»PHOTOS: FC Cincinnati stuns Columbus Crew
Chicago (10-4-3) sits in second in the MLS Eastern Conference and brings a 10-game unbeaten streak, including two draws, to Cincinnati.
“We know we are the underdogs, and we’ve got nothing to lose,” FC Cincinnati coach Alan Koch said. “The Fire are playing fantastically this year. They are obviously where they are in MLS because they are a very good team. I firmly believe all the pressure is on them. We will prepare ourselves to go out and continue this journey.
“We’ve enjoyed this Cup run. It’s been fun. Every game has presented different obstacles, as we progressed but to play one of the top MLS teams currently on Wednesday here is going to be a huge challenge, but we believe in our group and we firmly embrace the underdog role as we did two weeks ago against Columbus. We got a positive result, so why not do it again on Wednesday?”
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The two teams met in the preseason, a 3-2 win for the Fire at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., on Feb. 22, but that’s hardly an example of what could be Wednesday given both clubs were trying different things and using different players.
Both started off somewhat slowly this season and seem to be hitting their strides heading into this game. FCC has a four-game unbeaten streak and wins in six of its last nine games with just one loss in that stretch.
Even just a little familiarity could help FC Cincinnati on Wednesday, though, as should the home-field advantage as a crowd of at least 25,000 is expected.
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“It’s nice that we already know what a few of their players are like playing against, but that being said both of us are different teams and it was so long ago,” said FC Cincinnati defender Austin Berry, who was drafted by the Fire in 2012 and played two seasons in Chicago. “It will be fun to face them again. It’s another opportunity to play against a big team that’s playing well.”
It’s uncertain what kind of lineup the Fire will bring, but the club has a history of success in the Cup and tends to take it very seriously, according to FC Cincinnati midfielder Corben Bone, who also began his career with the Fire from 2010 to 2013. Chicago has won four Open Cup titles since its inaugural season in 1998 and twice was a runner-up, including in 2011 when Bone was on the squad.
The only thing known for sure is that Chicago midfielders David Accam and Dax McCarty won’t be available, as they have been called in to their respective national teams for upcoming international fixtures. McCarty has been selected for the United States’ final 23-man roster for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, while Accam is set to join Ghana ahead of friendlies against Mexico and the United States.
“Their whole roster is good, so no matter who they bring here, they are going to be quality players, no matter if it’s the big-name guys or the lower-named guys,” Bone said. “They are going to put a quality group of players on the field and they have something to prove as well. If they play guys that haven’t played as much, they are going to have something to prove against a team that’s in a lower division that they are expected to beat. No matter who’s on the field, it’s going to be a big challenge, but it’s one we look forward to.”
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