CHICAGO FIRE v D.C. UNITED
Wed., Sept. 6, TOYOTA PARK, Bridgeview, Ill. (7:30 p.m. CT)
Rivals from the time they met in the 1998 MLS Cup Final in the Fire's inaugural season through last year's MLS Cup Playoffs, this is the first time the two teams have ever met in the oldest soccer competition in the U.S. The Fire have won the Open Cup three times - more than any other MLS club - while United haven't won since their inaugural season of 1996.
THE MATCHUP: While the teams have a rich history against each other, this is their first-ever meeting in the U.S. Open Cup. ... They've met twice this season in league play. In the first meeting on June 21, D.C. United got an early goal and made it stand up for a 1-0 victory in Washington (Simms 17). In the second game, July 22 at Toyota Park, Alecko Eskandarian's late equalizer secured a 1-1 draw (Jaqua 29 - Eskandarian 74). ... They have two more meetings in league play over the final month of the season - Sept. 17 at Bridgeview, and Oct. 15 at RFK Stadium. ... They were, of course, also opponents in the 1998 MLS Cup Final, won 2-0 by Chicago. They've met two other times in the MLS Cup Playoffs - the Fire won both of those series as well (2003 and 2005 Eastern Conference Semifinals). The Fire have never lost - or allowed a goal - to United in the MLS Cup Playoffs (4-0-1, 10 GF, 0 GA).
D.C. UNITED
2006 OPEN CUP: Behind Jamil Walker's two goals in the second half, D.C. United advanced to the semifinals with a 3-1 win Aug. 23 at RFK Stadium against the New York Red Bulls. With the score knotted at 1-1, Walker scored in the 64th minute on a header and later in the 84th minute. Josh Gros put D.C. on the scoreboard with a goal in the 37th minute, but New York's Amado Guevara tied the match four minutes later. ... Here's Nowak's team: Nick Rimando, Bobby Boswell, Bryan Namoff, Facundo Erpen, Joshua Gros, Domenic Mediate (Jaime Moreno 60), Brian Carroll, Clyde Simms, Rod Dyachenko (Ben Olsen 59), Alecko Eskandarian (David Stokes 78), Jamil Walker (Matt Nickell 85) ... United passed their first U.S. Open Cup test this year, but it didn't come easy, defeating the Columbus Crew 2-1 in extra time in the fourth round on Aug. 1 at the Maryland Soccerplex. ... Columbus grabbed the lead off a corner kick in the 18th minute, as Chad Marshall hammered home a powerful header. But United quickly equalized off their own corner kick just four minutes later, as Bill Gaudette was unable to handle Jaime Moreno's low, short-range effort and couldn't recover in time as the ball trickled over the line. Then minutes after the start of extra time, Christian Gomez flighted in a free kick that Jamil Walker headed home and sent United through.
IN THE OPEN CUP: The first MLS winners of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, United has been a losing finalist and a twice semifinalist since, but haven't repeated the inaugural success. In 1996, they became the first club to complete the U.S. double, defeating the Rochester Raging Rhinos 3-0 three days after winning the first MLS Cup against the Los Angeles Galaxy. ... The following year, United again reached the Open Cup Final after winning MLS Cup 1997, but lost on penalties to the Dallas Burn after a scoreless draw through 120 minutes. ... United in 2001 and 2003 reached the semifinals, losing to the New England Revolution 0-2 in '01, and to the MetroStars 2-3 in '03. ... A year ago, United defeated near-neighbors Richmond Kickers (USL1) 3-1 in the fourth round, but then lost to FC Dallas on penalty kicks in the quarterfinals after played to a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes at the Maryland Soccerplex.
CHICAGO FIRE
2006 OPEN CUP: The Chicago Fire claimed a 2-1 quarterfinal victory Aug. 23 at Toyota Park against the New England Revolution. Andy Herron scored twice, once in each half, to give the Fire the victory. ... Here's Sarachan's team: Matt Pickens - Calen Carr, Leonard Griffin, Jim Curtin, Diego Gutierrez, Logan Pause, Brian Plotkin (Chad Barrett 88), Ivan Guerrero, Gonzalo Segares, Andy Herron (Chris Armas 80), Floyd Franks (Nate Jaqua 46). ... The Fire won their weather-delayed fourth-round tie with the Kansas City Wizards, 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.
IN THE OPEN CUP: 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. ... 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.
