CINCINNATI (June 28, 2017) – Playing in front of a crowd of more than 32,000, the Chicago Fire and USL side FC Cincinnati needed a penalty kick shootout to decide Wednesday’s meeting in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Round of 16. Following 120 minutes of intense but scoreless action, FC Cincinnati bested the Fire in the shootout, 3-1, to advance to the tournament quarterfinals.
The result marked Chicago’s earliest exit from the historic tournament since 2012 after four consecutive years in which the Fire reached the semifinals.
The early stages of the first half were controlled by the Fire, who came within inches of opening the scoring in the 16th minute.