Led by head coach Frank Klopas, the Chicago Fire’s quest for a fifth Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup continues in Austin, Texas. Chicago will face Austin FC for the first time in the Open Cup in the Round of 16 at 8 p.m. CT on Wednesday, May 24 at Q2 Stadium. The match will be broadcast on B/R Football YouTube Channel.
Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff is no stranger to the tournament, having captured the 1998 and 2000 U.S. Open Cup titles as a member of the Chicago Fire. The winner of the match between the Chicago Fire and Austin FC will advance to face the winner of Houston Dynamo versus Minnesota United FC.
The Fire have won four U.S. Open Cup trophies in Club history, winning the 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006 editions of the tournament. Chicago’s four titles are tied with Seattle Sounders FC and Sporting KC for the most championships won by an MLS team, and the second-most in the history of the tournament. Additionally, the Fire have appeared in the semifinals on 13 occasions, including six times in an eight-year period (2011-2018), tallying a 45-16-7 all-time record in the annual competition.
Prior to the week’s matches against Austin FC (U.S. Open Cup) and New England Revolution (MLS Regular Season), the Fire will train at SeatGeek Stadium and the first 15 minutes of each session will be open to the media, with interviews with coaches and players occurring directly afterward. Media members interested in attending must RSVP and share any interview requests with Elizabeth Sánchez at esanchez@chicagofirefc.com at least 24 hours in advance of the training session they plan to attend. (Full schedule below).
CHICAGO FIRE FC SCHEDULE
(MAY 23-28)
Tuesday, May 23
Training at 12 p.m. CT at SeatGeek Stadium
Travel to Austin
Wednesday, May 24
Chicago Fire FC vs. Austin FC at Q2 Stadium at 8 p.m. CT
Thursday, May 25
Training at 12 p.m. CT at SeatGeek Stadium
Friday, May 26
Training at 10 a.m. CT at SeatGeek Stadium
Travel to New England
Saturday, May 27
Chicago Fire FC vs. New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium at 6:30 p.m. CT
Sunday, May 28
Chicago Fire FC II vs. Crown Legacy FC at SeatGeek Stadium at 5 p.m. CT
NEXT UP, NEW ENGLAND!
Chicago’s second match of a four-game road stretch across all competitions will be against the New England Revolution at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, May 27 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Saturday’s match will mark the 70th regular season encounter between the two teams and is the first of two matches between the Eastern Conference foes during the 2023 season.
Bruce Arena’s side will be looking to break a three-game losing streak across all competitions. Most recently, the Revolution fell 3-0 against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania. New England (7-3-3, 24 points) is led by Designated Player Carles Gil, who leads the team with three goals and four assists.
Chicago and New England last met in the final regular season match of 2022, with Homegrown midfielder Alex Monis scoring his first MLS goal in a Fire shirt in his first minute of play after coming on as a substitute in the 90+2nd minute. Monis’s goal salvaged a point from the hard-fought 1-1 tie to end the season.
TEAM OF THE MATCHDAY BENCH FOR HAILE-SELASSIE
Winger Maren Haile-Selassie was named to the MLS Team of the Matchday bench for Matchday 14 for his performance in the comeback 3-3 tie against Atlanta United on Saturday at Soldier Field.
The young Swiss midfielder scored his second goal of the season in the 49th minute when Xherdan Shaqiri sent a long cross into the box for striker Kacper Prybyłko. The forward headed the ball down to the top of the box on the left side, where Haile-Selassie was running into the space, sending a one-time shot into the goal. Haile-Selassie then set up Greek forward Georgios Koutsias for the game-tying goal in the 89th minute. He was named Chicago Fire FC Heineken Man of the Match for his efforts.
GOOOOOOOAL! (BUT IN GREEK)
Greek forward Georgios Koutsias scored his first Chicago Fire FC and Major League Soccer goal in the 89th minute of the 3-3 tie against Atlanta United on Saturday at Soldier Field. Koutsias was able to find the back of the net after converting a close-range pass from Haile-Selassie on the edge of the six-yard box.
WELCOME TO THE FIRE II FAMILY, ANDREAS!
Chicago Fire FC II announced that the Club has signed Norwegian defender Andreas Ueland (YOO-land) to an MLS NEXT Pro contract. His contract will run through the 2023 season.
Ueland, 23, joins Chicago Fire FC II after having spent the last four seasons playing for the University of Virginia at the collegiate level. After his senior year, Ueland was drafted by the New England Revolution in the third round (68th overall) of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft.
At the international level, Ueland has represented Norway at the U-17, U-18, and U-20 levels.
