Grazzini and Oduro Pace Fire to Record Sixth U.S. Open Cup Final
Published on August 30, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release
CHICAGO, IL - The Chicago Fire used a 32nd minute penalty kick from Sebastian Grazzini and a 61st minute wonder goal from Dominic Oduro to down the USL Professional Division's Richmond Kickers in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinal Tuesday night at Toyota Park. With the win, the Fire advance to their MLS-record sixth U.S. Open Cup Final and will meet Seattle Sounders FC at Century Link Field on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 9 p.m. CT for the opportunity to capture their fifth U.S. Open Cup title.
Despite being in the third tier of the American soccer pyramid it was Richmond that looked the better side early on as the attacking combination of Matthew Delicate, Edson Elcock and Stanley Nyazamba put the Fire back line on its heels through the first 20 minutes.
Slowly the hosts began to put their stamp on the match and broke through just after the half hour mark when Sebastian Grazzini slotted the ball into the box for Patrick Nyarko from the right. The speedy striker took one touch before being cut down by Richmond defender Henry Kalungi and referee Jasen Anno quickly pointed to the penalty spot.
Grazzini stepped up and buried the ensuing spot kick to the right of Kickers veteran goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale giving the home side a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute.
The Argentine playmaker nearly grabbed his second in the 45th minute when Dominic Oduro used his speed to get on the end of a long ball out of the back. The fleet Ghanaian cut back before laying off a square pass for Grazzini whose one time effort drifted just over Pascale's goal taking the Fire into break with the 1-0 advantage.
The hosts nearly got a second mark out of the break when midfielder Marco Pappa found himself in space just outside the penalty area. The Guatemalan attacker took one touch before unleashing a hard bouncing drive that went just wide of Pascale's goal in the 46th minute.
It was Fire midfielder Logan Pause that came close 13 minutes later when Pappa's initial effort from the right side of the box took a deflection off of defender Sascha Gorres before the club captain put a one-time drive towards the right post that Pascale scrambled to hang on to.
Catching Richmond on the counter, the hosts were rewarded for their efforts in the 61st minute as Nyarko ran onto a long ball on the left before laying off for Oduro just outside the box. The Fire's leading scorer hit for his 11th goal across all competitions as he measured a beautiful ball towards the back post and over the outstretched Pascale, giving the home side a 2-0 lead.
Despite the deficit Richmond brought the attack and cut the lead in half in the 68th minute as Michael Callahan's inswinging free kick from the left found Kickers center back William Yomby at the back post. The Cameroonian defender headed a perfect ball down just over the line before it bounced back out but referee Jasen Anno pointed to the center circle pushing the score to 2-1.
Looking to take the air out of the game following the goal, the Fire used the speed of Nyarko and Oduro to run at the tired legs of the Richmond back line, drawing numerous fouls to take valuable seconds off the clock.
Into stoppage time, Richmond mounted a final stand in the penalty area, earning two corner kicks as the hosts struggled to clear the ball. Unable to produce an equalizer, Anno blew the final whistle to give the Fire a 2-1 lead and spot in the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final.
The Fire return to league play when they visit the San Jose Earthquakes at Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 9:30pm CT. The club returns to Toyota Park for an international friendly with Chivas de Guadalajara on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 8:00pm CT. Tickets are still available by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE (657-3473), or by heading to the club's official website at Chicago-Fire.com.
Major League Soccer Stories from August 30, 2011
- Grazzini and Oduro Pace Fire to Record Sixth U.S. Open Cup Final - Chicago Fire FC
- Alejandro Moreno from Chivas USA Receives Call from the Vinotinto Once Again - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- Red Bulls Loan Defender Tyler Lassiter to Carolina RailHawks - New York Red Bulls
- U.S. Open Cup Match Tonight - FC Dallas
- Chivas USA Weekly Update - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- This Week in MLS - MLS
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