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MLS Play-in Qualifier
Shea Stadium (Bradley Univ.)
Peoria, Illinois
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AFTER EXTRA TIME
CHI - Stephen King 10’
CLB - Emmanuel Ekpo (Gaven) 63’
CHI - Andy Herron (Mapp, Plotkin) 65’
CLB - Jason Garey (Zayner, Rogers) 67’
CHI - Andy Herron 116’ (PK)
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It just wouldn’t seem the same without the Chicago Fire in the U.S. Open Cup. Andy Herron made sure we wouldn’t have to find out what that would be like in 2008.
In front of a crowd of 3,829, the largest to see a soccer game at Bradley University’s Shea Stadium, the Chicago Fire held off the Columbus Crew 3-2 in extra time, to claim the eighth and final MLS berth in the 2008 U.S. Open Cup.
Both clubs started the game with a mix of regulars starters and reserve players in their lineups. The Fire jumped out in front in the 10th minute when Stephen King beat Crew goalkeeper Will Hesmer with a shot after Hesmer had just blocked a shot on goal.
The teams went to halftime with a 1-0 score, but midway through the second half, the two clubs traded a flurry of goals. It all began in the 63rd minute, when Emmanuel Ekpo ended a lengthy Crew offensive possession by beating former Crew goalkeeper Jon Busch to tie the score at 1-1.
Andy Herron wasted no time regaining the lead for his club, when he headed home a Justin Mapp cross from the left side just two minutes later. Another two minutes passed when the Crew leveled the game one more time, as second half substitute Jason Garey fired a shot into the far upper corner.
Twenty-four minutes of extra time passed before the Fire found the game-winning goal. On a run by Herron, Hesmer challenged for the ball with a slide tackle, but Referee Tony Russo pointed towards the penalty spot to award the Fire a spot kick. Herron stepped up and beat Hesmer on his right side for the game winning goal
The four-time Open Cup champion Fire have never missed an Open Cup tournament since they began play in 1998.
