If it weren’t for the Chicago Fire, Crew SC would have more than one Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy in its case.
The Crew has played the Fire five times in the national championship tournament, more than any other team. It has been eliminated each time, including the 1998 final. Tonight, the rivals will meet again at Toyota Park in the round of 16, during which the Crew has been eliminated in four of the past five years. But the Crew is not resigned to its usual fate.
“We’re going to give it everything we have and see what happens,” coach Gregg Berhalter said.