Pro Sports Report | Fire burn House, prep to host St. Louis in 3rd round of U.S. Open Cup

By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer

The Fire topped the House in the battle of Chicago and have a quick return trip to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.

The Fire beat the House, 3-0, April 26 in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Kendall Birks scored a brace and Kacper Przybylko had a goal. Birks is a regular on the Chicago Fire II, which plays its home games at SeatGeek.

The Fire hosts St. Louis in the Round of 32 at 7 p.m., May 9 in Bridgeview.

It’s the first time in its history the Fire will face St. Louis, but they will get familiar with the expansion team quickly because the two squads will meet in an MLS game on May 13.

St. Louis opened its Cup campaign with a 5-1 win against Union Omaha in front of a sold-out home crowd of 22,423. The number set a new attendance record for a U.S. Open Cup third-round match and is the 10th highest attendance in any round of the historic tournament.

The House-Fire battle did not draw those kinds of numbers. There was an announced crowd of 3,421. It featured a match between the Fire — the team Peter Wilt founded — and the House — of which Wilt is currently the CEO.

The Fire won U.S. Open Cup trophies in 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006.

A sign honoring Peter Wilt, the founder of the Chicago Fire and CEO of the Chicago House is erected during the House/Fire game on April 26. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Red Stars tie Spirit
Bianca St-Georges scored a goal in the 32^nd minute and the Chicago Red Stars played Washington to a 1-1 draw on April 29 in front of an announced crowd of 3,610 at SeatGeek Stadium.

St-Georges is the seventh player to score for the Red Stars (1-3-1) this season. Rookie Ally Schlegel picked up the assist against the Spirit (2-0-3).

Orland Park native Tatumn Milazzo had six tackles and was the only Red Star to rack up more than one. She also led the team with 31 completed passes.

Earlier in the week, Milazzo was optimistic that the team could break out of its lull after being beaten soundly 5-2 by OL Reign.

“I think everyone who has been brought in has been super great,” she said. “All the personalities mesh really well together, and everyone is on the same page and wanting to work hard to get better and win.

“I think that’s been the most important part of the different people being brought in, that we’re all on the same page and we all have the same goal. That makes it more competitive and more fun. So, that will also help us be really successful once we get to know each other a little better and hammer down how we want to play together.”

The Red Stars were scheduled to visit Houston on May 3 for a Challenge Cup game.

They return to NWSL action at 5 p.m. on May 7 hosting Gotham FC (3-2-0).

Red Star player Bianca St-Georges breaks away from a Washington defender on April 29 and later scored the team’s only goal in a 1-1 draw. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Broadcast news
Chicago Fire games are now broadcast on the radio in English.

The team started to be broadcast on 890 WLS-AM on April 29 and it will continue throughout the year.

Max Thoma will serve as the primary play-by-play announcer for the team’s matches. Former Fire player Dasan Robinson will be the color analyst. Max Anderson will provide the play-by-play commentary for select Fire matches.

The Red Stars will have select matches on The U, WMEU Channel 48.1 and WCIU Channel 26.2.

Dan Kelly returns for his second season as the play-by-play announcer for Red Stars matches on The U.

Fire II ties NY
The Fire II engaged in a 0-0 draw against the New York Red Bulls II on April 30 at Seat Geek Stadium.

Goalkeepers Jeff Gal and Mihajilo Miskovic helped preserve the shutout for the Fire.

The Fire II (2-3-1) visits Minnesota 2 at 7 p.m May 7.

Hounds back in action
The Chicago Hounds had the weekend off in Major Rugby League and bring in their 1-8-0 record into a 5 pm. May 6 game at Rugby Atlanta.

Their next home game at SeatGeek Stadium is May 14 against the New York Iron Workers.