Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Los Angeles FC

2018 US Open Cup Semifinals: Hat trick by Diego Rossi earns him TheCup.us Player of the Round despite LAFC not advancing

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Diego Rossi of LAFC celebrates one of his three goals against the Houston Dynamo in the 2018 US Open Cup Semifinals. The match finished in a 3-3 draw and the Dynamo prevailed 7-6 on penalty kicks. Photo: Houston Dynamo
Diego Rossi of LAFC celebrates one of his three goals against the Houston Dynamo in the 2018 US Open Cup Semifinals. The match finished in a 3-3 draw and the Dynamo prevailed 7-6 on penalty kicks. Photo: Houston Dynamo

Los Angeles FC forward Diego Rossi has been voted TheCup.us Player of the Round for the Semifinals of the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Rossi’s hat trick wasn’t just another superb performance by the young Uruguyuan but it was historic despite the fact that Houston edged out the Black and Gold on penalty kicks 7-6 after a 3-3 draw after 120 minutes.

It was two-man race for the award as Philadelphia’s Cory Burke had a brace in the Union’s 3-0 semifinal win against the Chicago Fire and finished second. Burke’s teammate, and the man who assisted on both of his goals, Alejandro Bedoya, finished a distant third.

The award is voted on by the staff of TheCup.us and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters.

Rossi, in a season of firsts for the MLS expansion side Los Angeles FC, tied David Ochoa (Miami United FC) for the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup scoring lead with his three-goal performance.

Rossi signed in December has been as clutch for LAFC as clutch can be. In March, he scored the team’s first-ever goal in their first win against the Seattle Sounders. Since that first goal, he has climbed the ladder on the MLS stat sheets adding six more goals and six assists. Add in five more goals and an assist in US Open Cup play and the 20-year-old has 12 goals and seven assists in 25 games.

The former Penarol forward began his Player of the Round performance with what has become his trademark, sprinting into space to receive a ball from a teammate this time it was Lee Nguyen. He slotted it past Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Joe Willis in the sixth minute to give LAFC the opening goal of the game. It would be their only lead of the night.

“I’m always trying to help the team by finding space,” Rossi told MLSsoccer.com in their Rising Star series. “Being smart on the ball and continuing to be mobile.”

Late in the game, with LAFC trailing 3-1, Rossi showed the Houston Dynamo why he was labeled by the MLS piece as “A defender’s worst nightmare.”

In the 78th minute, Jordan Harvey raced towards the endline before delivering a service into the box. The ball deflected off Houston’s Andrew Wenger and then off the head of Adolfo Machado before landing at the feet of Rossi. The former Uruguyuan Under-20 champion settled and deftly placed a left-footed boot inside the far post.

Now within a goal, Rossi and company were not to be denied. The second-highest scoring team in Major League Soccer received a free kick just outside the Dynamo box late in second half stoppage time. Willis, charging off his line, deflected the Aaron Kovar delivery on one bounce to an unmarked Diego Rossi. With a flick of his head, Rossi not only tied the match but settled into the record books as the first Uruguayan to score a hat trick in the Modern Era (1995-present) after the Quarterfinals. He also became the first Uruguayan to score a hat trick in the Modern Era and the first to win the Player of the Round award.

After a scoreless 30 minutes of extra time, the match went into penalty kicks where the Dynamo prevailed, 7-6. Rossi converted his penalty kick attempt in Round 7, only to see Latif Blessing’s attempt saved in the next round which would prove to be the difference.

Rossi is the only player to win a “Round” award and not advance (NOTE: Chris Eylander of the Seattle Sounders won TheCup.us Player of the Tournament award despite being eliminated in the Semifinals).

“Diego has been great. He’s young, energetic. When he gets near the goal, he’s pretty clinical,” teammate Steven Beitashour said following a Rossi brace in mid-March. “There’s a reason we brought him here.”

And now, despite LAFC being eliminated in the Semifinals, the rest of the soccer world understands that reason too following Rossi’s historic performance.

2018 TheCup.us Player of the Round winners

Preliminary Round: Rasmus Hansen (Brooklyn Italians, NPSL)
First Round: Chuka Aruh (Inter Nashville FC, NPSL)
Second Round: Christian Okeke (NTX Rayados, USASA)
Third Round: Allisson Faramilio (FC Golden State Force, PDL)
Fourth Round: Brian Ownby (Louisville City FC, USL)
Fifth Round: Daniel Salloi (Sporting Kansas City, MLS)
Quarterfinals: Romell Quioto (Houston Dynamo, MLS)
Semifinals: Diego Rossi (Los Angeles FC, MLS)

2018 US Open Cup Semifinals: Who should be voted TheCup.us Player of the Round?

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Houston Dynamo Cory Burke Philadelphia Union 2018 US Open Cup Semifinals
The Houston Dynamo won a dramatic penalty kick shootout with LAFC and Cory Burke scored a pair of goals in the Philadelphia Union’s 3-0 win over the Chicago Fire in the 2018 US Open Cup Semifinals. Photos: Houston Dynamo / Philadelphia Union

There were only two games in the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Semifinals, but there were plenty of impressive individual performances to choose from for TheCup.us Player of the Round. The staff of TheCup.us and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters will be voting for the award and while the votes are being cast and tallied up, check out the list of nominees below (in alphabetical order) and tell us who YOU think deserves to win on Facebook or Twitter:

Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union, MLS): Bedoya started and played all 90 minutes and assisted on both of Cory Burke’s goals in a 3-0 home win over the Chicago Fire (MLS).

Cory Burke (Philadelphia Union, MLS): Burke started and played 81 minutes and scored the first two goals for the Union in a 3-0 home win over the Chicago Fire (MLS).

Jack Elliott (Philadelphia Union, MLS): Elliott started in place of the injured Mark McKenzie and played 90 minutes was part of a Union defense that held the Chicago Fire to just eight shots and goalkeeper Andre Blake only had to make one save in Philadelphia’s 3-0 home win over Chicago.

Memo Rodriguez (Houston Dynamo, MLS): Rodriguez came off the bench in the 72nd minute and scored the third goal of the game three minutes later in the Houston Dynamo’s 3-3 draw (7-6 PK win) over LAFC (MLS). Rodriguez also converted his PK attempt in the shootout.

Diego Rossi (Los Angeles FC, MLS): Rossi scored all three goals for LAFC and played all 120 minutes in a 3-3 road draw (7-6 PK loss) at the Houston Dynamo. Down 3-1, Rossi scored to make it 3-2 and then his third goal came deep in second half stoppage time to force extra time. He also converted his penalty kick attempt in the shootout. He is the first Modern Era player (and the first Uruguayan) to score a hat trick in the Semifinals.

Andrew Wenger (Houston Dynamo, MLS): Wenger scored the Dynamo’s first goal of the game in the 12th minute (answering an early goal by Diego Rossi) and he started and played the entire 120 minutes in Houston’s 3-3 draw vs. LAFC (MLS). Wenger also converted the second-to-last PK in the shootout in Round 7.

USSF finds “insufficient evidence” of racial abuse in Portland Timbers-LAFC US Open Cup quarterfinal game

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USOC PDX-LAX FINALThe United States Soccer Federation issued a statement on Friday regarding an alleged “racial epithet” used in the cup quarterfinal between LAFC and Portland Timbers. Here’s the full statement:

The U.S. Open Cup Adjudication and Discipline Panel has conducted a hearing and reviewed evidence concerning alleged use of a racial epithet directed at LAFC player Adama Diomande by a Portland Timbers player during the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal match on July 18, 2018, in Los Angeles.

The Panel found that there was insufficient evidence to conclude that a racial epithet was used but as a matter of principle, the Panel condemned all forms of racial abuse, stating the use of a racial epithet has no place on or off the soccer field.

“U.S. Soccer bylaws expressly prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin, among other protected characteristics, and the FIFA Code of Ethics provides in relevant part that players shall not ‘offend the dignity or integrity of a … person … through contemptuous, discriminatory or denigratory words or actions on account of race, skin colour, ethnicity.’”

As part of the review, the Panel heard from all players involved. It should be clearly noted that the accused player strongly denies using a racial epithet. The panel also reviewed the match official’s report, along with written statements and video evidence provided by the clubs. After reviewing all of the available information, the Panel found no other individual that was able to confirm they heard the alleged use of the racial epithet.

While in no way diminishing the serious allegation, the Panel also took into consideration that the alleged incident occurred while multiple speakers spoke at the same time in multiple languages during a tense situation, which could allow one individual to misunderstand another individual.

In their written decision, the U.S. Open Cup Adjudication and Discipline Panel explained:

“…this is a case of a dispute over what was said between players on the playing field, amidst noise, confusion and multiple speakers speaking at once and in at least two languages. The match official did not hear the statement in question and did not issue a caution based on the incident, nor did any other player in the vicinity come forward to confirm they heard the alleged statement…Given the possibility that it is always possible to mishear or misunderstand another individual in a tense situation, the Panel concluded it does not have a basis to value the credibility of one player over another in this matter.”

In short, USSF says there’s insufficient evidence. This should be the end of the story, but it seems the Portland Timbers ruffled some feathers with their statement on Thursday. Here’s their statement

LAFC, the side that won that match,  responded with their statement on Friday. It reads as follows:

During the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal match on July 18 in Los Angeles, there was an on-field incident involving a Portland Timbers player allegedly calling LAFC forward Adama Diomande a racial slur.

We respect the U.S. Open Cup Adjudication and Discipline Panel process and their thorough investigation. LAFC accepts U.S. Soccer’s finding that the matter was inconclusive based on insufficient evidence and did not have a basis to value the credibility of one player over another in this matter.

We are disappointed that the Portland Timbers issued a statement that was dismissive of our player and the investigation by concluding it “simply did not happen”. We stand by Adama Diomande and his courageous public statement.

LAFC remain committed to creating a safe, positive, welcoming and inclusive environment for all players and fans at Banc of California Stadium. This is what our Club stands for as we continue to work to Unite the World’s City Through the World’s Game.

This all comes after Portland filed a protest regarding LAFC’s use of international players, which they eventually withdrew. In the end, neither team will be playing for the Cup. LAFC reached the Semifinals before losing in penalty kicks to Houston.

2018 US Open Cup Semifinals: Houston Dynamo survive Rossi’s LAFC comeback, reach Final in PKs

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houston-dynamo-2018-usoc-semifinalsIt may have taken 131 minutes of soccer including stoppage time and an eight-round penalty kick shootout but the third time was still the history-making charm for the Houston Dynamo as they advanced to the 2018 US Open Cup Final. The Dynamo made history in front of the home crowd at BBVA Compass Stadium turning a 3-3 draw into a dramatic 7-6 shootout win over Los Angeles FC and continuing the quest for the team’s first US Open Cup title.

The victory marked the first time Houston has advanced to the Final in three tries. The Dynamo had reached the Semifinals in 2006 and 2009 and now, in 2018, winning the tournament is an important goal for the team.

“I am proud of this team,” said a relieved and happy Houston head coach Wilmer Cabrera. “This team has never given up. Despite we were ahead, they tied.”

Memo Rodriguez came off the bench to give Houston a 3-1 lead in the 75th minute, but Diego Rossi pulled one back for LAFC three minutes later, and then scored his third goal of the game deep into second half stoppage time to level the match at 3-3. Rossi became the first player in the Modern Era (1995-present) to score a hat trick after the Quarterfinals. But Houston goalkeeper Joe Willis made a pair of saves in the shootout to make the Dynamo just the second South Texas team in tournament history to reach the championship game (El Paso Patriots in 1995).

LAFC forward Diego Rossi slipped in behind the defense before slotting a ball between the legs of an on-charging Willis in the sixth minute of play.

The Houston Dynamo celebrate after defeated LAFC in a PK shootout in the 2018 US Open Cup Semifinals. Photo: Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo celebrate after defeated LAFC in a PK shootout in the 2018 US Open Cup Semifinals. Photo: Houston Dynamo

The Dynamo, who are 23-7-7 at home under Cabrera over the last two seasons, showcased their resiliency and tenacity mere moments after the Black and Gold claimed the lead. Andrew Wenger leveled the match in the 12th minute as an Adam Lundqvuist corner kick found the Dynamo midfielder all alone at the back post for the easy tap-in.

Thirteen minutes after the equalizer, Mauro Manotas scored his fourth goal of the tournament to give Houston a 2-1 lead that they would take into the halftime break. His four goals is tied for second-most in the 2018 US Open Cup. For Manotas, it was his eighth career Open Cup goal in nine appearances, which is, by far, the most of any Dynamo player. No Houston player in team history has scored more than three goals in the competition.

Houston’s Memo Rodriguez came off the bench to replace the reigning TheCup.us Player of the Round Romell Quioto in the 72nd minute and he would make an immediate impact three minutes later.

Tomas Martinez played a ball to Rodriguez on the left wing and the homegrown player found just enough space to fire a low-driving shot toward the near post that narrowly beat LAFC goalkeeper Tyler Miller. It was the third goal of the tournament for Rodriguez and the fourth of his career.

“It’s an incredible feeling to get a goal in front of the hometown crowd,” said Rodriguez about his goal that gave Houston a two-goal lead with 15 minutes left in regulation. “You always have to be ready when you come on the pitch to make an impact for the team.”

Joe Willis of the Houston Dynamo makes one of his two saves in the PK shootout against LAFC in the 2018 US Open Cup Semifinals. The Dynamo won the shootout 7-6 after a 3-3 draw. Photo: Houston Dynamo
Joe Willis of the Houston Dynamo makes one of his two saves in the PK shootout against LAFC in the 2018 US Open Cup Semifinals. The Dynamo won the shootout 7-6 after a 3-3 draw. Photo: Houston Dynamo

Trailing 3-1, LAFC, the upstart expansion team in Major League Soccer, went to work. Rossi punched home a bouncing ball inside the box in the 78th minute to cut the deficit to one. Then he completed his historic hat trick five minutes into stoppage time when a free kick from the right wing caused problems for Willis. The netminder tried to punch the ball away which allowed Rossi on the right side of the box to head the ball back toward goal and inside the far post.

For Rossi, he became the first Uruguayan to score a hat trick in the Modern Era and he finished the game with five Open Cup goals, which ties him with David Ochoa of Miami United FC (NPSL) for the tournament lead. The last hat trick scored in the Semifinals came in 1993 when Jose Angulo of CD Mexico (now El Farolito) scored three in a 3-1 extra time win over Bavarian SC.

Neither side could find the game winner in extra time which meant a semifinal match had to be decided by a penalty kick shootout for just the 10th time in the tournament’s 105-year history.

LAFC appeared to have the game in hand after Tyler Miller blocked Boniek Garcia, Houston’s fourth shooter but Joe Willis, no stranger to penalty kick shootouts, came through again. Willis was the goalkeeper for the 2013 US Open Cup winner D.C. United and posted a shootout win in the opening game against the Richmond Kickers.

Following the Garcia save, Willis saved Laurent Ciman’s attempt in Round 5, and then stopped Latif Blessing’s shot in the eighth round to send the Dynamo to the Final, which they will host on Sept. 26 against the Philadelphia Union.

“I wasn’t very happy with my game leading up to the penalties,” said Willis following the game. “So I was happy I could make a couple of saves and help the team advance to the final.”

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

FULL MATCH REPLAY

2018 US Open Cup Semifinals Preview: Who will reach the 105th Final?

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2018 US Open Cup bracket through quarterfinals

The 105th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup are down to the final four as the tournament’s semifinal round kicks off on Wednesday night. The Semifinals feature three teams that are seeking their first-ever US Open Cup title and a fourth who are trying to make history by lifting the trophy for the fifth time.

No team in the history of the tournament has reached the Semifinals more than the Chicago Fire and they have their eyes on a fifth US Open Cup championship. However, they haven’t lifted the trophy since 2006 and if they are able to defeat the Philadelphia Union on the road on Wednesday night, they would host the championship game on Oct. 3.

The Fire will travel to face the Philadelphia Union who are trying to become the first Philadelphia area team to win the tournament since 1966 (Ukrainian Nationals). The Union have had two golden opportunities to win their first major trophy when they hosted the 2014 and the 2015 US Open Cup Final, but each time they lost a game that required extra time. In 2014, they lost to the Seattle Sounders 3-1 in extra time and in 2015 they lost in a penalty kick shootout to Sporting Kansas City.

In the other side of the bracket, the Houston Dynamo will not only try to win the US Open Cup for the first time, but they will try to become the first team from South Texas to win the tournament. They will square off with Los Angeles FC, a MLS expansion team who are looking to win a trophy in the club’s first season. The winner of this game will get to host the US Open Cup Final if the Philadelphia Union defeat the Chicago Fire.

There will be no television coverage of either game, but there will be an online stream available on USSoccer.com.

Check out a preview and video links for each game below:

#USOC2018 coverage:
* 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup schedule, results
* 2018 US Open Cup statistical leaders
* 2018 US Open Cup Player of the Round winners
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Round 1 review
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Round 2 review
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Round 3 review
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Round 4 review
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Round 5 review
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Quarterfinal review

MORE COVERAGE:
* Milwaukee’s Bavarian SC qualify for 2019 US Open Cup by winning Amateur Cup title
* Which PDL teams will qualify for 2019 US Open Cup?
* US Soccer legend Walter Bahr leaves behind Hall of Fame legacy
* How amateurs Dallas Roma FC beat World Cup champs, an MLS team and it cost $75,000

* Things you should know about the Semifinals of the US Open Cup

* Support TheCup.us: Special “TheCup.us” Del Rey City jerseys available for purchase

* Appreciate what we do at TheCup.us? Donate here
* TheCup.us is looking for writers/editors, graphics, WordPress gurus & people who can handle digital ad sales (paid position). Email us here

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BROADCAST: ONLINE VIDEO STREAM

By Michael Berton

Four-time Open Cup winners Chicago Fire are two wins away from a record-tying fifth championship, but in their way are the Philadelphia Union, unbeaten in 13-straight Open Cup games and a two-time runner-up (2014, 2015). The Union is seeking its third Final appearance in the last five years and trying to end Philadelphia’s lengthy Open Cup title drought. 

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Round 4: 5-0 win vs. Richmond Kickers (USL)
Round 5: 2-1 vs. New York Red Bulls (MLS)
Quarterfinals: 1-0 vs. Orlando City SC (MLS)
Semifinals: vs. Chicago Fire (MLS)

Philadelphia’s 13-game unbeaten streak (8-0-5, 2-3 PKs) is the second-longest in the Modern Era. (NOTE: Matches that end in penalty kicks are officially listed as draws.) That streak includes three victories in 2018 edition of the US Open Cup.

In the Fourth Round, the Union easily dispatched the Richmond Kickers (USL), scoring all its goals in the first 50 minutes in a 5-0 win. In the Round of 16, the Union hosted the New York Red Bulls for the fourth year in a row in Open Cup play (at the time, this was the first time two teams have met four straight years). On the back of two second half goals from Haris Medunjanin and Cory Burke (both assisted by Alejandro Bedoya), Philadelphia earned a 2-1 victory. A Quarterfinal matchup with first time Open Cup opponents Orlando City SC proved to be no problem for the Union. Hosting its third game in a row, Philadelphia rode a fourth minute Alejandro Bedoya goal to earn a comfortable 1-0 win.

The Chicago Fire started its quest for a fifth US Open Cup title with two games on the road.

The Fire were taken to a shootout in the Fourth Round against Columbus Crew SC after a 2-2 draw. The shootout made it all the way to the goalkeepers, with Fire goalie Richard Sanchez scoring the go-ahead PK, then stopping his counterpart’s shot, to give his team a 10-9 penalty kick win. Chicago then pulled off one of the bigger upsets of this year’s tournament with a 1-0 win over Atlanta United. Facing the MLS leaders and their 41,012 rabid fans (the largest crowd to ever watch a US Open Cup game in the 105-year history of the tournament), Nemanja Nikolic netted his third goal of the competition in the 54th minute en route to a 1-0 victory. The Fire then avoided an upset in the Quarterfinals, defeating Louisville City FC, 4-0, to advance to their all-time record 13th Lamar Hunt US Open Cup semifinal.

CURRENT FORM

The Union’s uneven season continued since its Quarterfinal win over Orlando City. After losing at home, 3-1, to the Los Angeles Galaxy, Philadelphia went on the road for two games. The team earned a 3-1 win at the Houston Dynamo on July 25, but then fell to the Portland Timbers, 3-0, on Aug. 4 in a game where they rested a number of starters to prepare for Wednesday’s Open Cup game. They currently sit in 7th place in the Eastern Conference, two points out of the playoffs.

Chicago have not won a MLS game since June 30, losing six in a row overall and three in a row since beating Louisville City in the Quarterfinals. Since that Quarterfinal win, the Fire lost 2-1 at home to Toronto FC on July 21, 3-0 at Toronto FC on July 28, then 2-1 at Real Salt Lake on Aug. 4. Chicago is next-to-last in the Eastern Conference, six points behind the final playoff spot in the conference.

US OPEN CUP HISTORY

Philadelphia Union (MLS)
7th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 15-3-6 (3-3 PK)
Home: 14-2-2 (1-1 PK)
vs. MLS: 7-3-5 (2-3 PK)
Best finish: Runner-Up (2014, 2015)

Chicago Fire (MLS)
21st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 41-14-6 (4-2 PK)
Away: 15-13-3 (2-1 PK)
vs. MLS: 22-9-2 (2-0 PK)
Best finish: 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006 champions

The Union are on a 13-game unbeaten streak in the Open Cup (matches that end in penalty kicks are officially listed as draws), and made the Semifinals for the first time since 2015. After falling in consecutive US Open Cup Finals in 2014 and 2015 to the Seattle Sounders and Sporting Kansas City, respectively, the Union have been ousted in penalty kicks the last two years (vs. New England Revolution in 2016, vs. New York Red Bulls in 2017). In addition to trying to win the club’s first major trophy, the Union are trying to break an Open Cup title drought for the city of Philadelphia. The last team from the City of Brotherly Love to lift the trophy was the Ukrainian Nationals back in 1966.

The Chicago Fire are the most successful MLS team in US Open Cup history, and one of the most successful all-time. They are one of eight clubs in the history of the 105-year-old US Open Cup to win four tournament championships (1998, 2000, 2003, 2006), but they have not lifted the trophy since 2006. No team in the history of the tournament has more Semifinals appearances (13) than the Fire, and only two teams (Kutis SC, FC Dallas) have more Quarterfinal appearances than Chicago’s 14. They are also the only club in the history of the tournament to reach four consecutive Semifinals twice (2003-06, 2013-16).

If the Fire reach the championship game, they would tie Maccabee AC (Los Angeles, Calif.) for the all-time record for most US Open Cup Final appearances with seven.

PAST MEETINGS

This is the second Open Cup meeting between the Union and Fire, and both meetings have come in the Semifinals. The first took place in 2015. The Union became the first Philadelphia team since 1964 to make back-to-back Finals by beating the Fire 1-0. In the 74th minute, Sebastien Le Toux added to his legendary Open Cup resume with his Modern Era record 15th career tournament goal. Le Toux just recently became Philadelphia’s first Ring of Honor inductee.

In MLS play, Philadelphia holds a narrow edge over Chicago at 9-8-5. The Union won both regular season meetings this year, including a 3-1 home win on May 30 and a 4-3 road win on July 11. The Union will be happy to host, as they hold a 6-2-2 record against the Fire at home, and earned a victory over Chicago at home in their only Open Cup meeting. In Open Cup play, the Union are 14-2-2 (1-1 PKs) all-time in tournament play at Talen Energy Stadium.

TOP SCORERS/PLAYERS

The Union are led by Borek Dockal, who leads the team in both goals and assists, with five and nine respectively. Haris Medunjanin and Alejandro Bedoya marshall the midfield, while they are led from the back by goalie Andre Blake. Cory Burke, who played big roles in the Union’s Open Cup wins, is tied for the team lead with five goals, and had a two-goal performance in his team’s last meeting against the Chicago Fire.

The Fire have been led to the Semifinals by star striker Nemanja Nikolic, who is tied for second place in the tournament with four goals and he has scored 10 goals in league play. Aleksander Katai is second on the team with nine league goals. The legendary Bastian Schweinsteiger leads his team with six assists. Richard Sanchez has 73 saves this season, and led Chicago to its penalty kick victory over Columbus Crew SC in the Fourth Round by making a pair of saves and also scoring the game-winning spot kick in the shootout.

WEATHER

As of the Sunday forecast, it will be hot and humid in the Philadelphia area with a 50% chance for thunderstorms.

 

 

BROADCAST: ONLINE VIDEO STREAM

By Thomas Hodul

The western Semifinal of the US Open Cup pits two sides both trying to reach the Final for the first time in their respective club’s history as the Houston Dynamo host 2018 MLS expansion side Los Angeles FC. The Dynamo have twice reached the Semifinals twice (2006, 2009). First, in 2006, they lost 3-1 to the LA Galaxy and then again in 2009 when they lost 2-1 in extra time to the eventual champion Seattle Sounders.

On the other side of the field, LAFC are making their first run in the tournament as a club, but are led by a man in Bob Bradley who is no stranger to winning this tournament, having done so twice with the Chicago Fire in 1998 and in 2000. Much like this years LAFC squad, Chicago was a MLS expansion side in 1998 meaning not only has Bob won this tournament twice, but he did so with an expansion side once already as well.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Round 4: 5-0 home win vs. NTX Rayados (USASA)
Round 5: 1-0 home win vs. Minnesota United FC (MLS)
Quarterfinals: 4-2 home win vs. Sporting KC (MLS)
Semifinals: home vs. Los Angeles FC (MLS)

Houston’s run to the Semifinals began with a comfortable 5-0 win over Open Division qualifiers North Texas Rayados. The Dynamo were led on the night by two goals from home grown product Memo Rodriguez and two goals from Aldo Quintanilla. Next, they bested fellow MLS side Minnesota United as Mauro Manotas scored the lone goal to help his side advance 1-0. They were then able to beat the defending champions Sporting Kansas City in the Quarterfinals by a score of 4-2 as Manotas and Romell Quioto both scored twice.

LAFC began their run to the Semifinals by knocking out USL side Fresno FC at home by a score of 2-0. Diego Rossi scored the first goal that night for LAFC before Latif Blessing, champion with Sporting KC last year, added a second. In the Second Round, they faced a difficult Sacramento Republic FC (USL) side who were coming off an upset over the Seattle Sounders in the previous round. LAFC twice had to come from behind to eventually win 3-2 when Man of the Match Diego Rossi, found Blessing for the winner in the 89th minute.

In the Quarterfinals, LAFC defeated the Portland Timbers by the score of 3-2 in a game that would be more memorable by the drama that came after the game. However controversy would ensue post game when the Timbers filed a complaint with the US Open Cup committee over LAFC’s roster, leaving LAFC’s position in the Semifinals in doubt. In the end, the protest filed by Portland over an ineligible player fielded by LAFC was withdrawn as it was deemed “a good faith misunderstanding among U.S. Soccer, Major League Soccer and Los Angeles Football Club.”

CURRENT FORM

Houston currently sit in 10th place in the 12-team MLS Western Conference. They are coming off three consecutive league losses including a 1-0 loss last weekend to Sporting Kansas City with their last point coming in a 1-1 draw in the Texas Derby to FC Dallas back on July 21.

LAFC has hit their first major bump in the road in their inaugural season, as they haven’t won in league play since July 7. They most recently lost away to the New York Red Bulls 2-1 this past weekend. Before that, they blew a 2-0 lead late to rival LA Galaxy to drop two points, and before that they were thrashed 5-1 by Minnesota United. However, the team is still comfortably in a playoff spot as they currently sit in fourth place in the MLS Western Conference.

US OPEN CUP HISTORY

Houston Dynamo
13th Open Cup Appearance
Overall: 15-10-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 12-4-0
vs. MLS: 5-8-0
Best finish: Semifinals (2006, 2009)

Los Angeles FC (MLS)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 3-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. MLS: 1-0-0
Best finish: N/A

Los Angeles FC, an MLS expansion team, is experiencing the US Open Cup for the first time. Their leader is a two-time US Open Cup champion in head coach Bob Bradley who guided the expansion Chicago Fire to a tournament title in 1998, and another one in the club’s third year in 2000. He even guided the Metrostars (New York Red Bulls) to the US Open Cup Final in 2003 … losing to the Chicago Fire at Giants Stadium.

Houston is also seeking their first US Open Cup Final appearance as the Dynamo have knocked on the door twice. In 2006, their first season after moving from San Jose, the Dynamo reached the final four only to fall to the Los Angeles Galaxy, 3-1. They would return to the Semifinals in 2009 and would lose a tight extra time battle on the road against the Seattle Sounders.

Aside from those two runs to the Semifinals, Houston’s Open Cup success has been fairly limited. They would not win multiple games in a single tournament until they reached the Quarterfinals in 2015 and 2016 only to lose to Sporting Kansas City and FC Dallas, respectively. Both teams would go on to win the tournament. Last year, they were eliminated by Kansas City again, this time in the Round of 16 as Sporting would also move on to win the Open Cup.

PAST MEETINGS

The last time these two teams matched up it was the Houston Dynamo who came back from 2-0 down scoring in the 94th and 96th minute to earn the comeback win against LAFC who has all to often this season blown multiple-goal leads. To this point that is the only meeting between the two sides as their next MLS match doesn’t happen until the end of October.

TOP SCORERS/PLAYERS

Houston’s players to watch include Mauro Manotas who has score three times in three games so far in this year’s Open Cup. Manotas is the club’s all-time leading scorer (7 goals) in US Open Cup play and he scored a pair of goals in the Dynamo’s 4-2 win over Sporting Kansas City in the Quarterfinals. Romell Quioto also scored two goals against Sporting and was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round in the Quarterfinals for his two-goal effort against Sporting KC.

For LAFC players to watch are Latif Blessing who has said that this is his favorite tournament, having won it last year with Sporting KC. Latif helped LAFC reach this round with a goal in Round 4 and 5. The other player of note is Benny Feilhaber, who will be looking to lift the Open Cup Trophy for a third time in four years.

WEATHER

Clear skies are in the forecast but it will be warm and humid in Houston (nothing new to Houstonians).

2018 US Open Cup Quarterfinals review: Protest drama, Chicago Fire end Louisville’s run, three first-timers advance

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2018 US Open Cup bracket through quarterfinals

When the dust settled on the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Quarterfinals, all four home teams were victorious, leaving just one former tournament champion and three teams seeking to lift the trophy for the first time.

The home team was victorious in all four games. The four-time US Open Cup champion Chicago Fire put an end to Louisville City’s Cinderella run. The last remaining lower division side fell out of the tournament 4-0 as the Fire move one step closer to becoming the fourth team in tournament history to win five US Open Cup titles.

Elsewhere, the Houston Dynamo advanced to the Semifinals for the third time in club history with a 4-2 win over Sporting Kansas City, the reigning tournament champions. The Philadelphia Union only needed an early goal by Alejandro Bedoya to defeat Orlando City SC to reach the Semis for the fourth time in the last seven years.

The last game of the evening was MLS expansion team Los Angeles FC who not only made headlines with a 3-2 win over the Portland Timbers, but made headlines after the game when the Timbers filed a protest because LAFC had used too many international players (Pro teams are limited to five on their gameday roster). Reportedly, the US Soccer Federation approved LAFC’s roster in error, but Portland eventually withdrew their protest, allowing Bob Bradley’s squad to reach the final four.

Click below for links of our coverage, a brief summary of each game and links to the full match reports:

#USOC2018 coverage

News/Features

2018 Meet the Underdogs series

Qualifying

About TheCup.us

Twitter (#USOC2018) | Facebook | Instagram | Flickr | Reddit

FULL MATCH REPORT
In a hard fought battle between two teams trying to keep their winning momentum going from MLS play. The Philadelphia Union came out on top with a 1-0 win over Orlando City SC in the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Quarterfinals. Alejandro Bedoya got things going for the Union with a goal in the 4th minute after capitalizing on the rebound given from Orlando City SC goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr’s early save from a header off a corner kick by Mark McKenzie. Orlando City SC kept pushing throughout the game but couldn’t convert on their chances and saw their run in the US Open Cup come to an end. For Orlando City SC they will now focus on trying to get their season back on track and push for the MLS playoffs while the Union advance to the Semifinals for the fourth time in the last seven years as they seek to become the first Philadelphia team to win the US Open Cup since 1966.
FULL MATCH REPORT
The Chicago Fire had a dominating performance on the night with a 4-0 win over the 2017 USL Cup champion Louisville City FC. The Fire had four different goal scorers starting with a Nemanja Nikolic header that gave the Fire the lead in the 16th minute. They doubled their lead in the 32nd minute with a brilliant goal from Aleksandar Katai to give them a 2-0 lead heading into the halftime break. Later on in the match Louisville City FC defender Kyle Smith was sent off with ten minutes left and the Fire capitalized on the man advantage with two late goals from Diego Campos and Elliot Collier to seal the win. Louisville City FC ends its run in the Cup as the last lower division side remaining while for the Chicago Fire they move on to the Semifinals for the sixth time in the last eight years as the team tries to tie the all-time record with a fifth US Open Cup title.
FULL MATCH REPORT
The Houston Dynamo bounced back from an early deficit from the defending US Open Cup champions and completed a resounding 4-2 comeback win over Sporting Kansas City. Forward Johnny Russell got an early goal in the 2nd minute for Sporting Kansas City to give them an early lead but the Dynamo were patient with their chances and found the equalizer on an impressive free kick in the 35th minute with a goal from Romell Quioto to level the score. In the second half Quioto got his second goal with a shot in the 65th minute to give his side a 2-1 lead. A few minutes later, Mauro Manotas put the Dynamo up 3-1 before adding his third goal of the tournament in the 88th minute. Yohan Croizet scored a late consolation goal in stoppage time for Sporting Kansas City but in the end the Houston Dynamo did enough to knock the defending champs out of the tournament and advance to only their third semifinal appearance in club history.
FULL MATCH REPORT
Los Angeles FC continued their historic run in the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup as they hung on to defeat the Portland Timbers 3-2 which snapped Portland’s 14-game unbeaten streak across all competitions. Things got started in the 33rd minute with an own goal from David Guzman to give LAFC the 1-0 lead. Five minutes later, Carlos Vela launched a shot into the back of the net for another goal for LAFC to give them a 2-0 lead. In first half stoppage time, the Timbers pulled one back when Julio Cascante headed a shot in off a free kick from Guzman to narrow LAFC’s lead to a single goal. In the second half, Marco Urena scored his first career LAFC goal when he flicked a shot off the side of his foot in the 51st minute to give LAFC a 3-1 lead. Seconds later, Portland answered with a blast from Vytas Andriuskevicius to trim the LAFC lead 3-2 but they were unable to find the equalizer in the final half hour of the match. While an entertaining match, the majority of the headlines were produced from what happened after the game. The Timbers filed a protest because LAFC had six international players on their gameday roster, which is more than the allowed five by US Open Cup rules. Sources from LAFC claimed that the USSF had erroneously approved the roster, but before a ruling could be made by the US Open Cup Disciplinary Committee, the Timbers withdrew their protest.The Timbers’ run in the 2018 US Open Cup came to an end and for Bob Bradley and LAFC, they advance to the Semifinals in their inaugural season. LAFC are aiming to join a short list of teams to win the tournament in their inaugural season in MLS, joining D.C. United (1996), the Seattle Sounders FC (2009) and Bob Bradley’s Chicago Fire in 1998.

2018 US Open Cup: Draw reveals Semifinal hosts, hosting priority for Final

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On Monday, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) performed the draw to determine which teams would host the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Semifinals. The USSF also determined the hosting priorities for the 105th US Open Cup Final.

The draw was originally scheduled for Thursday, July 19 but the Portland Timbers filed a protest against Los Angeles FC following LAFC’s 3-2 Quarterfinal win. The Disciplinary Committee was set to meet on Saturday, but before they could convene, the Timbers withdrew their protest.

The draw determined that Philadelphia Union would host Chicago Fire in the Semifinals and, in the other half of the bracket, the Houston Dynamo will host Los Angeles FC. Both games will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 8.

Houston and LAFC will kick off at 9 p.m. Eastern Time, while Philadelphia-Chicago will kick off at 7 p.m.

The winners will meet in the 105th edition of the US Open Cup on either Sept. 26 or Oct. 3, depending on the host.

The method for determining the host starts with the eligible teams applying to host and if the teams both meet the minimum venue standards the home team is determined by random draw.

If the Chicago Fire advances, they will host the Final on Oct. 3. If Chicago falls, the Houston Dynamo would be next up to host if they win. If both Chicago and Houston lose, LAFC will host a final against Philadelphia Union. If Chicago is not involved in the Final, the game will be held on Sept. 26. No kickoff times have been announced.

The Fire, who are seeking a record-tying fifth US Open Cup title, have hosted the Final three times (1998, 2000, 2006), but haven’t lifted the trophy since 2006.

LAFC are an expansion team but head coach Bob Bradley has won the tournament twice with the Fire, including in 1998 when they were an expansion team. The Open Cup Final hasn’t been held in Southern California since 2005 when the Galaxy won their second USOC title.

Houston have never reached the Final and a South Texas team has never won the US Open Cup. The Open Cup Final has been held in South Texas twice. The New York Pancyprian Freedoms won their third USOC title in Houston when they defeated Kutis SC (St. Louis) in 1983 and the El Paso Patriots lost in penalty kicks at home against the Richmond Kickers in 1995.

The city of Philadelphia hasn’t had a team win the tournament since 1966 (Ukrainian Nationals) but the Union had two cracks at it when they hosted the Final in 2014 and 2015. They lost to the Seattle Sounders in extra time (2014) and lost to Sporting Kansas City in PKs (2015).

In the Modern Era (1995-present), the home team is 13-5-2 (1-1 PKs) in the championship game and has won the last two.

2018 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Who should be voted TheCup.us Player of the Round?

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thecup-us-social-logoThere were several exceptional individual performances in the Quarterfinals of the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. This should make for a challenge when the staff of TheCup.us and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters cast their votes for TheCup.us Player of the Round.

While the votes are being tallied up, check out the list of nominees below (in alphabetical order) and tell us who YOU think deserves to win on Facebook or Twitter:

MORE: 2018 TheCup.us Player of the Round winners (so far)

Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union, MLS): Bedoya scored the lone goal of the game in the 4th minute and played a great overall game in a 1-0 home win over Orlando City SC (MLS)

Aleksandar Katia (Chicago Fire, MLS): Katai assisted on the opening goal and scored the second in Chicago’s 4-0 home win over Louisville City FC.

Mauro Manotas (Houston Dynamo, MLS): Manotas scored what would prove to be the game-winning (third) goal in the 69th minute and put the game away with the final goal in the 88th minute in a 4-2 home win over Sporting Kansas City (MLS).

Mark McKenzie (Philadelphia Union, MLS): McKenzie was the star of the Philadelphia defense in a 1-0 home win over Orlando City SC (MLS). The Union defender snuffed out numerous attacks from Orlando, holding them to just 10 total shots with only four of them ending up on net. McKenzie also headed the shot that forced a save from the goalkeeper that led directly to Bedoya’s goal in the 4th minute.

Romell Quioto (Houston Dynamo, MLS): Quioto’s free kick from 22 yards out in the 35th minute tied the match at 1-1 for the Houston Dynamo against Sporting Kansas City (MLS). Quioto then put the Dynamo ahead in the 66th minute when he chested down a long pass and hit a one-timer to put Houston up 2-1. Houston won the game at home, 4-2.

Carlos Vela (Los Angeles FC, MLS): Vela scored the second goal of the game and delivered the ball that led to Portland’s own goal in LAFC’s 3-2 home win over the Portland Timbers (MLS).

 

2018 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Portland Timbers withdraw protest against LAFC

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LA

After filing a protest against Los Angeles FC over the number of international players used in their quarterfinal loss, Portland Timbers have withdrawn their protest. US Soccer released the following statement on Friday night:

“After a thorough review of the Portland Timbers’ official protest, it has been determined that the inclusion of additional foreign players was a result of a good faith misunderstanding among U.S. Soccer, Major League Soccer and Los Angeles Football Club. Each organization involved has agreed to determine an improved process to ensure this will not happen again. In recognition of this fact, the Timbers have gracefully withdrawn their protest.”

The misunderstanding seemed to be in regards to Mark-Anthony Kaye, a Canadian player on LAFC. Since MLS has teams in both the US and Canada, Kaye is considered a domestic player in league play. However, in US Open Cup play, he would usually be considered an international player. Sources have told TheCup.us that LAFC contacted the federation to confirm that Kaye was eligible. He was reportedly approved.

Whether LAFC believed they had clearance to use Kaye as a domestic player, or simply forgot that the rules were different in the USOC, it seems all has been resolved now. The club released this statement:

“We are pleased the situation has been resolved,” LAFC Vice President of Soccer Operations & General Manager John Thorrington said. “From the start, we proactively did our due diligence with U.S. Soccer to ensure our roster was compliant with U.S. Open Cup guidelines. We have stayed within those guidelines throughout the tournament and will continue to do so moving forward. We are excited to turn our attention to taking on the Houston Dynamo in the U.S. Open Cup Semifinals.”

LAFC will move on to face Houston Dynamo in the semifinals. The host will be determined by a draw that will happen in the next few days.

2018 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Portland Timbers file protest claiming LAFC fielded too many international players (UPDATED)

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USOC PDX-LAXUPDATE (7/20, 11:12 p.m.) – The Portland Timbers announced that they are withdrawing their protest.

The day after the Quarterfinals of the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, the US Soccer Federation was supposed to perform the draw to see which teams will host the Semifinals and who will have hosting priority for the Final. However, a wrench was thrown into those plans when the Portland Timbers notified the federation that they are filing a protest after losing to Los Angeles FC, 3-2.

The details of the protest were not released, but upon closer examination, it appears as though Los Angeles FC may have violated tournament rules. The rules state (Section 202(d) of the 2018 US Open Cup handbook): “A team may list up to 18 players on its game day roster. Professional teams may have no more than 5 foreign players listed. Amateur teams are not restricted as to the number of foreign players they may list. Foreign players shall be those players who are not protected individuals as defined in 8 U.S.C. § 1324b (e.g. U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents, asylees and refugees).”

Out of the players who saw the field for LAFC on Wednesday night, six of them are international players. One more than the limit of five.

Tyler Miller (GK)
Marco Urena – international
Carlos Vela – international
Diego Rossi – international
Steven Beitashour
Walker Zimmerman
Laurent Ciman – international
Jordan Harvey
Mark-Anthony Kaye – international
Lee Nguyen
Latif Blessing
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Subs:
Benny Feilhaber
Adama Diomande – international
Dejan Jakovic

Latif Blessing and Dejan Jakovic both have green cards and do not count as international players. Players who are from Canada, according to US Open Cup rules, count as international players, which would include Mark-Anthony Kaye.

TheCup.us has confirmed that Kaye does not have a green card but is officially listed as a domestic player within Major League Soccer because he is a “homegrown international.” In US Open Cup play, there is no indication that Kaye would qualify as a domestic player under that policy. The US Soccer Federation does not operate using MLS’ roster rules. But he is listed as a domestic player on the LAFC gameday roster for the Timbers game.

Sources have told TheCup.us that LAFC even went so far as to contact the federation to confirm that Kaye was eligible. He was approved. All emails and related materials have been sent to the Open Cup Disciplinary Committee and they are expected to make a ruling over the weekend.

It is unclear what the punishment would be because there’s no precedent. There has not been a roster violation committed by a professional team during the Modern Era (1995-present).

The only similar situation to this occurred during the 2013 US Open Cup qualifying tournament run by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). The New York Pancyprian Freedoms submitted a roster that featured an ineligible player and it was approved. When that player was discovered to have been ineligible, their opponent, Newtown Pride FC (Conn.) filed a protest and the Freedoms were disqualified. New York argued that it was not their fault that their roster was approved erroneously, so the game was replayed.

Stay tuned for updates … #USOC2018

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