Open Cup appearance on line for Fire

Gaston Puerari (right) -- Getty Images

The Chicago Fire and San Jose Earthquakes take a break from league play on Tuesday, but they have a lot to play for as they square off in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play-in match at Buck Shaw Stadium. The Fire have always been a part of the Open Cup, winning four times from 1998 to 2006.

"This is a big week for us," Fire goalkeeper Jon Conway said following Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Union. "We have a goal of advancing to the Open Cup and doing well in that. We need to get everything right on the field and build some momentum heading into our next match Saturday. Every match is critical toward wronging the mistakes we have made."

In other Fire news, midfielder Marco Pappa will be called in to Guatemala's club for the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Pappa will miss minimally two league games for Chicago.

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.