Coin flips give top flight clubs plenty of home field advantage in round four
US Soccer unveiled the pairings and host scenarios for the Fourth Round of the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Thursday afternoon, creating the match-ups for the 17 Major League Soccer clubs that enter into the competition at the round of 32 being held June 16 & 17.
Within the draw results, 11 of 15 MLS teams won the coin flip to host the lower division winners outright while two will have to travel regardless. Two others are dependent on which side wins the Third Round match. Nine games are scheduled for June 16 with six set for the following night and one still to be determined.
Based on the number of MLS sides entering at this phase of the competition, one match was guaranteed to be an all-MLS affair. The way things played out could not have created a more intriguing match as the Cascadia rivals Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers will face one another at Starfire Sports Complex, the second home to the Sounders. It will mark the second such head-to-head Cascadia showdown as the Third Round features their USL sides, Portland Timbers 2 and Sounders FC 2, playing one another May 27 at Starfire. That winner will move on to play Real Salt Lake in the Fourth Round June 17 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
RSL’s second team Real Monarchs SLC is in a round three match-up against the Colorado Sprints Switchbacks (USL), which could result in the Monarchs making a return trip to Colorado to visit the Rapids June 16.
Another interesting scenario is in the greater New York area where the New York Cosmos, should they knock off the PDL Jersey Express, could play host to the newly-forged New York City FC June 16 at Belson Stadium in Queens. The other greater-NY side, Red Bulls, on June 16 will play host to the winner of the Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) and Chattanooga FC (NPSL) contest.
The other MLS newcomers, Orlando City, could be heading to familiar territory as they may be returning to Blackbaud Stadium June 17 to face former USL foe Charleston Battery. Otherwise, they will remain at home in the Orange Bowl that night to play host to nearby NASL side Fort Lauderdale Strikers.
Soccer insiders will also find one midwest scenario mouthwatering with longtime soccer executive Peter Wilt’s current creation Indy Eleven (NASL) potentially moving on to face his Chicago Fire, with which he helped build into a team that won three US Open Cup, an MLS Cup and a Supporters’ Shield during his tenure with the club, June 16 at Toyota Park. First they will have to get past Louisville FC (USL).
Also on the list of scenarios is an all-Texas affair with the winner of the Austin Aztex (USL) and San Antonio Scorpions (NASL) round three match traveling to face the Houston Dynamo. Other in-state scenarios will see the winner of the Chula Vista FC (USASA) and Sacramento Republic (USL) game visiting the brand new Avaya Stadium in San Jose and the LA Galaxy playing host to the winner of the PSA Elite (USASA) versus Ventura County Fusion (PDL) match.
US Open Cup Fourth Round Match Scenarios
June 16 — New York City FC (MLS) at New York Cosmos (NASL) — 7:30 p.m. ET — Shuart Stadium; Hempstead, N.Y.
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June 16 — Jersey Express (PDL) at New York City FC (MLS) — 7 p.m. ET — Belson Stadium (St. John’s Univ.); Queens, N.Y.
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June 16 — Rochester Rhinos (USL)/Harrisburg City Islanders (USL) winner at Philadelphia Union (MLS) — 7:30 p.m. ET — PPL Park; Chester, Pa.
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June 16 — Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL)/Chattanooga FC (NPSL) winner at New York Red Bulls (MLS) — 7:30 p.m. ET — Red Bull Arena; Harrison, N.J.
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June 16 — Minnesota United FC (NASL)/Saint Louis FC (USL) winner at Sporting Kansas City (MLS) — 7:30 p.m. CT — Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.
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June 16 — Louisville FC (USL)/Indy Eleven (NASL) winner at Chicago Fire (MLS) — 7:30 p.m. CT — Toyota Park; Bridgeview, Ill.
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June 16 — Oklahoma City Energy (USL)/Tulsa Roughnecks (USL) winner at FC Dallas (MLS) — 8 p.m. CT — TCU Soccer Stadium; Ft. Worth, Texas
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June 16 — Colorado Springs Switchbacks (USL)/Real Monarchs SLC (USL) winner at Colorado Rapids (MLS) — 7 p.m. MT — Dick’s Sporting Goods Park; Commerce City, Colo.
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June 16 — Chula Vista FC (USASA)/Sacramento Republic FC (USL) winner at San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) — 7:30 p.m. PT — Avaya Stadium; San Jose, Calif.
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June 16 — Portland Timbers (MLS) at Seattle Sounders (MLS) — 7:30 p.m. PT — Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Wash.
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Date TBD — Austin Aztex (USL)/San Antonio Scorpions (NASL) winner at Houston Dynamo (MLS) — 8 p.m. CT — BBVA Compass Stadium; Houston, Texas
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June 17 — Orlando City (MLS) at Charleston Battery (USL) — 7:30 p.m. ET — Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.
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June 17 — Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) at Orlando City (MLS) — 7:30 p.m. ET — Orlando Citrus Bowl; Orlando, Fla.
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June 17 — Charlotte Independence (USL)/Carolina RailHawks (NASL) winner at New England Revolution (MLS) — 7:30 p.m. ET — Soldiers Field (Harvard Univ.); Boston, Mass.
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June 17 — Columbus Crew SC (MLS) at Richmond Kickers (USL) — 7 p.m. ET — Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Va.
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June 17 — Columbus Crew SC (MLS) at Jacksonville Armada (NASL) — 7:30 p.m. ET — Hodges Stadium (Univ. of North Florida); Jacksonville, Fla.
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June 17 — D.C. United (MLS) at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL) — 7 p.m. ET — Highmark Stadium; Pittsburgh, Pa.
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June 17 — D.C. United (MLS) at Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) — 7:30 p.m. ET — Al Lang Stadium; St. Petersburg, Fla.
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June 17 — Portland Timbers 2 (USL)/Seattle Sounders 2 (USL) winner at Real Salt Lake (MLS) — 8 p.m. MT — Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
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June 17 — PSA Elite (USASA)/Ventura County Fusion (PDL) winner at LA Galaxy (MLS) — 7:30 p.m. PT — StubHub Center; Carson, Calif.