The Portland Timbers became the first team to punch their ticket to the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Quarterfinals with a 1-0 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Friday night. Two more Round of 16 matchups are on the schedule for Saturday night with a pair of MLS vs. MLS games.
At 7 p.m. the Philadelphia Union will host the New York Red Bulls followed by the defending champion Sporting Kansas City welcoming FC Dallas to Children’s Mercy Park.
This is just the ninth time in the Modern Era (1995-present) that a Major League Soccer team has played in a US Open Cup game on a Saturday. The last time it happened was during another World Cup break in 2014 when there were three games on the same night involving MLS teams. In fact, all three of those MLS teams (Chivas USA, New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake) were all eliminated by teams from the North American Soccer League (NASL). The two most notable Saturday games of the Modern Era were championship games as the Chicago Fire lifted the trophy in 2000 and the Los Angeles Galaxy won their first US Open Cup title.
Check out a preview of each Saturday game below, including links to tonight’s live video feed.
#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
MORE: How amateurs Dallas Roma FC beat World Cup champs, an MLS team and it cost $75,000
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2018 US Open Cup Fourth Round
New York Red Bulls (MLS) at Philadelphia Union (MLS)
Talen Energy Stadium – Chester, PA
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
LIVE VIDEO: New York Red Bulls at Philadelphia Union
By Phil Naegely
For the first time in the Modern Era (1995-present) two teams will meet for the fourth tournament in a row when the Philadelphia Union take on the New York Red Bulls in US Open Cup play on Saturday night at Talen Energy Stadium. If you include Open Cup qualifying, this will be the fifth meeting with the first match coming in the now-defunct 2010 MLS qualifying tournament. It was one of the first official games at the newly-opened Red Bull Arena and hometown Red Bulls prevailed 2-1 on April 27, 2010.
While the Union have struggled in league play this year, the Philadelphia heads into Saturday’s match riding an 11-game unbeaten streak in Open Cup play, the second-longest unbeaten streak in the Modern Era (matches that go to penalty kicks are officially listed as a draw). Their last US Open Cup loss was a 3-1 result against the Seattle Sounders in the 2014 Final. In this year’s edition, the Union advanced to the Round of 16 after defeating the Richmond Kickers, 5-0 in the previous round. Five different scorers tallied a goal for Philadelphia in June 6 match.
The New York Red Bulls travel to Chester, PA on short rest after defeating the Seattle Sounders, 2-1 in league play on Wednesday night. New York advanced to face the Union after defeating New York City FC, 4-0 in front of its home crowd.
HISTORY
Philadelphia Union (MLS)
7th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 13-3-6 (3-3 PK)
Home: 12-2-2 (1-1 PK)
vs. MLS: 5-3-5 (2-3 PK)
Best finish: Runner-Up (2014, 2015)
After falling in consecutive finals matches in 2014 and 2015 to the Sounders and Sporting Kansas City, respectively, the Union have yet to return to the Semifinals. In the 2016 Quarterfinals, the New England Revolution advanced on a 4-2 decision in penalty kicks after the Union scored an equalizer in the 90th minute to tie the game at 1-1. In 2017, the Red Bulls ousted the Union 5-3 in penalties.
With the Union last playing on Friday, June 8 against Toronto FC, Philadelphia most likely will play its regular players. Alejandro Bedoya and Haris Medunjanin served red-card suspensions during this match, so both of these players should see the field during Saturday’s US Open Cup match.
New York Red Bulls (MLS)
20th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 22-18-3 (2-1 PK)
Away: 11-12-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. MLS: 8-10-3 (2-1 PK)
Best finish: Runner-Up (2003, 2017)
Just like the Union, the Red Bulls’ best US Open Cup finish is runner-up. And they have done it twice. In last year’s tournament, the Red Bulls lost 2-1 to Sporting Kansas City. It was their first trip to the Final since 2003 when the Red Bulls (then the Metrostars) lost 1-0 to the Chicago Fire at Giants Stadium.
It wouldn’t be shocking if the Red Bulls rest some of their regular starters after playing a league match on Wednesday. However, nothing is officially confirmed at this time.
2018 US Open Cup Fifth Round Round
FC Dallas (MLS) at Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
Children’s Mercy Park – Kansas City, KS
Kickoff: 9 p.m.
LIVE VIDEO: FC Dallas at Sporting Kansas City
By Alan Hainkel
At Children’s Mercy Park, two of the best clubs in the MLS Western Conference, Sporting Kansas City and FC Dallas, will meet in a Round of 16 clash in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, named after the original owner of both clubs. The weather is expected to be a factor in the match with a heat advisory predicting temperatures in the upper 90s and heat index readings between 100 and 105 degrees.
FC Dallas picked up a 1-0 win on the road in the Fourth Round over USL side San Antonio FC, while Sporting KC defeated Real Salt Lake 2-0 at Rio Tinto.
Both clubs are in good form of late. Sporting KC is on a seven match unbeaten streak across all competitions, their last loss a 1-0 road defeat to the New England Revolution on April 28. FC Dallas is on an eight match unbeaten streak and have won their last five. Their last loss was on April 29 to NYCFC in a 3-1 match at Yankee Stadium.
This will be the fourth meeting between these two clubs in the US Open Cup and the fourth time that the match has been played in Kansas. In 2004, the then-Kansas City Wizards defeated the then-Dallas Burn 4-0 in a quarterfinal match played at the Blue Valley District Activity Center. In 2015, Sporting KC dismantled FC Dallas 6-2 in a Round of 16 clash, behind four goals from Dom Dwyer and a brace from Krisztián Németh. The 2017 match-up in the quarterfinals saw three red cards as 10-man Sporting KC defeated 9-man FC Dallas 3-0 on three goals in extra time from Latif Blessing (2) and Daniel Salloi.
FC Dallas has two players with six goals each in league play in Roland Lamah and Maxi Urruti. Mauro Diaz leads the club in assists with eight. Sporting KC’s top scorer is Johnny Russell who has six goals across all competitions. Roger Espinoza has a career-high six assists in league play so far in this campaign.
HISTORY
Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
20th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 27-13-6 (4-2 PK)
Home: 19-7-2 (2-0 PK)
vs. MLS teams: 13-8-3 (3-0 PK)
Best finish: 2004, 2012, 2015, 2017 champions
FC Dallas (MLS)
21st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 34-17-6 (5-1 PK)
Away: 14-11-2 (2-0 PK)
vs. MLS teams: 13-12-3 (2-1 PK)
Best finish: 1997, 2016 champions
The matchup is also a meeting of the last three US Open Cups championships. FC Dallas have won the Open Cup twice, in 1997 and 2016. They also reached the final in 2005 and 2007. Sporting KC are the reigning titleholders and have won the Open Cup four times: 2004, 2012, 2015, 2017. If Sporting wins one more title, they will tie the all-time record for most Open Cup championships.
FC Dallas can make history with a win tonight. If they advance, it will be the 17th Quarterfinal appearance for the club, which would tie the all-time tournament record, held by Kutis Soccer Club (St. Louis).