U.S. Open Cup review: MLS clubs claim all four semifinal spots

The U.S. Open Cup will feature four MLS clubs in the semifinals after the Chicago Fire knocked out Louisville City, the last remaining outsider in the competition, with a 4-0 result on Wednesday.  

Goals from Nemanja Nikolic and Aleksandar Katai had the Fire comfortably in front in the first half and a pair of late strikes put some gloss on the scoreline. 

Alejandro Bedoya was on hand to poke home a rebound as the Philadelphia Union moved into the last four with a 1-0 win over Orlando City. 

Houston Dynamo moved on past Sporting Kansas City with a 4-2 win. 

Johnny Russell put SKC in front just two minutes in, but the home side pulled level before the break through Romell Quioto's brilliant free kick. 

Quioto put Houston in front on 66 minutes before a double from Mauro Manotas put the match out of reach, with Yohan Croizet striking a late consolation goal for the visiting side. 

Carlos Vela was back at it for LAFC as Bob Bradley's side took a 3-2 win over the Portland Timbers. 

A David Guzman own goal had already put LA a goal before a ball fell kindly to Vela, who kept his calm in the box and finish superbly to put his side 2-0 up. 

But Julio Cascante pulled one back for the Timbers just before halftime to cut the lead to one.

Marco Urena scored his first goal since returning from an injury that caused him to miss out on the World Cup to restore the two-goal lead early in the second half, but it last just one minute before Vytas pulled it back for the Timbers. However, that was as close as Portland would come, and LAFC held on for the result. 

Canadian clubs were also in action on Wednesday, with the Montreal Impact taking a 1-0 first-leg win over the Vancouver Whitecaps in their Canadian Championship semifinal clash. 

Alejandro Silva scored the game's only goal with a calm finish from the top of the box. 

Toronto FC also got a 1-0 win over Ottawa, Jonathan Osorio sneaking one in early on to give the reigning MLS Cup champions a narrow victory. 

The only MLS match of the night saw Minnesota United claim their third win in four league matches with a 2-1 result against the New England Revolution. 

Christian Ramirez and Darwin Quintero were both on target for the home side in the first half, with a Diego Fagundez penalty the only response the Revs could find in the second half.