The Chicago Fire moved into the final of the U.S. Open Cup with a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy Tuesday night at Cardinal Stadium.
The Fire got goals from DaMarcus Beasley, Damani Ralph and Ante Razov in the space of 14 minutes in the second half to open up a 3-0 lead before having to hold off a furious Galaxy rally.
Goals Alejandro Moreno and Arturo Torres sliced the deficit to one, but Los Angeles managed just one shot in the final nine minutes and finished the match a man down after defender Hong Myung Bo picked up a red card for a bad challenge against Beasley in stoppage time.
The Fire will look to become the first MLS team to win three Open Cup titles when it plays the winner of the D.C. United-MetroStars semifinal.
The Metros host United Oct. 1 at Rutgers' Yurcak Field in Piscataway, N.J. The final will be played on Oct. 15.
CHICAGO-LOS ANGELES SUMMARY:
Sept. 23 in Naperville, Ill.
Chicago (MLS) 3 Los Angeles (MLS) 2. Goals: Beasley 55, Ralph 63, Razov 69; Moreno 73, Torres 75.
Chicago — Thornton, Gray, Curtin, Bocanegra, Perez, Whitfield, Armas, Marsch, Beasley (Pause 92+), Ralph, Razov.
Los Angeles — Hartman, Califf (Suarez 66), Marshall, Hong, Albright (Martinez 74), Cienfuegos (Torres 64), Elliott, Jones, Vagenas, Moreno, Ruiz.
Red card: Los Angeles — Hong 91+.
Referee: Gus St. Silva.
Att.: 5,327.