Minnesota Dark Cloud supporters with their "US Open Cup Banned" banner. | Photo: Jeremy Olson, DigitalGopher.net

For the first time ever and after a year’s absence of the USSF 2nd Division from US Open Cup competition, the North American Soccer League (NASL) will enter into Cup play on Tuesday evening.

“We were disappointed we didn’t get in it last year but we also understood with the sanctioning and the stance US Soccer took, we had to learn to crawl before we walked,” said Fort Lauderdale Strikers head coach Daryl Shore.

Indeed, the NASL who had an on-again, off-again and then on-again sanctioning process with the USSF in late 2010 and early 2011, were deemed to have received that sanctioning too late to be included in the Cup competition in 2011. The exclusion meant that the 98-year old tournament would not include a 2nd Division team.

The NASL had a positive first year in 2011 and were sanctioned by the USSF for 2012. With the early sanctioning also came the approval to be included in the competition for the first time as a league.

NASL coach of the year Manny Lagos, who led his Minnesota Stars to the 2011 Championship, said it wasn’t just disappointing to the league, its players and coaches. “It was disappointing from a league perspective but also from a fan’s perspective,” said Lagos.

Minnesota soccer fans have a history of participating in the US Open Cup. In 2005, the last year his father Buzz Lagos coached the Minnesota Thunder, that team made it to the quarterfinals of the tournament, defeating MLS teams Real Salt Lake 6-4, the Colorado Rapids 4-1 and the Kansas City Wizards 3-1 before being bounced from the tournament by the Galaxy in the Semifinals. Last year the Stars supporters, the Dark Clouds, proudly posted a banner at each and every game that stated, “US Open Cup Banned”.

Northern Ireland born Colin Clarke, head coach of the Carolina RailHawks, has plenty of experience in cup competitions, as a player in England and as a coach of FC Dallas. He participated in the Caribbean Federation Union (CFU) with his former team the Puerto Rico Islanders who had good success in that tournament. Clarke brought his FC Dallas team to the US Open Cup final in 2005 where they lost to the Galaxy 1-0. FC Dallas were defeated in the Quarterfinals of the tournament in 2006, losing to the Houston Dynamo.

Andy Herron, now a member of the NASL's Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, helped the Chicago Fire win the 2006 US Open Cup title, and was named TheCup.us Player of the Tournament. Photo: Chicago Fire

Clarke’s RailHawks will host the PSA Elite (USASA) amateur team at WakeMed Soccer Park on Tuesday evening.

“I’m looking forward to it very much,” said Clarke in regard to entry back into the US Open Cup as coach of an American Division 2 team. “We (Puerto Rico Islanders) had great success in the CFU. But now that’s gone and we’ve got the Open Cup. The last time my team played in that we got close to the final with Dallas in the last couple of years there.

“It’s a big competition for us. We didn’t get to play in it last year, so were excited to get out there and hopefully get through the early rounds and play against some MLS teams. It’s our equivalent to the FA Cup back in my home of England. It’s our chance to play against the big boys and see what we can do.”

Shore also has had plenty of US Open Cup experience, serving as assistant coach for 10 years with the Chicago Fire. There he saw both sides of what can happen in a format that gives all levels of teams an equal chance to compete.

“The Fire took the Open Cup very seriously,” said Shore. “I’ve seen both sides of it. We won a couple of Open Cups with the Fire. I also remember losing to Milwaukee in the first round and another year, one of my last with the Fire, we lost to Wilmington (Hammerheads, Division 3 professional). So I know what the Open Cup is about. These young lower level teams can surprise sometimes.”

“The first thing that actually comes to my mind as a player is we were defending US Open Cup Champions when I was with the Fire,” reminisced Lagos. “We went to Rochester, New York to play a lower level team and we ended up losing 2-1. That’s the reality of the tournament. It was a tough day and we didn’t play as well as we would have liked. It can be one game and you’re done. That’s the tough part but it’s also the exciting part of the tournament.”

Coach Shore said that like the Fire, his philosophy in Ft. Lauderdale is to be the last NASL team standing in the Open Cup. “We know there’s money involved. We’re going to take it very seriously.  We’ve even brought in players who have had success in the US Open Cup. Players like Andy Herron who scored the winning goal in the 2006 Open Cup final. We’ve got guys on this team that want to take the Open Cup serious and go far in the tournament.”

“I approach it that it’s an honor to coach a team in such a storied tournament,” said MLS player turned coach, Lagos. “It’s a great format. We get to be challenged by playing higher level teams and sometimes you play lower level teams, but all of games are always exciting. It can be very tense and emotional, especially at the round we are entering into.”

Lagos’ Stars will take the 4 hour bus ride down I-35 from Minnesota to Iowa on Tuesday to play one of the better USL PDL teams, the Des Monies Menace. He points to the fact that the essence of the tournament is “representation of all the teams, amateur and professional, battling for the trophy.”

“The Menace are a really well-run PDL organization. They get a lot of top midwest college players and All-Americans. They’ve also had some good men’s league players that are on their way up to professional careers. It’s a very good team and we’re excited to go down there in front of a potentially hostile environment and get a result.”

The Menace averaged 3,372 fans last season, which was a better average attendance than all but two of the NASL teams in 2011.

“Anything can happen,” concluded Lagos. “Lower level teams play well and higher level teams play well. That’s the lure of the US Open Cup. I think as more people become aware of that one game-one day excitement, I think it will become even more of a story line in the US Soccer landscape.”

Brian Quarstad  is the creator and senior editor of IMSoccer News. You can follow him on Twitter @IMSoccerNews

Will a club imitate Dallas Roma FC’s famous run in 2006? Will our bonus feature, Stanislaus United Turlock Express, make a name for US Club Soccer? These questions are yet to be answered, but we can introduce you to the amateur sides that will be taking the field on Tuesday. Click on the links below to read about the clubs:

Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (Region I – DC/VA – Sterling, VA)

Greek American Atlas (Region I – East New York – New York, NY)

Jersey Shore Boca (Region I – New Jersey – Toms River, NJ)

Croatian Eagles (Region II – Wisconsin – Milwaukee, WI)

KC Athletics (Region II – Kansas – Kansas City, MO)

ASC New Stars (Region III – Texas-South – Houston, TX)

North Texas Rayados (Region III – Texas-North – Dallas, TX)

Cal FC (Region IV – Southern California – Thousand Oaks, CA)

PSA Elite (Region IV – Southern California – Irvine, CA)

BONUS: US Club Soccer

Stanislaus United Turlock Express (US Club Soccer – Turlock, CA)

MORE on TheCup.us:
* 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup bracket
* 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup participant map
* TheCup.us’ 2012 Meet The USASA series
* Things you should know about the First Round

UPDATE (4:30 p.m.): Due to heavy rain, the match between FC Sonic Lehigh Valley and Long Island Rough Riders has been moved to the turf field at Whitehall High School.

The 99th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup kicks off tonight with the First Round, which includes 16 games starting at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. The opening round consists of 32 amateur teams from the USL’s Premier Development League (PDL), the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and one team from US Club Soccer (USCS). The winners of Tuesday night’s contests will earn a date with a lower division professional team in Round 2 the following Tuesday.

Join TheCup.us right here for a live blog as we will have live updates coming in from all 16 games from our correspondents  from coast to coast. To join the conversation, either enter the blog, or include #USOC in your tweets to share your thoughts or ask a question.

Also stay tuned for PotHunting trivia for your chance to win a throwback soccer shirt from PotHunting.com.

Follow TheCup.us on Twitter (@USOpenCup) for updated scores and news throughout the night (no play-by-play)

Here’s your guide to the entire First Round:

Croatian Eagles (USASA) at Chicago Fire PDL (PDL)
Toyota Park Practice Field; Bridgeview, Ill. – 7 p.m. ET
Broadcast: None
Round 2 scenarios:
If Eagles win … vs. Dayton Dutch Lions (USL Pro) Site TBA
If Chicago wins … home vs. Dayton Dutch Lions (USL Pro)

Surprisingly, the Fire have had only two home game in their 10 Open Cup matches, playing on the road for the last four since hosting Bavarian SC in the First Round of 2009. Chicago and Wisconsin clubs have met six times in the Modern Pro Era, with Chicago teams leading the series split with 3 wins each (Milwaukee clubs are 2-2-0 vs. Chicago clubs). The Fire are 4-4 in the Open Cup. The Fire are one of three PDL clubs that enter the tournament without having kicked off their league campaign.  |  Meet the USASA – Croatian Eagles

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Chicago Fire PDL: 6-4-0 overall, 2-0-0 at home, 5-0-0 vs. amateur clubs, Best Finish: Round 3 (2004, 2011), Last entry: 2011 (Round 3, Lost 3-1 at Sporting KC)
Croatian Eagles: 0-1-0 overall, 0-1-0 away, 0-1-0 vs. amateur clubs, Best Finish: 2006 (Qualifying Round, Lost 4-1 at Des Moines Menace), Last entry: 2006 (Qualifying Round, Lost 4-1 at Des Moines Menace)

NY Greek American Atlas SC (USASA) at Reading United AC (PDL)
Shirk Stadium, Albright College; Reading, Pa. – 7 p.m. ET
Broadcast: None
Round 2 scenario: Winner plays at Charleston Battery (USL Pro)

The Greeks are a four-time US Open Cup champion (1967-69, 1974) and are back in the tournament for the first time since 2005. They are trying to get in the win column for the first time in the Modern Era, sporting an 0-3 record since 1995, including two losses to PDL teams and a forfeit. Reading United, who are making their fourth straight tournament appearance and sixth overall, are looking for their first Open Cup victory (0-5-0). United have also not left the state of Pennsylvania for an Open Cup game since 2003. Reading opened their 2012 PDL season at home Saturday against the New Jersey Express. They got off to a fast start with a goal from Paul Wyatt in the first minute only to see the victory spoiled three minutes from time by a 1-1 equalizer.  |  Meet the USASA – NY GAA

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
NY Greek American Atlas: 0-3-0 overall, 0-2-0 at home, 0-2-0 vs. amateur clubs, Best Finish: Round 1 (3 times), Last entry: 2005 (Round 1, lost 3-0 vs. Ocean City Barons)
Reading United: 0-5-0 overall (0-3-0 as PDL), 0-1-0 at home (0-1-0 as PDL), 0-1-0 vs. amateur clubs, Best Finish: Round 1 (4 times), Last entry: 2011 (Round 1, Lost 2-1 at Harrisburg City Islanders)

Jacksonville United (NPSL) at Orlando City U-23s (PDL)
Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla. – 7 p.m. ET
Broadcast: None
Round 2 scenario: The winner hosts the Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL)

Orlando, formerly the Central Florida Kraze, are making their third straight appearance in the Open Cup. The defending NPSL champion, who has a number of players from Lynch’s Irish Pub, a 3-time Open Cup qualifier. Both teams (including the Lynch’s Irish Pub records) are seeking their first Open Cup win. After opening the season with a scoreless draw against Fort Lauderdale Schulz Academy, Orlando City found plenty of offense over the weekend in a second meeting with a 6-0 trouncing. Four different players scored in the first half with Nicolas Russo adding two off the bench in the second. Jacksonville United, meanwhile, won their opener on the road, downing Mississippi Storm, 4-2. Over the weekend they drubbed visiting Myrtle Beach, 7-1.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Jacksonville United: N/A
Orlando City U23s: 0-4-0 overall, 0-1-0 at home, 0-1-0 vs. amateur clubs, Best Finish: Round 1 (4 times), Last entry: 2011 (Round 1, Lost 4-0 at Wilmington Hammerheads)

Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) at FC Sonic Lehigh Valley (NPSL)
Whitehall High School; Whitehall, Pa. – 7:05 p.m. ET  << CHANGED 5/15/12
Broadcast: Local TV (Service Electric)
Round 2 scenarios: Winner plays at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL Pro)

Long Island returns to the Keystone State for the first time since losing to the Harrisburg City Islanders in the Second Round of the 2010 tournament. The Rough Riders made the Quarterfinals in 1997, but have gone 1-5 since then. This match marks the first time in the Modern Pro Era (1995-present) that the city of Bethlehem, PA, home of the five-time tournament champion Bethlehem Steel, has hosted an Open Cup game. FC Sonic finished 2nd in the NPSL’s Keystone Division last year, but qualified when division champion Erie Admirals declined to participate. Lehigh Valley begins its season next weekend and Long Island is one of three PDL clubs that has not opened the regular season campaign.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Long Island Rough Riders: 3-5-0 overall (1-2-0 as PDL), 1-4-0 away (0-2-0 as PDL), 2-2-0 vs. amateur clubs (1-0-0 as PDL), Best Finish: Quarterfinals (1997, Lost 1-0 after sudden death extra time vs. Metrostars), Last entry: 2010 (Round 2, Lost 1-0 at Harrisburg City Islanders)
FC Sonic Lehigh Valley: N/A

Carolina Dynamo (PDL) at Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (USASA)
Maryland Soccerplex Stadium; Boyds, Md. – 7:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: None
Round 2 scenarios:
If Aegean Hawks win … home vs. Richmond Kickers (USL Pro)
If Carolina Dynamo win … play at Richmond Kickers (USL Pro)

The Dynamo are on the road for only the third time in 10 games since Macpherson Stadium opened in 2002. They are 1-3 in road games. It is the first home game for the Hawks in three appearances, who are seeking their first win. The Dynamo kicked off their campaign at home with a 5-1 win against Real Maryland. After giving up the opening goal eight minutes in Saturday, Shaun Sloan equalized two minutes later. Then Donnie Smith set up the next two streaks, including the first of two from Karo Okiomah.  |  Meet the USASA – Aegean Hawks

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Carolina Dynamo: 10-8-0 overall (5-3 as PDL), 2-6-0 away (0-1-0 as PDL), 6-1-0 vs. amateur clubs (2-0-0 as PDL), Best Finish: Quarterfinals (1996, Lost 2-0 at DC United), Last entry: 2011 (Round 1, Lost 3-1 vs. Charlotte Eagles)
Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks: 0-2-0 overall, 0-0-0 at home, 0-0-0 vs. amateur clubs, Best Finish: Round 1 (twice), Last entry: 2009 (Round 1, Lost 1-0 at Real Maryland Monarchs)

Jersey Shore Boca (USASA) at Michigan Bucks (PDL)
Ultimate Soccer Arenas; Pontiac, Mich. – 7:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: None
Round 2 scenarios: Winner plays at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL Pro)

Since 2000, the Bucks have hosted all but one game (6 of 7 games) against non-MLS opposition (Richmond Kickers, 2007). Michigan is 2-0 against amateur teams in the Open Cup, defeating Jerry D’s 6-0 in 2000 and Chaldean Arsenal 3-0 in 2001. The Bucks are among the trio of PDL clubs that will not begin the regular season prior to the First Round.  |  Meet the USASA – Jersey Shore Boca

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Jersey Shore Boca: N/A
Michigan Bucks: 9-7-1 overall, 6-4-1 (0-1 in PKs) at home, 2-0-0 vs. amateur clubs, Best Finish: Round 3 (2006, Lost 4-1 vs. Columbus Crew), Last entry: 2008 (Round 1, Lost 2-1 vs. Cleveland City Stars)

Mississippi Brilla FC (PDL) at Georgia Revolution (NPSL)
RYSA Soccerplex; Conyers, Ga. – 7:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: None
Round 2 scenarios:
If Georgia wins … home vs. Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL)
If Mississippi wins … at Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL)

In the First Round’s battle of the two most inexperienced teams, Mississippi lost in their only Open Cup appearance in 2009 (vs. USL First Division’s Austin Aztex) and the Revolution are making their debut. The winner will not be traveling far, as Mississippi would travel to play the Atlanta Silverbacks in the second round, while Georgia would be hosting Atlanta. Georgia opened its campaign with a bang, stomping Mississippi Storm, 7-1, on Saturday with goals from five different players, two from Kwadwo Poku, and an own goal. Brilla, on the other hand, fell at home, 1-0, to the Ocala Stampede in only the second loss at home in five years for the club.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Mississippi Brilla: 0-1-0 overall, 0-1-0 away, 0-0-0 vs. amateur clubs, Best Finish: Round 1 (2009, Lost 2-0 at Austin Aztex), Last entry: 2009 Round 1 (Lost 2-0 at Austin Aztex)
Georgia Revolution: N/A

Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) at GPS Portland Phoenix (PDL)
Memorial Field, Deering High School; Portland, Maine – 8 p.m. ET
Broadcast: None
Round 2 scenarios: Winner plays at Rochester Rhinos (USL Pro)

While TheCup.us does not have a record of every game of the last 98 years of the US Open Cup (most of them, but not all) and there is no record of a team from Maine participating in the US Open Cup. The Italians are a two-time Open Cup champion (1979, 1991). Brooklyn is also seeking their first win in the Pro Era, having lost in the first round the past two competitions. Brooklyn is off to a good start. They dropped visiting FC New York, 2-1, in the league opener and won 4-1 on the road against Mass United three days later. Over the weekend they picked up a 1-0 road win against the Rhode Island Reds to move to 3-0-0. GPS Portland kicked off their season Saturday, taking a 2-1 victory against visiting Vermont Voltage with an opener from Itode Fubara and the winner from Chris Banks.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Brooklyn Italians: 0-2-0 overall, 0-2-0 away, 0-1-0 vs. amateur clubs, Best Finish: Round 1 (twice), Last entry: 2011 (Round 1, Lost 2-1 at NY Pancyprian Freedoms)
GPS Portland Phoenix: N/A

Des Moines Menace (PDL) at Milwaukee Bavarians (NPSL)
Bavarian Soccer Park; Glendale, Wis. – 8 p.m. ET
Broadcast: None
Round 2 scenarios: Winner hosts Minnesota Stars FC (NASL)

Home field is a consolation prize for the organization that had its USASA club miss out on Open Cup qualifying because the state association lost their paperwork last year. Now, the Bavarians’ NPSL team are in the tournament for the first time, hoping to carry on the Milwaukee club’s tradition against the Des Moines Menace, one of the elite PDL teams. This game marks the first road game for the Menace against an equal or lesser division opponent, including a 2003 loss, 2-1, to the USASA’s Bavarian SC in sudden death overtime. Milwaukee is 2-3 in the Pro Era (though were semifinalists in 1993 and finalists in 1994), while Des Moines is 6-6 all-time, and 1-1 against amateur teams. The Bavarians have not begun their NPSL campaign. The Menace, meanwhile, are coming into the contest on a positive note having downed visiting St Louis Lions, 4-1, Saturday courtesy of a hat trick from Husref Jupic. They were winless in the first three contests playing to a 1-1 draw and 1-0 loss on the road against Real Colorado Foxes and another 1-0 loss away to Springfield Demize.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Des Moines Menace: 6-5-1 (1-0 in PKs) overall, 2-3-0 away, 2-1-0 vs. amateur clubs, Best Finish: Round 4 (2005, Lost 6-1 at Kansas City Wizards), Last entry: 2010 (Round 1, Lost 1-0 vs. AC St. Louis)
Milwaukee Bavarians: N/A

KC Athletics (USASA) at Real Colorado Foxes (PDL)
Colorado School of Mines Soccer Stadium; Golden, Colo. – 9 p.m. ET
Broadcast: Online video (CoachesAid.com- $8.00)
Round 2 scenarios: Winner plays at Orlando City SC (USL Pro)

The Athletics are back in the tournament for the second time in three years, losing their debut against NSC Minnesota Stars in 2010. Real Colorado are making their second straight appearance, having won in their debut last year at home against DV8 Defenders from the USASA, before losing at the Kitsap Pumas in Round 2. Real Colorado played to a scoreless draw at home Sunday versus WSA Winnipeg. The week prior they had another pair of close-fought outings with a 1-1 draw and a 1-0 victory against the visiting Des Moines Menace.  |  Meet the USASA – KC Athletics

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
KC Athletics: 0-1-0 overall, 0-1-0 away, 0-0-0 vs. amateur clubs, Best Finish: Round 1 (2010, Lost 4-2 vs. NCS Minnesota Stars), Last entry: 2010 (Round 1, lost 4-2 vs. NCS Minnesota Stars)
Real Colorado: 1-1-0 overall, 1-0-0 home, 1-0-0 vs. amateur clubs, Best Finish: Round 2 (2011, Lost 3-1 at Kitsap Pumas), Last entry: 2011 (Round 2, Lost 3-1 at Kitsap Pumas)

ASC New Stars (USASA) at Laredo Heat (PDL)
Texas A&M International University; Laredo, Texas – 9:15 p.m. ET
Broadcast: None
Round 2 scenarios: Winner plays at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL)

ASC New Stars are making their second appearance in a row and their third in the last five years. They are shooting for their first tournament win, in what will be their first game against an amateur side. Laredo hasn’t qualified since making their debut in 2006, when they nearly kept the historic run of Dallas Roma FC from ever happening, falling short 4-2 in penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw. The Laredo Heat dropped their first game of the season, falling 2-0 on the road to the Texas Dutch Lions.  |  Meet the USASA – ASC New Stars

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
ASC New Stars: 0-2-0 overall, 0-2-0 away, 0-0-0 vs. amateur clubs, Best Finish: Round 1 (twice), Last entry: 2011 (Round 1, Lost at Orlando City SC, 4-0)
Laredo Heat: 0-0-1 (0-1 in PKs) overall, 0-0-0 at home, 0-0-1 (0-1 in PKs) vs. amateur clubs, Best Finish: Round 1 (2006, Draw 2-2 vs. Dallas Roma FC, Lost 4-2 in PKs), Last entry: 2006 (Round 1, Draw 2-2 vs. Dallas Roma FC, Lost 4-2 in PKs)

North Texas Rayados (USASA) at El Paso Patriots (PDL)
Patriots Stadium; El Paso, Texas – 10 p.m. ET
Broadcast: None
Round 2 scenarios: Winner will host the Charlotte Eagles (USL Pro)

The Rayados, making their first appearance in the tournament out of USASA’s Region III, will face a club with a rich history in the competition at multiple levels. The Patriots were a professional team from their founding in 1991 until 2004 when they joined the PDL, and were 1995 finalists. El Paso has a .500 Open Cup Record at 9-9, including 3-4 as a PDL team. Enrique Cervantes, son of the club owner, scored the lone goal in Saturday’s 1-0 win at home against the Austin Aztex. The Patriots previously played to a 1-1 draw in their opener on the road versus West Texas.  |  Meet the USASA – NTX Rayados

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
NTX Rayados: N/A
El Paso Patriots: 8-7-3 (1-2 in PKs) overall (2-3-2, 1-1 in PKs as PDL), 7-5-3 at home (2-1-2, 1-1 in PKs), 4-1-2 (0-2 in PKs) vs. amateur clubs (2-0-1 as PDL), Best Finish: 1995 US Open Cup runner-up, Last entry: 2011 (Round 1, Draw 0-0, Lost 6-5 in PKs vs. Kitsap Pumas)

Fresno Fuego (PDL) at Stanislaus United Turlock Express (US Club Soccer)
Academica Fields; Turlock, Calif. – 10 p.m. ET
Broadcast: None
Round 2 scenarios: Winner plays at Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL)

The Fuego have been one of the better PDL teams over the last decade, but have only qualified once. They accomplished that in their inaugural season in 2003, and what a run it was, winning three games, upsetting two professional teams (Utah Blitzz of the PSL and the El Paso Patriots of the A-League) before falling 3-1 to the Los Angeles Galaxy at the Home Depot Center. The Fuego are one of just three PDL teams to ever reach beyond the Third Round (Carolina Dynamo, Des Moines Menace). They will face off against the Stanislaus United Turlock Express (no relation to the Stanislaus United Cruisers who qualified in 2000), who are the first US Club Soccer team to compete in the Open Cup. The Fuego are off to a fantastic start. They posted a pair of victories against LA Misioneros, 4-1 at home and 3-1 away, and a 2-1 win against FC Tucson before dropping their first points Friday in a 1-1 road draw against Orange County Blue Star.  |  Meet the USCS – Stanislaus United Turlock Express

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Fresno Fuego: 3-1-0 overall, 1-1-0 away, 1-0-0 vs. amateur clubs, Best Finish: Round 4 (2003, Lost 3-1 at LA Galaxy), Last entry: 2003 (Round 4, Lost 3-1 at LA Galaxy)
SU Turlock Express: N/A

Ventura County Fusion (PDL) vs. Fullerton Rangers (NPSL)
Santa Ana Stadium; – Santa Ana, Calif. – 10 p.m. ET
Broadcast: Online video (LiveStream.com)
Round 2 scenarios: Winner plays at Los Angeles Blues (USL Pro)

This is the third straight Open Cup appearance for the Fusion, as well as their first road game (1-2 at home). The Rangers qualified tournament in their inaugural season, as NPSL decided to hold a tournament due to major lineup changes. The Fusion are off to a surprisingly slow start with two losses. They fell on the road against LA Misioneros, 1-0, Sunday after an initial 1-1 draw with them at home previously. Fullerton, meanwhile, has faced all five other clubs in the West-Southern Conference and has a 3-2 record. They were idle over the weekend.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Ventura County Fusion: 1-1-1 (0-1 in PKs) overall, 0-0-0 away, 1-0-1 (0-1 in PKs) vs. amateur clubs, Best Finish: Round 2 (2011, Lost 1-0 vs. LA Blues), Last entry: 2011 (Round 2, Lost 1-0 vs. LA Blues)
Fullerton Rangers: N/A

PSA Elite (USASA) at Portland Timbers U-23s (PDL)
Jeld-Wen Field; Portland, Ore. – 10:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: None
Round 2 scenarios: Winner plays at Carolina RailHawks (NASL)

The Timbers PDL square are making their first appearance in the US Open Cup after missing out last year despite finishing qualifying with an undefeated record (3-0-1). Rather than going through a tiebreaker, they decided to have the Kitsap Pumas and the Timbers U23s use their regular season game on double as a play-in game, where Kitsap won 3-2. PSA Elite are making their first appearance in the tournament after emerging from the USASA Region IV tournament. The Timbers got off to a fast start in their opening game Friday with a three-goal first half in the 3-0 win against visiting Fraser Valley. Mark Sherrod scored twice with Emery Welshman providing the second tally.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
PSA Elite: N/A
Timbers U23s: N/A

16. Cal FC (USASA) at Kitsap Pumas (PDL)
Bremerton Memorial Stadium; Bremerton, Wash. – 10:15 p.m. ET
Broadcast: None
Round 2 scenarios: Winner plays at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL Pro)

This is the fourth consecutive year that Kitsap will kick off the tournament at home. The Pumas reached the third round last year, falling 2-1 to three-time champion Seattle Sounders FC, and hold a 3-3 Open Cup record. USASA Region IV qualifier Cal FC are led by a mix of young players and former professional players and their manager, former US international Eric Wynalda. After opening the season with a 3-0 loss north of the border to the Vancouver Whitecaps U23, the Pumas rebounded in their home opener by drubbing Canada’s Fraser Valley Mariners, 6-0.  |  Meet the USASA – Cal FC

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Cal FC: N/A
Kitsap Pumas: 2-3-1 (1-0 in PKs) overall, 2-2-0 at home, 2-0-1 (1-0 in PKs) vs. amateur clubs, Best Finish: Round 3 (2011, Lost 2-1 at Seattle Sounders), Last entry: 2011 (Round 3, Lost 2-1 at Seattle Sounders)

New details have emerged on the hosting process for the tournament which go into effect this year, according to a copy of the 2012 US Open Cup handbook acquired by TheCup.us. The handbook, which is distributed to participating teams in the tournament, lays out the requirements for teams to host games.

Prior to this year, home teams were determined by a sealed bidding process where each club submitted financial bids to the USSF and if the venue standards were met, the team with the highest bid were awarded the game. (Read a detailed report of the process HERE)

In 2012, a new system has been put in place where, in the first two rounds, if both teams meet the minimum venue standards, then a blind draw will determine who will host the match. The only consistency throughout the competition is the host team must pay the federation 15% of the gross gate receipts above $100,000. In Round 3, when Major League Soccer teams join the tournament, the same procedure will be followed, except that the host will also pay a flat hosting fee of $12,000 in advance of the match in addition to the potential 15% if they reach the $100k mark.

In Round 4, the hosting fee increases to $18,000 and then to $25,000 for the Quarterfinals.

The Semifinals and the Final will continue to utilize the sealed bid process from previous years.

In September of 2009, we were forced to give up our USOpenCup.com URL, and start a new website (Read all about the situation here). From the day USOpenCup.com was started in 2003, until it was shut down in the Fall of 2009, we were unable to receive any compensation (either via donations or advertisements) for our work due to legal issues with the US Soccer Federation. Now, with TheCup.us in place, we are allowed to place advertisements on the site (if you are interested in advertising on TheCup.us, feel free to contact us) and we can now accept donations.

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TheCup.us, the only website providing comprehensive coverage to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, is now on Twitter! Now you can keep track of everything that’s going on with the tournament by following us @usopencup. You’ll find updates on qualifying, tournament games, Open Cup stories from around the web and fun historical information about the Cup’s great history.

This site was created in 2003 to bridge the media coverage void that exists for this great tournament, and Twitter is another great way for us to help soccer fans from around the country follow the Open Cup. You’ll find tons of information on the Twitter feed that you won’t find on the website, including links to other media outlets who are covering the tournament.

Fans looking to follow the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup can add Facebook to their list of online tools. Facebook members can search for “TheCup.us” or just go to www.facebook.com/thecup.us to join to get updates, share photos, and take part in message board discussion.

With the change to the new website, the old Facebook page under the name “USOpenCup.com” is closed.

Fans can also contribute to the site through our Flickr page, where you can share your US Open Cup photos. Whether you were among the handful of people attending a state qualifying match, or among the thousands at the Open Cup final, we would love to see and share your photos.

Lamar Neagle raises Seattle's third Open Cup trophy. Photo: Gerald Barnhart

The return of US international Eddie Johnson to Major League Soccer Friday created a bit of a stir across North America as the expansion Montreal Impact picked him up via allocation and proceeded to trade him to the Seattle Sounders in exchange for Mike Fucito and Lamar Neagle.

The Sounders duo were a key part of the club’s success last year in the quest to capture an historic third consecutive Lamar Hunt US Open Cup championship, tallying a combined three of Seattle’s seven goals in the tournament and making seven total appearances.

The pair will now have an opportunity win the Nutrilite Canadian Championship featuring the Impact, Toronto FC, North American Soccer League side FC Edmonton and Sounders rival Vancouver Whitecaps. The Impact, new to MLS, won the tournament in its first official year as a CONCACAF Champions League qualifying event as a United Soccer Leagues First Division club in 2008 and went on to reach the Champions League Quarterfinals in a stunning campaign.

Fucito, who played in all four matches, was the Open Cup headline maker of the two, scoring both goals in the club’s tightly contested 2-1 Third Round victory over the local USL Premier Development League side Kitsap Pumas. The performance earned him TheCup.us Man of the Match and Player of the Round honors.

Mike Fucito, up front, celebrates during the 2011 post-game ceremony. photo: Gerald Barnhart

The following round, Neagle provided the insurance goal as he expanded Seattle’s 2-1 halftime lead against the Los Angeles Galaxy for the 3-1 quarterfinal victory.

The duo would both enter the semifinal contest as substitutes versus FC Dallas in a 1-0 decision and started the championship match, a 2-0 win, against the Chicago Fire.

Johnson, who has 42 caps with the US National Team and has been part of its youth program since playing for the U17s in 2000, returns to MLS after spending the past four years abroad. Signed by Fulham in 2008, the former FC Dallas (2001-06) and Sporting KC (2006-08) striker played 18 matches with Fulham and another 62 combined on loan to Cardiff City, Aris and Preston North End. He struck for only seven goals over that span (.09 goals per appearance) after registering 41 in MLS previously (.32 goals per appearance). Johnson has four career US Open Cup goals, all for Dallas.

Pascale was TheCup.us Player of the Round for 2011 Quarterfinals. photo: Brian Zimmerman

Arguably one of the US Open Cup’s most successful goalkeepers, Ronnie Pascale, has announced that 2012 will be his final season with the Richmond Kickers, ending his career where he made a name for himself for the last 12 seasons and transitioning into a coaching role with the club, serving a dual role as player and assistant coach.

It has been quite the career for the 35-year-old Furman University product. He has led the Kickers to the postseason in all but one season since he began serving as the starting netminder in 2002, winning championships in 2006 and 2009 and reaching the final on four other occasions. He also led the team to a pair of regular season titles in 2006 and 2007 and three consecutive runners-up finishes immediately thereafter, earning three Goalkeeper of the Year honors during the process.

Though he registered only one shutout in five US Open Cup matches in 2011, his leadership proved a critical element as Richmond made one of the most historic runs in tournament history by a lower division team. The lone clean sheet was the second half of the first-ever back-to-back pair of road wins by a lower division club against Major League Soccer opposition. The 2-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City on a stormy night July 13 sent the Kickers on to the Semifinals for the first time since the club won the 1995 tournament and earned Pascale not only TheCup.us Player of the Match honors, but Player of the Round.

The 2011 run began with 4-1 victories over fellow USL Pro sides Dayton Dutch Lions and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the opening two rounds, respectively. Then Richmond stepped into the spotlight with a surprising 2-1 victory at Columbus Crew Stadium in the Third Round to reach the quarterfinal contest against KC. The Kickers’ run would come to a close, 2-1, in Chicago.

The shutout against Kansas City was the fifth clean sheet of Pascale’s career in the tournament and his 16 career appearances in the event are the most among goalkeepers since 2007. The next closest are Dusty Hudock (11) and Chris Eylander (10). Pascale’s performance in that span has been quite outstanding as well with an 11-5-0 record and a goals-against average of 1.10 against all opposition. Three of the five losses were against MLS clubs with the then higher division Carolina RailHawks attributing to the other two.

News Release +

Richmond Times-Dispatch +

Andrew Wenger (top) and Chris Estridge have scored in the US Open Cup

The Chicago Fire PDL team reached the Third Round in the 2011 US Open Cup and Second Round in 2009, making it no surprise that among the 11 players selected from their development program were four players that saw action during the club’s run this past summer.

Among them was Chris Estridge (21st, Vancouver Whitecaps), who tallied a goal and assist. The defender scored the 1-0 game-winner in the opening round with three minutes remaining, edging the Iowa Menace (USASA entrant of PDL Des Moines Menace). He went on to add an assist on the second goal in another shutout performance in the Second Round as they blanked the NPSL’s Madison 56ers, 2-0.

The team’s run came to an end in the Third Round, falling on the road to Sporting Kansas City, 3-0. Estridge played in all three matches along with Tyler Polak (22, New England Revolution) and Brendan King (27, Portland Timbers). Teammate Calum Mallace (20, Montreal Impact) appeared in the Third Round match.

Reading United AC, a PDL affiliate of the Philadelphia Union, also saw Open Cup players move on to the next flight with hopes of landing on an MLS roster. First overall pick Andrew Wenger (Montreal Impact), a member of the Carolina Dynamo in 2011, nearly led Reading to an upset win over then USL Second Division side Real Maryland with the opening goal of the 2010 First Round only to see the professional side rally for a 2-1 victory. Reading faced fellow Union affiliate USL Pro Harrisburg City Islanders in 2011, falling 2-1 with Matt Hedges (11, FC Dallas) in the lineup.

Jacob Hustedt (25, San Jose Earthquakes) helped lead the Ventura County Fusion in 2011, providing the assist on the game-winner in a 3-1 victory against USASA’s Doxa Italia in the First Round. He was also in the lineup for the club’s valiant effort in a narrow 1-0 loss to USL Pro side Los Angeles Blues in the Second Round.

Ironically, three of the seven players featured above were taken by Canadian clubs, meaning they would be mostly likely to participate in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship this year.

The new CONCACAF Champions League format will largely utilize the same date windows as was done previously with group matches running from late July to mid October. The changes appear to incorporate a flexible schedule format for the main stage with six dates available for four group contests, allowing the clubs to balance their play in multiple competitions. It will also, undoubtedly assist CONCACAF with severe weather situations which have arisen in the Caribbean and Central America in previous years.

The Championship stage – Quarterfinals to Final – remains unaltered with the eight group winners advancing from the opening stage. The three rounds of two-leg series will continue to run from early March to the first of May.

Previously, US Open Cup champions were unseeded clubs that were required to play in the Preliminary Round, though the 2011 champion Sounders were slated for a direct entry into the Group Phase due to the LA Galaxy winning both the MLS Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup. Under the new format, the clubs that were previously seeded will now be placed in a pot together for the draw that will determine the composition of the groups, ensuring the seeded teams will be distributed equally and avoid one another.

Clubs will also continue to be placed in groups without members from their own nation, though the Can-Am nature of Major League Soccer could still see a Canadian MLS club in the same group as a US MLS side.

The 2012-13 tournament will mark the fifth edition of the event. The Seattle Sounders will represent the US Open Cup for a third consecutive year while league foes Los Angeles Galaxy, Real Salt Lake and Houston Dynamo also participate. A fifth MLS club is likely again via the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. The Sounders struggled in their first campaign, winning just once in the 2010-11 group phase after winning the Preliminary Round series against El Salvador’s Isidro Metapan. The lone win came against Marathon (Honduras).

Seattle has advanced the success of Open Cup champions under the current CONCACAF format, becoming the first to reach the Quarterfinals. The 2007 champion New England Revolution were stunned in the Preliminary Round in 2008, falling 6-1 on aggregate to Joe Public (T&T). DC United, champions in 2008, also advanced versus an El Salvadoran club, Luis Angel Firpo, in 2009 to reach the group phase, winning a penalty kick tiebreaker after a pair of 1-1 draws. In the group phase DC was 3-2-1, missing the cut by two points despite having higher point totals than the second-place clubs in two of the other groups.

The Sounders continue their second CCL campaign with the Quarterfinals in March. They will face Mexico’s Santos Laguna, a regular contender in the CCL, March 7 and 14 while their league rivals Toronto FC and LA Galaxy square off those same nights in the series that would determine their Semifinal opponent should they advance. Seattle rallied from a 1-0 Preliminary Round deficit against Panama’s San Francisco to win 2-1 in overtime. Seattle finished second in the group at 3-2-1 behind Monterrey, whom they defeated 1-0 in Mexico.

Prior to the Champions League format the Columbus Crew were the last club to represent the US Open Cup in the confederation’s club championship event. The 2002 champion Crew won the 2003 First Round series, 4-2 on aggregate (1-2, 3-0) versus Panama’s Arabe Unido before exiting in the Quarterfinals against Monarcas Morelia, who cruised to the aggregate win with a 6-0 opening win, allowing Columbus to take the second meeting, 2-0.