As the Chicago Fire turn their attention to Wednesday's massive U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal contest (7:30 p.m., Toyota Park | TICKETS), it’s time to get to know an opponent that may unfamiliar to some. Here are five things to know about Fort Lauderdale Strikers before Chicago’s first-ever meeting with the NASL club:
1. Lengthy History: The current edition of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers represents the sixth iteration of a club first established in 1977 as part of the original North American Soccer League. Like many of their peer clubs at the time, the original Strikers featured a number of international superstars, including George Best and Gerd Müller.