Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Gerald Barnhart

NPSL US Open Cup qualifying slate set for Northeast Division

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The qualification process has been set for the second of the four National Premier Soccer League’s automatic berths into the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The Northeast Division’s spot will feature a three-team tournament May 7 and 27.

The opening game will feature 2010 US Open Cup qualifier Brooklyn Italians playing host to FC Buffalo May 7 at James Dewey High School. The winner of the contest advances to play 2010 NPSL Finalist FC Sonic Lehigh Valley May 27 at Lehigh University’s Ulrich Sports Complex in Bethlehem, PA.  Sonic received the bye as the defending NPSL Regional Champion. Buffalo and Brooklyn were the only other clubs in the 14-team division who chose to enter.

Previously, NPSL clubs needed to qualify through the USASA Regional tournaments. Only two clubs from the league entered for Region I a year ago. The Erie Admirals (PA) withdrew prior to the first match while the Brooklyn Italians went on to qualify from the region courtesy of a reprieve. After falling in the opening round to Imigrantes Das Ilhas, administrators overturned the result due to an ineligible player. With their second life, Brooklyn went on to defeat Go Soccer FC and Fenerbahce USA to earn one of the region’s two berths in the US Open Cup.

The Italians acquitted themselves well in the First Round of the 2010 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, taking the Harrisburg City Islanders of the USL Second Division (pro third division) to overtime before falling 4-2. They took the lead once in each half only to see their hosts equalize both times.

About the Teams

Brooklyn Italians: New members of the NPSL in 2010, the club’s history is lengthy and dynamic. The club played in the second edition of the American Soccer League from 1956-64 before playing as an amateur club since. All along, the club has played under numerous names. While its recent history is as an amateur club, it was one of the premier teams to play in the US Open Cup over the course of 12 years during the tournament’s amateur era. The side won the tournament in 1979 and was runner-up two years later. They returned to prominence in 1990 as runners-up, following it up with a second US Open Cup title the next year that led to appearances in the CONCACAF Champions Cup and CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup in 1991. Head coach Joey Barone is no stranger to qualifying, but was unable to lead the West Michigan Edge into the US Open Cup in two attempts (2005-06) in the PDL. Last year, Brooklyn finished second in the Northeast Division’s Atlantic Conference, losing out on the playoff berth via a tiebreaker. The club was level with New York Red Bull NPSL (10-1-1, 31 points) in the conference table as well as having the same totals as the division champion FC Sonic Lehigh Valley.

FC Buffalo: Entering their second season in the league, FC Buffalo is in its first campaign to qualify for the US Open Cup after finishing third in the Keystone Conference of the Northeast Division a year ago. The club is led by new coach Daniel Krzyzanowicz, who has served as the head coach of local Medaille College the past nine years.

FC Sonic Lehigh Valley:  New to the NPSL a year ago, the club performed well in its debut, finishing first in the division’s Keystone Conference and winning the divisional playoff game to advance to the league semifinals. After falling to eventual champion Sacramento Gold, they rebounded to finish third. This is the team’s first attempt to qualify for the US Open Cup. They are led by head coach Dave Weitzman, a local high school and former collegiate men’s assistant coach.

2011 US Open Cup qualifying: NPSL Southeast Conference tournament announced

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The qualification process has been set for one of the four National Premier Soccer League’s automatic berths into the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The Southeast Division’s spot will feature a six-team tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn. May 27-29, according to the website of host Chattanooga FC.

Hosted at Finley Stadium, the event kicks off Friday, May 27 with a pair of First Round matches. Knoxville Force and Jacksonville United FC meet in the first match followed by Rocket City United versus FC Tulsa.

The two winners advance to play the Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves and host Chattanooga FC Saturday evening. The tournament champion will be played Sunday night to determine the US Open Cup entrant. New club Georgia Revolution are the only team in the division not slated to participate.

Previous NPSL qualification opportunities were primarily held via the regional USASA tournaments. Three clubs participated in the Region III tournament a year ago, but were unable to earn one of the two berths on the line, finishing a combined 2-4-3 in group play.

About the Teams

Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves: Formerly known as Atlanta FC, the club has been in existence since 2008 as members of the NPSL and previously only qualified for the US Open Cup once. In their lone appearance in 2009, the club was eliminated in the First Round on the road, 2-0, by the Charleston Battery of the USL First Division (pro second division). The new name reflects new ownership and affiliation with the new NASL team of the same name (provisionally sanctioned pro second division). Atlanta won the division in its first season in 2008. Last year, Atlanta finished third in its Region III tournament group. (MORE: Atlanta FC – 2009 Meet the USASA)

Chattanooga FC: The club from Tennessee is entering its third year in the league and are the defending conference champion. This will be the team’s first attempt at qualifying for the US Open Cup. The team is coached by Brian Crossman, the 21-year coach of local Covenant College.

FC Tulsa: Entering their second season in the NPSL, the Oklahoma side finished second in the division a year ago after finishing second in the USASA Region III tournament while trying to qualify for the US Open Cup. The club’s director of coaching is Ali Adibi, who also manages the women’s side and formerly coached the Tulsa Roughnecks for eight years during the USL era in which they never qualified for the US Open Cup.

Jacksonville United FC: The Florida club is a new entry into the NPSL this season, but fans of the US Open Cup will recognize the team. Jacksonville United is a product of a merger of Open Cup regulars Lynch’s FC (Lynch’s Irish Pub / DS United) and the Jacksonville United youth academy. Lynch’s has qualified for the Open Cup three times (2003, 2007, 2009) in the last eight years. The team is coached by Pat Cannon, a recent inductee into the University of West Florida Hall of Fame. (MORE: Lynch’s FC – 2009 Meet the USASA)

Knoxville Force: Another new club in the NPSL, the Force are led by Derek Broadley, who previously served as head coach of Reading United AC of the Premier Development League from 2005-07. Reading did not qualify for the US Open Cup during his tenure.

Rocket City United: A member of the NPSL since 2008, the club finished first in the division in 2009, but has not qualified in its attempts to reach the US Open Cup the past two years. Located in Huntsville, Alabama, the club is under its third coach in four years with Gerry Cleary at the helm.

Breakdown for 2011 USL PDL US Open Cup Qualifying: Eastern Conference

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PDL logoThe 2011 US Open Cup qualifying process for the Premier Development League begins April 30 when the Central Florida Kraze play host to Fort Lauderdale Schulz. The match marks the beginning of what is arguably the most intense opening to any league season, making it the most pressure-packed portion of the PDL schedule league-wide. The task of qualifying can be more daunting than the professional opponents awaiting them in the tournament proper.

In the upcoming edition of the tournament, the PDL will be represented by a record nine clubs after seven consecutive years with eight representatives. With nine berths available, the league will send one from each division based on four league contests that will double as qualification matches – a format long established by the parent United Soccer Leagues.

Here is the Eastern Conference portion of the four-part series of breakdowns:

Eastern Conference Qualifying Breakdown

US Open Cup qualifying for the PDL Eastern Conference, the lone conference with three divisions and berths, opens with four games on May 7 and a fifth the following evening.

A year ago, this conference, which spans the Atlantic coast from Maine to North Carolina, was basically evenly split with nine and eight-team groups. By carving out a third division, the balance has been eliminated. The new ‘metro’ Mid Atlantic division with eight teams in the greater New York City / New Jersey area and an exception from Pennsylvania has twice as many teams as its Northeast Division counterpart, which has four, and is two more than the South Atlantic, which is at six.

The most stunning result of the shifting is arguably the competitive imbalance between the divisions as the Mid Atlantic has five teams with impressive winning records over a four-year Open Cup qualifying span while the other two divisions have a combined two teams with winning records.

Mid Atlantic Division
Brooklyn Knights, Central Jersey Spartans, Jersey Express, Long Island Rough Riders, New Jersey Rangers, Ocean City Nor’easters, Reading United AC, Westchester Flames

The Ocean City Nor'easters (shown here playing against DC United in the Third Round of the 2009 US Open Cup) have qualified four times in the last seven years. They have four professional team upsets to their credit, second-most of any PDL franchise (Michigan Bucks - 7) | Photo: Bill Pellegrino, Ocean City Nor'easters

With three teams from New York and four from New Jersey, the eight-team grouping’s lone outsider is Reading United AC. The club also happens to be the side which advanced from this particular group the past two years, although the Mid Atlantic division has previously been largely comprised of teams from what is now the South Atlantic. Most of the current composition was primarily in what was then the Northeast, which sent Ocean City as its representative two years ago.

Reading leads what could be considered part of the quintet of power teams among the division with the two recent trips to the tournament and a four-year record of 11-2-3 in qualifying that hit its peak with a 4-0-0 effort last year. Matching that record were the Long Island Rough Riders, who qualified last year out of the Northeast. The five-time tournament entrants from New York also qualified in 2007 with a perfect 4-0-0 record. Last year’s two qualifiers, however, are not slated to face one another in qualifying this year in what would have been a marquee match-up.

The other three power teams are the Ocean City Nor’easters (9-2-5), Jersey Express (8-2-2) and Brooklyn Knights (7-5-4). The trio of New Jersey, Central Jersey and Westchester has just a combined seven wins between them over the past eight qualifying campaigns (last four years) as the first two are recent expansion sides.

Of the power five, the fourth-year Express are the only club that has not yet qualified for the tournament. The other four have reached the US Open Cup on 13 combined occasions.

Reading and Brooklyn kick off the division’s qualifying slate with the lone match May 7. After that, both clubs will only face one more team from the power quintet as Brooklyn takes on Long Island and Reading closes against Ocean City. Jersey also were fortunate to only find two power teams on the fixture list with games against Long Island and Ocean City, who will both have to face three of their power peers.

MID-ATLANTIC DIVISION GP W L T PTS GF GA GF GD
Brooklyn Knights 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Central Jersey Spartans 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Jersey Express 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Long Island Rough Riders 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
New Jersey Rangers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Ocean City Nor’easters 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Reading United AC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Westchester Flames 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0

Top team qualifies for the US Open Cup

Clinched Open Cup berth – Eliminated from contention

Note: Columns on the far right are for tiebreaker purposes

USL Premier Development League tiebreakers

(1) Head-to-head record based on total points in Open Cup qualifiers

(2) Total wins in Open Cup qualifying games

(3) Goal difference (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(4) Goals scored (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(5) Lottery conducted by the USL

All times Eastern

May 7 Reading United AC at Brooklyn Knights 7:00
May 8 Westchester Flames at New Jersey Rangers 6:00
May 11 Long Island Rough Riders at Brooklyn Knights 7:00
May 14 Westchester Flames at Jersey Express 7:00
May 15 New Jersey Rangers at Reading United AC 6:00
May 18 Reading United AC at Westchester Flames 7:30
May 19 Central Jersey Spartans at Long Island Rough Riders 8:00
May 20 Ocean City Nor’easters at Reading United AC 7:30
May 21 Jersey Express at Long Island Rough Riders 7:30
May 22 Brooklyn Knights at Central Jersey Spartans 4:00
May 22 New Jersey Rangers at Ocean City Nor’easters 6:00
May 25 Central Jersey Spartans at New Jersey Rangers 8:00
May 27 Ocean City Nor’easters at Jersey Express 8:00
May 28 Brooklyn Knights at Westchester Flames 7:30
May 29 Long Island Rough Riders at Ocean City Nor’easters 6:00
May 30 Jersey Express at Central Jersey Spartans 5:00
The Western Mass Pioneers have competed in the US Open Cup six times since they were founded in 1998.


Northeast Division
MPS Portland Phoenix, Seacoast United Phantoms, Vermont Voltage, Western Mass Pioneers

The combined win total of the last four years of PDL qualifying for the division – 10 – falls short of two individual teams in the Mid Atlantic. In this grouping everyone is basically on equal footing as no team has more than three PDL qualifying campaigns in the past four years.

MPS Portland Phoenix was an expansion team a year ago while the Western Mass Pioneers were playing their first season in the league having dropped down from the professional third division. The move down was one that the Seacoast United Phantoms (formerly New Hampshire Phantoms) had made two years prior. The Vermont Voltage, longtime PDL members, were making their return after a year’s absence from play.

The veteran trio is familiar with one another from their extensive USL history, but the Pioneers, Phantoms and Voltage have limited history meeting on competitive terms like this.

Kicking off the group’s schedule is a May 7 contest between host Portland and the Phantoms, who played to a 1-1 draw in last year’s qualifier in New Hampshire. Portland , however, would later win at home in dominating fashion, 5-0, in league play.

The smallest fixture list among the nine groups with only eight games comes to a close May 28 when the Phantoms play host to the Voltage, who swept the season series a year ago with two victories – neither of them qualifiers.

NORTHEAST DIVISION GP W L T PTS GF GA GF GD
MPS Portland Phoenix 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Seacoast United Phantoms 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Vermont Voltage 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Western Mass Pioneers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0

Top team qualifies for the US Open Cup

Clinched Open Cup berth – Eliminated from contention

Note: Columns on the far right are for tiebreaker purposes

USL Premier Development League tiebreakers

(1) Head-to-head record based on total points in Open Cup qualifiers

(2) Total wins in Open Cup qualifying games

(3) Goal difference (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(4) Goals scored (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(5) Lottery conducted by the USL

All times Eastern

May 7 Seacoast United Phantoms at MPS Portland Phoenix 6:00
May 14 Western Mass Pioneers at Seacoast United Phantoms 4:00
May 14 Vermont Voltage at MPS Portland Phoenix 6:00
May 20 Seacoast United Phantoms at Western Mass Pioneers 7:00
May 21 MPS Portland Phoenix at Vermont Voltage 7:00
May 25 Western Mass Pioneers at Vermont Voltage 7:00
May 27 MPS Portland Phoenix at Western Mass Pioneers 7:00
May 28 Vermont Voltage at Seacoast United Phantoms 7:00


South Atlantic Division
Carolina Dynamo, Fredericksburg Hotspur, Northern Virginia Royals, Real Maryland Monarchs, Virginia Beach Piranhas, West Virginia Chaos

The Carolina Dynamo have been around since 1993 and have competed in the US Open Cup six times since they were founded in 1993.

This grouping may be a new creation, but for four of these clubs, they are no strangers to one another. What is new is the addition of expansion Fredericksburg Hotspur and former professional third division club Real Maryland Monarchs.

The Monarchs are the newest club in this group to make the transition to the PDL. The only other two teams of the six with US Open Cup tournament experience are also former professional clubs. Along with the Carolina Dynamo and Northern Virginia Royals, the three have 12 appearances in the tournament, but only a pair of trips by the Dynamo in 2004 and 2006 came via qualifying out of the PDL. Carolina played in the tournament five times before joining the league in 2004 and Northern Virginia twice before the switch in 2006. Real Maryland has been an automatic entrant as a pro team the past three years.

Despite last qualifying for the tournament in 2006, the Dynamo have been in the running the past four years with a combined record of 9-4-2, never suffering more than one loss in each of their efforts. Located centrally along the Atlantic coast, Carolina has found itself also shifting divisions and conferences, having previously been a member of the Southeast group prior to 2008.

Carolina’s success overshadows that of its three group-mates with PDL experience as the trio of Northern Virginia, Virginia Beach and West Virginia have fewer wins combined (7) over the last four years than the Dynamo. Carolina, though, will have to play the four experienced clubs in the group with the expansion side missing from its slate. The first contest comes May 14 at home against West Virginia.

The opening night of qualifying, though, is heavy on the Virginias with all four clubs hailing from the two states as Fredericksburg visits Virginia Beach and West Virginia plays host to Northern Virginia May 7. But while Fredericksburg may have avoided drawing Carolina in the fixture list, the new club will have a difficult task at the finish with back-to-back games on the road against Northern Virginia and at home versus Real Maryland.

SOUTH ATLANTIC DIVISION GP W L T PTS GF GA GF GD
Carolina Dynamo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Fredericksburg Hotspur 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Northern Virginia Royals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Real Maryland Monarchs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Virginia Beach Piranhas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
West Virginia Chaos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0

Top team qualifies for the US Open Cup

Clinched Open Cup berth – Eliminated from contention

Note: Columns on the far right are for tiebreaker purposes

USL Premier Development League tiebreakers

(1) Head-to-head record based on total points in Open Cup qualifiers

(2) Total wins in Open Cup qualifying games

(3) Goal difference (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(4) Goals scored (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(5) Lottery conducted by the USL

All times Eastern

May 7 Fredericksburg Hotspur at Virginia Beach Piranhas 7:00
May 7 Northern Virginia Royals at West Virginia Chaos 7:00
May 14 Real Maryland Monarchs at Virginia Beach Piranhas 5:30
May 14 West Virginia Chaos at Carolina Dynamo 7:00
May 15 West Virginia Chaos at Fredericksburg Hotspur 2:00
May 15 Northern Virginia Royals at Real Maryland Monarchs 4:00
May 21 Carolina Dynamo at Real Maryland Monarchs 7:00
May 21 Virginia Beach Piranhas at West Virginia Chaos 7:30
May 22 Carolina Dynamo at Northern Virginia Royals 7:00
May 28 Virginia Beach Piranhas at Carolina Dynamo 7:00
May 29 Fredericksburg Hotspur at Northern Virginia Royals 7:00
May 30 Real Maryland Monarchs at Fredericksburg Hotspur 5:00


Central Conference (Coming Soon)

Great Lakes Division: Akron Summit Assault, Chicago Fire, Cincinnati Kings, Indiana Invaders, Michigan Bucks, River City Rovers
Heartland Division: Des Moines Menace, Kansas City Brass, Real Colorado Foxes, Springfield Demize, St Louis Lions

Southern Conference (Inside Look +)

Mid South Division: Baton Rouge Capitals, Chivas El Paso Patriots, Laredo Heat, New Orleans Jesters, RGV Grandes FC, West Texas United Sockers
Southeast Division: Central Florida Kraze, FC Jaxy Destroyers, Fort Lauderdale Schulz Academy, IMG Bradenton Academics, Mississippi Brilla, Nashville Metros

Western Conference (Coming Soon)

Northwest Division: Kitsap Pumas, North Sound SeaWolves, Portland Timbers U23, Tacoma Tide, Washington Crossfire
Southwest Division: BYU Cougars, Fresno Fuego, LA Blues 23, Los Angeles Legends, Ogden Outlaws, Orange County Blue Star, Southern California Seahorses, Ventura County Fusion

Breakdown for 2011 USL PDL US Open Cup Qualifying: Southern Conference

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PDL logoThe 2011 US Open Cup qualifying process for the Premier Development League begins April 30 when the Central Florida Kraze play host to Fort Lauderdale Schulz. The match marks the beginning of what is arguably the most intense opening to any league season, making it the most pressure-packed portion of the PDL schedule league-wide. The task of qualifying can be more daunting than the professional opponents awaiting them in the tournament proper.

In the upcoming edition of the tournament, the PDL will be represented by a record nine clubs after seven consecutive years with eight representatives. With nine berths available, the league will send one from each division based on four league contests that will double as qualification matches – a format long established by the parent United Soccer Leagues.

Here is the Southern Conference portion of the four-part series of breakdowns:

Southern Conference Qualifying Breakdown

Mid South Division
Baton Rouge Capitals, Chivas El Paso Patriots, Laredo Heat, New Orleans Jesters, RGV Grandes FC, West Texas United Sockers

Previously an all-Texas group, the addition of the Baton Rouge Capitals and New Orleans Jesters marks the return of Lone Star State outsiders to the qualification process after a two-year absence.

Last year, Central Florida qualified for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

The bigger news for this division is how compact the nature of the qualification process will be as four of the six clubs will play all four of their designated matches within, at most, an 11-day span. The Capitals will play all four games in that period while their Louisiana counterparts will do the same in one fewer. The Chivas El Paso Patriots and West Texas United Sockers both will determine their fate during a stretch of nine days.

The only two clubs that will have the opportunity to relax and take their time in qualifying are the Laredo Heat and expansion side RGV Grandes. Both open the group’s fixture list May 13 at home as RGV plays host to El Paso and Laredo takes on West Texas. They also close out the campaign with RGV traveling to New Orleans May 28 and Laredo visiting Baton Rouge the following day.

But while the Louisiana duo are making a return to the group, the pair will not see one another during the qualifying process as each club will face their four Texas rivals, leaving the local derby for the rest of the season.

US Open Cup tournament history is extremely limited outside of El Paso, where the Patriots have appeared in the official bracket eight times through its storied past, which includes the 1995 US Open Cup Final. The only other appearance in the tournament proper among the six-team field was Laredo’s 2006 appearance.

El Paso and Laredo, historically, have been among the leaders in the qualifying process from the group with the Patriots boasting a 9-4-3 record over the past four years while the Heat were 7-5-4. The other three clubs, though, have respectable records for the past four years with New Orleans at 6-4-6, Baton Rouge at 5-7-4 and West Texas at an even 3-3-2 in its two-year history.

MID-SOUTH DIVISION GP W L T PTS GF GA GF GD
Baton Rouge Capitals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
El Paso Patriots 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Laredo Heat 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
New Orleans Jesters 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Rio Grande Valley Grandes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
West Texas United Sockers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0

Top team qualifies for the U.S. Open Cup

Clinched Open Cup berth – Eliminated from contention

Note: Columns on the far right are for tiebreaker purposes

USL Premier Development League tiebreakers

(1) Head-to-head record based on total points in Open Cup qualifiers

(2) Total wins in Open Cup qualifying games

(3) Goal difference (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(4) Goals scored (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(5) Lottery conducted by the USL

All times Eastern

May 13 El Paso Patriots at Rio Grande Valley Grandes 9:00
May 13 West Texas United Sockers at Laredo Heat 9:15
May 14 West Texas United Sockers at Rio Grande Valley Grandes 9:00
May 14 El Paso Patriots at Laredo Heat 9:15
May 19 Baton Rouge Capitals at West Texas United Sockers 8:30
May 19 New Orleans Jesters at El Paso Patriots 10:00
May 21 New Orleans Jesters at West Texas United Sockers 8:30
May 21 Baton Rouge Capitals at El Paso Patriots 10:00
May 27 Rio Grande Valley Grandes at Baton Rouge Capitals 8:00
May 27 Laredo Heat at New Orleans Jesters 8:00
May 28 Rio Grande Valley Grandes at New Orleans Jesters 8:00
May 29 Laredo Heat at Baton Rouge Capitals 8:00


Southeast Division
Central Florida Kraze, FC Jax Destroyers, Fort Lauderdale Schulz Academy, IMG Bradenton Academics, Mississippi Brilla, Nashville Metros

While it is one of four six-team groups across the PDL, the Southeast faction is completely unique in that the fixture schedule features two sub-groups of three playing home and away schedules as their qualifying matches. As the northern-most Floridian side, the expansion Jax Destroyers of Jacksonville have been paired up with the Nashville Metros and Mississippi Brilla in one half while the trio of the Bradenton Academics, Central Florida Kraze and second-year Fort Lauderdale Schulz are in the other.

Mississippi Brilla 2010
Can the Mississippi Brilla return to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup after falling just short in last season? Photo: Mississippi Brilla

The threesomes are fairly comparable as both feature a pair of veteran clubs along with a third that is only in its first or second season in the league.

Mississippi, a qualifier in 2009, is the standout of the northern trio as the club boasts an 8-4-4 record in qualifying over the last four years. Although Nashville has not been in the tournament since 2003, the club has not exactly been a doormat over the last four years with a record of 5-7-4. A year ago, Brilla won the lone qualifier between the two by a 3-0 scoreline as they swept the four game season series en route to finishing the season unbeaten at 11-0-3.

The all-Florida trio is a little more balanced as Central Florida is 9-5-2 over the past four years in its qualification efforts and Bradenton is 8-4-4. The Kraze took the top spot a year ago for their third appearance in the tournament while Bradenton’s lone appearance came in 2008. Fort Lauderdale had a rough outing a year ago with four losses, including a 3-1 defeat to the Kraze and 1-0 to the Academics. Bradenton and Central Florida did not face one another head-to-head a year ago, but split the regular season series with a pair of 1-0 decisions.

SOUTHEAST DIVISION GP W L T PTS GF GA GF GD
Bradenton Academics 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Central Florida Kraze 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
FC Jax Destroyers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Fort Lauderdale Schulz Academy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Mississippi Brilla 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Nashville Metros 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0

Top team qualifies for the U.S. Open Cup

Clinched Open Cup berth – Eliminated from contention

Note: Columns on the far right are for tiebreaker purposes

USL Premier Development League tiebreakers

(1) Head-to-head record based on total points in Open Cup qualifiers

(2) Total wins in Open Cup qualifying games

(3) Goal difference (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(4) Goals scored (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(5) Lottery conducted by the USL

All times Eastern

April 30 Fort Lauderdale Schulz Academy at Central Florida Kraze 4:00
May 6 Central Florida Kraze at Fort Lauderdale Schulz Academy 7:00
May 8 Fort Lauderdale Schulz Academy at Bradenton Academics 5:30
May 12 Central Florida Kraze at Bradenton Academics 5:30
May 13 FC Jax Destroyers at Mississippi Brilla 8:00
May 15 FC Jax Destroyers at Nashville Metros 4:00
May 15 Bradenton Academics at Fort Lauderdale Schulz Academy 6:00
May 19 Mississippi Brilla at FC Jax Destroyers 7:00
May 23 Nashville Metros at FC Jax Destroyers 7:00
May 26 Mississippi Brilla at Nashville Metros 8:00
May 28 Bradenton Academics at Central Florida Kraze 4:00
May 30 Nashville Metros at Mississippi Brilla 6:00


Here is a quick look at all of the eligible clubs with links to previews by conference (as available):

Central Conference (Coming Soon)

Great Lakes Division: Akron Summit Assault, Chicago Fire, Cincinnati Kings, Indiana Invaders, Michigan Bucks, River City Rovers
Heartland Division: Des Moines Menace, Kansas City Brass, Real Colorado Foxes, Springfield Demize, St Louis Lions

Eastern Conference (Coming Soon)

Mid Atlantic Division: Brooklyn Knights, Central Jersey Spartans, Jersey Express, Long Island Rough Riders, New Jersey Rangers, Ocean City Nor’easters, Reading United AC, Westchester Flames
Northeast Division: MPS Portland Phoenix, New Hampshire Phantoms, Vermont Voltage, Western Mass Pioneers
South Atlantic Division: Carolina Dynamo, Fredericksburg Hotspur, Northern Virginia Royals, Real Maryland Monarchs, Virginia Beach Piranhas, West Virginia Chaos

Southern Conference

Mid South Division: Baton Rouge Capitals, Chivas El Paso Patriots, Laredo Heat, New Orleans Jesters, RGV Grandes FC, West Texas United Sockers
Southeast Division: Central Florida Kraze, FC Jax Destroyers, Fort Lauderdale Schulz Academy, IMG Bradenton Academics, Mississippi Brilla, Nashville Metros

Western Conference (Coming Soon)

Northwest Division: Kitsap Pumas, North Sound SeaWolves, Portland Timbers U23, Tacoma Tide, Washington Crossfire
Southwest Division: BYU Cougars, Fresno Fuego, LA Blues 23, Los Angeles Legends, Ogden Outlaws, Orange County Blue Star, Southern California Seahorses, Ventura County Fusion

2011 US Open Cup qualifying: CJ Sapong’s goal gives Sporting KC first qualifying win, 1-0 over Dynamo

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2011 US Open Cup qualifying bracket (MLS)

Tyler Deric, Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric made four saves in Wednesday’s US Open Cup qualifier against Sporting Kansas City. Photo: Wilf Thorne | Houston Dynamo

A goal three minutes into overtime from second half substitute CJ Sapong proved to be the difference as Sporting Kansas City registered their first Major League Soccer qualification victory for the US Open Cup in team history, downing Houston Dynamo, 1-0. The club entered the match with a 0-2-1 record, advancing just once on penalties.

The rookie striker, selected as the 10th overall pick, is no stranger to dramatic early goals through just four games. His first career goal in MLS came in the very first minute of the club’s 3-2 victory on the road against Chivas USA in the season opener.

After receiving a pass from Teal Bunbury, who has a co-league leading three goals, Sapong drove through the Dynamo defense and let loose a curling shot into the upper right corner beyond the reach of goalkeeper Tyler Deric.

Sapong is looking to return to the tournament after being eliminated, 2-1 in overtime, in the First Round a year ago while playing for the USL Premier Development League’s Reading United AC by the then USL Second Division Real Maryland Monarchs. The former DC United Academy player tallied two goals and two assists as Reading swept all of its qualifiers in the PDL a year ago, starting all four contests. He also went on to help lead the team to the PDL Final Four with four goals and three assists in 11 games.

Kansas City advances to the final round of the eastern MLS qualification bracket and will travel to play the winner of the second round match between the New England Revolution and host DC United. Details of the match will be announced at a later date.

The two clubs came in with contrasting results in league play as Houston featured low-scoring affairs and Kansas City thrilling goalfests, but the scoreline followed the Dynamo trend. Houston opened with a 1-0 loss to Philadelphia and came into the match on back-to-back 1-1 draws in Seattle and New York. Sporting, meanwhile, saw at least four fewer goals. Following the win in California, Kansas City dropped a 3-2 contest in Chicago and saw a three-goal lead disappear in Vancouver for a 3-3 draw last weekend.

Back-up goalkeeper Eric Kronberg was critical for the visitors in the shutout, making six saves and patrolling his area well on the night. Houston’s youngster was also stellar in goal in relief of usual starter Tally Hall, making an acrobatic save seven minutes in to deny Kei Kamara’s header from six yards and stuffing Omar Bravo point-blank in the 25th minute.

Houston returns to league play, hosting the Vancouver Whitecaps Sunday evening. Kansas City, meanwhile, are idle this weekend and will next play in Columbus April 16 as Sporting continues its 10-game stretch away from home to start the league campaign while its new home stadium, LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, is completed for the June 9 opener versus Chicago.

2011 US Open Cup qualifying (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City 1:0 Houston Dynamo (After Extra Time)
April 06, 2011 — Aggie Soccer Stadium, College Station, Tx.

Scoring Summary
SKC: CJ Sapong (Teal Bunbury) – 92nd minute

Sporting Kansas City lineup: Eric Kronberg (GK), Michael Harrington, Matt Besler, Shavar Thomas, Roger Espinoza, Luke Sassano (Davy Arnaud – 91st), Craig Rocastle (Birahim Diop – 76th), Milos Stojcev, Kei Kamara, Omar Bravo (CJ Sapong – 46th), Teal Bunbury. | Substitutes Not Used: Kevin Ellis, Mike Jones, Scott Lorenz, Jon Kempin.

Houston Dynamo lineup: Tyler Deric (GK), Kofi Sarkodie, Bobby Boswell, Eddie Robinson (Jordan Graye – 86th), Mike Chabala, Danny Cruz, Alex Dixon, Lovel Palmer, Colin Clark (Corey Ashe – 76th), Cam Weaver (Will Bruin – 83rd), Jason Garey. | Substitutes Not Used: Hunter Freeman, Francisco Navas Cobo, Josue Soto, Tally Hall.

Misconduct Summary
HOU: Kofi Sarkodie (caution; Tactical Foul) – 5th
HOU: Lovel Palmer (caution; Tactical Foul) – 43rd
SKC: Omar Bravo (caution; Reckless Foul) – 46th+
HOU: Mike Chabala (caution; Tactical Foul) – 65th
HOU: Bobby Boswell (caution; Tactical Foul) – 73rd

Referee: Ismail Elfath
Referee’s Assistants: Greg Boles; Marcel Theriot
4th Official: Luis Guardia
Attendance: 2,383
Weather: Sunny-and-75-degrees

2011 US Open Cup qualifying: Chicago Fire one win away from Open Cup after beating Rapids

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Michael Videira of the Chicago Fire battles for the ball against the Colorado Rapids in Wednesday's US Open Cup qualifying match. Photo: Bob Hunt
Michael Videira of the Chicago Fire battles for the ball against the Colorado Rapids in Wednesday’s US Open Cup qualifying match. Photo: Bob Hunt

Where there is smoke there is fire, or at least the Chicago Fire’s Jalil Anibaba. The rookie defender launched a 45 yard shot from the midst of a flare-induced haze just after the hour mark to give the hosts a 2-1 US Open Cup qualification victory over the reigning Major League Soccer champion Colorado Rapids Wednesday evening in Peoria, IL at Bradley University’s Shea Stadium.

2011 US Open Cup qualifying (MLS)
Colorado Rapids 1:2 Chicago Fire

SCORING SUMMARY
CHI: Gaston Puerari (Diego Chaves) – 45th
COL: Andre Akpan (Quincy Amarikwa) – 47th
CHI: Jalil Anibaba (Unassisted) – 61st
Chicago advances to play at winner of San Jose/Portland

Post-game quotes | MLS qualifying schedule

The goal was a floating shot that slipped just inside the upper right corner of the goal as Colorado keeper Ian Joyce stretched back in a last-second attempt to parry it away, perhaps after being unable to initially see the incoming effort through the remaining smoke that was created by a flare set off by Fire supporters behind his endline minutes earlier.

Anibaba’s unlikely tally proved to be the difference as Chicago held on for the victory in what was largely an evenly contested match that saw each club score its previous goal within two minutes of each side of the halftime break.

Chicago took the lead in the 45th minute when Diego Chaves found Gaston Peurari, who drove into the left side of the penalty area before letting loose a shot from 16 yards that beat Joyce.

Just over a minute and a half into the second stanza, the Rapids stunned Chicago with the equalizer. Andre Akpan, a former Fire Premier Development League player, connected at a narrow angle from the right, sending it into the far side netting.

Chicago, seeded fourth overall, advances to the final match of the western version of the MLS qualification bracket with the victory over the top seed and will now travel to face either last night’s opening round winner Portland Timbers or the San Jose Earthquakes, who were seeded into the second round with a bye. Details of the match are yet to be determined.

While the Fire are idle this week in MLS play, the Rapids return home to host DC United Sunday, April 3. With the league match ahead, Colorado utilized nearly an entire reserve squad lineup that could arguably indicate the club indirectly wanted to avoid fixture congestion later in the season. The Rapids only started one player, Quincy Amarikwa, from the starting lineup of this past Saturday’s 1-0 victory in California against Chivas USA. Ross LaBauex and Wells Thompson (for Amarikwa) came off the bench in the league match for a combined 91 minutes played between the trio.  Amarikwa scored the winner in the 31st minute of the game.

Match Highlights (Chicago-Fire.com)

The Rapids have taken part in every MLS qualifying tournament since it began in 2007, and after emerging from the competition that first year, they have fallen short in each of the last four years. They have played more qualifying games since 2007 than any MLS club, and wrap up this year’s tournament with a 3-3-2 (1-1 in PKs) overall record.

Although the Rapids will not be participating in the 2011 edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, the club will still have non-league fixtures this summer when it competes in the fourth edition of the CONCACAF Champions League as the current MLS champions.

The last time the Chicago Fire played at Shea Stadium was in 2008 US Open Cup qualifying when they defeated the Columbus Crew 3-2 in front of a sold-out crowd. Photo: Bradley University

The first half saw few opportunities that challenged the keepers as the clubs tested one another. In the third minute Colorado’s Sanna Nyassi struck a shot from 30 yards that Sean Johnson caught, and seven minutes later at the other end Rapids defender Tyrone Marshall did well to clear away consecutive chances in the box. Chicago’s Puerari began to make noise in the 32nd minute when he made a run into the box only to see the ball get away from him.

Shortly after a 39th minute yellow card to recent Fire acquisition Yamith Cuesta, the signs of a breakdown by the Rapids began to show in the 40th minute with the first of two yellow cards in a short span as the match started to heat up physically. Nyassi was given a caution for tripping Patrick Nyarko, who was taken down again three minutes later by Scott Palguta, who was also disciplined.

Nyarko answered, with what proved to be a warning shot, as his header a minute later off a cross from Cory Gibbs sailed just over the crossbar.

In the 69th minute Wells Thompson nearly provided a second Colorado equalizer when he got inside the area and fired from the left only to see Johnson make a great save to preserve the advantage. Five minutes later Amarikwa worked his way into the box from the right side, but a series of dangerous opportunities in the box never resulted in a direct shot.

Chicago nearly locked up the victory with a third tally in the 77th minute when Chaves showed some fine skill with his chest and feet around the penalty spot before slipping the ball off to an open Davis Paul, whose shot went wide right.

Colorado’s final chance was a Nyassi shot in the 86th minute that missed narrowly, and the Fire nearly closed with a bang three minutes into stoppage time when Puerari drove into the area and sent a shot from 14 yards that Joyce tipped wide of the far left post.

MLS qualifying for the US Open Cup continues next Wednesday evening, April 6 with two matches in the eastern version MLS qualifying brackets. The Philadelphia Union visit DC United at 7:30 pm ET and the Houston Dynamo play host to Sporting Kansas City at 8:00 pm ET.

SCORING SUMMARY:

CHI: Gaston Puerari (Diego Chaves) – 45th
COL: Andre Akpan (Quincy Amarikwa) – 46th
CHI: Jalil Anibaba (unassisted) – 61st

LINEUPS:

COLORADO: Ian Joyce, Ross LaBauex, Tyrone Marshall, Mike Holody, Scott Palguta, Wells Thompson, Steven Emory (Josh Janniere 80), Joseph Nane, Sanna Nyassi, Andre Akpan, Quincy Amarikwa.

CHICAGO: Sean Johnson, Cory Gibbs, Jalil Anibaba, Gonzalo Segares, Yamith Cuesta (Dasan Robinson 60′), Logan Pause, Davis Paul, Mike Videira, Patrick Nyarko, Diego Chaves (Orr Barrouch 91+), Gaston Puerari

Attendance: 2,029
Weather: Clear, 48 degrees

2011 US Open Cup qualifying: Portland Timbers get first MLS win, topple 10-man Chivas USA

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Jack Jewsbury celebrates with his teammates after the Portland Timber’s 2-0 win over Chivas USA in US Open Cup qualifying. Photo: Gary Sheldon | ProstAmerika.com

It was an agonizingly long wait as it took two games and 84 minutes for the Major League Soccer Portland Timbers to effectively register their first official victory. The Timbers snared a 2-0 win over Chivas USA with two late goals from Jack Jewsbury and Eric Brunner at Merlo Field Tuesday evening in the opening round of MLS qualifying for the 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

2011 US Open Cup qualifying (MLS)
Chivas USA 0:2 Portland Timbers

SCORING SUMMARY
POR: Jack Jewsbury (Unassisted) – 84th
POR: Eric Brunner (Unassisted) – 86th
Portland advances to play at San Jose, date/time TBA

MLS qualifying schedule
VIDEO (PortlandTimbers.com)
Game highlights
Jack Jewsbury post-game interview

PHOTOS from Prost Amerika | RECAP

After suffering losses on the road to the MLS Champion Colorado Rapids and Toronto FC, the club’s path to its first win came in small steps. First was returning home, playing in the rain of the alternate venue at the University of Portland. Then it was getting a little help from the referees, who gave the club a man advantage just before halftime when the visitors saw Andrew Boyens sent off for a second yellow card in the 43rd minute.

Chivas USA managed the setback well in the second though, creating opportunities and keeping Portland largely at bay. When it seemed the California club, which reached the tournament’s semifinals a year ago despite finishing eighth in the league’s Western Conference, was going to break through in the 83rd minute, the match instead broke in favor of the Timbers in a mad four minute frenzy.

A long ball over the top created a breakaway for Justin Braun in the 83rd minute when he collected the ball behind the Timbers’ defense and drove toward goal. Back-up goalkeeper Jake Gleeson charged outside the edge of the box and stuffed Braun’s attempt at close range, denying the visitor’s best opportunity of the night.

The Timbers caught Chivas USA off guard just seconds later at the other end when second half substitute Jack Jewsbury let loose a low shot from 35 yards out that skipped on the wet grass and found its way into the lower left corner through the outstretched hands of Dan Kennedy.

Braun nearly answered back for Chivas USA a minute later, turning with the ball at the edge of the box only to see it poked away at the last second.

Eric Brunner of the Portland Timbers celebrates his goal vs Chivas USA in the 86th minute. Photo: Prost Amerika | Photo: Prost Amerika | Gary Sheldon 2011 | Check out the slideshow
Eric Brunner of the Portland Timbers celebrates his goal against Chivas USA in the 86th minute in the US Open Cup qualifying tournament . Photo: Gary Sheldon | Check out the full gallery at ProstAmerika.com

The missed chance proved critical. With the crowd still electrified from the club’s first-ever lead as an MLS team, a loose ball in the box was put away from eight yards by defender Eric Brunner in the 87th to secure the win. The play was created from a corner Brunner headed into a falling Chivas USA defender, ricocheting directly back to him for the second attempt.

The Timbers advance to the second round of the league’s US Open Cup qualifying tournament. They will travel to play the San Jose Earthquakes – details to be determined. It was the first time Chivas USA had to go through the qualification process adopted in 2007. The loss marks the first time the club failed to qualify for the tournament since their debut in 2005.

The match started off with the home club buzzing about the Chivas USA goal. Kenny Cooper put a header over the goal in the first half-minute of play. He had another chance in the sixth minute when a long ball up the middle found him shoulder-to-shoulder with a defender 30 yards out, but he was unable to gain full control for a chance at goal.

Jorge Perlaza kept the visitors busy with his work most of the first half. In the 10th minute he darted toward goal on the left side, but Kennedy came out of the box to break it up. Three minutes later he tried to turn with the ball 25 yards out, but was knocked off the ball for a free kick. In the 28th, he got the ball on the right side and drove toward goal before sending the ball wide left.

Andrew Boyens of Chivas USA walks off the field after being shown a second yellow card against the Portland Timbers in the 42nd minute of a US Open Cup qualifying match. Photo: Prost Amerika | Gary Sheldon 2011 | Check out the slideshow
Andrew Boyens of Chivas USA walks off the field after being shown a second yellow card against the Portland Timbers in the 42nd minute of a US Open Cup qualifying match. Photo: Gary Sheldon | ProstAmerika.com

Chivas USA had a few sniffs at the Timbers goal in the first half, mostly courtesy of the play of Marcos Mondaini. His best chance came in the 34th minute on an excellent through ball that put him alone in the box only to see his shot from 16 knocked away by the rookie Timbers netminder. Four minutes later Braun made a long run down the middle of the pitch before dishing it off to Mondaini, whose shot with a defender on his inside shoulder from just inside the left corner of the box was also denied.

Just prior to the game-changing red card to Boyens, a 42nd minute free kick 35 yards out led to a fantastic shot. Peter Lowry rolled the dead ball about 12 yards to his left for a wide open Rodney Wallace, who ripped a line-drive rifle that zipped just wide of the left upper corner.

Despite playing a man down, the visitors came out and played well in the second half before a series of tough tackles around the hour mark seemed to show the unraveling that was to come. An ensuing free kick from one foul led to a 30 yard rocket from Cooper that tested Kennedy, who was forced to knock the wet ball away haphazardly in the 62nd minute.

Six minutes later Cooper nearly set up the opening marker when he tried to turn and shoot inside the box. Seeing he couldn’t get the shot off, he dished it back to Lowry, who put his uncontested shot over the goal from 19 yards. And just moments before the madness, Perlaza also nearly created the first strike when he stole the ball in the right corner and sent it to Jeremy Hall, who delivered a dangerous cross from the right flank into the area only to see hit headed away.

The Portland Timbers now travel to play the New England Revolution in league play Saturday, April 2 while Chivas USA takes to the road for the first time this season to face Toronto FC earlier in the day.

2011 US Open Cup qualifying (MLS)
Chivas USA 0:2 Portland Timbers
March 29, 2011 – Merlo Field in Portland, Ore.

Scoring Summary
POR: Jack Jewsbury (Unassisted) – 84th minute
POR: Eric Brunner (Unassisted) – 86th minute

Misconduct Summary
CHV: Mondaini (Yellow), 14
CHV: Boyens (Yellow), 35
CHV: Boyens (Yellow), 43
CHV: Boyens (Red), 43
CHV: Braun (Yellow), 49
POR: Purdy (Yellow), 74
POR: Hall (Yellow), 89

Lineups:

Portland — GK Gleeson, D Wallace, D Brunner, D Horst, D Purdy, M Alhassan, M Marcelin, M Lowry (Jewsbury, 71), M Pore (Hall, 65), F Cooper, F Perlaza
Substitutes Not Used: GK Guppy, D Goldthwaite, D Taylor, M Braun, M Nagbe

Chivas USA — GK Kennedy, D Pearce, D Zemanski (Bowen, 89), D Boyens, D Owusu (Jazic, 63), M Lahoud, M LaBrocca©, M Mendoza (Flores, 46), F Mondaini, F Braun, F Estupiñan
Substitutes Not Used: GK Thornton, GK Arias, M Trujillo, M Mayen

Referee: Juan Guzman
Assistant Referees: Jeff Hosking, Desmond Miller
4th Official: Ronald Lagraff
Attendance: 5,061
Weather: Rain, 50 degrees

MLS US Open Cup qualifying schedule

Automatic qualifiers: Columbus Crew, FC Dallas, Los Angeles Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders FC

First Round
(8) Chivas USA 0:2 (10) Portland Timbers
Tuesday, March 29 – 10 p.m. EST | Merlo Field (Univ. of Portland) in Portland, Ore.

(7) Philadelphia at (9) DC United
April 6, 7:30 p.m. | Maryland Soccerplex (Germantown, Md.)

Second Round

(10) Portland Timbers at (2) San Jose Earthquakes
Date/Location TBA

(6) New England at DC United/Philadelphia
Date/Location TBA

(1) Colorado Rapids at (4) Chicago Fire
March 30, 7:30 p.m. EST – Shea Stadium (Bradley Univ.) in Peoria, Ill.
Click here for a preview / live blog

(3) Sporting Kansas City at (5) Houston Dynamo
April 6, 8 p.m. EST – Aggie Soccer Stadium in College Station, Tx.

Third Round*
Colorado/Chicago winner at Portland/San Jose winner
DC United/Philadelphia/New England winner at KC/Houston winner

*Winner of each third round game qualify for the 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

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