BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — Chicago Fire forward Orr Barouch had a game to remember Tuesday night, coming on at halftime and scoring a pair of goals in the Fire’s 4-0 US Open Cup quarterfinal win over a reserve-laden New York Red Bulls side.
The rookie forward scored the Fire’s third and fourth goals, icing the game and pushing Chicago through to the semifinals, which will be played at Toyota Park against the USL-Pro Richmond Kickers on August 30.
Barouch’s first goal came in the 51st minute. He got on the end of a low cross just past the penalty spot, hitting a sliding one-touch shot that deflected off of a New York defender and found the back of the net.
The 19-year-old completed his brace in the 60th, chasing down a Diego Chaves through ball in the left side of the box before smashing a well-taken 15-yard shot inside the far post.
“It felt great,” Barouch said of his performance. “[I just] tried to keep the ball for our team and luckily enough I was in the right place on the first goal. On the second goal, Diego gave me a great through ball and I just finished it at the far post.”
Barouch, who scored two goals in a reserve game last week, impressed interim head coach Frank Klopas with his performance, prompting the head man to tell the press that he has high hopes for Barouch’s future.
“Technically he’s got the right tools but, more than anything, he’s got the right attitude,” Klopas said. “He always finds himself in good spots, he wants the ball, he makes good runs, he’s smart, he wants to be out there and in every game that he’s been in, whether he’s started or come on as a sub, he’s had an impact.”
Sam Stejskal covers the Chicago Fire for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at sam.h.stejskal@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @samstejskal.
