On the strength of three second-half goals -- including two from Calen Carr -- the Chicago Fire advanced to the fifth Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final in club history, routing D.C. United 3-0 on Wednesday at Toyota Park.
The Fire will host the Los Angeles Galaxy -- who beat Houston Dynamo 3-1 on Wednesday night at The Home Depot Center -- on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. CT at Toyota Park in the Final.
Justin Mapp put the Fire ahead in the 58th minute before Carr scored twice in the final quarter-hour to once again put the Chicago side into the final of the oldest competition in the U.S., which they've won on three occasions.
A tame first half saw Chicago with the best chances, with Carr coming close after just three minutes, though United goalkeeper Troy Perkins was first to a cross from Thiago just ahead of the rookie striker.
The opening exchanges saw little real danger toward either goal. Freddy Adu, on the D.C. United left flank, and Thiago for the Fire, did their part to try and create opportunities, but to little effect on either side. The Fire were able to maintain the better of the possession, but when they did, their lack of precision in front of goal wasted the chances.
In the 34th minute, Diego Gutierrez put in a cross and Nate Jaqua rose up to meet it, but put it over the crossbar. Three minutes later Jim Curtin and C.J. Brown both went up to meet a freekick and although both Fire defenders ended up on the ground, the referee wasn't moved to call a penalty.
With neither team troubling either goalkeeper to make a save in the first 45 minutes, the second half began to open up and show more life -- mostly with the Fire taking advantage of sloppy passing by United. Early on Chris Armas intercepted a pass and came into the United penalty area, but sent his shot over the crossbar.
Finally, in the 58th minute, Armas sent a long, arcing pass into the area over the left shoulder of Mapp. Despite being surrounded by a pair of defenders, Mapp settled the ball beautifully. Taking his time, he waited for Perkins to come off his line, and then calmly slotted the ball home to give Chicago the lead.
United tried to provide a response in return. Barely a minute after coming on as a substitute, Matias Donnet aimed a cross into the center, but it didn't connect and Fire 'keeper Matt Pickens gathered it up. In the 66th minute, Christian Gomez let fly from outside the area, but Pickens turned aside the effort.
The visitors then appeared to have equalized in the 75th minute when Rod Dyachenko sent a clearance back goalward. Although the effort found the back of the net, the goal was ruled out for an apparent offside.
The Fire went to the other end and doubled their lead. Armas sent in a long freekick, and Nate Jaqua headed it forward. Carr raced to get behind the United defense, and rather than trying to cut the ball back, instead hit a surprise shot that powered past Perkins into the back of the net.
Barely a minute later, both teams were left a man down. First, Facundo Erpen was sent off after a hard tackle on Thiago. The play caused a commotion as both teams skirmished, and Armas was sent off after charging Erpen in retaliation.
United again came close in the 83rd minute. Adu's shot was stopped by Pickens, but the rebound came to Donnet. He sent the ball floating toward goal, but Gonzalo Segares cleared the ball off the line to keep the score 2-0.
The home side finished off the match in stoppage time. Thiago took a short corner from Ivan Guerrero and centered the ball for Carr. The youngster hesitated at first, but then hit a powerful drive into the upper corner to give the Fire the exclamation point, and Carr his third goal in Open Cup play.
The victory gives the Fire a fifth appearance in the U.S. Open Cup Final in nine years of history, and they will play the winner of the Los Angeles Galaxy-Houston Dynamo match on Sept. 27.
Jack Daniel Chavez is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
