CHICAGO, Ill. (May 15, 2013) - The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Wednesday that the Fire will begin the journey for its fifth Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy on Tuesday, May 28 against the winner of the Seattle Sounders U-23 (PDL) vs. Charlotte Eagles (USL-PRO) match scheduled for Tuesday, May 21. The Fire will host the third round match at Toyota Park if the Sounders advance. If the Eagles advance, the Fire will begin Open Cup play on the road at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C.
Recognized as U.S. Soccer’s National Championship, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. In 1999, the competition was renamed to honor long-time soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt.
READ: Full List of Third Round Match-Ups
Since 1998 the Fire have compiled an impressive 29-11-4 record in Open Cup play, reaching the semifinal round eight out of 15 times and the final six times. The Fire have previously hoisted the coveted Dewar Trophy four times, in 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006. The 2006 title marked the ninth time a team from Chicago won the Open Cup and made the Fire one of six teams to capture the crown at least four times in the tournament's 99-year-long history.
The 100th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup features a field of 68 teams, the largest field in the modern era (1995-present). Another significant change for 2013 is the process for determining the site for the Open Cup tournament semifinals and final. In past years, the sites for the final three matches of the tournament had been determined through a sealed-bid process, but this year the hosts of those games will be determined by a coin flip. Home teams throughout the entire tournament will be determined by random selection.
A full breakdown of the upcoming schedule and previous results, complete with venue information, visit the following 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup pages:
2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Tournament Home
2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule
The Seattle Sounders U-23 squad advanced to the second round of the tournament with a 5-1 defeat of United States Adult Soccer Association side Doxa Italia May 14.
READ: How U.S. Open Cup Match-Ups are Selected
The Charlotte Eagles are currently 3-0-3 in USL-PRO play this season.
The Fire return to action on Saturday, May 18 when they face the Philadelphia Union at PPL Park in Chester, Pa. at 6:30 p.m. CT (My50/La Ley 107.9). The Fire’s next home match at Toyota Park is Saturday, June 2 against long-time Eastern Conference foes D.C. United at 4:00 p.m. CT (My50/UniMas/La Ley 107.9). Tickets for the match are available by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE, via Ticketmaster or by heading to the club’s official website at Chicago-Fire.com.
