U.S. Open Cup Semifinal - Chicago Fire vs. D.C. United: schedule, streaming, preview, projected lineup, prediction, and live thread

We've written enough about this game over the last few days that it should need no introduction. D.C. United is playing the Chicago Fire, and there's a berth in a cup final at stake - the 100th edition of the oldest competition in North America, no less. 'Nuff said.

Leggo.

Time: 8:30 pm EDT

Venue: Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Ill.

TV/Streaming: Unless you're going to the team viewing party at Lucky Bar or have a way of exporting your computer's video output to the TV, you're going to be watching this one on a smaller screen. The Fire are streaming this one, but D.C. United will have the feed available at dcunited.com/live.

Match Previews: There's no shortage this week. We've got ChestRockwell's unparalleled scouting report on the Fire, my question exchange with the fine folks over at Fire blog Hot Time in Old Town, and the latest episode of our Filibuster podcast, talking to HTIOT's Sean Spence. HTIOT also has their own preview of tonight's game. From the teams themselves, United has a lot of content, and the Fire aren't slouching either. SB Nation previews both USOC semifinals, and Steve Davis over at NBC zooms out a bit for an omnibus preview of tonight's USOC and Concacaf Champions League action.

D.C. Lineup Projection: We know Joe Willis will start in goal, and I expect the same XI we saw against Montreal on Saturday to take the field in front of him: Chris Korb, Dejan Jakovic, Daniel Woolard, James Riley; Nick DeLeon, Perry Kitchen, Jared Jeffrey, Kyle Porter; Luis Silva, Dwayne De Rosario. For more, see Benuski's lineup prediction post.

Prediction: It's going to happen; D.C. United will somehow find itself playing for a trophy in 2013, winning tonight 2-1 to advance to the Open Cup final.

What Are You Drinking?: Given the throwback nature of this matchup, pitting the league's first two champions (or four, depending on how you count) and two of the best Open Cup clubs of the MLS era against each other, I'm going to get old fashioned by drinking an old fashioned.

This is your place for pre-game, in-game and post-game commentary on D.C. United, the Fire, the rest of the Open Cup, the ConcaChamps and whatever other shiny objects catch your eye.

More from Black And Red United:

• MLS wants to strengthen its ties with USL Pro, and what this could mean for D.C. United in a new stadium
• D.C. United Scouting Report: Chicago Fire
• Filibuster Podcast: Week 23: #DempseyWatch, Beating Montreal, US Open Cup Semifinal against Chicago and a Philly roadtrip
• D.C. United vs. Chicago Fire lineup: U.S. Open Cup semifinal edition
• 2013 U.S. Open Cup Semifinal - D.C. United vs. Chicago Fire: Match Center