Two of Chicago’s annual contestants in US Open Cup Qualifying, Chicago House AC of the Midwest Premier League and Ethos United of the UPSL, went toe-to-toe in a fight for the next round. Only one could advance but they both gave it all they had for 120 minutes.

CHICAGO, IL - Ethos United, formerly United SC, have entered US Open Cup qualifying in the round in both 2025 and 2026 and in both years they were eliminated in the opening fixture of those campaigns. They were already off to a better start to the 2027 USOC qualifiers after advancing past Chicago Strikers on penalties. Enrique Gudino scored Ethos’ lone goal in the match while Alex Ortiz was the hero in the shootout, earning two saves in the effort.

AC House had a first round bye this year and met up with Ethos United at the Lions for Hope Sports Complex, sandwiched between Polk and Taylor streets in Chicago, Illinois. It was a perfect afternoon for soccer, with no rain and evening temperatures around 63 at kickoff. Ethos United lined up in what looked like a 4-4-1-1 with Gavin Johnson up top. The two sides traded goals in the first half and it was Johnson who scored for Ethos while Johnny Hunwick got the goal for House.

The two sides could not be separated after 90 minutes and they had to go into added on extra time to search for a decider. Unlike the previous round, Ethos could not hold their opponents off to get to a penalty shootout and give Ortiz another crack at playing the hero. Instead, it was Gabe Zorilla who was the hero for Chicago House AC, as he scored the winner before the 120 was up.

For Ethos United, they will be upset that they missed out on advancing despite the hard work they put in, but on Sunday, it was back to work with a league fixture to prepare for.

Chicago House will find out their opponent later this week, after all of the matches have been played but its very likely Chicago Nation after they travelled to Missouri and dispatched BOHFS. It was that very St. Louis team who knocked out House in the fourth and final round of 2026 qualifying, so House may be fine with seeing them out and not having to travel far for the next fixture.

Credit to Jacob Darner, who was at the match to take the photos for Protagonist Soccer - please follow him on Instagram at darn.good.art and if you’re looking for work in the Chicago Area, check out his portfolio HERE

written by Josh Duder
photos by Jacob Darner