Philly Union hope to put out Chicago Fire in Open Cup semis

WHEN THE Union fell to the heavily favored Seattle Sounders, 3-1, after extra time, in last year's U.S. Open Cup final, coach Jim Curtin did what he thought was the classy thing to do.

As the Sounders received their championship medals on the Union's home turf at PPL Park, Curtin made his team stay on the field to watch every last second of the ceremony.

It was as a gesture of good sportsmanship, but it also served as a reminder to his young club.

"I don't think some guys wanted to, but I think you have to watch that and you have to remember it, because you don't ever want to feel that way again," Curtin said. "We're one game away from being right back where we were a year ago, and that was the goal.

"There's two trophies you can lift, and it's an important one to them."

The other trophy, of course, is for the MLS title, which the Union is not currently in a position to contend for this season. It is ranked ninth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 6-13-5. So far, it has allowed the most goals (40) in the Eastern Conference, and is tied for second-fewest in goals scored (29).

Curtin's squad is five points behind the sixth-seeded Montreal Impact, currently slated as the final team from the conference to make the playoffs. The Union is only one point ahead of the last-place Chicago Fire, which will meet the Union tonight for an Open Cup semifinal match at PPL Park.

The winner of the match will host the Open Cup championship if Sporting Kansas City defeats Real Salt Lake in the other semifinal.

Chicago, which has the lowest point total in the MLS (22), is the only team without a road win this season. After playing all three of its previous Open Cup matches at home, the Fire will be forced to take on the Union in foreign territory.

"We're both at the bottom of the table," Curtin said. "The table gets kind of thrown out in the Open Cup now because just like us, they know the scenario; if they win [and Kansas City wins], they host, as well, so there'll be that little bit of urgency.

"I know Chicago is a club that's always taken the Open Cup very seriously; I'm familiar with it, I played there."

After a four-year run at Villanova, Curtin was selected in the third round of the MLS SuperDraft by Chicago in 2001. He went on to play in more than 200 games for the club, while winning the Open Cup in both 2003 and 2006.

With his team in desperate need of a positive outcome, Curtin says winning the Open Cup could cure some of the ills that have come with the Union's tumultuous season.

"I want our guys to have the feeling of winning a trophy; that is something I can't teach, I can't coach it," Curtin said. "Once you have it, though, with a group of guys, it's permanent; it's forever, and the guys that I won with, we are all close because of it.

"It's been a hard year for us, but to have this kind of bond and the way we've pushed in the Open Cup, if we can get the ultimate goal, which is winning the trophy . . . to have a young group of guys win together and know what that feels like is probably the most valuable thing that we could have right now."

After losing three regular-season games in a row, the Union had a somewhat positive outing on Saturday as it held Orlando SC to a clean sheet on the road. The only problem for the Union was Orlando did the same, earning a single point for both sides in a 0-0 draw.

Although draws don't do the Union much good, with only 10 games remaining, goalkeeper John McCarthy said it was impressive for the team to hold Orlando scoreless without defensive captain Maurice Edu (groin) and starting midfielder Vincent Noguiera (quadriceps).

Curtin said Edu and Noguiera likely will be used as substitutes tonight, but they will make some kind of impact on the game.

The Union will once again employ their next-man-up mentality, as Curtin said to expect increased minutes from Richard Marquez, Steven Vitória and Warren Creavalle.

"I want to play and help the team, so I'll try to do that if my body can do that," Edu said. "But if I can't, I know we have depth in the squad in that position."