Orlando City News Release -- www.orlandocitysoccer.com
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando City SC continues its run in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup this Wednesday night at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill., against Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire in the tournament’s quarterfinals. Kickoff for the game is set for 8:30 p.m. ET and will be livestreamed on Chicago’s YouTube channel.
The Fire have been on a hotstreak as of late in MLS regular season action, remaining undefeated in their last five matches (seven including the U.S. Open Cup). Chicago advanced past the Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) 2-0 and Columbus Crew (MLS) 2-1 to get to Wednesday’s quarterfinal.
Chicago, which has never faced Orlando City in Open Cup play, are 20-0-1 all-time in Open Cup matches in the state of Illinois. Since 1998, the Fire have won the Open Cup Championship four times, making Chicago one of six teams to capture the title at least four times in the tournament’s 100-year history.
The Lions advanced past MLS affiliate Sporting Kansas City 1-0 in the last round of the Open Cup, with an early goal by forward Long Tan giving Orlando the lead and, eventually, the win. The win marked the club’s first-ever win against Sporting KC and advancement to the quarterfinals. If the Lions advance past Chicago, Orlando will host a semifinal contest on Wednesday, August 7, at Fifth Third Bank Field at the Florida Citrus Bowl.
Orlando previously topped MLS’ Colorado Rapids 3-1 at the Citrus Bowl in the third round, and the PDL’s Ocala Stampede in the second round of the knockout tournament. The four Sporting loanees who did not play against Sporting -- Dom Dwyer, Christian Duke, Yann Songo’o and Jon Kempin -- will be eligible for the June 26 match against Chicago.
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the United States and is open to United States Soccer Federation (USSF) affiliated teams. This year marks the centennial edition of the tournament. This year’s field consisted of 68 teams, the largest field in US Open Cup history.