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MLS Chicago Fire FC

Fire to face Hammerheads in U.S. Open Cup Third Round

June 18, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


CHICAGO, IL (June 18, 2009) - Just three day's after completing SuperLiga preliminary group play, the Chicago Fire will kickoff 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play with a third round game against the Wilmington Hammerheads on Tuesday, June 30, at Legion Stadium in Wilmington, North Carolina. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. CT.

The Wilmington Hammerheads advanced to the third round of play with a win over the Carolina Railhawks on Tuesday. The two teams played to a 3-3 tie before the Hammerheads advanced on penalty kicks, 4-3.

The Fire enters 2009 as the undisputed kings of the modern era of the tournament, having hoisted the coveted Dewar Trophy four times - 1998, 2000, 2003 & 2006 - in just 11 years of play. The Fire has taken pride in competing in the U.S. Open Cup, and its results reflect that mindset. Since 1998, the Fire have racked up an impressive record in Open Cup play, which has helped the squad reach the semifinal round on seven out of 11 occasions and the tournament's final five times. The 2006 title marked the ninth time a team from Chicago won the Open Cup and made the Fire one of five teams to capture the crown at least four times in the tournament's nearly century-long history.

"The team is looking forward to this match and has its eye on capturing yet another U.S. Open Cup title," said Fire Technical Director Frank Klopas. "We've been fortunate enough to have a very successful run with this Cup over the last eleven years and our players are hungry to bring it back to Chicago."

The U.S. Open Cup, which is recognized as U.S. Soccer's National Championship, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The tournament has crowned a champion for 93 consecutive years dating back to 1914. In 1999, the competition was renamed to honor long-time soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt.

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