PEORIA, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire's devotion to the U.S. Open Cup is the stuff of MLS legend.
In 10 years of existence, the Fire have won the Open Cup four times. So it was not surprising the Fire found a way to beat the Columbus Crew 3-2 in extra time Tuesday at Bradley University in a play-in game for the long-running soccer tournament in the U.S.
Forward Andy Herron, who has had little time with the first team this season, playing behind Chad Barrett and Chris Rolfe, scored twice, including the game-winner on a penalty kick in the 116th minute of play after he was fouled by Columbus goalkeeper William Hesmer.
His first goal was a header off a brilliant feed from second-half sub Justin Mapp. That goal, the Fire's second of the game, was part of a five-minute stretch in which three goals were scored, two by Columbus.
"That is what the Open Cup is about," Fire coach Denis Hamlett said. "You have to win to move on. We get the lead, they got an equalizer, we get the lead again and they come back and get another goal. It just shows you teams take this Open Cup very seriously."
With the Open Cup match coming midweek for both clubs, with difficult road matches for each this weekend, both Hamlett and Crew boss Sigi Schmid were creative in who they used in the game. The Crew used starting goalkeeper Hesmer along with regular starters Danny O'Rourke, Alejandro Moreno, Eddie Gaven and Brian Carroll, while giving time to usual reserves Brad Evans, Andy Iro, Emmanuel Ekpo, Jed Zayner, Ryan Junge and Steven Lenhart.
Similarly, the Fire used starting goalkeeper Jon Busch, starting defenders Bakary Soumare and Brandon Prideaux, starting midfielders Logan Pause and Chris Rolfe, along with reserves Austin Washington on defense, Brian Plotkin, Tomasz Frankowski and Stephen King at the midfield and forwards Calen Carr and Herron. Mapp came on for Rolfe after Rolfe twisted his ankle at the end of the first half, and Hamlett also used defender C.J. Brown, forward Patrick Nyarko and forward Chad Barrett.
King gave the Fire the lead in the 10th minute when he knocked home a missed clearance. After Ekpo scored the first equalizer in the 63rd minute, the Fire got a goal from Herron on Mapp's tremendous run down the left side. His clear cross found Herron's head 10 yards out and Herron sent a sharp header into the left corner for a 2-1 Fire lead.
"That was a great ball by Justin and a world-class finish with the header," Hamlett said. "Not too many forwards in our league can finish that play, but he got up and redirected it just a little bit."
"Bringing in Justin, his run, that was a great opportunity for us and for me," Herron said. "With Justin on the field, you know you just have to get in the back and get in position. (Crew defender) Daniel O'Rourke is the shortest guy, and I decided I was going to stand there and I barely put my head on it and it went into the corner."
The Crew had the better of the play in the second half and created another easy goal to tie the game in the 67th minute by Jason Garey. The Crew had two back-to-back shots inside the six-yard box in the first overtime but could not get the ball past Busch.
"It was a typical Open Cup game," Busch said. "It means a lot to both organizations."
Herron's winning goal came with less than five minutes left in the second overtime period and came on a long run on a long through ball by Barrett. Herron, who played from the start on the hot, steamy night, said he barely had enough left in the tank to make the run.
"Those are moments where your legs are (hurting) and you have to wait for the right moment to make the run," Herron said. "I was getting tired. I thought I am just going to hang out. Denis brought in Chad and Patrick and I decided to wait for the run. My first touch, I saw Hesmer backing up, but when I looked up again, I saw he was coming and I knew he wasn't going to have any chance to stop. He just picked me up, and I decided I am going to finish it right here."
The Fire advance to the round-of-16 in the Open Cup, along with the seven other MLS qualifiers. They will be drawn against lower division opposition.
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