On Tuesday, July 24th I found myself wondering into Piper's Pub. I was hoping to catch some of the US Open Quarterfinal match between the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and the Chicago Fire. Fox Sports World was broadcasting the game, and since my cable provider does not carry Fox Sports; I needed a place to watch it. Pipers, http://www.piperspub.com/, provided the perfect place.
It's a friendly English theme pub with a large beer selection, a couple of TV's and is soccer friendly, often broadcasting the English Premiere league on Saturday mornings, so I knew it would have a nice crowd. I was not expecting it to be standing room only.
The crowd consisted of an electic mix, girls with tattoos and many body piercings, older couples. Guys with day jobs and their wives. All united in their love of the World's game.
The game was broadcast on both TV's at either end of the bar. I was unable to catch most of the first half due to a previous commitment, however I was able to catch most of the second. Here are my impressions of the Hounds vs. Fire Open Cup Match.
First off I find it very ironic that a Minnesota Thunder player scored the goal that did in one of the remaining A-league sides. Both of the goals scored by the Hounds were scored by ex-MLS players. Welton scored on a rare breakaway in the eighth minute, and newcomer to the Hounds, Paul Dougherty lofted a shot over a towering Zach Thornton in the 70th minute to tie it up. Even more ironic is the fact that Dougherty played with the Fire last year. Dougherty's goal was unassisted. Henry Gutierrez, another former MLS player, assisted Welton's goal.
Chicago tied up the game in the 14th minute of play when Mario Gori tripped up Dema Kovalenko in the box. Kovalenko was fouled, but I think I saw a bit of a splash as he hit the ground. Two Hounds players received yellow cards on the play. The crowd at Pipers could not believe it. On the resulting penalty kick, Hristo Stoitchkov went to the lower left corner; Randy Dedini picked the right hand side. The Fire tied the game at one apiece.
During the half time break, I had a chance to wander around, Bass ale in hand, and meet with a variety of Hounds fans. One couple simply came in for a late dinner and refused to leave until they saw the end of the game. When I asked if they were soccer fans they said no "but were having such a good time, you people are nuts."
Indeed they were nuts. The back corner table started cheering and singing and it would wash over the bar like ocean waves breaking on a beach. Several fans wore Hounds kits or soccer related shirts. At least one guy had a Hounds scarf. The diehard fans were out in force tonight.
Early in the second half the Fire would pull ahead, Dema Kovalenko took a rocket of a shot from 35 yards out. It screamed past a diving Dedini and struck the upper crossbar before finding its way into the back of the net. "There are only 5 or 10 goalies in the world that could have stopped that shot" I overheard. I couldn't agree more. The Fire's Diego Gutierrez, no relation to the Hounds Henry Gutierrez, was awarded the assist.
Both teams would have their chances in the second half, the crowd at the bar never lost its faith. In the 70th minute of play, the bar exploded. Paul Dougherty gathered up a loose ball, held off a Chicago defender and chipped the ball through the open hands of Goalie Zach Thornton.
It has many names; Golden Goal, Sudden Death, Overtime. What ever you call it. It is a time of desperate action. When one mistake or one moment of inspired play can send your team into elation or depression. For the Chicago Fire, it was a perfect cross in the 111th minute of play. Amos Magee, a call up from one of the Fire's affiliated A-League teams, would redirect a cross off his chest and past a sprawling Randy Dedini into the back of the net.
Silence stunned the bar. The run was over; the Hounds were out of the Open Cup Competition. The play had looked so innocent, the goal was not one of beauty, but it was enough to end the collective dream of everyone at the bar.
Then the back of the bar started to chant. It grew louder as more people chimed in. "Riverhounds, Riverhounds, RIVERHOUNDS!" Despite the loss, more than one fan went home smiling. The Hounds had taken on the best that the MLS had to offer, and nearly beat them.
How does that old saying go…"Just wait until next year"!
