COLUMBUS, Ohio
- The Columbus Crew fell to the Chicago Fire, 3-2, Tuesday night in a third-round U.S. Open Cup Qualifier at Shea Stadium on the campus of Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. Chicago got on the board first, thanks to a Stephen King goal in the 10th minute, to give the Fire the lead at halftime. The Crew responded with a strong second half effort, and struck in the 63rd minute on an Emmanuel Ekpo left-footed blast to even things up. The Fire's Andy Herron countered with a goal of his own just two minutes later, to again give Chicago the lead. The Crew were not done, however, and they responded with their second goal in the 67th minute off the foot of Jason Garey, to once again even the score.
Neither team could find the game-winning goal in the last minutes of regulation, sending the match into a 30-minute overtime, consisting of two halves of 15 minutes each. In the first overtime stanza, the Crew continued to create chances, but were unable to find the back of the net, thanks to several near misses. The second overtime period kicked off with both sides still knotted even at 2-2. The action would continue to go back and forth, with both teams struggling to fight fatigue, until the game's deciding play in the 115th minute, when Crew goalkeeper William Hesmer was called for a penalty after his challenge in the Crew's box. Herron stepped to the spot and deposited his second goal of the night, giving Chicago the final margin of 3-2 over Columbus.
The Crew now return to MLS action, as they travels to Kansas City this Saturday (June 14) to take on the Wizards at Community America Ballpark. Saturday's match kicks off at 8 p.m. ET and can be heard in English on News/Talk 610 WTVN with Neil Sika behind the microphone and on-line at theCrew.com and MLSNet.com, as well as in Spanish on La Que Buena 1550-AM. Local television details will be released at a later date.
NOTES:
• Jason Garey made his first first-team appearance of the season, subbing on for Steven Lenhart in the 66th minute. Garey wasted no time upon entering the match, scoring his first first-team goal of the season just one minute after coming on.
• Emmanuel Ekpo's goal in the 63rd minute was the first of his Crew career.
• Duncan Oughton made his first first-team appearance of the season, coming on as a substitute for Eddie Gaven in the second half.
• The Crew is now 16-9-1 in U.S. Open Cup competition.
• Tonight's announced crowd of 3,829 is the largest in Bradley University's Shea Stadium history.
• The Crew returns to league action this Saturday, June 14, at the Kansas City Wizards at 8 p.m. ET.
