Wednesday Soccer Bloggin': Fire Win Open Cup!

The Chicago Fire won their fourth U.S. Open Cup tonight beating the detested LA Galaxy 3-1. That's four Open Cups in eight years. The US Open Cup is the oldest trophy in US Soccer, having been played for since 1914. All professional teams in the country are eligible to win the competition, although the last non-MLS team to win was Rochester in 1999. Although they've only won one MLS Cup (the league trophy), they've appeared in three cup finals.

I make a big point of telling my young soccer atheletes and their parents how important it is to go see real, professional soccer matches either on TV or in person. The Fire play at a gorgeous, brand new stadium in Bridgeview, just south of Chicago. It is abotu 2 and-a-half hours and the stadium is about a mile off the expressway. Tickets start at $20. It's a great time and the fans in Section 8 bring a European atmosphere to the games. No excuse not to take the young soccer fan. Go to team website, and check it out. Root the Fire on to the double.

The whipping of LA tonight caps a week where LA soccer teams went 0-3 in Chicago. The Galaxy also lost last Saturday night to the Fire in a league game. Saturday afternoon, the two teams' supporters clubs got together for a game and I suited up in the Fire kit.

I'm second from the left in the first row. Here is something else you don't often see, my 41 year-old butt dribbling past someone, albeit on the end of a nice pass from Jason.


Fire 'till I die;
Fire 'till I die;
I know I am, I swear I am;
Fire 'till I die.

Soccer geeks rule.