May 28, 2012
CUP KICKOFF
Fire to face PDL’s Bucks Tuesday

The Chicago Fire have always made a mark on the U.S. Open Cup, winning the competition on four different occasions and finishing second twice while compiling a the Fire hold a 30-7-2 all-time record in the 99-year-old tournament.

After winning both the MLS Cup and Open cup in their first season, 1998, the team also captured Open Cup titles in 2000, 2003 and 2006 and finished second in 2004 and 2011.

On Tuesday, they will kick off another quest for the Dewars Tropy, one of the oldest awarded in North American sports when they visit the Michigan Bucks in Pontiac, Mich. for a 6:30 pm game.

It’s only the second time the Fire are facing a PDL team on the competition, having beaten the Chicago Sockers on a 22nd minute goal from Josh Wolff in the third round of the tournament on July 11, 2000, en route to their second Open Cup title later that year.

The Michigan Bucks (USL Premier Development League) advanced to the third round of the U.S. Open Cup after beating the Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1-0 on Tuesday, May 22 on a 90th minute penalty kick by Stew Givens. They currently sit atop the PDL’s Great Lakes Division with six points from two matches.

They have faced MLS teams in the Open Cup six times, holding a 1-5 record. But, they were the first PDL team to beat an MLS side in the competition’s history when a 90th minute goal from Chad Schomaker gave the fourth division side a 1-0 victory over the New England Revolution in the second round of the tournament on June 27, 2000.