Union reach first U.S. Open Cup final in three years with 3-0 win over Chicago Fire

The Union are headed to the U.S. Open Cup final for the first time in three years, thanks to a 3-0 home win over the Chicago Fire on Wednesday night.

Cory Burke scored the first two goals, cementing his status as the team's top striker, and C.J. Sapong put the icing on the cake late.

The Union will face the Houston Dynamo in the final on Sept. 26 in Houston.

It was a fine first impression for new sporting director Ernst Tanner, who attended the game with owners Jay Sugarman and Richard Leibovich.

The first half was scoreless and quiet, except for two loud roars from fans when referee Ramy Touchan let fouls go that should have been called in the Union's favor. Haris Medunjanin hit the crossbar, and Andre Blake made one save.

The second half was much livelier. Alejandro Bedoya came inches away from scoring in the 53rd minute, but Fire goalkeeper Richard Sanchez denied him with a diving save.

Manager Jim Curtin started making moves in the 56th minute, substituting Sapong for David Accam. That created the rare circumstance of Burke and Sapong playing together.

The breakthrough came in the 59th. Bedoya and Borek Dockal played a neat give-and-go in tight space, and Bedoya chipped the ball over the Fire back line to Burke, who trapped it and struck a good low shot.

>> READ MORE: Ernst Tanner, Red Bull Salzburg academy director, named new Union sporting director

The Union kept coming. Burke narrowly missed in the 69th; Fafa Picault missed in the 70th and was stopped from close range by Sanchez in the 73rd.

But Burke did not miss in the 77th, with Bedoya assisting again. Sprung by a Sapong header near midfield, Bedoya whipped a pass behind Fire left back Kevin Ellis into Burke's path. He smashed home a shot from just inside the 18-yard box.

"I caught it perfectly," Burke said. "Saw the keeper cheating a little, so I said, 'Once I can hit this with pace [to] his near post, I know it will go in.' "

Sapong scored in the 86th, getting open from close range and finishing a pass from Picault.

"I was concerned at 1-0, when we missed three or four pretty good looks," Curtin said. "Credit to our players; they stepped up and kicked the door down."