MLS Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire Vie for Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Title Against Seattle

Published on October 3, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


The Chicago Fire's (7-8-16, 37 points) march to the cup comes to fruition as the Men in Red look to capture their fifth Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title, and first since 2006, against the reigning U.S. Open Cup Champion Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 9:00 p.m. CT (Fox Soccer). Since 1998, the Fire have racked up an impressive 28-8-3 record in Open Cup play, which has helped the squad reach the semifinal round on eight out of 14 occasions and the tournament's final six times.

The Fire enter the match winners of five of their last seven league matches. The Men in Red have faced Sounders FC twice in 2011. The Fire were defeated 2-1 at CenturyLink Field as Kasey Keller turned away a number of Fire opportunities and Steve Zakuani put home the game winner in a frenzied first half. The two sides played to a scoreless draw in the home leg at TOYOTA PARK. The Fire are winless in the Emerald City against Sounders FC in three previous MLS fixtures dating back to 2009.

Entering their sixth final, the Fire have raised the prestigious Dewar Cup on four previous occasions, going 4-1-0 in U.S. Open Cup Finals, with their only final loss coming to Sporting KC (formerly the Kansas City Wizards), 1-0, at Arrowhead Stadium in 2004. With a victory, the Fire will tie Bethlehem Steel and Maccabi Los Angeles as the only clubs to have ever captured the U.S. Open Cup five times.

2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final: CHICAGO FIRE at Seattle Sounders FC

- In U.S. Open Cup play all-time the Chicago Fire are 28-8-3 with 73 goals for and 32 goals against.

- Versus MLS teams in Open Cup play, the Fire are 16-4-1 and 5-4-0 in matches played away from home.

- The Fire are 4-1-0 in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final matches, with their only loss coming to the Kansas City Wizards, 1-0, at Arrowhead Stadium in 2004.

- Gonzalo Segares and Logan Pause are the two remaining players from the Fire's 2006 U.S. Open Cup victory. Dominic Oduro appeared in the 2007 U.S. Open Cup Final as FC Dallas fell to the New England Revolution.

- Despite only playing 121 minutes across three games, Orr Barouch leads the team in goals in U.S. Open Cup and qualifying play this season with three goals

- Dominic Oduro has tallied the game winners in the Fire's last two Open Cup matches vs. New York (7/12), vs. Richmond (8/30).

- Goalkeeper Sean Johnson is the only Fire player to appear in every minute of every Open Cup match this year.

- Jalil Anibaba is the only field player to appear in all 5 Fire Open Cup tournament and qualifying matches this year.

KINGS OF THE CUP WATCH PARTY AT SMALLBAR FULLERTON

Fire supporters who are unable to catch the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final in Seattle should head to SmallBar Fullerton (1415 W. Fullerton) to gather with members of Section 8 Chicago and Fire fans young and old.

For more details on Fire viewing parties click here: http://www.chicago-fire.com/watchparties

CHICAGO FIRE PARTNER WITH ATLETICO MADRID, CLUB AMÉRICA AND SPORT CLUB INTERNACIONAL IN STRATEGIC ALLIANCE

The Chicago Fire Soccer Club, in conjunction with Atletico Madrid, Club América and Sport Club Internacional announced a strategic alliance enabling for greater relationships between the Fire and its partner clubs in Spain, Mexico and Brazil. The new strategic alliance of Clubs brings together clubs in the spirit of creating synergy as it relates to the growth of soccer on-the-field and off, while integrating different cultures and sporting and commercial club practices within eight clubs on five different continents.

In 2010, Atletico Madrid established partnerships with clubs in Asia, the Middle East and Africa and has since sought out teams from each top-flight league in North and South America. The addition of the Fire, Club América and Sport Club Internacional brings the total members of the Alliance to eight, joining Al Ain (United Arab Emirates), Muangthong United (Thailand), Shangai Shenhua (China) and Raja Casablanca (Morocco).

The three new additions were selected in the hopes of strengthening the ties between the Alliance of Clubs and the North and South American leagues, as each club works towards player development, training methodology and the growth of each respective brand.

Within the current agreement of strategic collaboration, all the allied clubs will be able to take advantage of a series of unique and exclusive opportunities, allowing each participating club to become more competitive, contributing a differentiating and exclusive value in an increasingly global world.

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