2013 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

The Third Round of the 100th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup wraps up tonight with seven games involving lower division teams against Major League Soccer. Five of the seven games feature teams that had to travel over 1,000 miles. Will the extra miles make an impact?

Follow all the action on Twitter tonight either by following @USOpenCup to get score updates, or use ethe hashtag #USOC100 to read all the discussion and updates about the games and about the tournament in general.

First the important information:

2013 US Open Cup results
2013 US Open Cup bracket
2013 US Open Cup goalscoring leaders
Player of the Round: Brandon Fricke (Des Moines)
The First Cup series (1913/14)
Things you should know about Round 3
Notable upsets from US Open Cup Round 3

Here is the schedule for the rest of the Third Round (All Times Eastern):

Chicago Fire (MLS) at Charlotte Eagles (USL Pro)
Winthrop University Stadium – Rock Hill, SC – 7 p.m.
Broadcast: VIDEO
If Charlotte wins: Road game vs. Dayton/Columbus
If Chicago wins: Home game vs. Dayton/Columbus

Charlotte: Downing the PDL’s Sounders U23s 3-0 at home last week in the Open Cup was a far easier task than what was ahead for them in league play as they headed west for a pair of games. The first came Thursday against Phoenix, who was idle Tuesday because they had lost in the previous round of the tournament. Charlotte (3-1-4) took the lead twice on goals from Christian Ramirez and Sergio Villasenor only to see the hosts answer back as all four goals in the 2-2 draw came in the first half. Two days later it was Charlotte fighting to rally after giving up the first three to LA, including an own goal opener. Jorge Herrera scored from the spot, but his second and Stefan Smith’s late goal were not enough with LA adding one more in the second half to hand Charlotte their first loss, 4-3.

Chicago: The Fire (2-7-2) ended a three-game losing streak with Quincy Amarikwa’s 84th minute equalizer at Real Salt Lake Saturday in a 1-1 draw. The team’s big news in the past week is the acquisition of Mike Magee from Los Angeles in exchange for the rights to Robbie Rogers. The Chicago native, who says he is ready to make his Fire debut in the Open Cup, had six goals this season for the Galaxy, a tally three times that of Chicago’s leading scorer Maicon Santos, who was the only one on the roster with two goals.

LA Galaxy (MLS) at Carolina RailHawks (NASL)
WakeMed Soccer Park – Cary, NC – 7:15 p.m.
Broadcast: VIDEO
Winner gets: Home game vs. Chivas USA

RailHawks: Carolina (3-1-2) was idle over the weekend for the NASL, making their 3-1 dispatching of local PDL side Carolina Dynamo their most recent action. The off week allowed Atlanta to pass them in the standings, but the RailHawks remain the only team in the league with just one loss on the ledger.

Galaxy: The Galaxy (6-4-2) are coming off a huge 4-0 home victory over the Sounders, who were on a six-game unbeaten streak in comparison to a rough patch for the Galaxy that had seen them lost three of their last four. Robbie Keane helped set up the opening goal by defender Sean Franklin before scoring the next three himself before the intermission. The three goals put him within one of former team scoring leader Mike Magee, who was traded to Chicago late last week with six goals on the campaign in exchange for the rights to Robbie Rogers, whom the team signed and played off the bench Sunday. Rogers’ entry marked the first time an openly gay athlete played in a game within the major American sports leagues.

Seattle Sounders (MLS) at Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL)
Al Lang Stadium; St. Petersburg, FL – 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast: VIDEO
Winner gets: Portland Timbers (MLS) or Wilmington Hammerheads (USL Pro)

Rowdies: After dispatching their cross-bay USL Pro foes VSI Tampa Bay 2-1 on the road last week, the Rowdies played host to Minnesota United, who they beat on the road 3-2 the previous weekend. Minnesota, however, avenged the loss by the same score in St Petersburg. Georgi Hristov did his best to prevent it with an early equalizer, and after falling behind by two he pulled them back within a goal with a second. Tampa Bay (3-2-2), however, were unable to find another equalizer in the remaining hour of the contest.

Sounders: After a horrible start to the season, the Sounders (5-4-4) are among the hottest in the league right now with a 4-1-2 record in the last seven. The team, however, is coming off a big 4-0 defeat in Los Angeles on Sunday to the Galaxy, showcasing the team’s inconsistent scoring issues. The Sounders are led by Eddie Johnson’s four goals with Lamar Neagle and Obafemi Martins each having three.

Dayton Dutch Lions (USL Pro) at Columbus Crew (MLS)
Columbus Crew Stadium – Columbus, OH – 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast: VIDEO
If Dayton wins: Home game vs. Charlotte OR Road game at Chicago
If Columbus wins: Home game vs. Charlotte OR Road game at Chicago

Dayton: The Dutch Lions (4-2-1) needed overtime to get past USASA entry Dearborn Stars, who fell apart in overtime of their Open Cup contest last week to the tune of a 4-1 result. The team then played host to pointless Antigua, picking up a 3-1 victory with goals from Joey Madigan, Eli Garner and Remco Klasse.

Columbus: After suffering just one loss in their first six (2-1-3), things have cooled off for the Crew (4-4-4), who are coming into the match on the heels of a 2-2 showdown at home with New York in which they led twice and saw a victory stolen from their grasp in stoppage time. The magic of Federico Higuain and Jairo Arrieta of a year ago has waned a bit this year with Dominic Oduro providing the leading scoring touch with six goals. Higuain is still no slouch with three goals and three assists, but defender Josh Williams also has three goals.

Reading United AC (PDL) at New York Red Bulls (MLS)
Red Bull Arena – Harrison, NJ – 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast: VIDEO
Winner gets: Road game vs. New England Revolution

Reading: Perfect. The PDL affiliate of the Philadelphia Union have blanked every team they have faced this year, downing Lehigh Valley of the NPSL in the First Round and stunning USL Pro Harrisburg in the Second Round to reach Wednesday night’s match against the Red Bulls. After posting previous 8-0 and 3-0 wins at home in previous weeks of league play, the club went on the road for the first time this year and were 4-0 winners against the New York Magic with first half goals from Jason Plumhoff and Patrick Slogic along with two from Dante Marini off the bench.

New York: The last seven games (5-0-2) have certainly been a huge improvement over the first eight (2-4-2) for the Red Bulls who come into the match with a 2-2 draw against Columbus in which they equalized twice through Thierry Henry and defender Jamison Olave, including in stoppage time. Henry is the leading scorer with six goals but Tim Cahill has been a major contributor with four goals and three assists. Olave has also been a big influence, chipping in four goals in addition to his primary role.

FC Tucson (PDL) at Houston Dynamo (MLS)
BBVA Compass Stadium – Houston, TX – 8:30 p.m.
Broadcast: VIDEO
Winner gets: Road game vs. FC Dallas

Tucson: Road weariness may become an issue. After advancing in San Antonio last week via penalties (4-3) after a 2-2 draw against the NASL Scorpions, the club ventured the other direction over the weekend for a double dip in California. They fell to fellow Open Cup participant Ventura County 2-1 Saturday and played the OC Blues Strikers to a 1-1 draw Sunday. David Clemens scored in the loss and Open Cup hero Conner Bevans tallied the equalizer in the second outing, giving them a 1-1-2 league record.

Houston: A top team since the season opened, the Dynamo (6-4-3) are in a bit of a slump winless in their last three (0-2-1). Brad Davis provided the lone goal in their 1-1 draw Sunday against Houston, giving him three goals and three assists on the year. Ahead of him on the team scoring charts are Will Bruin (4g, 4a) and Giles Barnes (4g, 2a).

Wilmington Hammerheads (USL Pro) at Portland Timbers (MLS)
Jeld-Wen Field – Portland, OR – 10:30 p.m.
Broadcast: VIDEO
If Hammerheads win: Road game at Seattle OR vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies (Venue TBA)
If Timbers win: Road game at Seattle OR home game vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies

Wilmington: The struggling Hammerheads (2-7-0) got a lot of help from Austin in their 2-0 Open Cup road win against the Aztex last week. The road trip continued with a double dip in league play over the weekend in Florida where they were drubbed by league-leading Orlando 4-1 and narrowly topped 1-0 by Tampa Bay. Paul Nicholson scored the lone tally in Orlando.

Portland: Welcoming the road-weary Hammerheads will be the only team in MLS with just one loss on the campaign as the Timbers (5-1-7) enter the match not having lost since the second game of the season. Portland are returning from the east coast where they blanked DC 2-0 on goals from Rodney Wallace and Darlington Nagbe, who both join Ryan Johnson (who also has four assists) for second on the team in goals with four. Will Johnson is the team’s top scorer with five on the season. It also should be noted Diego Valeri is close behind with three goals and four assists.

The Third Round of the 100th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup begins tonight with nine of the 16 games being played. Six of the nine games tonight will be hosted by lower division opponents looking to pull off an upset in the first night of action. Wednesday night will feature seven more games.

Follow all the action on Twitter tonight either by following @USOpenCup to get score updates, or use ethe hashtag #USOC100 to read all the discussion and updates about the games and about the tournament in general.

First the important information:

2013 US Open Cup results
2013 US Open Cup bracket
2013 US Open Cup goalscoring leaders
Player of the Round: Brandon Fricke (Des Moines)
The First Cup series (1913/14)
Things you should know about Round 3
Notable upsets from US Open Cup Round 3

Here is the schedule for the Third Round (All Times Eastern):

D.C. United (MLS) at Richmond Kickers (USL Pro)
Richmond City Stadium – Richmond, VA – 7:00 p.m.
Broadcast: VIDEO
Winner gets: Home game vs. Philadelphia/Ocean City

Richmond: Following their convincing 4-1 victory over the USASA entry Icon FC last week, the Kickers had a quick turnaround to league play with a Friday fixture. They handled it nicely, defeating fellow title contender Harrisburg 2-0 on goals from Nate Robinson and DC United loanee Michael Seaton. With Charlotte losing on the weekend, the Kickers are now the lone remaining unbeaten club among the three professional leagues at 5-0-3.

DC: Struggling at 1-9-2, United may be wishing they had drawn someone other than their affiliate as the Kickers are among the top clubs in the lower divisions right now, partly thanks to their loaned players. DC has not won since their second game of the season and have just two points since. Lionard Pajoy is the only player with two goals for DC, which has just six on the season. Among the goal scorers is former Kicker Dwayne De Rosario. DC fell 2-0 at home Saturday with Portland scoring once in each half.

This is the sixth all-time meeting between the 1995 US Open Cup champion Richmond Kickers and the two-time champion DC United in the tournament with DC winning four of the five. This will be a rematch from last year, a 2-1 extra time win by DC in the same stadium. The Kickers haven’t beaten United since the 2004 Fourth Round. It could be a close game as United’s last three Open Cup games have gone to extra time, and they haven’t defeated an opponent by more than two goals since 2006. D.C. is also 6-6-1 all-time away from home in the Open Cup, while they Kickers are 19-4-0 in their own stadium. Two of those home losses have been delivered by United (2005, 2012).

San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) at Charleston Battery (USL Pro)
Blackbaud Stadium – Charleston, SC – 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast: VIDEO
Winner gets: Road game vs. Atlanta/Real Salt Lake

Charleston: The Battery (6-2-1) were off to one of the best starts in the league, but things have gotten tight as of late with only two goals in the last four combined outings in league and Open Cup play. The good news is they have only allowed one goal in that same span. After defeating the PDL Timbers U23 side on the road in the Open Cup, the Battery played to a scoreless draw at home against the struggling Rochester Rhinos, playing the final half-hour down a man.

San Jose: The Earthquakes (3-5-6) have been surprisingly limping through the season and are in the midst of a three-game winless run coming into the match off a 1-0 loss in Dallas. League MVP Chris Wondolowski is the team leader in scoring (5 goals, 3 assists) but suspensions to other offensive leaders have cost the team dearly with second leading scorer being rookie Adam Jahn (4 goals), who has been called upon to step up in their absences.

The San Jose Earthquakes are going to make their first East Coast trip in US Open Cup play since 2000 when they visit Blackbaud Stadium tonight. Since defeating the Richmond Kickers on the road that year, they haven’t gone farther east than Milwaukee. This is also just the third time they have faced a Division III professional team in Open Cup play. The last time they did was also in 2000, when they traveled down to Modesto, Calif. to beat the Stanislaus United Cruisers of the USL’s D-3 Pro League by a score of 5-0. The Battery are tough to beat at home with a record of 19-6-3 (2-1 in PKs) at Blackbaud and have eliminated eight MLS teams in their franchise history (six in regulation, two by penalty kicks).

Colorado Rapids (MLS) at Orlando City SC (USL Pro)
Florida Citrus Bowl – Orlando, FL – 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast: USLnation.com
Winner gets: Road game at Sporting KC or Home game vs. Des Moines Menace

Orlando City: Coming off their 2-1 road victory over nearby PDL side Ocala Stampede, the Lions (8-1-2) were big winners on Saturday to remain atop the USL Pro table. They downed Wilmington 4-1 with goals from four different players, including leading scorers Dom Dwyer (13 goals, 1 assist) and Jamie Watson (5 goals, 1 assist).

Colorado: The Rapids are in the midst of their best run of the year with a five-game unbeaten streak (3-0-2). Colorado is coming off a 2-0 home victory against struggling Chivas USA in which Atiba Harris and Nathan Sturgis scored their second tallies of the year. Rookie Deshorn Brown helped set up both goals and has been one of the team’s top players this season with a pair of goals and four assists, making him the team leader in points as no other player has more than two goals. Since losing starting keeper Matt Pickens to injury, the team has been led by former USL Pro Charlotte Eagles net minder Clint Irwin who has been impressive with a 5-2-4 record and five shutouts. Irwin was instrumental in the Eagles’ surprising Open Cup run last year, and received some votes for TheCup.us Player of the Tournament.

In Orlando City’s brief existance they have made the Open Cup a priority and the performances show that. They have reached the Third Round in each of their first three seasons, but the last hurdle they have to overcome is defeating an MLS team. They have lost a pair of road games to FC Dallas in 2011 and eventual champions Sporting Kansas City in the last two years, with both games finishing with a 3-2 scoreline. This will be the first time they host an MLS team, and furthermore, according to records here at TheCup.us, it is the first time the Open Cup has been played at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando.
The tournament has not been kind to the Rapids, however. As one of the original MLS clubs, their lone highlight was their run to the 1999 Final where they lost to the Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-League, Division II). Aside from that, they have never won more than one tournament game in a year. They are 9-12-0 all-time in the Open Cup and are the only MLS club with at least 10 games played with a record below .500. A lack of home games probably hasn’t helped. Out of their 21 Open Cup games in club history, they have only hosted three of them, although they are 3-0-0 in those home games.

FC Dallas (MLS) at Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL)
Lockhart Stadium – Fort Lauderdale, FL – 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast: VIDEO
If FC Dallas wins: Host winner of FC Tucson/Houston Dynamo
If Strikers win: Travel to Houston Dynamo OR vs. FC Tucson at venue TBA

Fort Lauderdale: The club survived a scare from the PDL’s Laredo Heat last week in the Open Cup, advancing 7-6 in penalties after a 1-1 draw at home. The Strikers (2-4-1) then traversed the continent and snared another narrow result with a 1-0 win in Edmonton on a second half penalty from Carlos Salazar.

Dallas: The leaders of the Western Conference (8-2-3) come into the match with a 1-0 victory over San Jose in which Fabian Castillo provided the winner. The team’s loss the week before, 4-2 in Seattle, was their first defeat since the second game of the season. Scoring has been a team affair with three tied with three goals and another three at two.

FC Dallas have been one of the better US Open Cup teams in MLS having won the 1997 title, and finishing runner-up in 2005 and 2007. They were one-and-done last year for only the second time in franchise history (first time since 2003) when they were stunned by Clint Irwin and the Charlotte Eagles by a score of 2-0 at FC Dallas Stadium. They are 13-1-2 (2-0 in PKs) all-time against second division teams.

The Strikers, on the other hand, have struggled in Open Cup play having never defeated an MLS team (0-3-0) and holding a 6-5-0 all-time record. This will be a challenge for the organization as this is the first time they are hosting an MLS team, as they try to get their fan base excited about the tournament. Despite being 6-1-0 at home, they team has never drawn more than 1,000 fans to an Open Cup home game. Expect that to change with FC Dallas coming to town.

New England Revolution (MLS) at Rochester Rhinos (USL Pro)
Sahlen’s Stadium – Rochester, NY – 7:35 p.m.
Broadcast: USLNation.com
Winner gets: Home game vs. Reading United/New York Red Bulls

Rochester: This may not be a year to expect another 1999 Open Cup run from Rochester (1-6-2). After narrowly surviving last week with a 1-0 win against GPS Portland Phoenix of the PDL, the team suffered even more injury woes on the weekend, losing two defenders as they played to a scoreless draw on the road in Charleston.

New England: In the last two weeks the Revolution have doubled their win total for the season to move to 4-4-4 on the campaign. New England comes into the contest with a 2-0 home victory against Toronto with goals from Diego Fagundez and Juan Agudelo, who joined the club from Chivas USA earlier this month and already matched his two-goal tally from the LA club giving him and Fagundez four for the year.

The Revolution are looking to get back to winning games in the US Open Cup, as they have suffered two straight one-and-done losses to the Harrisburg City Islanders in 2012 and 2009 (they did not qualify in 2010 and 2011). They won the tournament in 2007 and reached the final in 2001, but aside from those two runs, they have only won multiple games in one tournament once (2008).

Rochester’s Open Cup history is headlined by their Cinderella run to the 1999 title, but they have qualified for the tournament in every season, and have only lost their opening round game once (2001 vs. Hershey Wildcats). The Rhinos are second to only the Seattle Sounders in most wins in the Modern Professional Era with 29 and no one has upset more MLS teams (9) than Rochester. However, of those 29 regulation victories, none of them are against the Revolution (they are 3-2 in PK shootouts, one of those wins are against New England). The Rhinos try to improve on their 0-2-2 record against the Revs in Sahlen’s Stadium where they are 23-6-4 (2-2 in PKs) all-time.

Ocean City Nor’easters (PDL) at Philadelphia Union (MLS)
PPL Park – Chester, PA – 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast: VIDEO
Winner gets: Road game vs. Richmond/DC United

Ocean City: After knocking off the NPSL’s New York Red Bull U23 side 2-0 in the First Round and surprising the struggling USL Pro Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1-0 in the Second Round, the Nor’easters head into the contest with a 1-0-0 record in league play. The team was idle, though, in PDL play over the weekend.

Philadelphia: Jack McInerney has been grabbing headlines with nine goals on the season, but with nobody else contributing more than two goals, the Union (5-5-3) have been mired mid-table. McInerney scored his ninth five minutes into the weekend’s game against Montreal to pull even, but it was the Impact’s Di Vaio who stole the show with a hat-trick in the 5-3 victory.

Des Moines Menace (PDL) at Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
Sporting Park – Kansas City, KS – 8:30 p.m.
Broadcast: VIDEO
If KC wins: Home game vs. Orlando City/Colorado
If Des Moines wins: Road game vs. Orlando City/Colorado

Des Moines: It has all been ones and zeros so far this season for Des Moines. They advanced against the NPSL Madison 56ers 1-0 in the First Round and were 1-0 road victors against NASL Minnesota United last week in the Second Round. Meanwhile in league play, they opened with a 1-1 draw in Springfield, were 1-0 winners against Winnipeg and, most recently over the weekend, suffered their first loss, falling 1-0 in St Louis.

KC: The defending Open Cup champions started the season off well with one loss in their first seven before dropping three of their next four. They come into the match, though, on a three game unbeaten run (1-0-2) featuring a 1-1 draw at home against Houston Sunday in which Kei Kamara scored the equalizer midway through the second half. The goal was Kamara’s first in four appearances since returning from is loan spell with Norwich City. Claudio Bieler has been the leading scorer with six goals while Graham Zusi has been a key contributor with three goals and five assists.

Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) at Real Salt Lake (MLS)
Rio Tinto Stadium – Sandy, UT – 9:30 p.m.
Broadcast: VIDEO
Winner gets: Home game vs. San Jose/Charleston

Atlanta: It was not easy, but the Silverbacks (4-2-1) survived a 3-2 road contest against nearby NPSL entry Georgia Revolution last week in the Open Cup. They celebrated the win by moving into first in the NASL with a 1-0 victory against San Antonio courtesy of an 86th minute goal from Danny Barrera, who was one of the stars for last year’s Cinderella tournament darling Cal FC before joining the Silverbacks. His Cal FC manager Eric Wynalda will be on the sideline as an assistant coach for the match in Utah.

RSL: Real Salt Lake (6-4-2) comes into the match with a 3-1-1 record in their last five and a 1-1 draw on the road against struggling Chicago in which Alvaro Saborio’s 78th minute tally was cancelled out with an equalizer six minutes from time. It was the striker’s team-leading fourth goal of the campaign with five other players on the squad sitting on two goals.

Chivas USA (MLS) at Los Angeles Blues (USL Pro)
Titan Stadium – Fullerton, CA – 10:30 p.m.
Broadcast: VIDEO
Winner gets: Road game at LA Galaxy/Carolina

LA Blues: The Blues (5-5-2) blasted usual PDL power Ventura County 5-1 in the Open Cup a week ago and took advantage of an exhausted Charlotte side in league play Saturday, beating the Eagles 4-3 in a match in which they initially led by three goals. Gifted the lead on an own goal, Chris Cortez scored the second and the winner as well as setting up the third, doubling his goal and assist tallies for the season to make him the team leader in points.

Chivas: Chivas USA started off really well with one loss in their first five games (3-1-1), but it has been a disaster since with one point in eight games and are now 3-7-2. The LA club is coming off a 2-0 loss in Colorado, adding to their current four-game losing streak that has seen an aggregate scoreline of 13-1 since their 2-2 draw against San Jose a month ago. Juan Agudelo, who was traded to New England May 7, is still the only player to have scored more than once in a Chivas USA uniform this season.

#USOC100