Philadelphia Union (8-11-3, 7th in East) vs. Chicago Fire (6-13-5, 10th in East)
The Chicago Fire are in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup semifinals for the 13th time in their history and fifth time in the past six years. However, the Fire have lost their last four trips to the semifinals including in 2015 against Philadelphia at Talen Energy Stadium. They are looking for their seventh Final appearance and first since 2011. It is the fourth time in seven years at this stage for the Union, who are looking to reach the Final for the third time.
Both teams went into squad rotation mode last Saturday and both teams lost. More so for the Fire than perhaps the Union, the season hinges on this match. The Fire still have a lot of long-term injuries and Diego Campos is a question mark with a left knee injury suffered Saturday at RSL—though it is less serious than feared.
If the Fire win, they will host the winner of the other semifinal between Houston and LAFC on October 3rd. If the Union win, they will be on the road for the Final on September 26th. The Union have won the two league matches between the teams with a 3-1 win in Chester and a 4-3 win at Toyota Park.
If the Fire do not come away with a win in this one, Saturday’s league match against New York Red Bulls may make for unpleasant viewing as fan unrest will be at an all-time high and some having Veljko Paunovic in “Win the Cup or your out” mode.
Kickoff for the match is at 6pm CT onUSSoccer.com.
INJURIES:
PHILADELPHIA UNION—OUT: M – Ilsinho (right quad strain)
CHICAGO FIRE–OUT: M – Djordje Mihailovic (right ACL surgery), F – Michael de Leeuw (left ACL surgery), D – Matt Polster (MCL surgery), GK – Patrick McLain (hamstring injury), D – Grant Lillard (right quad injury), M – Dax McCarty (hamstring injury); QUESTIONABLE: D – Diego Campos (left knee injury)
THIS YEAR:
5/30/18: PHI 3-1 CHI
7/11/18: CHI 3-4 PHI
Chicago Fire
US Open Cup
April, 2024
