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2011 Final

Osvaldo Alonso leads Seattle Sounders to 2011 US Open Cup title, earns TheCup.us Player of the Round honor

October 7, 2011 by Gerald Barnhart

Osvaldo Alonso (center) celebrates his third straight US Open Cup trophy with Seattle Sounders teammates Lamar Neagle (left) and Fredy Montero (right). Photo: Gerald Barnhart | TheCup.us

The American Dream. That is something that most Americans whose families have been in the United States for generations take for granted. In 2007, Osvaldo Alonso defected while playing for the Cuban National Team during the CONCACAF Gold Cup. On Tuesday, he helped lead the Seattle Sounders to a historic third consecutive US Open Cup trophy, setting an American soccer record as an individual player and earning TheCup.us Player of the Round honors.

The award is voted on by the staff of the definitive US Open Cup site TheCup.us and a selected panel of members of the North American Soccer Reporters, which also selects the MLS Player of the Week. Alonso was challenged for the award by teammates Fredy Montero and Jhon Kennedy Hurtado.

With the Sounders leading and running out the clock in stoppage time, Alonso put the cap on the match with a fantastic goal six minutes into the additional play, driving through the Fire defense at the edge of the box and creating an open goal for a euphoric conclusion for a record crowd of 35,615 at CenturyLink Field.

It was a perfect finish for a record-setting night for Alonso, who became the first player in the modern professional era of the tournament (1995-present) to play in four consecutive US Open Cup championship games. He has yet to miss the tournament final since his career in US soccer began with the Charleston Battery in 2008.

In fact, in order to get to his first US Open Cup Final, Alonso helped lead the Battery past the USL-1 Sounders in the 2008 Semifinals. It was a quixotic start to the historic run as Seattle’s goal in the 1-1 draw came courtesy of an Alonso own goal in the 20th minute with Charleston’s Randi Patterson equalizing in the 32nd. Alonso would redeem himself by converting his penalty kick in the tiebreaker as the Battery advanced 4-3 to the Final, where they fell in a close contest to DC United, 2-1.

Alonso is one of a dozen players that have played in four US Open Cup championships, a list led by Andy Williams, Tyrone Marshall and Peter Vagenas with five appearances. He tops the list though in consecutive finals played, a ledger where behind him are six players that have played in three straight championships. With their third appearances, his Seattle teammates Kasey Keller, Roger Levesque, Fredy Montero and James Riley joined former Richmond Kickers 1995 champions Brian Kamler and Richie Williams, who both went on to play in the next two finals with DC United.

As a defensive midfielder Alonso often goes unheralded. When his American career began in 2008 his compatriot Maykel Galindo, who defected during the 2005 Gold Cup, was the more talked about Cuban in MLS courtesy of his goal scoring exploits.

The path of the two players, not surprising due to their backgrounds, intertwines and has coincidences. Both were forced to begin their careers in the USL First Division. Despite a trial and developmental contract offer with Galindo’s Chivas USA, Alonso opted for the potential for more playing time with the Battery. The move proved wise as he was named the team MVP as well as the league’s Rookie of the Year. Even better, his performance was seen up close in the Open Cup Semifinal meeting and league campaign by the then USL-1 Seattle Sounders, the club that gave Galindo his professional start for the 2005 and 2006 seasons. That led to a transfer that sent Alonso to the northwest in January of 2009.

At the time, Battery coach Mike Anhseuser wished his player well in the future, perhaps underestimating exactly how well he would do. “This is a fantastic opportunity for Osvaldo to expand his career at the next level. We would have loved to keep him but understand the economics for both parties. We wish him all the best and are hopeful that he will bring success to Seattle Sounders F.C.”

That hope was not only realized, but one could argue that the Cuban international and American soccer record holder Osvaldo Alonso has achieved the American Dream.

2011 TheCup.us Player of the Round winners

Round 1: Zach Lubin – Kitsap Pumas
Round 2: David Bulow – Richmond Kickers
Round 3: Michael Fucito – Seattle Sounders
Quarterfinals: Ronnie Pascale – Richmond Kickers
Semifinals: Dominic Oduro – Chicago Fire
Final: Osvaldo Alonso – Seattle Sounders

Player of the Tournament: TBA

Filed Under: US Open Cup Tagged With: 2011 Final, 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, 2011 Player of the Round, 2011 US Open Cup Final, Chicago Fire MLS, Osvaldo Alonso, Player of the Round, Seattle Sounders MLS

2011 US Open Cup Final: Seattle Sounders smother Fire, earn historic three-peat in front of record crowd

October 5, 2011 by Gerald Barnhart

The Seattle Sounders celebrate the 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup championship. Photo: Steven Bisig | USA TODAY Sports

Three-peat. That special status is something new in Major League Soccer circles. The Seattle Sounders Tuesday night at CenturyLink Field defeated the Chicago Fire 2-0 on a pair of late goals from Fredy Montero and Osvaldo Alonso to become the first team since 1969 to conclude a third straight US Open Cup championship. They also became the first team in MLS history to win three consecutive titles in any event, including MLS Cup.

A year ago Seattle became the first MLS club to defend a championship in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, an event named after one of the league’s founders, downing the Columbus Crew, 2-1, in front of a then record crowd of 31,311 fans. They topped themselves for a new record attendance by opening more of the stadium, reaching 35,615 – a total that also surpasses eight of the 15 MLS Cup Finals.

In MLS play there has been two Supporters’ Shield repeats and only two teams have won back-to-back MLS Cups. Like MLS newcomers Seattle, DC United famously won the first two MLS Cup trophies in league history in 1996 and 1997 before falling to the Chicago Fire in the third consecutive championship appearance in 1998. DC is also one of the two clubs to win two Shields in a row, claiming the league’s regular season title in 2006 and 2007. Columbus followed them with the next two. The Houston Dynamo won two MLS Cups in a row in 2005-06.

“We always wanted to be the first. Sigi talked about it a lot,” said General Manager Adrian Hanauer after the match before a jubilant crowd about becoming the first MLS side to win three straight Open Cup titles.

“Three in a row is a tremendous accomplishment, and to have two of them here at home – unbelievable. Another record crowd here at CenturyLink Field, which we are kind of getting used to that,” said Kasey Keller, who is retiring after the season with a historic finish to his career.

But after the game tonight, history did not seem to be enough for a Sounders squad that still has three regular season games, the MLS Cup playoffs and CONCACAF Champions League, which resumes with Quarterfinals next spring after one more group contest, remaining.

“We still got more to come. You know, we got one more cup to win this year,” added Keller, who has missed out on winning the league championship since returning to the United States to play.

Defender Jeff Parke picked up on that sentiment. “We’re here and we are ready to go,” he said in reference to other MLS playoff teams looking their way. We still have some things to work on. Tonight is just a great night,” he said, adding that after a day off Wednesday the team will be right back at preparing for the postseason.

“This is my second year here. The team now has been knocked out in the first round the past two years and we want to do something special here. We want to win the cup and make it past the first round obviously. These guys are finding it inside them and they are willing to do whatever it takes and it’s starting to show on the field. We are gearing up for the MLS Cup hopefully.”

An MLS Cup title would further the team’s history-making campaign as only three other clubs have captured the double in the MLS era. DC accomplished the feat in the inaugural MLS season, Chicago won both in its expansion 1998 outing and the Galaxy were the last to do so in 2005.

History took quite some time to make though. Despite a frenzied start, both teams had good free kick chances in the first two minutes, starting a back-and-forth affair with many eye-opening moments. There was certainly no typical feeling out period that often comes in the sport, especially in momentous occasions.

After a frenetic first 10 minutes, the match began to turn physical, resulting in a Patrick Nyarko yellow card for a tough tackle along the touchline on Alonso. After the first half-hour though, the balance of play swayed in favor of the home club, as the Sounders began to take control of possession and slow the match down slightly.

The first moment that those in attendance will remember on the historic night came just as the first half was coming to a close. Montero, who scored the lone g

Fredy Montero raises the Open Cup trophy amidst the post-game celebrations

oal in the Semifinal win versus FC Dallas, acquired the ball and beat Parvel Pardo while driving in toward the penalty arc. He would let loose a 20-yard effort that whispered past the fingertips of a diving Sean Johnson, only to smack squarely into the left post. The immense crowd was still in disbelief moments later when the whistle sounded for the break.

Eight minutes into the second half it looked again as though history was about to happen when Erik Friberg, on the left side, headed the ball in to Mike Fucito, who flicked the ball over Johnson on an acute angle. The ball bounced several times along the goalline with defenders chasing, bouncing off the inside of the far post and out.

The on-field silence – since there was still plenty of noise from a stadium filled with a raucous crowd – was broken in the 78th minute. Friberg delivered a corner into the box that found the head of Parke, who nodded it straight down and forced Johnson to drop to the ground to make the save. The instant play prevented the keeper from holding the ball, allowing it to rebound out directly to an awaiting Montero, who buried it for his fifth game-winning goal in all competitions dating back to the Semifinal victory. It was his second tally in Open Cup Final, history having scored the opening goal in the 2009 championship as well, a 2-1 victory over DC United.

The strike was the latest opening goal in the modern professional era for a game decided in regulation. Two contests went to overtime scoreless, with the 1997 Final finishing in a scoreless stalemate taken in penalties by DC, and the 2004 Final finishing with a dramatic golden goal from Kansas City against the Fire (the last FIFA championship decided in that fashion).

The match came to a fitting finish, as Alonso dribbled through the Fire defense at the edge of the box, creating an open goal for a euphoric conclusion. Alonso, a refugee from the Cuban national team in June of 2007, was playing in his fourth consecutive Open Cup Final, having played for the Charleston Battery in the 2008 championship against DC United. He has yet to miss the tournament’s championship contest in his professional career in the United States.

 

2011 – Chicago Fire (MLS) 0:2 Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
10/4/11 | CenturyLink Field – Seattle, Washington

Scoring Summary
Seattle: Fredy Montero (Jeff Parke) – 77th min.
Seattle: Osvaldo Alonso (Unassisted) – 90th+ min.

Seattle Sounders: GK Kasey Keller, James Riley, Jeff Parke, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Leo Gonzalez, Alvaro Fernandez (Erik Freiberg 46th), Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Lamar Neagle, Michael Fucito (Roger Levesque 90th+1), Fredy Montero

Cautions – Alonso 90th, Montero 90th

Chicago Fire: GK Sean Johnson; Gonzalo Segares, Cory Gibbs, Josip Mikulic (Jalil Anibaba 61st), Dan Gargan (Sebastien Grazzini 84th); Marco Pappa, Pavel Pardo, Logan Pause, Daniel Paladini (Diego Chaves 80th); Dominic Oduro, Patrick Nyarko

Cautions – Nyarko 27th, Paladini 39th, Anibaba 90th

Match Stats
Shots – Seattle 27:8 Chicago
On Goal – Seattle 7:4 Chicago
Saves – Seattle 4:5 Chicago
Fouls – Seattle 12:17 Chicago
Corners – Seattle 10:6 Chicago
Offsides – Seattle 0:3 Chicago

Attendance: 35,615 | Referee – Alex Prus | Linesmen – Steven Taylor; Eric Boria  | 4th Official – Josh Wilkens
Weather: Rain, 58 degrees

Filed Under: US Open Cup Tagged With: 2011 Final, 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, 2011 US Open Cup, 2011 US Open Cup Final, Chicago Fire MLS, Fall River Marksmen, Fredy Montero, Kasey Keller, New York Greek American Atlas, Osvaldo Alonso, Sean Johnson, Seattle Sounders MLS, Stix Baer & Fuller

2011 US Open Cup Semifinal Preview: USL’s Richmond Kickers face rebounding Chicago Fire in ‘Cinderella Semifinal’

August 29, 2011 by Gerald Barnhart

The third-division Richmond Kickers of USL Pro are not supposed to be here, especially considering they had to go through two MLS clubs on the road in the past two rounds. And the Chicago Fire, though four-time tournament champions, are not considered title contenders in MLS, sitting outside the playoff window while playing with an interim coach. One, however, will move on to face either Seattle or Dallas, both playing the CONCACAF Champions League, for the 2011 US Open Cup championship.

While Chicago, who missed the playoffs for the first time last year since 2004, is in the midst of battling for a spot in the postseason, the Kickers’ run in the USL playoffs came to an end Saturday evening in Florida, falling 3-0 to regular season champion Orlando City. The Fire are five points out of the playoff qualification zone with 8-10 games remaining for themselves (8) and the other sides chasing a playoff berth.

The two teams will square off on Tuesday, August 30 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EST.

FINAL SCENARIOS

There is only one scenario where the Chicago Fire will host the 2011 US Open Cup Final. If they defeat Richmond, and FC Dallas beats the Seattle Sounders, the Fire will host Dallas on Oct. 4 at Toyota Park.

The Richmond Kickers did not out-bid any of the other three teams so if they upset Chicago, they will play on the road for the Final.

BROADCASTING

Tuesday’s game will have an online video broadcast through Chicago-Fire.com. TheCup.us, as always, will have a live blog during both Semifinal matches beginning at 8 p.m. EST. Brendan Hannan and Jeff Crandall will have the call of the match.

Richmond Kickers

Founded in 1993, the club is one of two USL teams (the other being the Rochester Rhinos) to win the US Open Cup in the Professional Era (1995). An amateur team through 1995, the club played in USL’s top flight from 1996-2005 before joining the professional third division. It has only missed the postseason one time since 1994, winning the league title three times (1995 in USL PDL, 2006 and 2009 in USL-2/USL Pro) in eight appearances.

Since the Quarterfinals: The club’s return to solely focusing on league play after stunning Kansas City was a little difficult as they lost two of the next three. After falling 2-0 in Pittsburgh though, the Kickers rebounded to run off four consecutive shutouts to end the regular season for two wins and two draws before adding a fifth in the opening round of the playoffs. On August 19, Richmond played to a scoreless draw against the second-seeded Wilmington Hammerheads in the American Division opener, advancing 5-4 in penalties on the road. Goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale was in goal for four of the five clean sheets as the club finished third in the division and overall in the league with a 12-7-5 record. The defense ranked second with 21 goals allowed. The shutout run came to an end Saturday in the league semifinals as they fell 3-0 on the road against Orlando City whilst the state of Virginia also took a beating from Hurricane Irene back home. It was the biggest loss of the year for the Kickers, who had not allowed more than two goals in any game on the season. It was the first time the club allowed three in a game since losing in Charleston June 11 last season

Road to the Semifinals

David Bulow of the Richmond Kickers became the all-time leading scorer in the US Open Cup Professional Era this year. Photo: Richmond Kickers / Suz Kitsteiner

Quarterfinal: Richmond Kickers (USL Pro) 2:0 Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
The Kickers became the first lower division club to record back-to-back road wins against MLS clubs in the tournament and David Bulow’s penalty made him the all-time leading scorer in the Professional Era, passing Jaime Moreno and Johnny Menyongar. For his efforts, Kickers goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round.
Recap [+]

Third Round: Richmond Kickers (USL Pro) 2:1 Columbus Crew (MLS)
The Kickers defeated an MLS club on the road in the US Open Cup for the first time. Former Crew player Stanley Nyazamba set up the opener by sending the ball to the top of the box, where Nozomi Hiroyama sent a bending ball into the back of the net. Columbus rookie Justin Meram helped level the score in the 37th minute, when he broke into the box and found fellow rookie Cole Grossman at the far post for his first professional goal. The 67th minute proved to be an important turning point, as the Crew dodged a bullet when a Matthew Delicate header hit the post and was cleared by the Columbus defense. Moments later though, Danny O’Rourke was sent off after he retaliated on some physical play. Five minutes from time, Delicate would find the winner against the shorthanded Crew on a diving header. Recap [+]

Second Round: Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL Pro) 1:4 Richmond Kickers (USL Pro)
For the second consecutive round, Bulow and the Kickers dominated a fellow USL Pro club. Bulow tallied 17 minutes in, with Pittsburgh equalizing in the 30th. Bulow restored the lead four minutes before halftime and Matthew Delicate scored two in the second half to put the match out of reach. The Riverhounds had rallied from two down in the first round, but couldn’t generate the same magic in the second. Recap [+]

First Round: Dayton Dutch Lions (USL Pro) 1:4 Richmond Kickers (USL Pro)
The Kickers were well on their way to a First Round victory Tuesday against league foe Dayton with two goals from David Bulow in the first 17 minutes. The Dutch Lions answered back in the second half, but Bulow added a third from the penalty spot and Shaka Bangura finished the match in the 90th for the 4-1 win. Recap [+]

How They Qualified: Automatic entrant from USL Pro.

1995 US Open Cup champions: Richmond Kickers
After playing the El Paso Patriots to a 1-1 draw, the Richmond Kickers captured the 1995 US Open Cup title by defeating the Patriots on penalty kicks 4-2. Photo: Richmond Kickers

Open Cup History: The Kickers have the distinction of being the first club to win the tournament during the Professional Era, taking the title in 1995 when pro clubs began participating despite themselves being in the amateur  USISL Premier (now the PDL), where they also won the league title. Richmond won the Open Cup in penalties after a 1-1 draw against the El Paso Patriots in Texas. 2011 marks the fourth time the club has reached the Quarterfinals (2001, 2004, 2007, 2011) in 14 appearances, defeating MLS clubs three times. Aside from this year’s upset of the Crew, in 2004, the club edged DC United, 2-1, in the Fourth Round before falling 1-0 to Chicago Fire. In 2007, the Kickers nipped the Los Angeles Galaxy weeks before David Beckham’s arrival, but were eliminated by the Second Division Carolina RailHawks in the Quarterfinals, 1-0.
PRO ERA RECORDS: 22-11-1 (1-0 in PKs) overall | 5-8-0 vs. MLS

Chicago Fire

Since the Quarterfinals: There has been little to celebrate since the Red Bulls arguably handed the Fire the win in the last round as Chicago has posted just two wins in seven league games since. The good news is they are coming into Tuesday’s contest on the heels of both of those victories. Dominic Oduro and Dan Gargan led the club to a 2-0 win versus Toronto a week ago. Oduro scored again Saturday with Cory Gibbs adding the insurance tally in another 2-0 win, this time against reigning MLS Cup champion Colorado to give the team a four-game unbeaten run in league play. Oduro has scored in four of the last five contests for the Fire, who have not been shut out since a 1-0 loss to Portland immediately following the Quarterfinals.

Quarterfinal: New York Red Bulls (MLS) 0:4 Chicago Fire (MLS)
Dominic Oduro wasted no time with the opening goal after seven minutes as the Fire ran away with it early in the second half as well with Orr Barouch scoring twice. The Fire had little trouble against a New York Red Bulls team that not only brought a shorthanded roster full of reserve players, but didn’t even bring their first-string coaching staff to Toyota Park. Recap [+]

Third Round: Chicago Fire (MLS) 1:0 Rochester Rhinos (USL Pro)
The only MLS club on the road for the Third Round, the Fire faced a tight one against giant-killer Rochester and came away with a narrow 1-0 win. Diego Chavez created the play that led to his goal, feeding Corben Bone the ball in the 37th minute. Bone drove past a defender and let loose a shot that the goalkeeper knocked away. The rebound popped up into the center of the box where Alfonso Motagalvan tried to clear on the volley only to see it skim off the side of his shin and fall to Chaves, who fired a low ball into inside the right post from 18 yards. Recap [+]

The Chicago Fire won their fourth US Open Cup title in 2006. Photo by Brian Kersey/Wireimage.com

How They Qualified: Seeded fourth overall, the Fire opened the play-in tournament in the second round of the western bracket of MLS qualifying. They defeated the defending MLS Cup champion Colorado Rapids March 30 with a 2-1 victory. Gaston Puerari, who was recently sold to Atlas (Mexico), scored the opening goal moments before the break, with Andre Akpan answering back early in the second stanza. In the haze remaining from flares set off at the hour mark, defender Jalil Anibaba let loose a shocking 45-yard strike that surprised the keeper and proved to be the winner. Trailing San Jose by two goals in the finale for the bracket, Chicago’s Orr Barouch pulled a goal back in the 61st and Yamith Cuesta leveled terms in the 76th, sending the match to penalties, where two Earthquakes rang shots off the crossbar in a 5-4 decision to send the Fire to the Open Cup.

Open Cup History: The Fire are one of the most successful Pro Era teams, winning the Cup four times (1998, 2000, 2003, 2006) and finishing runner-up in 2004. The team has qualified for the Open Cup every year since their founding in 1998. However, since the 2006 Cup title, the team entered this year having only won one game in the tournament since, going 1-3-1 (0-1 in PKs). The Fire are 5-1-2 all-time in Quarterfinal matches and haven’t played a Quarterfinal game at Toyota Park since 2006, when they defeated New England 2-1.
PRO ERA RECORDS: 27-8-3 (2-1 in PKs) | 5-1-1 (0-1 in PKs) vs. Third Division opponents

HEAD-TO-HEAD

2004 US Open Cup Quarterfinals
Chicago Fire (MLS) 1:0 Richmond Kickers (A-League)

University of Richmond Stadium – Richmond, VA

In the only meeting between the two clubs in the tournament, it was the Chicago Fire who edged the Kickers in Richmond 1-0 in the 2004 Quarterfinals. Dipsy Selolwane scored the lone goal for the Fire in the 56th minute off a corner kick by Orlando Perez. Current players Matthew Delicate, Ronnie Pascale and Mike Burke all played in that game for the Kickers, while the only Fire player still on the roster from that night is Logan Pause. (Note: Nate Jaqua of the Sounders, playing in the other Semifinal, was in the starting lineup for Chicago that night)

Filed Under: US Open Cup Tagged With: 2011 Final, 2011 US Open Cup, 2011 USOC Qualifying, Chicago Fire MLS, Richmond Kickers

2011 US Open Cup Semifinal Preview: Champions League sides Seattle Sounders & FC Dallas square off in ‘Super Semifinal’

August 29, 2011 by Gerald Barnhart

Historically, Major League Soccer teams are not supposed to win in Mexico. In the past few weeks, however, both FC Dallas and the Seattle Sounders have etched their names in history with victories south of the border in the CONCACAF Champions League. On Tuesday, the two clubs, both also in contention for the regular season and MLS Cup titles, look to book a spot in US Open Cup Final.

The game will be held at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash. and will kickoff at 10 p.m. EST.

A power couple, Seattle and Dallas were both in Finals a year ago. The Sounders captured a second consecutive Open Cup title while Dallas came up short in the MLS Cup Final against Colorado. As if that were not enough, both are in contention for 2011-12 to vie for four championships – the United States Soccer Majors. Both are within five points of current league-leader Los Angeles in the chase for the Supporters’ Shield and are therefore firmly in position to reach the playoffs for the MLS Cup. In addition, an unprecedented start for MLS in the CCL has seen both sides take control of their fate two games into the group phase.

And not much separates the two clubs either as witnessed by a 1-0 decision in favor of Seattle just over a week ago in Texas. A rare mistake from defender Ugo Ihemelu, who scored a CCL game-winner earlier this month, allowed Lamar Neagle to take possession and set up the winning score. He found Fredy Montero, who led a flying Mauro Rosales down the right side where he fired a low 18-yard shot past Kevin Hartman, who has been perfect in the CCL with four shutouts in as many games. The win was Seattle’s first at Pizza Hut Park and gave the club sole possession of second place.

FINAL SCENARIOS

If the Seattle Sounders defeat FC Dallas on Tuesday, they will host the 2011 US Open Cup Final. If FC Dallas win, the only way they can host the championship game is if they are victorious against Seattle and the Richmond Kickers upset the Chicago Fire.

BROADCASTING

The game will have an online video broadcast through SoundersFC.com with Arlo White providing the commentary.  TheCup.us, as always, will have a live blog during both Semifinal matches beginning at 8 p.m. EST.

FC Dallas

Since the Quarterfinals: Dallas has been by far the busiest of the four semifinal sides since the quarterfinals, playing a dozen games in MLS and Champions League play. The club has kept its form with only two losses, the recent loss to Seattle and a 3-1 defeat in LA to the Galaxy, with a record of 7-2-3 overall (3-2-3 in MLS, 4-0-0 in CCL). Seattle has played the second most with 10 games, Richmond nine and Chicago seven. The Dallas defense has been impressive over the past 12 games, allowing only 10 goals with four consecutive shutouts in Champions League play among them. Including the 2-0 quarterfinal win, Dallas has posted seven shutouts in all competitions over the last 13 games and have yet to allow a goal in the Champions League where they are making history defensively. The biggest victory came August 17 when they edged Pumas in Mexico on a strike from Marvin Chavez in the 66th minute, making Dallas the first MLS club to win in Mexico. On Saturday, the club found themselves down two goals in Kansas City, but rebounded with three unanswered strikes, including two in the final five minutes, to win 3-2. Two minutes after Omar Bravo made it 2-0, Daniel Hernandez scored in the 70th to keep Dallas in the contest. Maicon Santos then leveled the score in the 89th minute on an assist from Brek Shea, who also found Bobby Warshaw in the second minute of stoppage time for the winner.

Quarterfinal: Real Salt Lake (MLS) 0:2 FC Dallas (MLS)
Trends won out as first-time Quarterfinalists RSL remained winless at Pizza Hut Park, falling to all-time leading Quarterfinalist (12 appearances) FC Dallas. Jair Benitez gave the home side the lead 18 minutes in and Jackson provided some insurance in the 54th. Recap [+]

Third Round: Orlando City (USL Pro) 2:3 FC Dallas (MLS)
The hosts had to work for the victory against the lower division visitors as Orlando City got the surprising lead 24 minutes in. Jackson, on an assist from Ricardo Villar, would score in the 39th minute to make it 1-1 at the break. Villar would tally himself five minutes into the second half for what looked increasingly like the winner until Orlando found an equalizer in stoppage time. But less than a minute later the stunned home crowd were sent into a frenzy when Jackson found Milton Rodriguez for the winner.  Full Recap [+]

How They Qualified: Automatic entrant from top six MLS finish in 2010.

The Dallas Burn defeated DC United in penalty kicks to win the 1997 US Open Cup title. Photo courtesy of FC Dallas.

Open Cup History: Up to 2009, FC Dallas could claim the distinction of being the only MLS team to participate in every Pro Era Open Cup tournament since the league began in 1996. Dallas found success early in their Open Cup history, reaching the Semifinals in 1996 and winning the title on penalties over DC United in 1997. This is Dallas’ 12th Quarterfinals appearance, which is more than any MLS team in the Pro Era (1995-present). After last round’s victory, they improved their all-time quarterfinal record to 5-5-1 (1-0 in PKs). They are 3-3-0 all-time in semifinal matches, including a 2-1 extra time win over the Sounders in 2007 when they were a USL First Division side. In fact, the last time Dallas played a road game in the Open Cup was in that 2007 game at Qwest Field (now called CenturyLink Field).

While this is the first time the two have met as MLS franchises in Open Cup play, this will mark the third time Dallas has played the Sounders in the tournament. Before their 2007 encounter, Dallas’ first Open Cup game in franchise history was a quarterfinal meeting in 1996 against the Sounders of the A-League. The Burn (as they were known then) won the game 3-2 at the Cotton Bowl. (More details below)

As a side note, Dallas’ worst loss in the tournament came in 2001 at the hands of a PDL side by the name of the Seattle Sounders Select. In the Second Round that year, the young Sounders saw a one-goal lead disappear twice, with the last equalizer coming from Ariel Gaziani in the 78th minute for the Burn. In extra time, Kurt Ness would score the golden goal in the 97th minute to complete one of the biggest upsets of the Professional Era.

PRO ERA RECORDS: 21-12-4 (4-0 in PKs) | 6-8-2 vs. MLS teams

MORE: FC Dallas: Road warriors at the end of a long path in Seattle

Seattle Sounders

Since the Quarterfinals: The Sounders hit a mini rough patch after advancing from the quarterfinals. A wild 4-3 victory over reigning MLS champion Colorado was followed by a pair of losses as they dropped a 1-0 decision in Panama against San Francisco in their Champions League Preliminary Round opener and then fell 3-1 in Houston. The Sounders rebounded to advance via series overtime at home against San Francisco in the next match, sparking a seven-game unbeaten streak in all competitions heading into Tuesday. The current run of 6-0-1 includes the victories in Monterrey and Dallas as well as an impressive 4-1 Champions League win against Guatemalan power Comunicaciones. The Sounders were the second MLS club to win in Mexico, avenging a pair of defeats to the same Monterrey side they also played in the group phase a year ago. Alvaro Fernandez provided the 1-0 winner in the 38th minute avenge a heartbreaking road loss from the year before in which they saw a two-goal lead not hold up en route to a 3-2 loss to Monterrey. Seattle comes into the semifinal contest off an impressive 6-2 victory against the Columbus Crew Saturday in which they led 4-0 before the break. Lamar Neagle had a hat-trick on the day and Mike Fucito, TheCup.us Player of the Third Round, had a goal and an assist.

Quarterfinal: Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) 1:3 Seattle Sounders (MLS)
A year later it was Nate Jaqua again in the spotlight as Seattle downed the visiting Galaxy in the Quarterfinals for the second consecutive year. Jaqua notched a goal and an assist in the first 25 minutes as Seattle advanced to the Semifinals. If you include the Sounders’ USL history, it marked the fifth time in a row the club has reached the final four. No Professional Era team has accomplished that feat. Recap [+]

Third Round: Kitsap Pumas (PDL) 1:2 Seattle Sounders (MLS)
Mike Fucito put the Sounders up two goals, but the finish was not easy as the PDL side fought back with a goal from former number one MLS draft pick Nik Besagno. Recap [+]

How They Qualified: Automatic entrant from top six MLS finish in 2010.

The Seattle Sounders won their second straight US Open Cup title last year. Photo: Seattle Sounders

Open Cup History: Sounders FC set out to become a force in the Open Cup during their 2009 inaugural year, and did just that. They became the first expansion team since Chicago Fire in 1998 to take the Cup, winning 2-1 against DC United at RFK Stadium. They then turned around and made more history in 2010, as they became the first team since the New York Pancyprian Freedoms in 1982 and 1983 to win back-to-back Open Cup titles. Their victims this time were the Columbus Crew, by the score of 2-1 in front of the largest Final crowd ever (31,311). Used to going against MLS teams, this will be the second consecutive year Seattle and Los Angeles have played in the Open Cup, with Seattle notching a 2-0 win last year at Starfire.

Officially, the Sounders MLS franchise does not recognize the club’s USL history, but if they did … the Seattle Sounders have been competing in the Open Cup since 1995 and have reached the Semifinals three times (1995, 2007, 2008). The USL club’s all-time Open Cup record was 15-11-2 (1-1 in PKs) with an impressive 11-2-1 (1-0 in PKs) record at home and they eliminated five MLS teams (2003 – San Jose; 2007 – Chivas USA & Colorado Rapids; 2008 – Chivas USA & Kansas City Wizards).

PRO ERA RECORDS: 9-0-1 (1-0 in PKs) overall | 7-0-0 vs. MLS Teams

HEAD-TO-HEAD (Including Seattle’s USL history)

1996 US Open Cup Quarterfinals
Dallas Burn (MLS) 3:2 Seattle Sounders (A-League)

Cotton Bowl – Dallas, TX

The Sounders reached the Semifinals the year before, but with MLS entering the competition, the defending A-League champions had a much tougher road. They traveled to the Cotton Bowl to take on the Dallas Burn and three minutes into the game they had the lead when Joey Leonetti five-holed Mark Dodd to put the visitors up 1-0. The Sounders would take that lead into halftime, but the Burn came out firing in second half. Lawrence Lozzano tied the game in the 58th minute on an assist by Gerell Elliott. 12 minutes later, Mark Santel sent a through ball to Elliott in behind the Seattle defense and he tucked away the Burn’s second goal of the night. In the 79th minute, Dallas added an insurance goal as Elliott assisted on Ted Eck’s goal, beating Seattle’s promising young goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann. Seattle’s David Hoggan would convert a penalty kick in second half stoppage time, but the Burn would emerge victorious 3-2. (Fun fact: Jeff Cassar and Tom Soehn entered the game in the second half for Dallas, with both players making their respective MLS debuts)

2007 US Open Cup Semifinals
FC Dallas (MLS) 2:1 Seattle Sounders (USL-1)

Qwest Field – Seattle, WA

Dallas returned to the Semifinals for the second time in three years with a 2-1 extra time win over the Seattle Sounders. All the scoring came in extra time when Carlos Ruiz put the visitors up 1-0 in the 91st minute. In the final minutes of extra time, Abe Thompson was brought down in the penalty area by Zach Scott and was awarded a penalty kick. After Noah Merl was sent off for something that occurred away from the play, the Sounders would have to play with 10 men in the final minutes. Leighton O’Brien did manage to cut the lead in half at the end, but it was too little, too late.

Filed Under: US Open Cup Tagged With: 2011 Final, 2011 US Open Cup Final, 2011 USOC Qualifying, FC Dallas/Dallas Burn, Seattle Sounders MLS

Hosting scenarios for 2011 US Open Cup Final announced

August 26, 2011 by Josh Hakala

The United States Soccer Federation has unveiled the hosting possibilities for the 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The match will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 4, regardless of the location. The combination of winners of the Semifinal match-ups, which will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 30, will determine where the championship will be decided.

The defending two-time champion Seattle Sounders are in the driver’s seat as potential hosts. The club was selected to host the tournament final against the other semifinal winner should they defeat 2010 MLS Cup finalist FC Dallas, a fellow participant in the ongoing CONCACAF Champions League. Should Seattle falter, the location will be determined by the result of the semifinal featuring the Chicago Fire and Richmond Kickers, members of the third-division USL Pro.

Championship Host Scenarios

Chicago Fire / Richmond Kickers at Seattle Sounders
CenturyLink Field – Seattle, Wash. – Time TBA
OR
FC Dallas at Chicago Fire
Toyota Park – Bridgeview, Ill. – Time TBA
OR
Richmond Kickers at FC Dallas
Pizza Hut Park – Frisco, Texas – Time TBA

The tournament resumes Tuesday evening after a month break in play with semifinal contests hosted by Chicago and Seattle.

In the first game, the four-time tournament champion Chicago Fire welcomes this year’s lower division surprise, the Richmond Kickers of USL Pro (3rd Division) into Toyota Park at 8:30 p.m. EST. The second game will feature the defending Open Cup champion Seattle Sounders as they host FC Dallas at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash starting at 10:00 pm EST.

The Sounders, who are looking to become the fourth club in US Open Cup history to three-peat, will host the final for the second year in a row if they are victorious. Seattle has yet to lose a championship game in their brief MLS history (2-0-0).

The Chicago Fire are attempting to make history with their record-tying fifth Open Cup title this year. If they win their final four match against Richmond, they need FC Dallas to beat Seattle in order for the Fire to host. Historically, this would be a boost to the Fire because they have never lost a championship game on their home field, winning the 1998, 2000 and 2006 titles. They won the 2003 tournament at Giants Stadium against the Metrostars, but they suffered their only championship game loss at Kansas City in 2004. They have not reached a final since beating the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-1 at Toyota Park in 2006.

The only time FC Dallas has ever hosted an Open Cup Final was when they lost to the New England Revolution in 2007, but this year they will be attempting to lift their second Dewar Cup. Their only title came in the 1997 tournament when they beat DC United in penalty kicks after a scoreless draw at Carroll Track and Field Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. (Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis).

The Richmond Kickers, who have made history by becoming the first lower division club to upset back-to-back MLS teams on the road, will have to win a third (at Chicago) and then a fourth (at either FC Dallas or Seattle) in order to win their second Open Cup championship. The Kickers won the 1995 Open Cup as a member of the USISL Premier League (now USL Premier Development League). They defeated two professional teams before upsetting a third pro team, the El Paso Patriots, in penalty kicks 4-2 to claim the championship after a 1-1 draw.

The home team is 10-3-1 (0-1 in PKs) in Open Cup Finals in the Professional Era (1995-present) with two games (1997, 1999) being played at neutral venues.

Hosts are determined via a blind bid process by the USSF that takes into account numerous factors such as facilities, potential or guaranteed revenue, fans and media.

Filed Under: US Open Cup Tagged With: 2011 Final, 2011 US Open Cup Final, 2011 USOC Qualifying, Chicago Fire MLS, FC Dallas/Dallas Burn, Richmond Kickers, Seattle Sounders MLS

2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup results

June 21, 2011 by Josh Hakala

The Seattle Sounders celebrate the 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup championship. Photo: Steven Bisig | USA TODAY Sports

 

The Seattle Sounders celebrate the 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup championship. Photo: Steven Bisig | USA TODAY Sports
The Seattle Sounders celebrate the 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup championship. Photo: Steven Bisig | USA TODAY Sports

2011 US Open Cup bracket [+]
2011 US Open Cup participant map [+]
Meet the USASA: Class of 2011 [+]

Click on the scores below for more information.

FIRST ROUND AWAY TEAM SCORE HOME TEAM
June 14 Western Mass Pioneers (PDL) 0:3 FC New York (USL Pro)
June 14 Reading United (PDL) 1:2 Harrisburg City Islanders (USL Pro)
June 14 Chattanooga FC (NPSL) 2:3 (AET) Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL Pro)
June 14 Dayton Dutch Lions (USL Pro) 1:4 Richmond Kickers (USL Pro)
June 14 Charlotte Eagles (USL Pro) 3:1 Carolina Dynamo (PDL)
June 14 Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) 1:2 NY Pancyprian Freedoms (USASA)
June 14 Central Florida Kraze (PDL) 0:4 Wilmington Hammerheads (USL Pro)
June 14 ASC New Stars (USASA) 0:4 Orlando City SC (USL Pro)
June 14 Regals FC (USASA) 0:2 Charleston Battery (USL Pro)
June 14 Phoenix SC (USASA) 1:2 Rochester Rhinos (USL Pro)
June 14 AAC Eagles (USASA) 0:4 Madison 56ers (NPSL)
June 14 Hollywood United (NPSL) 1:3 Los Angeles Blues (USL Pro)
June 14 Chicago Fire PDL (PDL) 1:0 Iowa Menace (USASA)
June 14 DV8 Defenders (USASA) 0:5 Real Colorado Foxes (PDL)
June 14 Kitsap Pumas (PDL) 0:0
(6:5 PK)
Chivas El Paso Patriots (PDL)
June 14 Doxa Italia (USASA) 1:3 Ventura County Fusion (PDL)
SECOND ROUND AWAY TEAM SCORE HOME TEAM
June 21 FC New York (USL Pro) 0:0
(6:5 PK)
NY Pancyprian Freedoms (USASA)
June 21 Rochester Rhinos (USL Pro) 1:0 Harrisburg City Islanders (USL Pro)
June 21 Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL Pro) 1:4 Richmond Kickers (USL Pro)
June 21 Charlotte Eagles (USL Pro) 2:3
(AET)
Wilmington Hammerheads (USL Pro)
June 21 Orlando City SC (USL Pro) 1:0 Charleston Battery (USL-Pro)
June 21 Real Colorado Foxes (PDL) 1:3 Kitsap Pumas (PDL)
June 21 Los Angeles Blues (USL Pro) 1:0 Ventura County Fusion (PDL)
June 22 Chicago Fire PDL (PDL) 2:0 Madison 56ers (NPSL)
THIRD ROUND AWAY TEAM SCORE HOME TEAM
June 28 FC New York (USL Pro) 1:2 New York Red Bulls (MLS)
June 28 Chicago Fire (MLS) 1:0 Rochester Rhinos (USL Pro)
June 28 Richmond Kickers (USL Pro) 2:1 Columbus Crew (MLS)
June 28 Wilmington Hammerheads (USL Pro) 0:2 Real Salt Lake (MLS)
June 28 Orlando City (USL Pro) 2:3 FC Dallas (MLS)
June 28 Chicago Fire PDL (PDL) 0:3 Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
June 28 Los Angeles Blues (USL Pro) 1:2 Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
June 28 Kitsap Pumas (PDL) 1:2 Seattle Sounders (MLS)
QUARTERFINALS AWAY TEAM SCORE HOME TEAM
July 12 New York Red Bulls (MLS) 0:4 Chicago Fire (MLS)
July 12 Richmond Kickers (USL Pro) 2:0 Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
July 12 Real Salt Lake (MLS) 0:2 FC Dallas (MLS)
July 13 Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) 1:3 Seattle Sounders (MLS)
SEMIFINALS AWAY TEAM SCORE HOME TEAM
August 30 Richmond Kickers (USL Pro) 1:2 Chicago Fire (MLS)
August 30 FC Dallas (MLS) 0:1 Seattle Sounders (MLS)
FINAL AWAY TEAM SCORE HOME TEAM
October 4 Chicago Fire (MLS) 0:2 Seattle Sounders (MLS)

Filed Under: US Open Cup Tagged With: 2011 Final, 2011 First Round, 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, 2011 Quarterfinals, 2011 Second Round, 2011 Semifinals, 2011 Third Round, 2011 US Open Cup, 2011 US Open Cup results, 2011 USOC Qualifying

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U.S. Open Cup History

1995 us open cup rewind graphic

1995 US Open Cup Rewind series: The Modern Era begins

The 30th anniversary of the 1995 Open Cup is upon us this year, and as we did with the inaugural tournament in 1913-1914, we’re going to take you back in time and relive the 1995 US Open Cup in chronological order, as it happened.

  • Dating back to 1913, Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh soccer rivalry returns to US Open Cup
  • How a US Open Cup classic, locker room vandalism inspired fans to create Coffee Pot Cup
  • Highs and lows of Los Angeles’ 25 all-time US Open Cup Final appearances
  • Before Lionel Messi’s 2023 US Open Cup impact, Pele changed the 1975 Final in a different way
  • A history of violence against referees in US Open Cup

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