The tournament has come fast and furious, as expected, with tournament dates on four consecutive weeks, but the tournament will get a chance to breathe after the Fourth Round, which was announced today.
Here is the updated bracket.
The potential Fourth Round pairings and host scenarios for the 99th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup were announced Wednesday by the United States Soccer Federation. Among the teams with the potential to host in the Fourth Round are the amateur Michigan Bucks of the USL Premier Development League. Highlighting the scenarios is a potential Cascadia clash between the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers.
If the Michigan Bucks win their Third Round match at home against the Chicago Fire, the club will play host to the Columbus Crew or Dayton Dutch Lions in the next round.
Other lower division clubs, three each from the NASL and USL Pro, with an opportunity to host in round four are the Carolina RailHawks, Minnesota Stars and San Antonio Scorpions of the NASL and the USL Pro trio of Harrisburg City Islanders, Richmond Kickers and Orlando City. The NASL’s Atlanta Silverbacks potential pairing with Cal FC of the USASA is yet to determine a potential host, though Atlanta or the Sounders will have to travel to Portland if the Timbers prevail.
In all, six of the eight Fourth Round pairings have a potential scenario featuring an MLS club traveling to face a lower division opponent.
2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule
Fourth Round – Tuesday, June 5, 2012
New England Revolution (MLS) at New York Red Bulls (MLS) OR Charleston Battery (USL PRO)
Red Bull Arena; Harrison, N.J.; 7 p.m. ET || Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.; 7 p.m. ET
OR
New York Red Bulls (MLS)/Charleston Battery (USL PRO) Winner at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO)
Hershey Park Stadium; Hershey, Pa.; 7:30 p.m. ET
——–
Philadelphia Union (MLS)/Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) Winner at D.C. United (MLS) OR Richmond Kickers (USL PRO)
Maryland SoccerPlex; Boyds, Md.; 7:30 p.m. ET || Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Va.; 7 p.m. ET
——–
Columbus Crew (MLS)/Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) Winner at Chicago Fire (MLS) OR Michigan Bucks (PDL)
Toyota Park; Bridgeview, Ill.; 7:30 p.m. CT || Ultimate Soccer Arena; Pontiac, Mich.; 7:30 p.m. ET
——–
Colorado Rapids (MLS)/Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) Winner at Sporting Kansas City (MLS) OR Orlando City Soccer Club (USL PRO)
LIVESTRONG Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.; 7:30 p.m. CT || Citrus Bowl; Orlando, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET
——–
Houston Dynamo (MLS) at FC Dallas (MLS)
FC Dallas Stadium; Frisco, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT
OR
FC Dallas (MLS)/Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) Winner at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL)
Heroes Stadium; San Antonio, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT
OR
Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at Houston Dynamo (MLS)
BBVA Compass Stadium; Houston, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT
——–
Real Salt Lake (MLS)/Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) Winner at San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
Cagan Stadium, Stanford University; Stanford, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT
OR
Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) at Real Salt Lake (MLS) OR Minnesota Stars FC (NASL)
Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah; 7 p.m. MT || National Sports Center; Blaine, Minn.; 7:30 p.m. CT
——–
Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)/Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) Winner at Portland Timbers (MLS)
JELD-WEN Field; Portland, Ore.; 7:30 p.m. PT
OR
Cal FC (USASA) at Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Wash.; 7:30 p.m. PT
OR
Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) vs. Cal FC (USASA)
Venue TBD; Time TBD
——–
Chivas USA (MLS)/Ventura County Fusion (PDL) Winner at LA Galaxy (MLS) OR Carolina RailHawks (NASL)
Home Depot Center; Carson, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT || WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.; 7:07 p.m. ET
——–
Third Round Schedule (May 29-30)
Houston Dynamo (MLS) at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL)
Heroes Stadium; San Antonio, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT, May 29
Chicago Fire (MLS) at Michigan Bucks (PDL)
Ultimate Soccer Arena; Pontiac, Mich.; 7:30 p.m. ET, May 29
Orlando City Soccer Club (USL PRO) at Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
LIVESTRONG Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.; 7:30 p.m. CT, May 29
D.C. United (MLS) at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO)
Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Va.; 7 p.m. ET, May 29
Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) at Columbus Crew (MLS)
Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio; 7:30 p.m. ET, May 29
Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at FC Dallas (MLS)
FC Dallas Stadium; Frisco, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT, May 29
Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) at San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
Cagan Stadium, Stanford University; Stanford, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT, May 29
Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) at Philadelphia Union (MLS)
PPL Park; Chester, Pa.; 7:30 p.m. ET, May 29
New England Revolution (MLS) at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO)
Skyline Sports Complex; Harrisburg, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET, May 29
New York Red Bulls (MLS) at Charleston Battery (USL PRO)
Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.; 7:30 p.m. ET, May 29
Chivas USA (MLS) at Ventura County Fusion (PDL)
Ventura College; Ventura, Calif.; 7 p.m. PT, May 29
LA Galaxy (MLS) at Carolina RailHawks (NASL)
WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.; 7:07 p.m. ET, May 29
Colorado Rapids (MLS) at Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL)
Al Lang Stadium; St. Petersburg, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET, May 29
Cal FC (USASA) at Portland Timbers (MLS)
JELD-WEN Field; Portland, Ore.; 7:30 p.m. PT, May 30
Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) at Seattle Sounders (MLS)
Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Wash.; 7 p.m. PT; May 30
Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) at Real Salt Lake (MLS)
Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah; 7 p.m. MT, May 29