Two of the most storied clubs in MLS history will come together for the first time ever in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup competition on Wednesday, when a streaking Chicago Fire hosts MLS Eastern Conference top-dog and playoff-bound D.C. United at TOYOTA PARK (7:30 p.m. CT).
Both clubs have won the domestic "double" (MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup in the same year) and have combined for a total of five MLS Cups, four U.S. Open Cups, and three Supporters Shields - yet the two have never met in the 93-year-old single-elimination tournament. Like a heavyweight title fight, this game has all the firepower worthy of a Las Vegas Pay-Per-View bout. The question is, which team will deliver the knockout blow?
In one corner is the Fire, the tournament's confident contender. Playing in its fourth-straight semifinal - and its seventh overall in nine appearances - the Fire has Open Cup history and pride on its side.
Chicago is the red-hot MLS team as of late, riding a seven-game unbeaten streak (6-0-1) through both the MLS regular season and U.S. Open Cup tournament that started with a 2-0 defeat of the Kansas City Wizards in the Open Cup's Fourth Round on Aug. 14. The "Men in Red" have netted 13 goals total during their unbeaten stretch, while giving up only four. Fire Head Coach Dave Sarachan has blended a mixture of both young and veteran players for the squad's run at a fourth Open Cup title, and it seems the team is gelling at just the right time.
In the other corner is D.C. United, the comeback kid. Head Coach Peter Nowak has led the "Black and Red" back to the top of the MLS playoff heap once again, and will undoubtedly bring his boys prepared to play. For a team that has tasted so much success and won so much hardware, United has yet to hoist the Dewar Trophy since its lone Open Cup championship in 1996.
Entering its fifth semifinal match-up in club history, and the first since a 3-2 defeat to the then-MetroStars in 2003, D.C. United now has a leader who knows what it takes to win an Open Cup. Nowak, who brought home two Open Cup championships in 1998 and 2000 as the captain of the Fire, has the same hunger to win his first as a coach.
"We know D.C. very well. There's going to be a few surprises in our lineup and maybe a few in their lineup, but the way the teams come out and play is pretty consistent," said Sarachan. "At the end of the day, there are no real secrets between us. Both teams will be prepared for the game."
The mystery of the match will be the Fire lineup, which went without potential starters Justin Mapp, C.J. Brown, and Zach Thornton in last Sunday's 2-1 win over New York at TOYOTA PARK.
"We felt it was very important that we balance and share the load of minutes with a number of our players on our roster. With that in mind, yes, we wanted to make sure both [last] Sunday, Wednesday, and even coming up with the Columbus game on Saturday, that we have enough fresh legs with gas in the tank for those matches."
The biggest Fire face missing from the bench is Open Cup talisman Andy Herron, who will be missed due to his recent success. The Costa Rican international has a team-leading three goals in U.S.O.C. play for Chicago, but is currently with the "Ticos" for the Four Nations Tournament in Switzerland. With second-year forward Chad Barrett also out with a broken 5th metatarsal in his right foot, Sarachan's attacking options have narrowed. Open Cup contributors such as rookie forward Calen Carr (1g, 1a) and rookie midfielder Brian Plotkin (1a) may need to again fill some A-game shoes.
"Sure we're going to miss Andy, we're going to miss Chad Barrett, and we're going to miss a few guys that are unavailable," said Sarachan. "Sunday we didn't have Andy and we still had good attacking play from a number of guys, and we expect that Wednesday we will have a few step up and share that load."
One player who has stepped up the challenge has been goalkeeper Matt Pickens, who filled in for an injured Thornton on Sunday night. Pickens' seven-save performance, when combined with his previous two wins in Open Cup play, makes choosing a starting goalkeeper a legitimate decision for the Fire boss, one Sarachan says he will make at game-time on Wednesday.
One thing is for certain - those that do play on Wednesday night will leave all they have on the field. They know there is no second-chance, no second game once the final whistle has blown. The motivation to win is driven by a desperate feeling that once you're done in this tournament, you're done - and you better have that Dewar Trophy.
Not to mention the chance to play for a $100,000 purse in the U.S. Open Cup Final on Sept. 27 - potential prize-money for whoever can deliver the final TKO.
"Having additional money in your pocket is a nice bonus, but I would say that each player would feel just as proud of lifting a trophy and putting a trophy in the trophy case as a team. I'm sure the money is a nice add on, but to call yourself U.S. Open Cup championships... money gets spent, but that title you keep forever."
