Chicago Fire FC II survived the cold and snow to move past Forward Madison FC to the Third Round of the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in what ended up being a comfortable 2-0 victory.
The MLS NEXT Pro side pulled ahead via David Poreba’s goal in the 11th minute. The Fire II midfielder pounced on a ball served in by Omari Glasgow that was not well handled by Madison goalkeeper Martin Sanchez. The cross from the right-hand side ended up in the six-yard box where Sanchez deflected the ball right to Poreba, who just needed to tap the ball into the empty net.
“We knew that with the weather that the keeper could spill some shots,” said Poreba of his goal. “Credit to Omari not even for that play but throughout the game he was putting in some really good good crosses from the wing.”
It wouldn’t get easier for the Mingos. They had to make an early substitution when forward Mauro Cichero went down shortly after the goal was scored and they had to burn a substitution early.
Fire II continued to pressure them as the first half pushed on. Harold Osorio hit one off the bottom of the crossbar in the 26th minute and continued to control possession in the first half ending up with 52% possession when the half-time whistle was blown.
Madison did have their chances in the first half but never really threatened to score. Their best attempt was a shot from Nazeem Bartman after a Fire II turnover in midfield led to a well-worked counterattack. His shot however curled past the far post.
The first 15 minutes of the second half were largely the same. Fire II mostly controlled the game and Madison looked to get shots in when they could. But Midway through the second half, though things started looking up for the Mingos. Head coach Matt Glaeser turned to his firepower on the bench by bringing in Ferrety Sousa, Derek Gebhard, and Jimmie Villalobos to try and get a tying goal.
Those moves helped Madison go on the front foot. They started to have more possession and looked more likely to score the second goal of the game for a long time in the second half, but they couldn’t find that crucial final ball to put them on the board.
It all fell apart for them late. Fire II missed a few chances on the counterattack with substitute Jason Shokalook barely missing a couple of crosses. He didn’t miss his third opportunity, however. A ball played over the top by Lamonth Rochester found Shokalook’s foot, he won his 1v1 with the goalkeeper and Fire II were up 2-0 with just four added minutes left to play.
“It just happened instinctually]. I just got the ball moving as quick as I could did what I could and it worked out perfectly.” Shokalook said of his first goal in a Fire II shirt. “You’re put in different scenarios that are very game-like all week in practice so things like this become second nature.”
Madison had one last shot at a goal in garbage time. A free kick won in a dangerous place was struck just wide before the final whistle blew to end the game and Fire II into the Third Round of the Open Cup.
While this is Chicago Fire II’s first time playing in the Open Cup, this is not a first for the organization. The Fire have won this tournament four times, most recently in 2006. Fire II are looking to build on that legacy with a deep cup run. As for Madison, it’s back to the grind of USL League One where they look to once again make the playoffs and best their quarterfinal appearance from last season.