The Chicago Fire yet again set aside their struggles in league play and thrived in the US Open Cup on Wednesday night, sweeping aside the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers 3-0 at Toyota Park to book a place in the tournament's semifinals.
As usual, David Accam set the pace for the Fire, earning, then netting a very early penalty kick and setting up Michael de Leeuw to give the home side a 2-0 halftime lead.
Ft. Lauderdale's hopes of a rally were dealt a heavy blow just seven minutes into the second stanza as Khaly Thiam slotted home from close range, and Gale Agbossoumonde was sent off in the 70th minute to cap a frustrating evening for the Open Cup's last remaining lower-division representatives.
Chicago seized the advantage just four minutes in when Accam raced down left channel onto an angled pass from Thiam, drawing Strikers goalkeeper Diego Restrepo off his line before cutting to his left as Restrepo dived at his feet, earning the PK call. The Ghanaian made no mistake from the spot, slamming his finish into the top corner.
Accam was the architect again in the 35th minute, running at Agbossoumonde and twisting the former US youth international into a knot before rolling an inviting center across the goalmouth, de Leeuw arriving just in time to roof the ball into the unguarded net at the far post.
Chicago were then content to sit deep and let Ft. Lauderdale weave their possession buildups until their reached the final third, where the Fire disrupted and looked to break out on the counter.
Thiam put the contest to bed in the 52nd minute, tucking away a loose ball inside the six-yard box for a 3-0 advantage that the hosts guarded with ease down the stretch. The four-time US Open Cup champions will meet their Eastern Conference counterparts the New England Revolution in the semifinals.
CHICAGO FIRE (4-2-3-1): Matt Lampson; Rodrigo Ramos, Johan Kappelhof, Jonathan Campbell, Brandon Vincent; Matt Polster, Khaly Thiam; Arturo Alvarez, Razvan Cocis (Nick LaBrocca 45'+3'), David Accam (Michael Stephens 72'); Michael de Leeuw (Kennedy Igboananike 53')
SUBS: Eric Gehrig, Michael Harrington, Alex Morrell
FT. LAUDERDALE STRIKERS (4-2-3-1): Diego Restrepo; Jorge Luis Corrales, Julius James, Gale Agbossoumonde, Nana Attakora (Geison Moura 28'); Luis Felipe Fernandes, Jean-Marc Alexandre; PC, Ramon Nunez (Paulo Junior 59'), Gabriel (Victor Pineda 71'); Jose Angulo
SUBS: Bryan Arguez, Manny Gonzalez
