What a night at Legion Stadium!  The Wilmington Hammerheads played host to the MLS’ Chicago Fire in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.  The biggest crowd to see the Hammerheads in years was not only treated to a fantastic soccer game, but a thrilling, nail-biting win for the home team.

Kenny Bundy knocked home a cross by Tim Karalexis in the 38th minute, for the only goal of the game, as the Hammerheads advanced to the quarterfinals of the US Open Cup tournament.

Only one goal was scored, but there were numerous crosses that proved to be dangerous, however where there was smoke, there was no fire, as Chicago either hit the post, the crossbar or put it just wide countless times.

Hammerheads goalkeeper Daryl Sattler made the save of the game in the 22nd minute by pushing a header by Peter Lowry over the crossbar.  Sattler was busy the whole game, but he didn’t do it alone.

Tweety Walters saved the day in the 60th minute, blocking a shot on the goal line.  It was bend but don’t break for the Hammers.  Walters, Karalexis, Graham Tatters and Colin Falvey as they blocked numerous shots before they could get to Sattler.

The Fire may have had a little more of the better play, but the Hammerheads wanted the win a little more and it showed with a total team effort.

Forwards Jamie Watson and Chris Bagley were able to make deep runs with the ball and send crosses into danger as Wilmington wasn’t without their chances either; they almost sealed the deal in the second half with an insurance goal on several occasions.

The list of stellar performances goes on.  Midfielder Marc Briggs was able to shut down numerous Fire attacks as they began a build-up.  Chris Murray had a solid game, as did Zeke Dombrowski.

It was eleven players on the field and Coach Irving also gave credit to the 12th man after the game as thousands showed up to help cheer the Hammers on to victory.

In a week that saw the U.S. national team knock off Spain, the top-ranked team in the world, and push #5 and the always dangerous Brazilians for the full 90 minutes, it wasn’t a shock to see the USL 2nd Division Wilmington Hammerheads knock off the MLS’ Chicago Fire to advance to the quarterfinals of the Open Cup.

Unfortunately, the dream scenario ends there.  USL First Division Rochester beat the MLS’ Columbus Crew to earn the home field in the July 7th match with Wilmington.  Had Columbus won, the Hammers would have hosted a MLS team for the second consecutive week.

It might be easy to look ahead to next week’s match in New York, however the Hammerheads will be back in action Thursday night at Legion Stadium; for the fourth time this season, Wilmington will take on their USL-2 rival, the Charlotte Eagles.

Immediately following the Fire game, most of the talk was about the big win, but the players had not lost focus on the primary goal of the season: a USL 2nd Division Championship.

With a win Thursday, the Hammerheads would put themselves into a tie atop the standings with the Harrisburg City Islanders.  Each team will have eight games remaining, including a July 25th match against each other in Pennsylvania. They could also meet in Open Cup play. Should Harrisburg beat DC United and Wilmington beat Rochester in their quarterfinal clashes, the two teams would square off with a birth in the US Open Cup final on the line. That game would be either July 21 or 22. Like Wilmington, Harrisburg won their 3rd round Open Cup match, topping the New England Revolution 2-1.  

The Hammerheads have found success by putting forth a total team effort and getting big plays at big times… see Kenny Bundy. He not only scored the lone goal Tuesday night, but he scored the equalizer in extra time in Round 2 against the Carolina Railhawks and was named the player-of-the-round as a result.

Thursday night’s regular season match against Charlotte may not draw as big a crowd or have a marquee opponent, but the match versus the Eagles may prove to be the most important of the season.

And the Hammerheads say they will be ready.

Photos: Chris Miranda, Cape Fear Photography