While the lone NASL and USL sides were already guaranteed the prize money for the furthest round reached by each league, their upset bids came up short in Round 5. Major League Soccer ruled the day, and there were few upsets of note. Home field seemed to be the biggest factor in this round, as the home teams went 7-1. The Quarterfinals will feature an all-MLS field for just the third time (2000, 2006) since MLS joined the competition in 1996.
UPDATE: Dom Dwyer of Sporting Kansas City was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round
Here is a brief recap of each Fifth Round game with links to the full match report:
DC United’s Jairo Arrieta scored three minutes after a controversial red card on Union’s CJ Sapong. However, Eric Ayuk and Fabinho would strike for Philly in the second half, ending DC’s goal of a second Open Cup in three years. The Union will travel across the river to New Jersey to take on the Red Bulls in the Quarterfinals. FULL MATCH REPORT »
Sal Zisso (Red Bulls) and Lucky Mkosano traded goals in a rematch of last year’s Cosmos win, but any thought of a repeat was short-lived. Anotole Abang, Sacha Kljestian, and Mike Grella all scored, turning the game into a Red Bulls rout. The ‘Kings of New York’ will host the Philadelphia Union in the Quarterfinals. FULL MATCH REPORT »
While Thomas Zahorski put Charlotte up within five minutes, they couldn’t keep up with the Fire. Mike Magee and Lovel Palmer scored three goals between them, assuring the Independence wouldn’t score another MLS upset. The Fire will host Orlando City SC in the Round of 8. FULL MATCH REPORT »
After Orlando blew a two-goal lead in extra time the previous round, they were determined to hold the lead against the Crew. Kaka and Carlos Rivas both scored which was enough to send City through against a listless Columbus side. The Lions will travel to Chicago in the Quarterfinals to take on the Fire, who eliminated the USL version of Orlando City in 2013. FULL MATCH REPORT »
After plenty of lightning postponing the start of the match, Mauro Manotas would provide the only strike in the match. Joe Willis kept the clean sheet for Houston, as the Rapids struggled to muster any effective offense on the waterlogged pitch. The Dynamo will continue into the Quarterfinals, traveling to Sporting Kansas City. FULL MATCH REPORT »
Dom Dwyer and Krisztian Nemeth ran rampant for KC, rolling over FC Dallas. Dwyer became the first Sporting Kansas City player, and the first Englishman, to score a hat trick in the Modern Era (1995-present) and Nemeth notched a brace in a 6-2 blowout. Sporting will roll into the next round against another Texas team, hosting the Houston Dynamo at Sporting Park. FULL MATCH REPORT »
UPDATE: Dom Dwyer of Sporting Kansas City was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round
In the scorching Utah heat, neither team was able to muster much offense, as both the Timbers and Salt Lake combined for only four shots on goal. Sebastian Jaime and Javier Morales were able to find the net for Real in the second half, securing their advancement in a rematch of the 2013 Semifinals. Real Salt Lake will host the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Quarterfinals. FULL MATCH REPORT»
Jose Villareal scored early for the Galaxy, who held on to beat the San Jose Earthquakes for the fifth time in a row in Open Cup play. The Quakes were missing last round’s hero Chris Wondolowski, who is on Gold Cup duty with the US National Team, and were never able to find a replacement on offense. Los Angeles will travel to Utah to play Real Salt Lake in the Quarterfinals. FULL MATCH REPORT »