Fire Premier had beaten the 1990 Open Cup-winning AAC Eagles of Chicago 4-1 in the First Round to set up – for the second straight year – a clash with a pro club from the top tier of the USL, which had re-branded from the A-League and represented the USA’s professional Division II.
But getting past the amateurs, who were essentially the Chicago Fire’s reserve team, was no easy task. It took 62 minutes for the Thunder to score, a goal by Johnny Menyongar that was created by Jeff Mateo’s steal near the end line and centering pass that led to the tap-in.
An own goal in the 89th minute gave the Thunder a two-goal margin, but even that was halved by Chicago in stoppage time as the game finished a tight 2-1.
Thunder Roll to Historic U.S. Open Cup Semifinal
With the amateur side now out of the way, the Thunder proceeded to go on one of the best runs ever by a lower-league team in the history of the Open Cup’s Modern Era, sending three Division I MLS clubs packing before falling to eventual Champions LA Galaxy in the Last Four.
The first MLS opponent to feel the Thunder’s heat was Real Salt Lake, and it was a game that few of the 2,188 in attendance at the James Griffin Stadium – a spartan ground lacking in modern amenities and, allegedly, according to some players, hot water in the showers – would ever forget. The teams combined for 10 goals, a wild overtime period, a hat trick by RSL icon Jason Kreis as well as heroics by Thunder ace Menyongar and a pair of super subs, Aaron Paye and Matt Schmidt.
Kreis, who a month later became the first MLS player to reach the 100-career-goal mark, opened the scoring with a ninth-minute penalty kick.
Melvin Tarley equalized for the Thunder seven minutes later on an assist by the diminutive Menyongar, known by teammates and fans as ‘the Tiny Ticket’. Minnesota took their first lead a minute later when Jeff Mateo bent a free kick into the area that Menyongar redirected into the net with his back, only to have Jamie Watson – the Minnesota native, now a beloved broadcaster known for his particular insights into the U.S. Open Cup – level matters again in the 38th minute.
Kreis, who was sitting on 97 league goals at the time of the Open Cup game, added his second in the 50th minute, collecting a pass from Seth Tremblay and again giving the Cobalt and Blue the advantage.
With his second goal of the game off another set-up by Menyongar, Tarley pulled the Thunder even again in the 66th minute. But Kreis once more gave the MLS club a lead, scoring his third of the game in the 70th minute.
