Battle for Brimstone Cup Begins at Toyota Park

By Todd McClamroch in News on May 17, 2007 1:14PM

The Fire will be looking for a win tonight when they return home after dropping the last two of a three game road run. The Fire helped make history in their last match, but not the good kind, when they became the first franchise to be scored upon by expansion franchise Toronto FC and then went on to be the first team to lose to the Canadian club.

The Fire host FC Dallas in tonight's primetime showdown at Toyota Park that will also be broadcast live on MLS Thursday on ESPN2. Back when the Dallas franchise was called "The Burn" the supporters of the two clubs created a friendly rivalry titled the Brimstone Cup. The Brimstone Cup was the first rivalry-based trophy in Major League Soccer. The winner of the yearly series earns the trophy, something the Fire have not seen in their trophy case since 2001.

The Fire will be without the services of Diego Gutierrez who is serving a one game suspension for a red card earned after an altercation in the Toronto FC match, one in which Gutierrez is claiming Toronto's Danny Dichio went Mike Tyson on him. The Fire also have leading scorer Chris Rolfe listed officially as questionable but has been rumored to be doubtful for the game with a left ankle sprain. Rolfe's absence will be a tough one for the Fire to overcome as he has scored four of their seven goals this season. Pressure will be on Chad Barrett who has netted two goals this season.

If you’re headed out to Thursday's contest make up a witty sign showing your Chicago Fire spirit and you might be showcased on ESPN2 and take home a 42" Panasonic plasma screen TV.