The Chicago Fire defeated the Columbus Crew 3-2 tonight in overtime of a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play-in game at Bradley University's Shea Stadium in Peoria, Ill. Midfielder Stephen King tallied the first goal of the game while forward Andy Herron notched two goals, including the game-winning goal in the 26th minute of overtime. With the win tonight the Fire advanced to the round of 16 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on July 1. The location will be announced at a later date.
Fire Lineup (4-4-2): GK-Jon Busch, D-Brandon Prideaux, D-Brian Plotkin (C.J. Brown 71), D-Bakary Soumare, D-Austin Washington, M-Tomasz Frankowski (Chad Barrett 106+), M-Stephen King, M-Logan Pause (captain), M-Chris Rolfe (Justin Mapp 46), F-Calen Carr (Patrick Nyarko 91+), F-Andy Herron.
Crew Lineup (4-4-2): GK-Will Hesmer, D-Jed Zayner (Andrew Peterson 95), D-Danny O'Rourke, D-Andy Iro, D-Ryan Junge, M-Brian Carroll, M-Brad Evans (Robbie Rogers 55), M-Emmanuel Ekpo, M-Eddie Gaven (Duncan Oughton 75), F-Steven Lenhart (Jason Garey 66), F-Alejandro Moreno (captain).
Scoring Summary
CHI - Stephen King (UA) 10'
CLB - Emmanuel Epko (Eddie Gaven) 63'
CHI - Andy Herron (Justin Mapp, Brian Plotkin) 65'
CLB - Jason Garey (Jed Zayner, Robbie Rogers) 67'
CHI - Andy Herron (PK) 116'
Misconduct Summary
CLB - Jed Zayner (caution, professional foul) 79'
CHI - Brandon Prideaux (caution, reckless tackle) 82'
CLB - Robbie Rogers (caution, reckless foul) 100'
• Stephen King scored the first goal of the match in the 10th minute of play after taking advantage of a free ball in the box. Forward Andy Herron took the initial shot from inside the box, but goalkeeper Will Hesmer came off his line to deflect the shot. The ball rebounded off the keeper and King followed up, placing his shot in the right side of the net.
• Crew forward Emmanuel Epko leveled the score in the 63rd minute, receiving a pass inside the box from Eddie Gaven on the left. Epko tucked a shot jut inside the post for the goal.
• The Fire regained the lead with a goal from Andy Herron in the 65th minute. Plotkin passed the ball up the left side of the pitch to Justin Mapp, who sent a cross from the left corner into the box. Herron headed the lofting ball into the lower left side of the net to give the Fire a one goal advantage.
• Columbus again tied the score as midfielder Jason Garey one-timed a cross from midfielder Jed Zayner and placed a ball past Busch in the 67th minute.
• Herron scored the game-winning penalty kick goal in the 26th minute of overtime. The penalty kick was awarded after Hesmer fouled Herron in the box.
• Andy Herron has scored 8 goals all-time for the Fire in Open Cup play.
• Tonight's goal is Stephen King's second of 2008. King scored his first on May 3, in MLS league play against the New England Revolution.
• The Fire now own a 3-0 record against the Crew in Open Cup play, having also defeated Columbus 2-1 in the fourth round of the 2004 tournament (7/20/04) at Crew Stadium, and 2-1 in the 1998 Open Cup final at Soldier Field for the Fire's first of four U.S. Open Cup victories (10/30/98).
• Goalkeeper Jon Busch faced his former club's first team for the first time tonight. Busch guided the Crew to a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship in 2002.
• The Fire have seen 11 overtimes in U.S. Open Cup action.
• Patrick Nyarko made his first team debut tonight coming off the bench for Calen Carr at the start of the first over time period.
• Today's attendance at Shea Stadium was 3,829.
• Chicago Fire head coach Denis Hamlett on the game: "I think this game shows that teams take the Open Cup very seriously. I am very proud of the younger players who stepped in and held their own, and helped the team get the win."
• Fire midfielder Andy Herron on his goal: "One of my strengths is penalty kicks and it is a very hard situation for goalkeepers. Before I took the shot I told myself, 'This game isn't going to PK's', Chad Barrett came up to me and told me to finish it. After 125 minutes, we didn't want to decide the game in penalty kicks. The team worked really hard throughout the whole game and I just happy we got the result."
• Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch on the win: "I thought it was a great team effort again tonight and I think this kind of game is what the Open Cup is about. It was a fun, exciting game, and both teams had chances to win toward the end. In the end, we got the win and advanced to the next round that is what is important."
• The Chicago Fire will return to MLS action on Sunday, June 15, as the team travels to Frisco, Texas to take on Brimstone Cup rival FC Dallas (2:00 p.m. CT, TeleFutura, My50).
