A long-awaited contest pitting the Chicago Fire against the Philadelphia Union for the right to advance to the championship match of the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has arrived(6:30 p.m. CT Wednesday, Chicago-Fire.com). Both sides have reached this point on multiple occasions in recent seasons and enter Wednesday committed to doing all they can to see themselves through to the next round. With this intriguing matchup nearly upon us, the time is right to examine some of the pertinent facts and figures related to the fixture in our "By The Numbers" semifinal countdown:
11 – The Chicago Fire extended their Modern Era record and matched the U.S. Open Cup's overall mark for most semifinal appearances in the tournament's 102-year history when they reached their 11th semifinal round this season. No other club has more than nine in the Modern Era.
10 – Number of Fire players who have previously appeared in an Open Cup semifinal, either in a Chicago Fire shirt or as a member of another club: Jon Busch, Razvan Cocis, Sean Johnson, Jeff Larentowicz, Mike Magee, Patrick Nyarko, Lovel Palmer, Chris Ritter, Harry Shipp and Matt Watson.
9 – Number of years since the U.S. Open Cup final was played at Toyota Park, a stretch which would come to an end with a Chicago Fire victory Wednesday night in Philadelphia. Playing for the club's fourth championship, the 2006 Fire leapt to an early 2-0 lead on Frank Yallop's LA Galaxy side and ultimately won, 3-1, in a match that featured a late substitute appearance by current Union head coach Jim Curtin.
8 – The Philadelphia Union, which played its inaugural season in 2010, have played eight all-time U.S. Open Cup matches against fellow MLS clubs, having posted a 3-3-2 mark in such competition.
7 – Number of goals scored in MLS play this season by Philadelphia's leading goal-scorer, C.J. Sapong. The former Sporting KC man is in his first year with the Union and scored in four straight matches from June 3-June 24, but currently has only one goal in his last six MLS outings.
6 – Number of Chicago Fire appearances in the Open Cup final, also a record in the modern professional era. A win on Wednesday would bring them level with Bethlehem Steel and Maccabi Los Angeles for most final appearances all-time. Of course, Chicago has claimed the championship four times (1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006), tied with Seattle Sounders FC for most among MLS clubs.
5 – Chicago’s goal differential (to the good) in the 2015 U.S. Open Cup. The Fire have outscored their three opponents 7-2, with Mike Magee (vs. Louisville City FC) and Kennedy Igboananike (Orlando City SC) each netting a brace in the process.
4 – Open Cup matches Chicago has played that were decided in penalty kicks, with the last coming in a qualifying round match on May 24, 2011, vs. San Jose.
3 – Mike Magee ranks in a tie for third, alongside Ante Razov, on Chicago’s all-time leaderboard for Open Cup goals, with six. It remains to be seen whether Magee, who has not played for the Fire since July 15 while recovering from a knee injury, will have an opportunity to add to his tally Wednesday and possibly catch Chicago Fire Open Cup goals leaders Josh Wolff (7) or Andy Herron (8).
2 – Current Fire players who have won the Open Cup. Jon Busch raised the Dewar Trophy in 2002 with Columbus Crew SC, while Jeff Larentowicz was a part of the winning New England Revolution side in 2007. Both played every minute of their respective championship matches.
1 – Wednesday’s match will be the first time the Fire have ever faced Philadelphia in the Open Cup. Both teams are seeking to rid themselves of the bitter ends they met in the 2014 Open Cup, both at the hands of Seattle Sounders FC: Chicago by a lopsided 6-0 margin in the semis, and Philadelphia by a heartbreaking 3-1 scoreline after extra time in the final.
