CHESTER, Pa. — When Union manager Jim Curtin was a lanky center back for the Chicago Fire, he helped his club go on a U.S. Open Cup rampage. From 2003 to 2006, Curtin and the Fire reached the championship game three times and took home two trophies.
“I want our guys to have the feeling of winning a trophy,” said Curtin, whose club faces the Fire on Wednesday night at PPL Park in the Open Cup semifinals. “Once you have it though with a group of guys, it’s permanent. It’s forever.”
Curtin wants his players to experience the same type of team bonding through success that he did in 2003 and again in 2006. He also wants to add some meaning to a 6-13-5 season that has the Union currently battling the 6-12-4 Fire for last place in MLS.
For the coach, the Open Cup is salvation.
“We know our season has not been the best,” Curtin said. “I’m a realist and I’m not happy with where it’s at and how it’s gone this year. We do have this competition to salvage it, and if you go back and look, and if we are able to get to the final and win it, it’s been a heck of a run for our group.
In the last two seasons, the Union have won seven of eight Open Cup matches and reached the semifinals in back-to-back seasons. The club, which defeated the Rochester Rhinos, D.C. United and New York Red Bulls, is remarkably successful in this particular tournament.
“We have a load of grit and grind to us,” Union goalkeeper John McCarthy said. “We know when we have to perform. We try to bring it to the table every time that we step on the field and this is a time to step on the field and make something happen as a team.”
PPL advantage
The Union will be at an advantage on Wednesday by playing at PPL Park. But the typical home-field advantage is more pronounced against the Fire. Frank Yallop’s club is 0-3-7 on the road this season in MLS play and has yet to play a road game in the Open Cup.
“Having home-field advantage is huge,” Curtin said. “Knowing that they’ve struggled this year on the road, it plays into our hand a bit, to have the opportunity to feed off the crowd, feed off the energy in the building and take care of business in our home stadium.”
Home teams are 56-28 in Open Cup play this season, with the hosts going 21-7 in the fourth round and beyond. The Fire defeated Louisville City FC, Charlotte Independence and Orlando City on the road to PPL Park.
“We’re excited,” Fire defender Eric Gehrig told the team's official site. “Just got to put the head down and put in 90 minutes of work. Winner-take-all into the final and you’re playing for a trophy, you’re playing for a big trophy.”
Getting green cards
By rule, each team in the Open Cup can play a maximum of only five international players in a game. And that’s a problem for the Union, who have Fabinho, Fernando Aristeguieta, Tranquillo Barnetta, Cristian Maidana, Steven Vitoria, Eric Ayuk and even Vincent Nogueira as potential roster choices for Wednesday.
“Everybody can add up the numbers of international guys we have contributing and recognize there’s going to be some tough decisions to be made,” Curtin said.
But that decision might not be as difficult for Curtin if the club can manage to get Fabinho and Nogueira green cards in time for the match.
“People have been working incredibly hard to get Fabinho and Vincent their green cards,” Curtin said. “It’s been a process that’s been positive and some negative. It’s frustrating. We’ve been trying to get it done for a little while now and would clear things up and make it easier.”
Mo back
The Union are dealing with three significant injuries entering Wednesday — Maurice Edu, Andrew Wenger and Nogueira. Wenger continues to battle a persistent concussion and will be out, while Nogueira is recovering from a quad strain and is questionable.
But Edu, who missed the match against Orlando City over the weekend, looks like a go.
“I still feel some pain,” the Union captain said. “It’s progress from the past week. I’ve made some pretty good progress, so I guess we’ll see how it goes tomorrow.”
Aside from wanting Edu to play, the Union may need him to. The Fire are loaded with speed up front, starting with David Accam.
“There is the element, the speed factor,” Curtin said. “[Accam] and [FC Dallas forward Fabian] Castillo are the two fastest guys in the league. Jason Johnson is a very, very fast striker. So, that Mo decision makes a little sense.”