After a pause of about a month, the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup returns tonight with four games in the Quarterfinals on the schedule.
There are eight teams remaining; only two of them have won the US Open Cup. The Chicago Fire and current cup holders Sporting Kansas City have both won the tournament four times and are trying to make history by winning a fifth Cup. Only three teams in the 105-year history of the tournament (Bethlehem Steel, Fall River Marksmen/New Bedford Whalers, Maccabee AC) have won five US Open Cup titles.
The other highlight is that for the third year in a row, and the 11th time in the last 12 years, a lower division team will take part in the Quarterfinals. The last non-MLS team remaining is defending USL champion Louisville City FC. They will head north to take on the Chicago Fire.
Two of the games feature teams that have never won the tournament, meaning there will be a minimum of two teams in the Semifinals who could still lift their first trophy. Orlando City SC will play against two-time runner-up Philadelphia Union, while the Portland Timbers will head south to play Bob Bradley’s latest expansion success story, Los Angeles FC.
Sporting Kansas City and the Houston Dynamo will square off for the fourth year in a row, which is just the second time in the Modern Era (1995-present) that two teams have faced off four years in a row (Philadelphia Union vs. New York Red Bulls from 2015-18 is the other).
All games are expected to have a live video stream available Check out a preview and video links for each game below:
#USOC2018 coverage:
* 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup schedule, results
* 2018 US Open Cup statistical leaders
* 2018 US Open Cup Player of the Round winners
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Round 1 review
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Round 2 review
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Round 3 review
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Round 4 review
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Round 5 review
MORE COVERAGE:
* Which PDL teams will qualify for 2019 US Open Cup?
* US Soccer legend Walter Bahr leaves behind Hall of Fame legacy
* How amateurs Dallas Roma FC beat World Cup champs, an MLS team and it cost $75,000
* Things you should know about the Quarterfinals of the US Open Cup
* Notable upsets in the Quarterfinals of the US Open Cup (Modern Era)
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BROADCAST: LIVE VIDEO STREAM
By Michael Berton
The Philadelphia Union and Orlando City SC meet for the first time in US Open Cup play at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pa. The winner will take on the team that advances between the Chicago Fire and Louisville City FC at a venue still to be determined.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Philadelphia began its Open Cup campaign with a first-time matchup against the Richmond Kickers. The Union scored five goals in the first 50 minutes to easily dispatch its lower division rivals. Then, in the Fifth Round (Round of 16), the Union hosted the New York Red Bulls for the fourth year in a row in Open Cup play (at the time, this was the first time two teams have met four straight years). Two second half goals by Haris Medunjanin and Cory Burke (both assisted by Alejandro Bedoya) ended up being enough, despite the Red Bulls getting one back late in the game. The 2-1 win pushed the Union’s Open Cup unbeaten streak to 12 games (7-0-5, 2-3 PKs), the second-longest in the Modern Era. (NOTE: Matches that end in penalty kicks are officially listed as draws.)
Unlike the Union, Orlando City played both of its matches on the road. Like the Union, Orlando City had an easy time of it in the Fourth Round. Orlando City dominated the NPSL’s Miami United, 3-0, thanks to goals from Stefano Pinho, Dillon Powers, and Victor “PC” Giro. In the Fifth Round, Orlando City traveled to DC United after firing its manager Jason Kreis, but pulled out a penalty kick win after a 1-1 draw. Facing a lightning delay and a one-goal deficit, Justin Meram scored the equalizer. In the penalty shootout, Orlando City goalie Earl Edwards Jr. made a crucial save to help his team advance. Edwards made a little history along the way, becoming just the second goalkeeper in the Modern Era to win three career penalty kick shootouts.
RECENT FORM
Since its Fifth Round win, the Philadelphia Union have gone 2-2-0 in league play, routing the Vancouver Whitecaps before suffering back-to-back losses to LAFC and Atlanta United. The Union won a thriller in its most recent game against the Chicago Fire, getting a last-second goal from David Accam (playing against his former club) to win 4-3. On July 14, the Union hosted the Bundesliga’s Eintracht Frankfurt, emerging with a 1-0 victory.
Orlando City, who are now led by former Louisville City head coach James O’Connor, went on a rough three-game losing streak after advancing past DC United, losing 2-0 to the Montreal Impact, 4-0 to Atlanta United, and 4-1 to LAFC. In its most recent game, however, Orlando grabbed a 2-1 win against Toronto FC thanks to goals from Chris Schuler and Dom Dwyer.
With both teams having played 19 games, the Union sit in 7th in the Eastern Conference on 24 points, while Orlando City are in 9th with 22.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Philadelphia Union (MLS)
7th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 14-3-6 (3-3 PK)
Home: 13-2-2 (1-1 PK)
vs. MLS: 6-3-5 (2-3 PK)
Best finish: Runner-Up (2014, 2015)
Orlando City SC (MLS)
10th US Open Cup appearance (4th as MLS team)
Overall: 15-9-2 (2-0 PK) | As MLS: 3-3-2 (2-0 PK)
Away: 5-6-2 (2-0) | As MLS: 2-1-2 (2-0)
vs. MLS: 3-7-1 | As MLS: 1-1-1
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2013, 2015)
The Union are on a 12-game unbeaten streak in the Open Cup (matches that end in penalty kicks are officially listed as draws), but the club is looking to make the Semifinals for the first time since 2015. After falling in consecutive US Open Cup Finals in 2014 and 2015 to the Seattle Sounders and Sporting Kansas City, respectively, the Union have been ousted in penalty kicks the last two years (vs. New England Revolution in 2016, vs. New York Red Bulls in 2017).
Orlando City has equaled its best Open Cup finish, making the Quarterfinals in 2013 and 2015. The club’s Open Cup history dates back to 2009 when they began as the Austin Aztex in the United Soccer League. As a USL Pro team in 2013, Orlando City upset a pair of MLS teams (including a stunning upset against its MLS affiliate Sporting Kansas City) to make the Quarterfinals. In 2015, they made it to the Quarterfinals again in their first year in MLS.
PAST MEETINGS
This will be the first-ever meeting between the Union and Orlando City in the US Open Cup. In MLS play, the teams have met eight times, with an even three wins apiece and two draws. The Union are 3-2-0 at home against Orlando, with Orlando winning the first game of the 2018 series in Philadelphia, 2-0 back in April.
TOP SCORERS/PLAYERS
The Union are led by Borek Dockal, who leads the team in both goals and assists, with five and six respectively. Haris Medunjanin and Alejandro Bedoya marshal the midfield, while they are led from the back by goalie Andre Blake. Corey Burke, who played big roles in both of the Union’s Open Cup wins, is coming off a two-goal outing against the Chicago Fire.
Orlando City is led in goals by Dom Dwyer with eight this season. Yoshimar Yotun has helped his team with three goals and a team-high five assists. Orlando also features former US Men’s National Team stalwarts Sasha Kljestan and Jonathan Spector, as well as MLS regulars Justin Meram, Will Johnson, and goalie Joe Bendik.
WEATHER
The weather is expected to be friendly to Wednesday’s game with clear skies in the forecast and temperatures that range from the low 80s to the high 70s
BROADCAST: LIVE VIDEO STREAM
By Tom Arnison
The last remaining lower division team in the tournament, Louisville City FC, will travel to face the four-time champion Chicago Fire of MLS in a rematch from the 2015 US Open Cup. The defending USL champions will try to derail Chicago’s quest for a historic fifth US Open Cup title. The winner will take on either Orlando City SC or the Philadelphia Union at a venue still to be determined.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Louisville enters the Round of 16 having played their first four matches at home, posting shutouts against the Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) and St. Louis FC (USL), and defeating MLS side New England Revolution 3-2 and nearly-MLS side Nashville SC (USL) 2-1 in the last two rounds. By defeating Nashville, Louisville City becomes the first Kentucky-based club to reach the Quarterfinals in tournament history.
Conversely, the Fire come in having played their first two matches on the road. It started with a thrilling 10-round shootout win over the Columbus Crew (they remain undefeated all-time vs. Columbus in US Open Cup play), and a 1-0 victory over Atlanta United that disappointed most of the all-time record crowd of 41,012 in attendance.
RECENT FORM
Louisville is currently sitting in fourth place in the USL Eastern Conference standings with a 8-4-5 record. They have struggled since the calendar turned from May to June. City has only won a single game out of their last seven games (1-2-4). Last Saturday, they dropped a 2-1 decision on the road to the Charleston Battery.
Louisville has been dealing with a high-profile coaching change as their head coach James O’Connor left a few weeks ago to take over Orlando City SC. As the team scrambled to replace him, the Louisville front office ultimately decided on a rather unorthodox, although temporary, solution. They gave three players the title of interim head coach: Luke Spencer, George Davis IV and Paolo DelPiccolo. The trio will share the coaching duties until a full-time replacement can be found.
The Fire are 6-10-5 in league play which ranks 8th in the MLS Eastern Conference. After going unbeaten in the month of June (2-0-3), which included road wins over New York City FC and the San Jose Earthquakes, the Fire have lost three straight (at Vancounver, vs. Philadelphia, at FC Dallas). The top six teams from the East qualify for the playoffs and Chicago finds themselves four points out of sixth place.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Chicago Fire (MLS)
21st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 41-14-6 (4-2 PK)
Home: 25-1-2 (1-1 PK)
vs. MLS: 22-9-2 (2-0 PK)
Best finish: 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006 champions
Louisville City FC (USL)
4th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 7-3-1 (1-0 PK)
Away: 3-3-0
vs. MLS: 1-1-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2015)
Louisville City are participating in the tournament for the fourth time in club history and during that time they have remained unbeaten at home (5-0-1). Unfortunately, Wednesday’s game is being played in Bridgeview, Ill. and City are just 3-3-0 all-time away from home. Louisville’s best run in the tournament came in their inaugural season in 2015 when they reached the Fourth Round. That year, they lost to the Chicago Fire at the same stadium they will play in on Wednesday.
The Chicago Fire are the most successful MLS team in US Open Cup history. They are one of eight clubs in the history of the 105-year-old US Open Cup to win four tournament championships (1998, 2000, 2003, 2006), but they have not lifted the trophy since 2006. No team in the history of the tournament has more Semifinals appearances (12) than the Fire, and only two teams (Kutis SC, FC Dallas) have more Quarterfinal appearances than Chicago’s 13. They are also the only club in the history of the tournament to reach four consecutive Semifinals twice (2003-06, 2013-16).
The most telling stat is what the Fire do in front of their home fans. Chicago is 26-1-1 (0-1 PKs) all-time in tournament games held at their home venue. The only time they have been eliminated on their home field was in the 2013 Quarterfinals to eventual champion D.C. United and in the 2010 Third Round where they lost in penalty kicks to the Charleston Battery (USL).
PAST MEETINGS
As mentioned, this is the second all-time meeting between Louisville City and the Chicago Fire. On June 16, 2015, just a few thousand fans showed up to watch these two teams square off in a Fourth Round match. City nearly took them to penalty kicks but it was Quincy Amarikwa who scored the only goal of the game in the 116th minute.
TOP SCORERS/PLAYERS
Fire have been led to the Quarterfinals by their star striker Nemanja Nikolić, who has scored nine goals in league play and is responsible for all three of the Fire’s Open Cup goals in 2018.
Louisville has seen nine of their players get on the scoresheet as part of their 11 goals in the 2018 US Open Cup. Cameron Lancaster, former Tottenham Hotspur player and leading scorer for Louisville (9 goals) will lead the charge at forward for Los Morados (he is also Louisville all-time leading scorer in US Open Cup play with four). Only two players in the USL have more goals than he does.
WEATHER
No weather problems expected as fans in attendance should be enjoying clear skies with temperatures in the mid-to-lower 70s.
BROADCAST: LIVE VIDEO STREAM
By Dan Sousa
For the fourth consecutive year, MLS Western Conference foes Sporting Kansas City and Houston Dynamo will square off in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with the Dynamo hosting the defending champions at BBVA Compass Stadium.
While the Dynamo are looking for their first ever Open Cup title, Sporting Kansas City has won three of the last six titles (2017, 2015, 2012) and the franchise has four Open Cup titles overall. The winner of this game will take on the team that advances between the Portland Timbers and Los Angeles FC at a venue that has yet to be determined.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
The road to Wednesday’s match-up has been much tougher for Sporting Kansas City, which has faced two MLS teams in the competition this year, including a tough road game at Rio Tinto Stadium where two second-half goals by Johnny Russell and Kharlton Belmar gave SKC a 2-0 win.
That Fourth Round win led to a wild 3-2 win over FC Dallas in the Round of 16 with Sportking Kansas City rallying on Yohan Croizet’s stunning winner in the 89th minute. Sporting Kansas City forward Daniel Salloi earned TheCup.us Player of the Round honors for two goals in the win.
“It’s great for us to go onto the next round,” Sporting Kansas City manager Peter Vermes said. “I think we deserve it. We were good tonight. Don’t get me wrong, Dallas is a great team. They had their full lineup out there. It was a tough match.”
The Dynamo entered the Open Cup competition in the Fourth Round with a 5-0 win over amateur side NTX Rayados. Memo Rodrigues and Aldo Quintanilla each had a brace in the victory that saw Rayados hold things scoreless until the 55th minute.
Houston, remaining at home for the Round of 16, edged MLS side Minnesota United FC, 1-0, with Mauro Manotas scoring the lone goal in the 47th minute on a header off an Adam Lundkvist corner. The Dynamo survived a Minnesota PK in the 88th minute that clanged off the right post.
“We have to be better for the next round if we want to be able to continue in this competition,” said Houston manager Wilmer Cabrera.
RECENT FORM
Sporting KC opened the summer on a roll, going 4-0-1 in all competitions but since June 30 the team has been winless, going 0-3-1 including a 3-2 loss on the road Saturday at the New York Red Bulls.
Said Salloi after the loss in New York: “Well, now we have a cup game, so we have to be really focused on that one because we obviously want to advance but in the league, even if you go up you have to pay attention for the full ninety minutes because in the past two games we went up and teams came back.”
Houston comes off a listless 0-0 tie Saturday at Colorado where the Dynamo went with five in the back in a defensive formation. Prior to that the Dynamo had dominated Minnesota at home, 3-0, and staged a miraculous comeback against LAFC at home, earning a 2-2 tie with goals at 90+3 and 90+6.
Wednesday’s quarterfinal shapes up to be offensively entertaining as Sporting Kansas City (37 goals in 20 games) and Houston Dynamo (36 goals in 18 games) are two of the top three scoring teams in the Western Conference on the MLS season with only LAFC (41 goals in 19 games).
Sporting Kansas City (9-5-6 overall, 3rd place Western Conference) defeated the Houston Dynamo (7-6-5, 7th place) at Children’s Mercy Park, 3-2, in a wild game. Sporting Kansas City fell behind 2-0 before rallying, including goals in the 85th minute and 88th minute by substitutes Diego Rubio and Khiry Shelton.
The two teams combined for 39 shots in the game including 15 on target.
Houston’s normal formation features a pair of fleet-footed Honduran strikers, Alberth Elis and Romell Quioto, flanking Colombian forward Mauro Manotas. Elis and Manotas each have nine goals on the MLS season with Elis (7 assists) and Quioto (3 goals, 10 assists) combining for 17 assists.
Young Argentinian playmaker Tomas Martinez (4 goals, 5 assists) runs the show in the midfield. Centerback Philippe Senderos, returning from injury, has accounted for four goals in just five MLS games.
Chris Seitz has earned both of the US Open Cup shutouts for the Dynamo Joe Willis (1.38 goals allowed) the No. 1 keeper in MLS action.
Tim Melia (1.35 goals allowed) has played every minute in MLS action this season for Sporting Kansas City in goal.
Sporting Kansas City has a combined 13 goals and 12 assists in MLS play from Derby County transfer Russell (7 goals, 6 assists) and homegrown player Salloi (6 goals, 6 assists), who was born in Hungary. Long-time Sporting Kansas City midfielder Roger Espinoza leads the team with eight assists.
Chilean midfielder Felipe Gutierrez, the team’s newest designated player, stormed onto the team with five goals in his first five matches, but suffered a sports hernia injury and had surgery in early May.
Gutierrez, however, was one of six Sporting Kansas City players on the injury report at New York, coming in off the bench for final 12 minutes for his first action since March 31.
Also Questionable and not playing on the weekend for Sporting Kansas City was defender Ike Opara who has a hamstring concern. Out for Sporting Kansas City were: MF/D Cristian Lobato (knee), D Jimmy Medranda (knee), MF/D Brad Evans (Achilles) and F Khiry Shelton (torn Meniscus/MCL).
Houston Dynamo had five players listed as out for the Colorado game on Saturday including: D A.J. DeLaGarza (torn left ACL), MF Juan David Cabezas (left quad), F Mac Steeves (left hip), MF/D Andrew Wenger (left calf) and MF Arturo Alvarez (right hip).
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Sporting Kansas City
23rd Open Cup Appearance
Overall: 28-13-6 (4-2 PK)
Away: 8-6-4 (2-2 PK)
vs. MLS: 14-8-3 (3-0 PK)
Best finish: Champions in 2004, 2012, 2015, 2017
Houston Dynamo
13th Open Cup Appearance
Overall: 14-10-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 11-4-0
vs. MLS: 4-8-0
Best finish: Semifinals (2006, 2009)
PAST MEETINGS
Sporting Kansas City is 3-1 all-time against Houston in US Open Cup play, including a 2-0 Round of 16 win a year ago at BBVA. This is only the second time in the Modern Era (1995-present) that two teams will face off in four consecutive tournaments (Philadelphia Union vs. New York Red Bulls from 2015-18)
Here’s a brief look at their previous US Open Cup meetings:
2017
Sporting Kansas City 2, Houston Dynamo 0
Second-half goals from Ike Opara and Gerso led Sporting Kansas City in the Round of 16 win at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. Tim Melia earned the shutout in goal.
2016
Houston Dynamo 3, Sporting KC 1
Mauro Manotas scored twice as the Dynamo knocked out the defending US Open Cup champions out of the tournament. Alex also scored for the Dynamo in the win at home. Former Dynamo legend Brad Davis scored Sporting Kansas City’s lone goal.
2015
Sporting Kansas City 3, Houston Dynamo 1
This game was 1-1 until Dom Dwyer’s go-ahead goal in the 88th minute. The Dynamo, playing down a man from the 30th minute after a straight red card, went up on a Will Bruin goal. Dynamo keeper Joe Willis saved a Dwyer PK but Sporting Kansas City finally equalized in the 71st minute on a Benny Feilhaber goal. Kristian Nemah’s late goal provided the insurance.
2011 (Qualifying)
Sporting Kansas City 1, Houston Dynamo 0
While it doesn’t count in the official US Open Cup record book, these two teams met during Major League Soccer’s qualifying tournament in 2011. CJ Sapong scored in extra time to give Sporting Kansas City the win in this game played in College Station, Texas at Aggie Soccer Stadium.
MLS Play – Last 4 Meetings
June 23, 2018: Sporting Kansas City 3, Houston Dynamo 2
Sporting Kansas City stunned the Dynamo with goals by Diego Rubio in the 85th minute and Khiry Shelton in the 88th minute to complete a comeback after falling behind 2-0 at halftime. The Dynamo had the lead coming into the break after bookend goals by Mauro Manotas in the 2nd minute and 45th minute. Daniel Salloi started the comeback with a goal in the 61st minute.
Oct. 26, 2017: Houston Dynamo 1, Sporting Kansas City 0
The Dynamo opened the playoffs with a shutout over rival Sporting Kansas City at BBVA Compass Stadium. After regulation ended scoreless, the Dynamo broke the tie in the fourth minute of extra time on a goal by Alberth Elis. Tyler Deric had six saves for the Dynamo in the shutout win, including several in extra time.
Oct. 15, 2017: Houston Dynamo 0, Sporting Kansas City 0
Playing each other for the second time in five days, the Houston Dynamo got the point they needed on the road to qualify for the playoffs, thanks to a career-high nine saves by keeper Tyler Deric.
Oct. 11, 2017: Houston Dynamo 2, Sporting Kansas City 1
The difference in this game was an own goal by Sporting Kansas City in the 77th minute. Jimmy Medranda put SKC up 1-0 in the 32nd minute but Tomas Martinez equalized for the Houston Dynamo in the 63rd.
Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City have faced each other 32 times in all competitions with the Dynamo holding a 11-9-12 advantage including a 7-3-5 advantage at home.
TOP SCORERS/PLAYERS
Daniel Salloi of Kansas City – Salloi was named TheCup.us Player of the Round after notching a brace in Sporting Kansas City’s 3-2 win over FC Dallas in the Round of 16. Salloi, just 21, now has five career goals in US Open Cup play with three scored last season, including the game winner in the 2-1 win over the New York Red Bulls in the US Open Cup Final. Salloi has six goals and six assists on the MLS season, trailing Johnny Russell (7 goals, 6 assists) by a goal for the Sporting Kansas City scoring lead. Salloi also scored against the Dynamo last month and had two assists in the comeback win.
Mauro Manotas of Houston – Manotas scored the lone goal in the Dynamo’s 1-0 win over Minnesota United FC in the Round of 16. Manotas holds the club’s record for goals in US Open Cup play with five total. He has nine goals on the MLS season, tied with Alberth Elis for the team lead. Manotas scored two goals against Sporting Kansas City last month in a match the Dynamo lost, 3-2, after leading 2-0 after an hour of play.
WEATHER
Weather – It’s always about the weather in Houston in the summer where the humidity this week expected to be a swampy 62% percent on Wednesday. With kickoff temperatures hovering over 90 degrees, expect a “feels like” temperature for the players to be triple digits. With both teams having played on the weekend, look for fatigue to be a factor in the second half of this match-up. Both managers will also insert starters and substitutes into Wednesday’s line-up that did not play on Saturday.
BROADCAST: LIVE VIDEO STREAM
By Dennis Pope
Both teams are boasting impressive unbeaten streaks and are both seeking their first US Open Cup as MLS expansion side Los Angeles FC hosts the Portland Timbers. The winner will take on the team that advances between Sporting Kansas City and the Houston Dynamo at a venue that has yet to be determined.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Portland Timbers shut out San Jose Earthquakes, 2-0, in a Fourth Round match on June 6 with goals from Jeremy Ebobisse and Dairon Asprilla. It was the second consecutive year in which the Timbers defeated the Earthquakes by a 2-0 score line in the Fourth Round. The club then squeezed past L.A. Galaxy, 1-0, in the Fifth Round on June 15 as the home team got a first-half goal from Sebastian Blanco and held on to advance to the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2014.
In its Lamar Hunt US Open Cup debut, Los Angeles FC topped Fresno FC (USL), 2-0, in a Fourth Round match on June 6. Argentinian Diego Rossi scored the opener in the 53rd minute off a corner kick from Aaron Kovar and Latif Blessing added an insurance goal less than 10 minutes later. LAFC followed that up with an edgy 3-2 victory over Sacramento Republic FC (USL), in a Fifth Round matchup on June 20.
RECENT FORM
Portland Timbers extended their league unbeaten streak to 12 matches by earning a 0-0 draw at LAFC at Banc of California Stadium on Sunday, June 15. The club currently sits fourth in MLS Western Conference with a 8-3-6 record (30 points).
With an eight-game unbeaten streak of its own, Los Angeles Football Club currently sits in second place — and just three points off the pace — in the MLS Western Conference with a 10-4-5 record (35 points).
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Los Angeles FC (MLS)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 2-0-0
Home: 2-0-0
vs. MLS: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Portland Timbers (MLS)
14th US Open Cup appearance (7th as MLS team)
Overall: 16-12-1 (0-1 PK) | As MLS: 9-6-0
Away: 8-6-0 | As MLS: 3-4-0
vs. MLS: 6-8-1 (0-1 PK) | As MLS: 6-5-0
Best finish: Semifinals (2013)
The Portland Timbers have been competing in the US Open Cup since they were a member of the USL in 2004. The Timbers have only reached the Semifinals one time in team history. They became the first Oregon-based club to reach the final four in 2013 when they lost a narrow 2-1 decision to Real Salt Lake. Aside from that Semifinal run, Portland’s Open Cup history has been a mixed bag. In their 14 US Open Cup appearances, the Timbers have only won multiple games in a single tournament five times. On their resume are two historic upsets when they became the first second division pro team to lose a game in regulation to a USASA-based club when Hollywood United won a game in Portland in 2008. In 2012, another Southern California amateur team came to the Rose City and pulled off a major upset when Cal FC became the first USASA-based amateur team to defeat a MLS team in regulation or extra time.
Major League Soccer’s newest expansion team, Los Angeles FC, will be playing in just its third US Open Cup game. They are led by head coach Bob Bradley who has won three US Soccer Majors (1 MLS Cup, 2 US Open Cup), including leading another expansion team, the Chicago Fire in 1998, to a US Open Cup and a MLS Cup title in their inaugural season.
PAST MEETINGS
In their second matchup this season, the teams played to a scoreless draw on Sunday, July 15, at Banc of California Stadium. Lee Nguyen was sent off late in the game for his studs-up challenge on Sebastian Blanco. Portland won the first match, 2-1, at Providence Park on May 19.
WEATHER
It’s expected to be a great night for soccer with the forecast calling for partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the mid-70s.