Playing in their 58th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match, the Chicago Fire made history in the 103-year-old tournament Wednesday night, securing an all-time record 12th appearance in the Open Cup semifinals with a 3-0 victory over NASL side Fort Lauderdale Strikers.
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The four-time champion Fire previously stood tied with St. Louis-based Kutis SC with 11 all-time semifinal appearances, which Kutis compiled in years spanning from 1953 through 1986.
The current leaderboard of U.S. Open Cup semifinal qualifiers is below, with FC Dallas climbing into a tie for third with their 1-0 defeat Wednesday night of the Houston Dynamo.
Club |
Semifinal Appearances |
|---|---|
Chicago Fire |
12 |
Kutis SC (Mo.) |
11 |
Bethlehem Steel |
9 |
DC United |
9 |
FC Dallas |
9 |
Pawtucket Rangers (R.I.) |
9 |
Ukrainian Nationals (Pa.) |
9 |
Chicago has now advanced to the U.S. Open Cup semifinals in five of the last six years, standing among the final four clubs in each of the following years: 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. Chicago is 6-5 all-time in its semifinal appearances.
Postgame Reactions:Paunovic | de Leeuw | Accam
Chicago's record-setting semifinal showing will see them face the New England Revolution, which advanced on penalties past the Philadelphia Union Wednesday night in Boston. The game will be played Tuesday, August 9 at a host site to be determined Thursday in a draw held by U.S. Soccer. Chicago and New England last met in Open Cup action in the quarterfinals of the 2006 tournament, also the last time Chicago raised the coveted trophy.
The Fire also now stand at a 28-1-2 all-time in U.S. Open Cup home matches, including an active eight-match unbeaten streak dating to 2013.
