Last night’s U.S. Open Cup tie between FC Cincinnati and the Chicago Fire was crazy intense. It had everything short of the Hand of God to make for the perfect soccer drama: the upstart, lower-tier underdogs against one of the best teams in the first division; the MLS (and Chicago Fire) rejects lining up to take the big team down, the massive crowd in the stadium, the inclusion of global star, Bastian Schweinsteiger, along with the other starters for both teams. The breakaways, spectacular last-ditch tackles, and saves-after-saves-after-saves, all from both teams. And, of course, the clutch goalkeeping performance in the penalties to win it for the home side.
FC Cincinnati and the Chicago Fire showed us why the drama of the U.S. Open Cup needs more shine.
