There was a “cupset” was in Wisconsin on Tuesday evening as Chicago House AC advanced to the Third Round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup after defeating USL League One’s Forward Madison FC 3-2 in extra time.
The Chicago-based Midwest Premier League club traveled to Madison, Wisc. and pulled off the rare comeback despite being two goals down after 74 minutes of play. In the Modern Era (1995-present) of the tournament, this marks just the second time that an amateur team has come back from a two-goal deficit to defeat a professional team. (Laredo Heat beat Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the Third Round of 2014 US Open Cup)
With the win, they earn a date with the Chicago Fire of MLS in Round 3.
Forward Madison jumped ahead early in the contest after repeated spells of possession when Jayden Onen’s strike from across the penalty area found the back of the net in the 19th minute.
It was looking bleak for Chicago after that goal was scored as Madison continued to attack the visitors’ net. Despite the repeated ‘Mingo attempts on goal, House’s keeper Tony Halterman was able to keep the match at a one-goal margin at halftime. House didn’t do much to help themselves offensively in the first half, taking just three shots – none of which were on target.
After halftime, it was more of the same from Madison. That came to a head in the 48th minute when Tino Vasquez connected on a solid strike that beat Halterman, giving Madison a
seemingly comfortable 2-0 lead at Breese Stevens Field. For Vasquez, it was the first professional goal for the 16-year-old, as he became the youngest goalscorer in Forward Madison history.
Tino Vásquez gets his first professional goal in his first professional start for the ‘Mingos ????????
At 16 years and 359 days, Vásquez becomes the youngest goalscorer in FMFC history.
????: @ForwardMSNFC#OneForAll https://t.co/qom1yeAqmw pic.twitter.com/edv7hMyf61
— Ethan Triebsch (@EthanTriebsch) April 12, 2023
But just as the sun was setting in Madison, Chicago House awoke from their in-match slumber. It started in the 75th minute when House’s Ricardo Avalos turned Madison over in their own half. He turned to his left and found Adam Mann making a run toward goal. Mann collected the pass and beat Madison keeper Bernd Schipmann, giving his team a sliver of hope with 15 minutes remaining. The goal was Mann’s first in a Chicago House uniform, having joined the club last year.
Madison managed to maintain a bit more possession as the match entered stoppage time. That was until Chicago House captain AR Smith put the team on his back. Smith collected the ball in the penalty area with two defenders surrounding him in the second minute of stoppage time. He created enough space to get his shot off and it was enough to beat the keeper, tying the match at two.
Below this is video
Chicago House celebration ???? pic.twitter.com/JAHPexGQEd
— Joe Chatz (@JoeChatz) April 12, 2023
In stoppage time, it looked like Madison were about to re-take the lead in the 94th minute when two of their attempts on goal were successively saved by a sprawling Halterman.
Then, in the 103rd minute, the Open Cup magic came out again. House substitute Alejandro Mentasi had his shot from the top of the penalty area deflected perfectly to Smith, who took a moment to collect himself before scoring the match-winner, which ultimately would send House to a Chicago Derby in the Third Round.
“This is incredible,” said Halterman post-match. “I’m honestly speechless. I’m so stoked for these guys, for this organization. This is what we’ve been fighting for since the whole thing began, since this run began back in September. The dream has been to play against an MLS side and it’s coming to fruition. We get a Chicago derby.”
It will be a Chicago Derby on April 26 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Ill. when Chicago House will take on Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire. It will be another matchup between clubs that were