CHICAGO FIRE v NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Wed., Aug. 23, TOYOTA PARK, Bridgeview, Ill. (7:30 p.m. CT)
Just three days after battling in league wars in New England, the Eastern Conference clubs will meet for a place in the final four of the Open Cup. It's second year running they've met in the Open Cup - a year ago, the Fire won in a fourth-round, extra-time thriller.
THE MATCHUP: This is the second time the clubs have met in the U.S. Open Cup, the first coming a year ago in the fourth round. After the Fire had to get past the Rochester Raging Rhinos in a third-round match, they returned to Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow, Mass. and hit for three goals - two in extra time - as they advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup with a 3-2 victory (Joseph 22; Dorman 120 - Herron 22, 99; Brown 96). ... The clubs have met four times in league play this season. The Fire won the first meeting between the teams, a 2-1 decision at Gillette Stadium on April 30 (Twellman 54 - Thiago 64; Rolfe 68), before they played to a remarkable 3-3 draw in the first-ever game at Toyota Park on June 11 (Jaqua 39, 79; Carr 90 - Twellman 87; Ralston 90; Dorman 90). The Revolution then returned the favor with a 2-1 win at Toyota Park on July 8 (Jaqua 51 - Ralston 23; Dorman 37), before the Fire responded in kind with a 1-0 victory in Foxborough on Sunday on a 28th-minute goal from Andy Herron.
CHICAGO FIRE
2006 OPEN CUP: The Fire won their weather-delayed fourth-round tie with the Kansas City Wizards barely a week ago, claiming a 2-0 victory at Toyota Park on Aug. 14. It was the first of two wins in three days against the Wizards, triumphing 3-0 on Aug. 16, also in Bridgeview. ... Calen Carr gave the Fire the lead after 18 minutes when he banged in a Chad Barrett cross, then Andy Herron's glancing header from a Brian Plotkin in the 65th minute sealed the win for the Fire. ... Here's Sarachan's team: Matt Pickens, C.J. Brown (Nate Jaqua 45), Jim Curtin, Leonard Griffin, Floyd Franks (Ivan Guerrero 82), Calen Carr, Jared Montz, Logan Pause, Brian Plotkin, Andy Herron, Chad Barrett (Thiago 68)
IN THE OPEN CUP: A year ago, the Fire played four matches but went out at the semifinal stage. They defeated the USL Second Division (third tier) Western Mass Pioneers 3-1 in the third round, then after knocking off the Revolution, escaped the Rochester Raging Rhinos in the quarterfinals on penalties after a 1-1 draw. They were then eliminated in the semifinals by FC Dallas, in a 1-0 loss. ... The most successful MLS team in the history of the USA's oldest competition, they've won the title three times in the eight years of their existence, have been losing finalist one other time, and have lost in the semifinals on two other occasions, including last year. ... They won in their inaugural year when they did the domestic double (2-1 aet v Columbus Crew), in 2000 when they defeated Miami Fusion 2-1, and in 2003 when they defeated the MetroStars 1-0. In 2004, they lost for the first time in the Open Cup Final, falling to a golden goal from the Kansas City Wizards.
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
2006 OPEN CUP: The Revolution survived their fourth-round U.S. Open Cup tie with the USL First Division (second tier) Rochester Raging Rhinos, advancing on penalty kicks after playing to a scoreless draw over 120 minutes. ... In the penalty shootout, Scott Vallow stopped the first Revolution efforts while the Rhinos hit theirs, putting New England in a deep hole. But the Rhinos missed the target with their next two efforts while the Revolution hit theirs, and finally, in the seventh round of kicks, Frankie Sanfilippo shot high before Jeff Larentowicz saved the Revs' blushes by converting. ... Here's Nicol's team: Matt Reis, James Riley, Michael Parkhurst, Avery John, Steve Ralston, Shalrie Joseph, Jeff Larentowicz, Joe Franchino (José Cancela 69), Andy Dorman, Pat Noonan (Kyle Brown 80), Taylor Twellman (Willie Sims 69)
IN THE U.S. OPEN CUP: The Revolution have entered the competition six times - and on three occasions have been dumped out at the first hurdle by lower-division competition. In 1997, the Revolution lost 4-3 away to A-League Long Island Roughriders, then a Chad Schomaker goal literally on full time gave Mid-Michigan Bucks a famous third-round victory in 2000. In 2004, they lost to the Rochester Raging Rhinos on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the fourth round. ...Then they were bounced out in the first time of asking last year in the loss to the Fire. ... The Revolution reached the Open Cup Final in 2001, falling to the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 in extra-time - a year before the same result would occur in the MLS Cup Final. Wolde Harris gave New England the lead on 30 minutes, but goals from Ezra Hendrickson (70) and Dan Califf (92) gave Los Angeles the trophy. The Revs began their run to the final with a 7-1 victory against PDL (fourth division) Mid-Michigan Bucks, then defeated Charleston Battery (A-League) 2-1, before knocking off Columbus Crew 2-1 in the quarterfinals and D.C. United 2-0 in the semifinals.
