D.C. UNITED vs. CHICAGO FIRE
Tues., July 8, Maryland SoccerPlex, Germantown, Md., 7:30 p.m. ET
The only all-MLS quarterfinal matchup sees the Chicago Fire visit D.C. United, the clubs holding five Open Cup titles between them. United have never before defeated the Fire in a cup competition, losing six of their eight meetings (with two draws) before this year, including last year's Eastern Conference Semifinal Series in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
OPEN CUP HISTORY: In all their history, the teams have met once before in Open Cup play - a 2006 semifinal appearance, when the Fire claimed a 3-0 victory. ... Justin Mapp put the Fire in the 58th minute, then Calen Carr doubled it in the 76th minute. A minute later, Chris Armas was sent off, but Carr scored late to send the Fire into the final, which they won against the LA Galaxy. ... United has never defeated the Fire in any cup competition. In addition to Chicago winning in their lone encounter in the U.S. Open Cup, the teams played to a draw in a meeting in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, and in the MLS Cup Playoffs, the Fire have won five with two draws, outscoring United 13-2.
FIRE: Matt Pickens, C.J. Brown, Jim Curtin, Gonzalo Segares, Justin Mapp (Logan Pause 73), Chris Armas, Thiago, Diego Gutierrez, Ivan Guerrero, Calen Carr, Nate Jaqua.
UNITED: Troy Perkins, Bryan Namoff, Bobby Boswell, Facundo Erpen, Joshua Gros, Brian Carroll (Stephen deRoux 80), Christian Gomez, Clyde Simms (Ben Olsen 70), Brandon Prideaux (Matias Donnet 64), Jamil Walker (Rod Dyachenko 46), Freddy Adu.
D.C. UNITED
2008 OPEN CUP: D.C. United advanced after a spirited challenge in the third round from USL1 Rochester Rhinos, winning 2-0 on the strength of a pair of free kick goals from Marc Burch ... Burch scored in the 78th and 85th minutes to send United through ... Here Soehn's team: Zach Wells, Pat Carroll (Domenic Mediate 78), Gonzalo Martinez (Craig Thompson 46), Devon McTavish, Marc Burch, Quavas Kirk, Rod Dyachenko, Dan Stratford (Clyde Simms 46), Ryan Cordeiro, Francis Doe, Luciano Emilio (Fred 46)
IN THE OPEN CUP: Finalists in their first two years of the U.S. Open Cup and winners of the domestic double in 1996, United haven't reached the final since, though they have been in the semifinals on three occasions, last in 2006. ... United lost in the final four in 2001 (New England Revolution), 2003 (MetroStars) and 2006 (Chicago Fire). ... A year ago, United went out at their first stage for the third time in club history, all to lower-division opposition. ... In addition to the loss to USL2 Harrisburg City Islanders last year, United lost to the Charleston Battery in extra time in 1999, and to the Richmond Kickers in 2004 (both A-League).
CHICAGO FIRE
THIS YEAR: The Fire rolled over the USL 2 Cleveland City Stars 4-1 at Toyota Park in their third-round tie ... The Fire had three goals before the first half-hour was out, from Mike Banner (13), Calen Carr (23) and Chris Rolfe (26). After Kiel McClung pulled a goal back for the City Stars in the 61st minute, Banner completed his double and put the game away in the 73rd minute. ... Here's Hamlett's team: Nick Noble, Austin Washington, Brian Plotkin, Daniel Woolard, Lider Marmol, Mike Banner, Stephen King, Peter Lowry, Chris Rolfe (Tomasz Frankowski 46), Calen Carr (Cuauhtemoc Blanco 85), Chad Barrett (Patrick Nyarko 46) ... The Fire advanced to the U.S. Open Cup tournament proper, with a 3-2 extra-time victory against the Columbus Crew 3-2 in extra time in Peoria, Ill. in the third MLS round. Stephen King gave the Fire a 10th-minute lead, but Emmanuel Ekpo equalized in the 63rd minute. Andy Herron scored two minutes later, but Jason Garey again brought Columbus level in the 67th minute. In the 116th minute, Crew goalkeeper William Hesmer tripped up Herron in the area, and the Costa Rican converted from the spot to send the Fire into the round-of-16.
IN THE OPEN CUP: The Chicago Fire are the most decorated MLS team in U.S. Open Cup history, having claimed the Dewar Trophy on four occasions (1998, 2000, 2003, 2006) and lost in the final a fifth time. ... Their last championship came two years ago, when they finished off a run through competition when they had to defeat MLS competition at every step: Los Angeles Galaxy (3-1, final); D.C. United (3-0; semifinal); New England Revolution (2-1; fourth round); Kansas City Wizards (2-0; third round). ... The Fire have also reached the semifinals on two other occasions. ... On three occasions, the Men in Red have been dumped out by lower-level opposition, losing in 1999 to the Rochester Raging Rhinos; in 2002 to the Milwaukee Rampage; and last year to the Carolina RailHawks.
