Chicago Fire (6-10-5, 8th in MLS East) vs. Louisville City FC (8-4-5, 4th in USL East)
The Fire’s best chance at winning a trophy this season continues in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup quarterfinals against Louisville City FC of USL. The Fire have been virtually invincible in Open Cup matches in Illinois (27-1-2). Only twice has an Open Cup run ended between the semifinals and their first match in the Open Cup. The two sides met before in the Open Cup Fourth Round in 2015 with the Fire winning, 1-0.
After fielding a makeshift lineup on Saturday against Dallas, look for the regulars to take the field as this competition takes more priority at the moment. Nemanja Nikolic has scored the Fire’s three goals in regular play during the Open Cup.
Louisville City FC are defending USL champions but recently lost coach James O’Connor to Orlando City SC. Paolo DelPiccolo and Luke Spencer – functioning as interim coaches will be leading the team during this match. Louisville currently sit fourth in the USL Eastern Conference, nine points adrift of leaders FC Cincinnati, and have won just once in their last seven league matches.
Louisville entered in the Second Round of this year’s tournament, knocking off the Long Island Rough Riders of the PDL, 5-0 and then defeating Saint Louis FC, 1-0. They followed that come-from-behind against their bitter rivals by stunning New England Revolution 3-2. In the last round they defeated fellow USL side Nashville, 2-1. They are the first side from Kentucky to make the US Open Cup quarterfinals.
The winner of this match will face the winner of the Philadelphia Union-Orlando quarterfinal. Kickoff for the match is at 7:30pm and will be streamed live on ussoccer.com and chicago-fire.com.
Chicago Fire
US Open Cup
April, 2024
