 51' Cantoro 54'Díaz 55' |
Stadium: Toyota Park Attendance: 14,040 Referee: Mark Kadlecik |
| July 30, 2008 | Chicago Fire | 2–0 |  Everton F.C. | Bridgeview, Illinois, United States |
| 19:30 CDT | Rolfe 42' Frankowski 70' |
Report | Baxter 45' Gosling 81'Vaughan 92+' |
Stadium: Toyota Park Attendance: 9,125 Referee: Landis Wiley |
| August 24, 2008 | Veracruz | 3–1 | Chicago Fire | Veracruz, Veracruz, Mexico |
| Leyva 41' Olivera 44'Seccafien 55'Marmol 71' (o.g.) |
Report | Blanco 16' Robinson 18' |
Stadium: Estadio Luis de la Fuente |
References edit
- ^ "MLSSoccer.com 2008 Stats".
- ^ "USA Major League Soccer - Attendance - 2008". ESPN Soccernet. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2009.