Chicago Fire Fall 2-0 To D.C. United In Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinal

CHICAGO, Ill. (August 7, 2013) -   The Chicago Fire fell 2-0 to D.C. United in the semifinal round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Wednesday evening at Toyota Park. Dwayne De Rosario’s 44^th minute strike and Nick DeLeon’s 48^th minute tally proved the difference as United advanced to the finals against Real Salt Lake
The Fire return to MLS action on August 10, as the Chicago Fire will host its first-ever “Dog Days of Soccer” presented by Beneful® event when the Fire welcome the Montreal Impact (10-6-5, 35 points) to Toyota Park at 7:30 p.m. CT (My50/La Ley 107.9 FM). On this night, Chicago Fire fans are invited to bring their canine friends to enjoy the match. In the specially designated Fire Dog Zone, Beneful® will distribute goody bags to dog owners featuring Beneful® Healthy Smile dog food samples. Additional information on the “Dog Days of Soccer” can be found here.
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MATCH REPORT: http://bit.ly/194njwB
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: http://bit.ly/1eu3oaE
Quotes:
Frank Klopas, Chicago Fire Head Coach
On the game today
“I don’t think the team was that different but it’s a tough loss. Obviously, a great opportunity at home Wednesday night playing at home, the fan support was fantastic. Sometimes it’s one of those games where those little things don’t go our way. Obviously the goals given up late and then the start…but we pushed and we had some chances that didn’t go in but what are you going to do. Definitely it’s going to hurt us tonight and for tomorrow we have to regroup and now really focus on the league because we’re right there and some big games are coming up to put ourselves in a spot in the playoffs.”
On what D.C. did differently today
“I don’t think they were that different. Pretty much their back line was the same other than Jakovic. We played this team before the way they were. I just think the little things went our way [in the last game vs. D.C.]. Obviously this was their whole season they put into this.  I think our guys were ready, we competed, for sure Patrick [Nyarko] coming out I think at that moment with his head injury had a little bit of effect with his ability with pace to stretch the team. We were a little bit different [after he came out]. Look, we had chances and sometimes it doesn’t go your way but I am proud of the group. It’s disappointing right now, obviously a great opportunity one more game to go to the final. We talked about it, we put a lot into it, and it’s going to be a hard night but tomorrow it’s a new day and we have to move on and get ready for Montreal.”
Gonzalo Segares, Chicago Fire defender
On D.C.’s first goal:
“The goal they scored was unfortunate, then we were fighting from 1-0 behind to get back into the game.”
On Pat Nyarko coming off early:
“I think that was key.  Patrick [Nyarko]was creating a lot of danger over there, he and Dilly [Duka] are very dangerous players – we had a lot of opportunity on the flanks, and having Patrick come off was one the keys for them, even for us.  Losing a guy like Patrick is definitely a tough situation and made a difference, that’s for sure.”
On D.C.’s motivation to win this game:
“Every game is different, because their season has gone so badly, so they have extra motivation to get into the Finals.  Today they were the better team and took advantage of their chances and that’s what made the difference.”
On putting the loss behind them to prepare for Saturday:
“It’s always tough to lose in the semifinals, we always take this seriously.  From the first game we played we used the starting line-up, and every single game had the starting line-up so that shows how seriously we take it.  We were pretty excited to come out today to try and get a win and go on to the Final.  Unfortunately, it didn’t happen and now we have to turn around, lift up our heads and tomorrow get ready for Montreal.  We are still in the hunt for the playoffs and we have a key game on Saturday on short rest and we have to be mentally ready for sure.
Jeff Larentowicz, Chicago Fire midfielder
On the difference in D.C.’s play from the last time they played each other:
“The difference between this game and the last time we played them is that we scored early.  It was a tight half – this is a different game, it’s a cup game, so it’s probably going to be tighter. I thought it was even in the first half, they scored on a mistake.  Then in the second half I don’t know how we don’t score.  They scored on a deflected shot, I thought they were a little fortunate tonight, but overall I thought it was fairly even.”
On Nyarko’s injury:
“Pat’s [Nyarko] a dangerous player. Even in the period he was on the field he was dangerous. Joel’s a very good player and a dangerous player, a different type of player, but I don’t think it was a big difference.”
Sean Johnson, Chicago Fire goalkeeper:
On the first goal and contact:
“Yes [there was contact], I think he did a good job getting in position where he could challenge.  Looking back, I should have probably just punched through it.  I thought I could have collected it, I thought I got a good jump, but there was a little bit of contact between me and the ball at the same time.  Credit to him, I should have just punched it away, I should have done better.”
Notes:
-This match marked Fire ‘keeper Sean Johnson’s 100^th competitive match in a Fire jersey.
-Ecuadorian striker Juan Luis Anangono made his first competitive appearance for the Fire when he entered the match in the 57^th minute.
-The Fire are 33-10-5 all-time in Open Cup play and 21-0-2 in matches played in the state of Illinois
Chicago Fire 0 – 2 D.C. United
Chicago Fire: Sean Johnson; Jalil Anibaba, Austin Berry, Bakary Soumare, Gonzalo Segares (Quincy Amarikwa 74’); Patrick Nyarko (Joel Lindpere 36’), Jeff Larentowicz ©, Alex, Dilly Duka; Mike Magee, Chris Rolfe (Juan Luis Anangono 57’)
Substitutes not used: Paolo Tornaghi, Hunter Jumper, Logan Pause, Daniel Paladini
D.C. United: Joe Willis; James Riley, Dejan Jakovic, Daniel Woolard, Chris Korb; John Thorrington, Luis Silva (Conor Doyle 57’), Perry Kitchen, Nick DeLeon (Chris Pontius 74’), Kyle Porter; Dwayne De Rosario ©
Substitutes not used: Bill Hamid, Taylor Kemp, Ethan White, Jared Jeffrey, Sainey Nyassi
Scoring Summary
DC – Dwayne De Rosario (Luis Silva) 44’
DC – Nick DeLeon (James Riley) 48’
Misconduct Summary
None
Referee: Jair Marrufo
Assistants: Eric Boria, Mike Rottersman
Fourth Official: Jose Carlos Rivero
Attendance: 11,036