last place in the East -- have struggled of late in the league and hope to get off to a good start in the Open Cup against the Western Conference leaders.
Finally, the Chicago Fire will make a return appearance at Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow, Mass., where they defeated the Pioneers in the third round. This time they will face the New England Revolution as the two first-place teams in the East come together for a winner-take-all battle.
The winners of Wednesday's matches will advance to the quarterfinal round, scheduled to take place on Aug. 24. The U.S. Open Cup dates back to 1914 and is the oldest soccer competition in the United States. Open to professional and amateur teams alike, the U.S. Open Cup is a single-elimination competition.
Jonathan Nierman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
