USOC: Fire fall 3-2 in ET to fourth-tier Michigan Bucks
The pain from last season’s loss in the US Open Cup championship game still lingers for many Chicago Fire players.
Now, that feeling will linger for another year.
The Fire lost 3-2 to the Michigan Bucks in extra time in the third round of the US Open Cup in Chicago’s first game of the tournament on Tuesday in Pontiac, Mich.
In the fourth game of five-game stretch, the Fire only started two normal starters, center backs Austin Berry and Jalil Anibaba. From the start, the Bucks were able to create chances.
The Bucks, who play in the USL Premier Development League, took an early lead when Tommy Catalano dispossessed Berry and beat goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi in the ninth minute.
Fire midfielder Corben Bone equaled the score in the 28th minute when he finished off a layoff from Federico Puppo.
After the Bucks nearly scored three more times in the first half, Chicago took the lead in the 53rd minute, when Puppo’s shot from just outside the penalty area found the back of the net.
The Bucks were able to tie the game in the 79th minute when Nermin Crkic’s cross found the head of Nathaniel Boyden, who scored to send the game to overtime.
Crkic was able to beat Paolo Tornaghi in the third minute of overtime to put the Bucks up for good.
The Fire had a few half-hearted chances in the extra period, but they weren’t able to extend their tournament run beyond the initial hurdle. Chicago were ousted in their opening game for the the fourth occasion in their six US Open Cup appearances since they won it all in 2006.
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