Wednesday night’s action in the US Open Cup may as well be called the Cavalcade of Champions, as five former Open Cup winners play, boasting 11 of the last 20 titles between them. Chicago Fire (1998, 2000, 2003, 2006), New England Revolution (2007), Richmond Kickers (1995), Seattle Sounders FC (2009, 2010, 2011), and Sporting Kansas City (2004, 2012) are all in action, with New England traveling to Richmond in the kickoff.
This is the last day for Round 4, which spread four matchdays over nine days, including rare Saturday matches during the FIFA World Cup break.
As always, use and follow the #USOC2014 hashtag on Twitter for all the latest updates from all six games. You can also follow TheCup.us at @USOpenCup.
Here is a look at all five games:
New England Revolution (MLS) at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO)
Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, VA – 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Video (Embedded below)
Winner of this game hosts Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) in Round 5
New England Revolution overall record
Overall: 12-9-4 (2-2 PKs) | Away: 3-6-2 (1-1 PKs) | vs. Div. 3: 3-1-2 (1-1 PKs)
Last entry: 2013 (Lost 3-1 at DC United of MLS in Quarterfinals)
Best finish: 2007 US Open Cup champions
How they got here … First game
Richmond Kickers overall records
Overall: 26-13-2 (1-1 PKs) | Home: 20-4-1 (0-1 PKs) | vs. Amateur: 9-1-0
Last entry: 2013 (Lost 4-2 in PKs after 0-0 draw vs. DC United of MLS – Round 3)
Best finish: 1995 US Open Cup champions
How they got here …
Round 2: 6-1 road win at RVA FC (NPSL)
Round 3: 2-1 home win vs. NY Greek American Atlas (USASA)
LIVE VIDEO: NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION AT RICHMOND KICKERS
By Jimmy LaRoue
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The Richmond Kickers, and in particular, longtime coach Leigh Cowlishaw, savor challenges such as the one they’ll face Wednesday at City Stadium, in which they’ll face MLS’s New England Revolution in a Fourth Round US Open Cup matchup.
The Kickers got this far by defeating new city rival RVA FC of the NPSL 6-1 in the Second Round, and coming from behind to top USASA powerhouse New York Greek American Atlas 2-1 following a three-hour lightning delay.
The last time the Revolution and Kickers played, New England picked up a 3-0 Third Round win in 2008 in a game also delayed more than two hours by thunderstorms. Sam Brill, Joe Germanese and Taylor Twellman all scored for the Revs that day.
Second in the USL PRO standings with just one loss in 14 games (7-1-6), Richmond features Matthew Delicate, who has nine goals and George Davis IV who has seven. Delicate is one of the Open Cup’s top goalscorers in the Modern Professional Era with nine. He also holds the record for most game-winning goals in the tournament with five.
Nate Robinson returned to the team after coming back from an ACL injury. The Kickers have had success with a blend of USL PRO vets, newcomers and DC United loanees. Their back four is experienced, and whether it’s been Ryan Taylor or, to a larger extent, United-loanee Joe Willis, they’ve had strong play in goal.
For the Revolution, they are second in the Eastern Conference, two points behind DC United with a 7-5-2 record, having scored 21 goals and given up 18, though they went into the league break having lost two straight. The team’s coach, Jay Heaps, told ESPNBoston.com to expect a mix of regulars and rookies/reserves to take the field.
Lee Nguyen leads the team in goals with five, while recent high school graduate Diego Fagundez and rookie Patrick Mullins have four apiece. Fagundez also has three assists, tied for the team lead with Daigo Kobayashi and Teal Bunbury. In goal, while Bobby Shuttlesworth has started all but one game, expect Richmond-native Brad Knighton to play. In his seventh MLS season, Knighton has played in 36 games. Former national teamer and DC United forward Charlie Davies hopes to make a return following a calf injury in the team’s Open Cup debut.
Look for New England to want to get up early and take the Kickers out of their game, while the home side will look press a group that will have likely not have seen as much time on the field. The schedule should be kind to both as far as rest is concerned, with New England otherwise off while the Kickers last played on June 14 and don’t play again until this Sunday, though it’s on the road.
The winner Wednesday will host USL PRO’s Rochester Rhinos in Round 5.
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Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO) at Chicago Fire (MLS)
Toyota Park; Bridgeview, IL – 8:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: Video (Embedded below)
If Pittsburgh wins … will play at Columbus Crew on June 25
If Chicago wins … will host Columbus Crew on Date TBA
Pittsburgh Riverhounds overall record
Overall: 7-9-3 (1-2 PKs) | Away: 2-8-2 (0-2 PKs) | vs. MLS: 1-2-0
Last entry: 2013 (Lost 1-0 at Ocean City Nor’easters of PDL in Round 2)
Best finish: 2001 Quarterfinals (Lost 3-2 in OT at Chicago Fire of MLS)
How they got here …
Round 2: 3-1 home win vs. New York Red Bulls U23s (NPSL)
Round 3: 3-2 OT home win vs. RWB Adria (USASA)
Chicago Fire overall records
Overall: 31-11-3 (2-1 PKs) | Home: 18-1-1 (0-1 PKs) | vs. Div. 3: 8-1-1 (0-1 PKs)
Last entry: 2013 (Lost 2-0 vs. DC United of MLS in Semifinals)
Best finish: 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006 US Open Cup champions
How they got here … First game
LIVE VIDEO: PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS AT CHICAGO FIRE
By Evan Ream
It will be David vs. Goliath in Bridgeview, Ill., tonight when the four-time US Open Cup champion Chicago Fire enter the tournament for the first time this year in their Fourth Round matchup against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
The Riverhounds are in the midst of an atrocious USL PRO campaign where they are currently in last place with just one win in 13 games, but that has not affected their Cup form.
Entering the tournament in the Second Round, Pittsburgh advanced past the New York Red Bulls’ NPSL team and RWB Adria, an amateur team from Chicago, scoring six goals from six different players in those two games.
Capped twice by the Netherlands, and spending time in the English Premier League, Riverhounds forward Collins John, who is still just 28, will look to gain revenge against the Fire, his former club. John leads an attack for Pittsburgh that has been decidedly average in league play as they have scored the second-fewest goals thus far in the season.
Led by a strong forward-line of Mike Magee and Quincy Amarikwa, the Chicago Fire are also struggling in league play, but they have actually only lost four of their 14 games, they just can’t seem to turn their draws into wins. With an all-time record fifth Open Cup title in their sights, Chicago will look to get their campaign off to a good start with a well-rested roster, taking a break for the FIFA World Cup.
This won’t be the first time these two teams have met. 2014 marks just the second time in franchise history that they have won multiple games in a single tournament. The last time they did that was in 2001 when, as an A-League team (Division 2), they advanced all the way to the Quarterfinals where they met the defending champion Fire at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill. Unfortunately for Riverhounds fans, the game is a memorable one for Fire fans as the game went into overtime (fun fact: Hungarian legend Hristo Stoitchkov scored for the Fire that day), where USL legend Amos Magee, on loan to Chicago, scored the golden goal game-winner off his chest to send the Fire to the Final Four. (WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW FOR THE FULL STORY)
Kings of the Cup: The Legend of Chesty Magee
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Minnesota United FC (NASL) at Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
Sporting Park; Kansas City, KS – 8:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Radio (Sporting KC) | Video (embedded below)
If Kansas City wins … will host Portland Timbers (Date TBD)
If Minnesota wins … will host Portland Timbers (June 24)
Minnesota United overall records
Overall: 4-3-0 | Away: 3-1-0 | vs. MLS: 1-1-0
Last entry: 2013 (Lost 1-0 at Des Moines Menace of PDL – Round 2)
Best finish: 2012 Fourth Round (Lost 1-0 at San Jose Earthquakes of MLS)
How they got here:
Round 3: 1-0 away win vs. Des Moines Menace (USASA)
Sporting Kansas City overall record
Overall: 16-11-4 (2-2 PKs) | Home: 11-6-1 (1-0 PKs) | vs. Div. 2: 5-2-2 (1-1 PKs)
Last entry: 2013 (Lost 1-0 vs. Orlando City SC of USL PRO in Round 4)
Best finish: 2004, 2012 US Open Cup champions
How they got here …First game
LIVE VIDEO: MINNESOTA UNITED AT SPORTING KC
By J.T. Alwin
Minnesota United and Sporting Kansas City both went from highs in 2012 to lows in 2013. Minnesota upset Real Salt Lake 3-1 in the 2012 Third Round before bowing out to the San Jose Earthquakes 1-0, while Sporting took home the Cup, beating Seattle Sounders FC in penalties. Then 2013 brought both teams crashing down, as United were upset by the PDL’s Des Moines Menace in the Second Round, and Kansas City was upended by USL PRO’s Orlando City SC, both by 1-0 scores. Both sides are looking to turn their fortunes around tonight.
Minnesota managed to get their revenge against Des Moines (qualifying through the USASA this year), winning 1-0 on Christian Ramirez’s late punishment for a bad clearance. United hopes to combine their league form (winning the NASL’s Spring Championship) and their league’s Open Cup form to advance beyond the Fourth Round.
Sporting Kansas City will obviously have something to say about that, hoping to rise back to cupholding form. Their play has not been great in recent weeks, going 1-2-2 in their last five games after going 5-3-2 to start the year. Graham Zusi is also not available, having supplied a late corner for the winner against Ghana in the United States’ 2-1 World Cup victory over Ghana. KC also has some history for and against them. The last time they met with a 2nd Division team from Minnesota, they pulled out a 4-2 penalty kick shootout over the now-defunct Minnesota Thunder after a 3-3 draw. However, they’ve also been upset by Division 2 teams twice in the past decade, including a 3-1 loss to the Thunder in 2005. Sporting is looking to repeat recent history, the question is will it be breezing through to the next round, or sent home by a lower division team.
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PSA Elite (USASA) at Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, WA – 10 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Video (SoundersFC.com)
If Seattle wins … will host San Jose Earthquakes (Date TBD)
If PSA Elite wins … will play at San Jose Earthquakes (Date TBD)
PSA Elite overall records
Overall: 2-2-2 (2-0 PKs) | Away: 2-2-1 (1-0 PKs) | vs. MLS: N/A
Last entry: 2013 (Lost 2-0 at Laredo Heat of PDL – Round 1)
Best finish: 2012 Second Round (Lost 6-0 at Carolina RailHawks of NASL)
How They Got There:
Round 1: 3-2 Penalty Shootout win after 1-1 home draw against Los Angeles Misioneros
Round 2: Forfeit by San Diego Flash (NPSL)
Round 3: 3-1 Penalty Shootout win after 0-0 draw against Los Angeles Galaxy II (USL Pro)
Seattle Sounders Open Cup records
Overall: 30-12-4 (2-2 PKs) | Home: 23-2-1 (1-0 PKs) | vs. Amateur: 8-1-0
As MLS: 15-1-2 (1-1 PKs) | Home: 12-0-0 | vs. Amateur: 2-0-0
at Starfire (overall): 15-0-0 | (as MLS): 10-0-0
Last entry: 2013 (Lost 1-0 at Tampa Bay Rowdies of NASL – Round 3)
Best finish: 2009, 2010, 2011 US Open Cup champions
How They Got There … First game
LIVE VIDEO: PSA ELITE AT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
By J.T. Alwin
PSA Elite were rewarded with a daunting task for their first win against a pro side: a trip to Tukwila, Wash. to face three-time Open Cup Champion and MLS-leading Seattle Sounders FC. PSA have indeed had a strange trip to reach this point, sandwiching a forfeit with two penalty shootout victories. Jose Federico would be the hero in their First Round shootout win over the Los Angeles Misioneros (PDL), scoring the equalizer in extra time, as well as the shootout winner. Their next oponnent, the San Diego Flash of the NPSL, forfeited after not being able to find a replacement home field. Facing the Los Angeles Galaxy II of USL PRO, it was keeper Earl Edwards, Jr. who took center stage. Edwards racked up 14 saves, including a late PK that would have sent Los Dos home winners, then went into the shootout with ice water in his veins. Allowing only one of the four shots in (saving twice, the other shot being skied above the bar), he earned not only his team’s advancement, but TheCup.us Player of the Round award as well.
The USASA side from Irvine, Calif. will have their hands full as they not only face one of MLS’ best teams, but they face a team that is 23-2-1 (1-0 PKs) all-time at home in this tournament, including 15-0-0 at Starfire Sports Complex, the site of tonight’s match.
Sounders FC are looking for redemption for last year’s poor showing, losing 1-0 in the Third Round to the NASL’s Tampa Bay Rowdies, snapping their all-time tournament record 22-game unbeaten streak and denying them the chance of reaching a rare fifth straight championship game appearance. Indeed, if their MLS fortunes are any indication of their tournament form, the result should be more favorable to the Rave Green side. Their 2013 game came at a time when they were mired in poor league form, finally getting things together to make the MLS Cup playoffs late in the season. This year, the Sounders are white hot, leading the league with 32 points in 15 matches. Clint Dempsey and DeAndre Yedlin are in Brazil with the US team, however, co-leading scorer Obafemi Martins is in tow. The squad also boasts a solid defense, which has helped take Seattle to a league-high +9 goal differential. Looking to get back to the level they maintained their first four years in MLS (and held before in the USL), this squad looks in prime position to make it back there.
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LA Galaxy (MLS) at Arizona United SC (USL PRO)
Peoria Sports Complex; Peoria, AZ – 10:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Video (Both embedded below) | Video (Spanish)
Winner will play at Carolina RailHawks (NASL) on June 24
Los Angeles Galaxy overall record
Overall: 22-11-1 (1-0 PKs) | Away: 6-9-1 (1-0 PKs) | vs. Div. 3: 1-1-0
Last entry: 2013 (Lost 2-0 at Carolina RailHawks of NASL in Round 3)
Best finish: 2001, 2005 US Open Cup champions
How They Got There … First game
Arizona United overall record
Overall: 2-0-0 | Home: 1-0-0 | vs. MLS: N/A
Last entry: First entry
Best finish: N/A
How they got here:
Round 2: 3-2 road win vs. Portland Timbers U23s (PDL)
Round 3: 2-1 ET home win vs. Oklahoma City Energy FC (USL Pro)
LIVE VIDEO (ARIZONA): LA GALAXY AT ARIZONA UNITED
LIVE VIDEO (LA GALAXY): LA GALAXY AT ARIZONA UNITED