The Chicago Fire Premier got off to a false start in their
second round Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match away to the Madison 56ers Tuesday
night.
Dark clouds rolled in over Breese Stevens Field just in time
for Tuesday night’s 7pm kickoff, but the match was started on time. With
forecasts throughout the day predicting strong storms and warning of possible
tornado, the match was expected to be delayed.
A Fire crowd of about 35 supporters from Section 8 Chicago
showed up to support the PDL youngsters, setting up shop behind the south goal
and making it a point to be louder than the large amount of home fans.
The visitors didn’t disappoint their away support, getting
after things in earnest in the fourth minute when center back Kevin Cope
(Michigan State) beat Madison keeper Kyle Dillman with a 30-yard effort that
came back off the left post, threatening the 56ers goal early on.
Just five minutes later the Indiana University connection
came good for the Fire as Harrison Petts chipped Chris Estridge alone on
Dillman’s goal. With two touches, the team’s leading scorer buried an easy
effort past the 56ers backstop to give the Fire a 1-0 lead after nine minutes.
Four minutes later Paulo Vaz (Lynn University), got on the end
of a through ball from holding midfielder Jacob Bushue (Indiana). The Fire
Academy product went in one-on-one with Dillman but the Madison keeper cut down
the angle and thwarted Petts’ effort coming of his line in the 13th
minute.
The Fire continued to control play but shortly thereafter in
the 18th minute, lightning was spotted and players were asked to
leave the field.
Given the lengthy delay, the home Madison crowd ushered
itself under the converted baseball stadiums outfield overhang and was treated
to the boisterous chants of Section 8 as both sets of fans waited for the teams
to retake the field.
With a nearly two-hour lightning delay, more bad weather in
the area and a city ordinance in Madison which calls for matches at the stadium
to end by 11pm, the game was officially called just after 9:30pm CT.
Because the teams only got 18 minutes in, U.S. Soccer’s tournament bylaws state the match will be replayed in it’s entirety, meaning Estridge’s team leading seventh goal will be wiped clean as the two teams get back out on the field Thursday afternoon at 4pm CT. Follow the match LIVE @ChiFirePremier on Twitter. The winner will move on to face Sporting Kansas City in the tournament's third round at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park on Tuesday, June 28.
Jeff Crandall is the Team Writer for the Chicago Fire. Follow him on Twitter @JefeCrandall.
