April 24, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Chicago Fire FC News Release
Chicago Fire FC celebrate after a goal against the New York Red Bulls
(Chicago Fire FC)
CHICAGO FIRE FC BEGIN U.S. OPEN CUP RUN THIS WEDNESDAY AGAINST CHICAGO HOUSE AC
Chicago Fire FC will host two matches this week in the Windy City. In the first, Chicago Fire FC will host Midwest Premier League side Chicago House AC in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at 7 p.m. CT on Wednesday, April 26 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. Wednesday marks just the third time the Fire will face off against another Chicago side in franchise history. Undefeated in the first two, the Fire look to continue their Windy City dominance as they look to claim their fifth U.S. Open Cup title, which would be the most in competition history.
In the Club’s very first U.S. Open Cup appearance, their first match in Cup history was the first edition of the “Chicago Derby” when the Fire defeated the Chicago Stingers 3-1 on July 6, 1998 at Forest View Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Led by current assistant coach, Frank Klopas, the Fire defeated the Stingers en route to completing the Double and capturing the franchise’s first of four U.S. Open Cup titles.
Just two years later, the second Chicago Derby occurred when the Fire hosted the Chicago Sockers in the third round of the 2000 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on July 25, 2000 at Forest View Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The Fire would come out victorious once again after a first half tally from former Fire striker Josh Wolff lifted Chicago over the Sockers 1-0 to advance to the 2000 U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals. Once again, the Fire would win the Chicago Derby on the way to winning a U.S. Open Cup title.
This week, the Fire will take on Chicago House AC in the highly anticipated third installment of the Chicago Derby. House, established in 2020, began play in 2021. Formerly part of the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA), the team shifted to the MWPL in 2022. Chicago Fire FC assistant coach and Ring of Fire member C.J. Brown was the first head coach and technical director in Chicago House history, guiding the team in 2021 before joining Fire head coach Ezra Hendrickson’s coaching staff ahead of the 2022 MLS season.
Prior to the matches against Chicago House and New York Red Bulls, the Fire will train at SeatGeek Stadium and the first 15 minutes of each session will be open to the media, with interviews with coaches and…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at OurSports Central Major League Soccer MLS News…