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2012 US Open Cup Quarterfinals Live Blog: Join the conversation!

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To join the conversation, either enter the blog, or include #USOC in your tweets to share your thoughts or ask a question. And don’t forget to Declare Your Support, whether your club is playing or not, with #OpenCupFan. Follow TheCup.us on Twitter (@USOpenCup) and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/thecup.us) for updated scores and  news throughout the night .

2012 US Open Cup bracket [+]
2012 US Open Cup Quarterfinal scoreboard [+]
2012 US Open Cup Quarterfinal lineups [+]
2012 US Open Cup goalscoring leaders [+]
2012 US Open Cup participant map [+]
Meet the USASA: Class of 2012 [+]
Things you should know about the Quarterfinals [+]
Semifinal pairings [+]

After a three week break, the US Open Cup resumes with four Quarterfinal matches full of intrigue. Can the Sounders continue their quest for an unprecedented fourth straight Open Cup title, or will San Jose return to the final four for just the second time (2004) in franchise history? Another big storyline is whether or not any of the record three clubs from the 3rd Division move on to the Semis?

Join TheCup.us right here for a live blog as we will have live updates coming in from all four games.

Broadcast links (Times Eastern)
Game 1: Harrisburg at Philadelphia (7:30) | VIDEO
Game 2: Dayton at Sporting KC (8:30) | VIDEO
Game 3: Charlotte at Chivas USA (10:30) | VIDEO
Game 4: Seattle at San Jose (10:30) | VIDEO | AUDIO

#TWITTER: To join the conversation, either enter the blog, or include #USOC in your tweets to share your thoughts or ask a question. And don’t forget to Declare Your Support, whether your club is playing or not, with #OpenCupFan. Follow TheCup.us on Twitter (@USOpenCup) for updated scores and news throughout the night (no play-by-play).

Here’s your guide to the entire Quarterfinals, including notes on key players from NASL & USL Pro players via resident Lower Division expert Gerald Barnhart, who issues weekly Lower Division Five Star honors, which also includes a US Open Cup list:

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Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO) at Philadelphia Union (MLS)
PPL Park; Chester, Pa.; 7:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: VIDEO (Philadelphia)
Semifinal scenarios (July 10 or 11):
If Philadelphia wins … home vs. Sporting KC/Dayton winner
If Harrisburg wins … home vs. Dayton or at Sporting KC

Harrisburg City Islanders’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 2: Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) 0:2 Harrisburg City Islanders (USL Pro) [+] Recap
Rd 3: New England Revolution (MLS) 3:3 Harrisburg City Islanders (USL Pro) (Harrisburg wins 3:4 PKs) [+] Recap
Rd 4: New York Red Bulls (MLS) 1:3 (AET) Harrisburg City Islanders (USL Pro) [+] Recap
Philadelphia Union’s 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 3: Rochester Rhinos (USL Pro) 0:3 Philadelphia Union (MLS) [+] Recap
Rd 4: Philadelphia Union (MLS) 2:1 (AET) DC United (MLS) [+] Recap

Affiliates, the two clubs have too many things that tie them together. There are players that have moved up and down the between the two sides, coordinated marketing and, of course, the annual friendlies. The last came less than two weeks ago during the Union’s break in MLS play, and the lower division side managed to post a 3-2 victory. Garret Pettis scored twice, getting the opener in the 17th and what stood as the winner in the 75th. Yann Ekra scored the second go-ahead goal in the 55th after Jorge Perlaza had leveled just before halftime. Kai Herdling adding a free kick goal in the 81st. The match was the final night for coach Peter Nowak, who was released by the Union the following day.

Philadelphia, which features former City Islanders Chase Harrison and Sheanon Williams, has had a busy few weeks since their Fourth Round victory. They fell at home, 1-0, to rival DC United, who they defeated 2-1 in the previous round, in their first official game under new interim coach John Hackworth. This past Saturday, the Union stunned of the league’s top sides, spanking visiting Sporting Kansas City, 4-0, with a pair of goals from Jack McInerney in the first half.

Harrisburg, which features former Union players Morgan Langley and JT Noone, has played four league games since the Fourth Round, including two over the weekend. They fell at home to Wilmington, 2-0, four days after their 3-1 overtime win over the New York Red Bulls but rebounded the following weekend with a 2-1 comeback win against Rochester on Ekra  and Lucky Mkosana tallies. This past week they had a tough two-night road swing, losing 3-0 in Orlando and 3-1 in Charleston with Mellow scoring their lone goal. At 4-4-4 they sit seventh in the table, but have matches in hand on several teams in front of them.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Harrisburg City Islanders
OVERALL: 12-4-3 (2-1 in PKs), 2-3-0 away, 4-3-1 (1-0 PKs) vs. MLS teams
BEST FINISH: Quarterfinals (2007, 2009, 2010)
LAST ENTRY: 2011 (Round 2, Lost 1-0 vs. Rochester Rhinos)
Philadelphia Union
OVERALL: 2-0-0, 1-0-0 at home, 1-0-0 vs. Division 3 clubs
BEST FINISH: 2012 is their first entry
LAST ENTRY: 2012 is their first entry

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Dayton Dutch Lions (USL Pro) at Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
LIVESTRONG Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.; 8:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: TBA
Semifinal scenarios (July 10 or 11): T
If KC wins … home vs. Harrisburg OR at Philadelphia
If Dayton wins … at Philadelphia OR at Harrisburg

Dayton Dutch Lions’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 2: Dayton Dutch Lions (USL Pro) 2:1 Chicago Fire PDL (PDL) [+] Recap
Rd 3: Dayton Dutch Lions (USL Pro) 2:1 Columbus Crew (MLS) [+] Recap
Rd 4: Dayton Dutch Lions (USL Pro) 2:1 (AET) Michigan Bucks (PDL) [+] Recap
Sporting Kansas City’s 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 3: Orlando City SC (USL Pro) 2:3 Sporting Kansas City (MLS) [+] Recap
Rd 4: Colorado Rapids (MLS) 0:2 Sporting Kansas City (MLS) [+] Recap

You could not have two teams any more contrasting paired up. Sporting are one of the top clubs in the MLS Eastern Conference while Dayton has been last in the USL Pro table since the start of the campaign. Oddly, both come into the Quarterfinal match with atypical results on the weekend.

For Dayton, the Dutch Lions earned their first victory in league play for the season, making their record 1-7-5 for the year and moving off the bottom and two points ahead of Antigua Barracuda. With just one goal in Dayton’s last four outings and five through 12 games, their 4-0 romp against visiting Wilmington Saturday was an eye-opening result. Eli Garner scored twice and Gibson Bardsley notched his third of the year in the win. Four days after the 2-1 win against the PDL’s Michigan Bucks in the Fourth Round, the Dutch Lions played to a 1-1 draw at home against Pittsburgh. The following week they dropped a pair of 1-0 decisions on the West Coast against the LA Blues.

Sporting KC, meanwhile, saw a four-game unbeaten streak in league play, snapped over the weekend in a shocking 4-0 road loss to the Philadelphia Union, who had been struggling mightily in league play. It was the first time they had allowed four in a game and first loss by more than two goals this season. Also since their 2-0 Fourth Round win against Colorado Rapids, Kansas City picked up a 2-0 win in Toronto and drew 1-1 at home versus Seattle in league play. The loss to Philadelphia allowed the New York Red Bulls to join DC United one point ahead of KC at the top of the conference table.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Dayton Dutch Lions
OVERALL: 3-2-0, 3-2-0 away, 1-0-0 vs. MLS clubs
AS USL PRO: 3-1-0, 3-1-0 away, 1-0-0 vs. MLS clubs
BEST FINISH: Round 1 (2010, 2011)
LAST ENTRY: 2011 (Round 1, lost at Richmond Kickers 4-1)
Sporting Kansas City
OVERALL: 13-10-3 (1-2 PKs), 9-5-0 at home, 1-2-0 vs. Division 3 clubs
BEST FINISH: 2004 US Open Cup champions
LAST ENTRY: 2011 (Quarterfinals, lost 2-0 vs. Richmond Kickers)

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Seattle Sounders (MLS) at San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
Kezar Stadium; San Francisco, Calif.; 10:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: VIDEO (SJ Earthquakes) | AUDIO (Seattle)
Semifinal scenarios (July 10): W inner hosts Chivas USA / Charlotte winner

Seattle Sounders’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 3: Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) 1:5 Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) [+] Recap
Rd 4: Cal FC (USASA) 0:5 Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) [+] Recap
San Jose Earthquakes’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 3: Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) 1:2 San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) [+] Recap
Rd 4: Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) 0:1 San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) [+] Recap

In the only all-MLS Quarterfinal pairing, the Heritage Cup rivals clash with something bigger at stake as San Jose Earthquakes attempt to be the team to finally dethrone the Seattle Sounders, who have lost in the Open Cup since joining Major League Soccer. The teams have had opposite runs in league play as of late. The Earthquakes have gone 3-1-1 in their last five and are sitting atop the overall league table. The Sounders, meanwhile, have gone 0-3-2 in that stretch, falling a point behind Cascadia rivals Vancouver.

Seattle’s poor form, a record seven-game winless run, includes the 2-1 loss at archrival Portland Sunday, leaving one day off between games. While history dictates that Seattle should be the clear favorite, especially after hammering Cal FC 5-1 a week after Eric Wynalda’s club downed Portland the week before, there are a number of issues with the three-time champions, who are 2-2-3 on the road in league play. The primary concern has been injuries, and in league play, suspensions. Since the Fourth Round win against Cal FC, the Sounders fell 4-1 on the road to Montreal and in their midweek home match last week, played to a 1-1 stalemate with Kansas City. Eddie Johnson has scored two of the team’s three league goals in the three matches since the last round.

San Jose, 4-1-2 at home in league play, has had an extra day off, and will likely be sporting a regular starting lineup from its league-leading 10-3-3 record. Last week’s pair of matches ended a two-week break, bouncing back from a loss to KC before going idle. They posted an impressive pair of 2-1 road wins at altitude versus Colorado, Wednesday, and Salt Lake, Saturday, with strikers Alan Gordon and Chris Wondolowski terrorizing the defenses of both.

While the hype of David vs. Goliath in the Fourth Round may have had more fanfare (including the Cal FC-Seattle game being broadcast on Fox Sports), this will be a true test of whether Seattle has enough to keep going towards history, or if San Jose will be able to advance towards their first Open Cup championship.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Seattle Sounders
OVERALL: 28-11-3 (2-1 PKs), 6-9-2 (1-1 PKs) away, 13-7-1 vs. MLS clubs
AS MLS: 13-0-1 (1-0 PKs), 2-0-1 (1-0 PKs) away, 9-0-0 vs. MLS clubs
BEST FINISH: 2009, 2010, 2011 US Open Cup champions
LAST ENTRY: 2011 (Champion, 2-0 win vs. Chicago Fire)
San Jose Earthquakes
OVERALL: 10-6-4 (2-2 PKs), 3-3-1 (0-1 PKs) at home, 0-4-2 vs. MLS clubs
BEST FINISH: Semifinals (2004, lost 1-0 at Kansas City Wizards)
LAST ENTRY: 2005 (Quarterfinals, lost 2-1 vs. Los Angeles Galaxy)

Previous Open Cup Meetings (home team listed second):
2002 Third Round – San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) 4:3 (ASDET) Seattle Sounders (A-League)
2003 Fourth Round – San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) 0:1 Seattle Sounders (A-League)

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Charlotte Eagles (USL Pro) at Chivas USA (MLS)
Titan Stadium (Cal State Fullerton); Fullerton, Calif.; 10:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: VIDEO (Chivas USA)
Semifinal scenario (July 10):
Winner plays at Seattle Sounders / San Jose Earthquakes winner

Chivas USA’s 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 3: Chivas USA (MLS) 1:0 Ventura County Fusion (PDL) [+] Recap
Rd 4: Chivas USA (MLS) 2:1 Carolina RailHawks (NASL) [+] Recap
Charlotte Eagles’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 2: Charlotte Eagles (USL Pro) 1:0 El Paso Patriots (PDL) [+] Recap
Rd 3: Charlotte Eagles (USL Pro) 1:0 FC Dallas (MLS) [+] Recap
Rd 4: Charlotte Eagles (USL Pro) 2:1 (AET) San Antonio Scorpions (NASL) [+] Recap

In a meeting of two clubs that have regularly been occupants of the middle to lower portions of their league tables, the US Open Cup this year may be their primary path to glory.

The Charlotte Eagles are making another stop of their extended tour outside of the Eastern Time Zone in the 2012 US Open Cup, this time traveling to California to meet Chivas USA. The Eagles have been true road warriors in the tournament, travelling to Texas three times, and coming away victorious in each trip. Their run has been a bright spot for Charlotte, as their USL Pro season has been, for the most part, dreary. They sit in ninth with 11 points, though within striking distance of the playoffs. They are 1-3-1 in their last five league games, though they have only played two games since the Third Round of the Cup. They split those with Richmond, losing 1-0 on the road and rolling 4-1 at home. Their schedule in USL Pro will get easier with six of their next eight games at home, though considering their road success in the tournament (as well as the home victory against Richmond being their first), they might feel better taking the show on the road.

Still developing under second-year coach Robin Fraser, Chivas USA is having a better than average season in comparison to its own history. Chivas is tied for sixth in the MLS Western Conference (5-7-4) with 19 points, but have gone 1-1-3 in their last five games. They have a 1-1-1 record since their Fourth Round victory over the Carolina RailHawks, beating expansion Montreal Impact, losing to then-conference leader Real Salt Lake, and tying underachiever FC Dallas. With what is now the most impotent offense in the league, the club’s saving grace this year has been the defense constructed by the former star defender turned coach, as they are among the best in the league with 18 goals allowed in 16 matches. Chivas USA are looking to equal their best finish in the Open Cup, having previously reached the semifinals before being beaten by Seattle Sounders FC in 2010. They may be in for a revenge game as the winner travels to the Seattle-San Jose Earthquakes winner.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Charlotte Eagles
OVERALL: 8-9-0, 5-8-0 away, 1-1-0 vs. MLS clubs
BEST FINISH: Round 3 (2005, lost 3-2 AET vs. Chivas USA)
LAST ENTRY: 2011 (Round 2, lost 3-2 AET at Wilmington Hammerheads)
Chivas USA
OVERALL: 5-5-1 (0-1 PKs), 1-0-1 (0-1 PKs) at home, 1-0-0 vs. Division 3 clubs
BEST FINISH: Semifinals (2010, lost 3-1 at Seattle Sounders)
LAST ENTRY: 2010 (Semifinals, lost 3-1 at Seattle Sounders)

Previous Open Cup Meetings (home team listed second):
2005 Third Round – Chivas USA (MLS) 3:2 (AET) Charlotte Eagles (USL-2)

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POTENTIAL SEMIFINAL SCHEDULES

SEMIFINAL 1 – July 10 or 11

Sporting Kansas City (MLS) at Philadelphia Union (MLS)
PPL Park; Chester, Pa.; 7:30 p.m. ET, July 11
OR
Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) at Philadelphia Union (MLS)
PPL Park; Chester, Pa.; 7:30 p.m. ET, July 10
OR
Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO) at Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
LIVESTRONG Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.; 7:30 p.m. CT, July 10
OR
Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO)
Skyline Sports Complex; Harrisburg, Pa.; 7:30 p.m. ET, July 10

SEMIFINAL 2 – July 10

Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) / Chivas USA (MLS) at Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Wash.; 7 p.m. PT
OR
Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) / Chivas USA (MLS) at San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
Buck Shaw Stadium; Santa Clara, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT

2012 US Open Cup Third Round Live Blog recap: One of the craziest rounds in recent memory, and two more left to play on Wednesday

by

To join the conversation, either enter the blog, or include #USOC in your tweets to share your thoughts or ask a question. And don’t forget to Declare Your Support, whether your club is playing or not, with #OpenCupFan. Follow TheCup.us on Twitter (@USOpenCup) and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/thecup.us) for updated scores and news throughout the night .

2012 US Open Cup bracket [+]
2012 US Open Cup goalscoring leaders [+]
2012 US Open Cup participant map [+]
Meet the USASA: Class of 2012 [+]
Things you should know about Round 3 [+]
Round 4 Pairings [+]

Sixteen MLS clubs face 16 lower division sides hoping to make history.

Join TheCup.us right here for a live blog as we will have live updates coming in from 14 of the 16 games tonight, followed by the last two games on Wednesday. Also stay tuned for PotHunting trivia for your chance to win a throwback soccer shirt from PotHunting.com.

#TWITTER: To join the conversation, either enter the blog, or include #USOC in your tweets to share your thoughts or ask a question. And don’t forget to Declare Your Support, whether your club is playing or not, with #OpenCupFan. Follow TheCup.us on Twitter (@USOpenCup) for updated scores and news throughout the night (no play-by-play).

Here’s your guide to the entire Third Round, including notes on key players from NASL & USL Pro players via resident Lower Division expert Gerald Barnhart, who issues weekly Lower Division Five Star honors, which also includes a US Open Cup list:

New England Revolution (MLS) at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO)
Skyline Sports Complex; Harrisburg, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET
Broadcast: RevolutionSoccer.net (Audio)
Round 4 scenarios (June 5):
If the Revolution win … at Charleston Battery / New York Red Bulls winner
If City Islanders win … home vs. Charleston Battery / New York Red Bulls winner

New England Revolution’s 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
First game of the 2012 tournament
Harrisburg City Islanders’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 2: Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) 0:2 Harrisburg City Islanders (USL Pro)  [+] Recap

This is the third time these two teams have met in the US Open Cup, but the first time that they’ve played in Harrisburg.  In 2007, New England finished off Harrisburg 2-1 in the Quarterfinals on their way to winning the Cup. In 2009, Harrisburg beat New England, by the same score, in the Third Round, only to fall to DC (the eventual Runner-Up) in the Quarterfinals.

Coming in to this game, Harrisburg has not conceded a goal since May 12, while the Revolution have not won a game since May 12.  The Revolution have been weak on the road this year in MLS play, with an away record of 1-6-0.  They’ll only be on two days rest from their loss to DC United on Saturday night. They also will be traveling to Pennsylvania without a few of their star players. Captain Shalrie Joseph, three starting defenders including A.J. Soares, top goal scorer Saer Sène, and starting goalkeeper Matt Reis are all headed back to New England and won’t play on Tuesday.  Harrisburg is expected to play the first team for the game and is riding a five game unbeaten streak that includes the US Open Cup Second Round defeat of the Long Island Rough Riders (PDL).

This game should prove to be a fairly even match-up and might even favor Harrisburg, a USL squad with the home field advantage fielding their ‘A’ team while enjoying a successful league season (4th place in USL after 7 games) versus an MLS squad struggling on the road fielding their ‘B’ team while having a less than fortunate league season (7th place in the Eastern Conference, 13th overall in MLS after 12 games).

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
New England Revolution
OVERALL: 10-8-3 (2-1 in PKs), 2-5-1 (1-0 in PKs), 2-1-1 (1-0 in PKs) vs. Division 3
BEST FINISH: 2007 US Open Cup champions
LAST ENTRY: 2009 (Round 3, Lost 2-1 AET vs. Harrisburg City Islanders)
Harrisburg City Islanders
OVERALL: 11-4-2 (1-1 in PKs), 9-1-2 (1-1 in PKs) at home, 3-3-0 vs. MLS teams
BEST FINISH: Quarterfinals (2007, 2009, 2010)
LAST ENTRY: 2011 (Round 2, Lost 1-0 vs. Rochester Rhinos)

Previous Open Cup Meetings (home team listed second):
2007 Quarterfinals – Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) 1:2 New England Revolution (MLS)
2009 Third Round – Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) 2:1 AET New England Revolution (MLS)

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DC United (MLS) at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO)
Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Va.; 7 p.m. ET
Broadcast: None
Round 4 scenario (June 5):
Winner hosts Philadelphia Union/Rochester Rhinos winner

DC United’s 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
First game of 2012 tournament
Richmond Kickers’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 2: Richmond Kickers (USL Pro) 4:0 Aegean Hawks (USASA)  [+] Recap

DC United are coming off of only two days rest after their defeat of the New England Revolution in MLS league play on Saturday night.  Because of the short turnaround, we’ll have to wait and see if they’ll bring many of their starters to Virginia on Tuesday night.  One starter that might receive a mixed welcome in Richmond is reigning MLS MVP Dwayne De Rosario who got his professional start with the Richmond Kickers.  DeRo had a breakout year for the Kickers in 2000, scoring 16 goals, but now he returns as the enemy.

These two teams have met four times previously in the US Open Cup.  In 2001, the eventual USL A-League champion Kickers fell to DC 2-1 in the Quarterfinal.  In 2004, the eventual MLS champion DC United lost to Richmond by the same score in the Fourth Round.  DC has won the last two Open Cup meetings between the teams.  They won 3-1 in the 2005 Fourth Round  and 2-0 in the 2010 Third Round.

Two-time US Open Cup winners DC United are currently first in the Eastern Division of MLS (3rd overall) and Richmond are mid-table in sixth place in USL Pro but, with DC on limited rest, possibly not playing all of their starters, and Richmond with home field advantage, Richmond might have the edge in this match-up.  They beat DC in the Open Cup during one of United’s best league seasons.  Can they do it again?  We’ll find out Tuesday night.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
DC United
OVERALL: 25-9-3 (1-2 PKs), 5-6-1 (0-1 PKs) away, 1-0-0 vs. amateur clubs
BEST FINISH: 1996, 2008 US Open Cup champions
LAST ENTRY: 2010 (Semifinals, lost 2-1 at home vs. Columbus Crew)
Richmond Kickers
OVERALL: 23-12-1 (1-0 in PKs), 18-3-0 at home, 5-9-0 vs. MLS clubs
AS USL PRO: 12-6-0, 8-0-0 at home, 3-3-0 vs. MLS clubs
BEST FINISH: 1995 US Open Cup Champions (Drew 1-1 at El Paso Patriots, won in PKs 4-2)
LAST ENTRY: 2011 (Semifinals, lost 2-1 at Chicago Fire)

Previous Open Cup Meetings (home team listed second):
2001 Quarterfinals – Richmond Kickers (A-League) 2:1 DC United (MLS)
2004 Fourth Round – DC United (MLS) 1:2 Richmond Kickers (A-League)
2005 Fourth Round – DC United (MLS) 3:1 Richmond Kickers (A-League)

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Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) at Carolina RailHawks (NASL)
WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.; 7:07 p.m. ET
Broadcast: LAGalaxy.com (Audio) | CarolinaRailHawks.com/live (Video) | 99.9 HD3 FM The Ticket
Round 4 scenario (June 5):
Winner hosts Chivas USA/Ventura County Fusion (PDL)

LA Galaxy’s 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
First game of 2012 tournament
Carolina RailHawks’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 2: PSA Elite (USASA) 0:6 Carolina RailHawks (NASL) [+] Recap

Two reigning champions collide on Tuesday night. LA Galaxy, current MLS champions, travel to North Carolina to take on current NASL regular season champion Carolina RailHawks. There’s just one catch: neither team is playing up to the title of “champion” this season. LA are currently last in the Western Division of MLS (17th overall). Carolina are sitting at the bottom of the table in 7th place in NASL with a winless record.

This will be the first meeting of these two teams in the US Open Cup. The advantage in this game will likely go to the RailHawks. While neither team is playing spectacularly, the RailHawks were idle in league play this week after their US Open Cup Second Round defeat of PSA Elite due to the Puerto Rico Islanders needing to play in the Caribbean Football Union championship tournament. LA Galaxy have played (and lost) two league games in the past week. The 2005 US Open Cup champion Galaxy are also coming off of just two days rest from their loss to Houston on SaturdayLA are short Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane, both of whom are currently on international duty with their respective national teams; and it has been confirmed David Beckham, along with several other starters, have not made the cross-country trip.

Carolina will enjoy a home field advantage in front of a sold out crowd. Granted, a lot of those tickets will have been sold to people coming to see the Galaxy play, but the absence of the Galaxy stars will temper that somewhat.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
LA Galaxy
OVERALL: 22-9-1, 6-7-1 (1-0 PKs) away, 8-1-0 vs. Division 2 clubs
BEST FINISH: 2001, 2005 US Open Cup champions
LAST ENTRY: 2011 (Quarterfinals, lost 3-1 at Seattle Sounders)
Carolina RailHawks
OVERALL: 9-3-1, 9-1-1 (0-1 PKs) at home, 1-2-0 vs. MLS clubs
BEST FINISH: Semifinals (2007, lost at New England Revolution 2-1 AET)
LAST ENTRY: 2010 (Round 2, lost 2-1 at Charleston Battery)

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Colorado Rapids (MLS) at Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL)
Al Lang Stadium; St. Petersburg, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: TBA
Round 4 scenarios (June 5):
Winners plays at Orlando City SC/Sporting Kansas City winner

Colorado Rapids’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
First game of 2012 tournament
Tampa Bay Rowdies’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 2: Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) 3:0 Jacksonville United (NPSL) [+] Recap

This will be the first meeting of these two teams in the US Open Cup, although the Rapids did defeat MLS side Tampa Bay Mutiny in the Cup in 1999, on their way to a loss in the final to Rochester.

Both teams come in to this game pretty evenly matched. Colorado are currently sitting in fourth place in the Western Division of MLS (7th overall), and are coming off of a win against Montreal on Saturday. Tampa Bay are currently mid-table, 4th place, in NASL play with 12 points from 9 games. Both teams are playing with very little rest. Colorado has had just two days to rest and Tampa Bay has had only three. Both teams will be fielding strong squads as Colorado have announced that they’ll be bringing most of their starters, including leading goal scorer Jaime Castrillon. Tampa Bay will have the advantage of not travelling as their league game on Friday night was at home.

This is the second year for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the US Open Cup as this is the first year that the NASL has entered teams. The furthest that the Colorado Rapids have progressed in the Open Cup is the 1999 Final when they lost to the Rochester Rhinos, the only non-MLS team to win the cup since MLS began entering the competition.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Colorado Rapids
OVERALL: 8-11-0, 4-10-0 away, 4-6-0 vs. Division 2 clubs
BEST FINISH: Final (1999, lost 2-0 vs. Rochester Raging Rhinos
LAST ENTRY: 2007 (Quarterfinals, lost 5-0 at Seattle Sounders)
Tampa Bay Rowdies
OVERALL: 2-1-0, 0-0-0 at home, 0-0-0 vs. MLS clubs
BEST FINISH: Round 2 (2010, lost at Miami FC 2-1 AET)
LAST ENTRY: Round 2 (2010, lost at Miami FC 2-1 AET)

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New York Red Bulls (MLS) at Charleston Battery (USL PRO)
Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.; 7:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: USLNation.com (Video)
Round 4 scenarios (June 5):
If New England wins … Winner of this game hosts
If Harrisburg wins … Winner of this game plays at Harrisburg

New York Red Bulls’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
First game of 2012 tournament
Charleston Battery’s 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 2: Reading United (PDL) 1:2 Charleston Battery (USL Pro) [+] Recap

Believe it or not, the New York Red Bulls are in second place in the Eastern Conference, mostly thanks to a hot start to the season that saw Kenny Cooper and Thierry Henry tearing up the league despite a porous defense. Now the defense is shored up and the team is continuing to get positive results, coming into the contest unbeaten in their last six games with a 5-0-1 record after a 1-1 draw against Chivas USA last Wednesday and a weekend off from league play. The Red Bulls have allowed only four goals during the run.

Charleston, on the other hand, is third in the league at 5-2-0 with both losses coming at home in one-goal decisions. Since their first two matches of the campaign, the Battery defense, led by DC United loanee Andrew Dykstra in goal, has allowed no more than one goal in any given game. Charleston comes into the match off a 1-0 home win against the LA Blues Saturday after defeating Reading United AC, 2-1, in the Second Round. The duo of Jose Cuevas and Nicki Paterson are the most dangerous for the Battery. Cuevas has had a role in scoring in nearly every game with three goals and three assists.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
New York Red Bulls
OVERALL: 13-13-1 (1-0 PKs), , 7-7-1 (1-0 PKs) away, 4-4-0 vs. Division 2 clubs
BEST FINISH: Final (2003, lost 1-0 vs. Chicago Fire)
LAST ENTRY: 2011 (Quarterfinals, lost 4-0 at Chicago Fire)
Charleston Battery
OVERALL: 23-11-4 (3-1 PKs), 19-5-3 (2-1 in PKs) at home, 6-9-3 (2-1 PKs) vs. MLS clubs
AS USL PRO: 4-2-1 (1-0 in PKs), 4-1-0 at home, 1-0-1 (1-0 PKs) vs. MLS clubs
BEST FINISH: Final (2008, lost 2-1 at DC United)
LAST ENTRY: 2011 (Round 2, lost 1-0 vs. Orlando City SC)

Previous Open Cup Meetings (home team listed second):
2001 Round 2 – Metrostars (MLS) 1:4 Charleston Battery (A-League)
2004 Round 4 – Metrostars (MLS) 0:1 Charleston Battery (A-League)

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Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) at Philadelphia Union (MLS)
PPL Park; Chester, Pa.; 7:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: TBA
Round 4 scenarios (June 5):
Winner plays at DC United/Richmond Kickers winner

Rochester Rhinos’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 2: Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) 0:3 Rochester Rhinos (USL Pro) [+] Recap
Philadelphia Union’s 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
First game of 2012 tournament

The giant-killing Rochester Rhinos could not have hand-picked a better opponent as the Union are struggling mightily heading into their tournament debut. Philadelphia has the second lowest point total in the league (8) ahead of only Canada’s Toronto FC, who picked up their first three points of the year Saturday with a 1-0 victory against the Union. Philadelphia is winless in its last five games, allowing five of the eight goals in that span at home.

Rochester, meanwhile, is no longer perfect, literally. The Rhinos started the season with six shutout victories behind the outstanding goalkeeping of Kristian Nicht and the consistent, but minimal offensive contributions of JC Banks. They gave up their first goal in a 1-1 draw the weekend before the 3-0 Second Round win against Brooklyn and have struggled since. This week they fell 1-0 in Harrisburg Friday and played to another draw against Dayton, 2-2 on the road, Saturday. The club’s offense has scored twice on two times in nine games this season, but is still second in the table.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Rochester Rhinos
OVERALL: 28-13-5 (3-2 in PKs), 3-7-1 (1-0 PKs) away, 7-11-4 (2-2 PKs) vs. MLS clubs
AS USL PRO: 3-1-0, 1-0-0 away, 0-1-0 vs. MLS clubs
BEST FINISH: 1999 US Open Cup champions (Defeated Colorado Rapids 2-0)
LAST ENTRY: 2011 (Round 3, lost 1-0 vs. Chicago Fire)
Philadelphia Union
OVERALL: 0-0-0, 0-0-0 away, 0-0-0 vs. Division 3 clubs
BEST FINISH: 2012 is their first entry
LAST ENTRY: 2012 is their first entry

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Chicago Fire (MLS) at Michigan Bucks (PDL)
Ultimate Soccer Arena; Pontiac, Mich.; 7:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: Chicago-Fire.com (Video)
Round 4 scenarios (June 5):
Winner will host Columbus Crew/Dayton Dutch Lions winner

Chicago Fire’s 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
First game of 2012 tournament
Michigan Bucks’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 1: Jersey Shore Boca (USASA) 0:6 Michigan Bucks (PDL) [+] Recap
Rd 2: Michigan Bucks (PDL) 1:0 Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL Pro) [+] Recap

If you told a Fire fan that the final scoreline will be 2-1, it might make them worry. The past four league games have finished that way, and both times they were on the road the team was on the wrong side of the ledger. At 5-4-3, the club has yet to post two consecutive victories this season, and only have one three-game unbeaten streak (2-0-1) to boast about. The Fire are coming off a two-game week in which they looked great against visiting FC Dallas in a 2-1 win Wednesday, but were overrun on the road in Columbus in a 2-1 defeat Saturday.

It’s somewhat difficult to judge the Bucks as they have played just as many league games and matches in the Open Cup. After drubbing USASA’s Jersey Shore Boca in the First Round to open their 2012 campaign, the Bucks blasted visiting expansion side Chicago Inferno, 4-1, to open PDL play. After earning a narrow 1-0 upset win over Pittsburgh on the road in the Second Round they returned home to post a 6-2 win against second-year Hamilton Rage. Three players have led the scoring in league play with Thomas Catalano tallying two goals and two assists and the duo of Zach Steinberger and Kenny Uzoigwe, one of the club’s all-time greats, providing two goals each as well.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Chicago Fire
OVERALL: 28-9-3 (2-1 PKs), 11-9-1 (1-0 PKs) away, 1-0-0 vs. amateur clubs
BEST FINISH: 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006 US Open Cup champions
LAST ENTRY: 2011 (Final, lost 2-0 at Seattle Sounders)
Michigan Bucks
OVERALL: 11-7-1 (0-1 in PKs), 4-3-0 away, 1-4-1 (0-1 PKs) vs. MLS clubs
BEST FINISH: Round 3 (1999, 2000, 2003, 2006)
LAST ENTRY: 2008 (Round 1, Lost 2-1 vs. Cleveland City Stars)

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Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) at Columbus Crew (MLS)
Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio; 7:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: TheCrew.com (Video)
Round 4 scenarios (June 5):
Winner plays at Chicago Fire/Michigan Bucks winner

Dayton Dutch Lions’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 2: Dayton Dutch Lions (USL Pro) 2:1 Chicago Fire PDL (PDL) [+] Recap
Columbus Crew’s 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
First game of 2012 tournament

It has been an ugly start to the season for Dayton, but the Dutch Lions have managed to tie one of the league’s best, Rochester, twice in the past two weeks, home and away. The club’s narrow, last-minute victory over the Chicago Fire PDL side in the Second Round last week is the team’s sole victory so far this season as they enter the contest 0-4-4 in league play, but Gibson Bardsley’s two goals and assist in the last four games is giving the team hope.

The bad news is that Columbus may be one of the best clubs in MLS at the moment, entering the match on a five-game unbeaten streak (3-0-2) with a defense that has allowed a maximum of one goal in the last six and has allowed more than one only three times this season. The Crew, though, are coming off a two-game week having blanked the reigning three-time Open Cup champion Seattle Sounders on the road Wednesday, 2-0, and downing rival Chicago at Crew Stadium Saturday, 2-1. The duo of Emilio Renteria and Eddie Gaven were on fire with three goals and two assists between them in the two games in addition to a goal-line clearance by Gaven. This game marks the first time in the Modern Professional Era (1995-present) that two teams frim

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Dayton Dutch Lions
OVERALL: 1-2-0, 1-2-0 away, 0-0-0 vs. MLS clubs
AS USL PRO: 1-1-0, 1-1-0 away, 0-0-0 vs. MLS clubs
BEST FINISH: Round 1 (2010, 2011)
LAST ENTRY: 2011 (Round 1, lost at Richmond Kickers 4-1)
Columbus Crew
OVERALL: 18-9-2 (0-2 PKs), 10-4-1 (0-1 PKs) at home, 4-1-0 vs. Division 3 clubs
BEST FINISH: 2002 US Open Cup champions
LAST ENTRY: 2011 (Round 3, lost 2-1 vs. Richmond Kickers)

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Orlando City SC (USL PRO) at Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
LIVESTRONG Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.; 8:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: YouTube.com (Video)
Round 4 scenarios (June 5): Winner hosts Colorado Rapids or Tampa Bay Rowdies

Orlando City SC’s 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 2: KC Athletics (USASA) 0:7 Orlando City SC (USL Pro) [+] Recap
Sporting Kansas City’s 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
First game of 2012 tournament

It is a match-up of the two best teams in the two leagues. Sporting KC comes into the match with the best points-per-game average in MLS with an 8-3-1 record after recording a dramatic 2-1 victory against the San Jose Earthquakes, one of the Western Conference’s best teams. The plentitude of attacking options for Kansas City with Graham Zusi, Kei Kamara, Bobby Convey and CJ Sapong hide the fact that the team has a great defensive record with only 10 goals allowed – seven coming in a recent four-game stretch (0-3-1) that ended with Saturday’s win. Aurelien Collin has done both, leading the back line and scoring three goals.

Orlando City remains the lone unbeaten in the league with a 7-0-2 record, scoring 17 and allowing just six goals in nine games. After drubbing the USASA’s KC Athletics 7-0 in the Second Round last week Orlando City played twice at home, posting a 1-1 draw against the LA Blues Thursday and defeating the Charlotte Eagles, 2-1, Saturday. Three different players provided goals, but it was the first time the club had allowed goals in consecutive games, a three-game stretch if you include the second match in Antigua, a 2-1 win nine days before the Open Cup opener.

The reigning USL Pro champions will be looking to follow in the steps of their compatriot Richmond Kickers, who traveled to Kansas City last year and picked up an unexpected 2-0 road victory in the Quarterfinals, becoming the first club to defeat Sporting in their new stadium.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Orlando City SC
OVERALL: 3-1-0, 2-0-0 at home, 0-1-0 vs. amateur clubs
BEST FINISH: Round 3 (2011, lost 3-2 at FC Dallas)
LAST ENTRY: 2011 (Round 3, lost 3-2 at FC Dallas)
Sporting Kansas City
OVERALL: 11-10-3 (1-2 PKs), 7-5-0 at home, 0-2-0 vs Division 3 clubs
BEST FINISH: 2004 US Open Cup champions
LAST ENTRY: 2011 (Quarterfinals, lost 2-0 vs. Richmond Kickers)

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Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at FC Dallas (MLS)
FC Dallas Stadium; Frisco, Texas; 8:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: FC Dallas (Video)
Round 4 scenarios (June 5):
If FC Dallas wins … home vs. Houston Dynamo OR at San Antonio Scorpions
If Charlotte wins … at San Antonio Scorpions OR Houston Dynamo

Charlotte Eagles’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 2: Charlotte Eagles (USL Pro) 1:0 El Paso Patriots (PDL) [+] Recap
FC Dallas’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
First game of 2012 tournament

The Charlotte Eagles will attempt to bounce back from what has been a difficult regular season in USL Pro to win consecutive Open Cup games for the first time in club history. That will be no small task as the Eagles are in Frisco, Texas to battle Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas. Never an easy task to knock off an MLS team, especially on their home field, but Dallas is struggling. They have not won a game since April 14, adding up to a nine-game winless streak.

Charlotte has only faced one MLS team in Open Cup play and nearly pulled off the upset. In a Third Round match in 2005, the Eagles hosted Chivas USA and appeared to be headed to a penalty kick shootout when Isaac Romo scored the game-winning goal with seconds remaining in the second extra time period.

FC Dallas is a mainstay in the US Open Cup, reaching the Quarterfinals a record 12 times since MLS was founded in 1996. Dallas has reached the title game three times (1997, 2005, 2007), while lifting the trophy just once, when they defeated DC United in a penalty kick shootout in 1997.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Charlotte Eagles
OVERALL: 6-9-0, 3-8-0 away, 0-1-0 vs. MLS clubs
BEST FINISH: Round 3 (2005, lost 3-2 AET vs. Chivas USA)
LAST ENTRY: 2011 (Round 2, lost 3-2 AET at Wilmington Hammerheads)
FC Dallas
OVERALL: 21-13-4 (4-0 PKs), 13-4-1 at home, 3-1-0 vs. Division 3 clubs
BEST FINISH: 1997 US Open Cup champions
LAST ENTRY: 2011 (Semifinals, lost 1-0 at Seattle Sounders)

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Houston Dynamo (MLS) at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL)
Heroes Stadium; San Antonio, Texas; 8:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: TBA
Round 4 scenarios (June 5):
If Houston wins … at FC Dallas OR home vs. Charlotte Eagles
If San Antonio wins … home vs. FC Dallas/Charlotte Eagles winner

Houston Dynamo’s 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
First game of 2012 tournament
San Antonio Scorpions’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 2: Laredo Heat (PDL) 0:2 San Antonio Scorpions (NASL) [+] Recap

One of the more intriguing matches of the Third Round of the US Open Cup this year is the expansion team from the NASL, the San Antonio Scorpions, hosting Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo. The Scorpions are 4-1-3 in their inaugural campaign and are drumming up some solid fan support, as is typical for a first-year team. After three home games, they’re averaging almost 11,000 fans per game and it could be a factor in Tuesday’s Open Cup match as the Scorpions try to prove themselves against an in-state MLS team.
BLURB HERE >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Houston Dynamo
OVERALL: 5-4-1 (0-1 PKs), 2-3-1 (0-1 PKs) away, 3-1-1 (0-1) vs. Division 2 clubs
BEST FINISH: Semifinals (2006, 2009)
LAST ENTRY: 2010 (Quarterfinals, lost vs. Chivas USA 3-1)
San Antonio Scorpions
OVERALL: 1-0-0, 1-0-0 at home, 0-0-0 vs. MLS clubs
BEST FINISH: First entry into the US Open Cup
LAST ENTRY: First entry into the US Open Cup

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Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) at Real Salt Lake (MLS)
Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah; 9 p.m. ET
Broadcast: RealSaltLake.com (Video)
Round 4 scenarios (June 5):
If Minnesota wins … at San Jose Earthquakes OR home vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers
If Real Salt Lake wins … at San Jose Earthquakes OR home vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers

Minnesota Stars’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 2: Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) 2:0 Des Moines Menace (PDL) [+] Recap
Real Salt Lake’s 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
First game of 2012 tournament

While the Minnesota Stars is a different franchise, when most Open Cup fans think of Minnesota and Real Salt Lake, they think back to the wild barnburner of a match between the Minnesota Thunder the RSL in the Third Round of 2005. (Note: It happened on the same night as the Charlotte Eagles/Chivas USA match we referenced above). Jason Kreis scored a hat trick but Minnesota, led by Melvin Tarley, Johnny Menyongar and Aaron Paye matched the RSL side blow-by-blow, including an 89th minute equalizer by Paye to send the match into extra time tied. With the scoreboard locked at 4-4, the Thunder scored two more in extra time to win it 6-4.

Will we see fireworks like that on Tuesday night? Real Salt Lake is certainly capable, as they currently hold the league’s best record at 9-3-2 and are on a six-game unbeaten streak. The Stars are in second place in the NASL with a 4-0-4 record, but the question is do they have enough to hang with the best team in MLS on the road?

One thing the two teams do have in common is the fact that neither has history on their side. This is just the second tournament for Minnesota since the team started in 2010, but for all the success that RSL has had in league play and the CONCACAF Champions League, the Open Cup has not been their competition. They are only 2-3-0 all-time in the Open Cup, but the reason why a team which began play in 2005 has only five games under its belt is because they failed to qualify for the tournament four years in a row from 2007-2010. Both teams will be anxious to start a new chapter in the team’s history.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Minnesota Stars FC
OVERALL: 2-1-0, 1-0-0 away, 0-0-0 vs. MLS clubs
BEST FINISH: Round 2 (2010, lost 1-0 vs. AC St. Louis)
LAST ENTRY: 2010 (Round 2, lost 1-0 vs. AC St. Louis)
Real Salt Lake
OVERALL: 2-3-0, 2-1-0 at home, 1-1-0 vs. Division 2 clubs
BEST FINISH: Quarterfinals (2011, lost 2-0 at FC Dallas)
LAST ENTRY: 2011 (Quarterfinals, lost 2-0 at FC Dallas)

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Chivas USA (MLS) at Ventura County Fusion (PDL)
Ventura College; Ventura, Calif.; 10 p.m. ET
Broadcast: TBA
Round 4 scenarios (June 5):
Winner will play at Los Angeles Galaxy or at Carolina RailHawks

Chivas USA’s 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
First game of 2012 tournament
Ventura County Fusion’s 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 1: Ventura County Fusion (PDL) 6:2 (AET) Fullerton Rangers (NPSL) [+] Recap
Rd 2: Ventura County Fusion (PDL) 3:1 (AET) Los Angeles Blues (USL Pro) [+] Recap

Two clubs with contrasting histories in their respective leagues come together in Los Angeles. The Ventura County Fusion have been one of the more dominant clubs in the Southwest Division for a while, and claimed the league championship in 2009. The Fusion are off to a 3-1-1 start in league play with victories in their last three games, five including US Open Cup. They downed the NPSL’s Fullerton Rangers, 6-2 in overtime, in the First Round. And despite playing twice – two shutout wins – before the Second Round, they stunned the USL Pro LA Blues, 3-1 in overtime, to remain one of three amateur teams left in the tournament. The team is coming off a 4-1 victory Saturday against the Southern California Seahorses with three goals from Travis Bowen in his debut. Two of the goals were set up by Francisco Lopez, who has been the Open Cup star with overtime goals.

Unlike the Fusion, Chivas USA is still searching for glory. At 4-6-3 the club has been surprisingly strong in what was expected to be another rebuilding year under second-year coach Robin Fraser, sitting above both FC Dallas and rival LA Galaxy in the table. The club’s improved defense has been a key factor, 14 allowed in 13 games, as the offense has been sparse with only nine goals. The team is on a four-game unbeaten run, playing to a pair of 1-1 draws this past week in New York Wednesday and at home versus Seattle Saturday. The previous weekend, they stunned many with a rare win against the reigning league champion Galaxy, 1-0. That came a week after an impressive 1-1 road draw against the high-flying offense of the San Jose Earthquakes.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Chivas USA
OVERALL: 3-5-1, 2-5-0 away, 0-0-1 (0-1 PKs) vs. amateur clubs
BEST FINISH: Semifinals (2010, lost 3-1 at Seattle Sounders)
LAST ENTRY: 2010 (Semifinals, lost 3-1 at Seattle Sounders)
Ventura County Fusion
OVERALL: 3-1-1 (0-1 in PKs), 2-0-0 away, 0-0-0 vs. MLS clubs
BEST FINISH: Round 2 (2011, lost 1-0 vs. Los Angeles Blues)
LAST ENTRY: 2011 (Round 2, lost 1-0 vs. Los Angeles Blues)

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Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) at Seattle Sounders (MLS)
Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Wash.; 10 p.m. ET
Broadcast: SoundersFC.com (Video)
Round 4 scenarios (June 5):
If Seattle wins … home vs. Cal FC OR at Portland Timbers
If Atlanta wins … at Portland Timbers OR TBD vs. Cal FC

Atlanta Silverbacks’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 2: Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) 1:0 Georgia Revolution (NPSL) [+] Recap
Seattle Sounders’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
First game of 2012 tournament

It was not quite the last game between the two clubs at the Starfire Soccer Complex as the Sounders played one more USL First Division campaign before moving onto Major League Soccer after the 2008 season. But the memory of a stinging 4-0 loss in the 2007 championship game has to still be on the minds of team management as they trek back to Seattle for the first time in four years. Only defender Martyn Lancaster remains from the Silverbacks roster that took the field that night. Standing on the other side again may very well defender Zach Scott and forward Roger Levesque. And in one other small twist, Atlanta’s Ciaran O’Brien’s brother, Leighton, was a part of that game for Seattle, though he left after 18 minutes with an injury. The Silverbacks were never able to avenge the defeat, falling 2-0 at home and 4-2 away early in the season and playing to a 1-1 draw in the final month at Starfire.

Atlanta comes into the contest with a narrow Second Round victory against amateur NPSL side Georgia Revolution as the only win of the campaign as they are one of two winless sides (Carolina) in the NASL at 0-4-5. A 1-1 draw in Fort Lauderdale Saturday ended a four-game losing streak in which they allowed at least two goals in every game. Reinaldo Navia has been the star of the season thus far with six goals, but his equalizer Saturday, set up by O’Brien, was the first in five games.

The Sounders bring the weight of being the three-time Open Cup champions to the table as well as one of the best records in the league at 8-3-3. The Sounders, though, have struggled of late with a four-game winless stretch (0-2-2) and are coming off a two-game week in MLS, falling at home to Columbus, 2-0, and playing to a 1-1 draw on the road against Chivas USA. Scoring has come from a myriad of players and the team is relying heavily on rookie goalkeeper Bryan Meredith, who is in relief of the injured Michael Gspurning. Last year Meredith was on the other side of the equation playing for the PDL Kitsap Pumas. He guided them to a pair of wins versus amateur competition before falling, 2-1, at Starfire to the Sounders. The Sounders enter the 2012 tournament riding a Modern Pro Era record 17-game unbeaten streak dating back to the 2008 campaign, including a 12-game unbeaten streak as an MLS franchise.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Atlanta Silverbacks
OVERALL: 5-6-2 (1-1 in PKs), 2-3-2 (1-1 in PKs) away, 0-2-1 (0-1 PKs) vs. MLS clubs
BEST FINISH: Round 4 (2004, lost 4-1 vs. Kansas City Wizards)
LAST ENTRY: 2008 (Round 2, lost 1-0 at Miami FC)
Seattle Sounders
OVERALL: 26-11-3 (2-1 PKs), 20-2-1 (1-0 PKs) at home, 3-1-2 (1-1 PKs) vs. Division 2 clubs
AS MLS: 11-0-1 (1-0 PKs), 9-0-0 at home, 1-0-1 (1-0 PKs) vs. Division 2 clubs
BEST FINISH: 2009, 2010, 2011 US Open Cup champions
LAST ENTRY: 2011 (Champion, 2-0 win vs. Chicago Fire)

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Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) at San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
Cagan Stadium, Stanford University; Stanford, Calif.; 10:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: TBA
Round 4 scenarios (June 5):
If San Jose wins … home vs. Real Salt Lake/Minnesota Stars FC winner
If Fort Lauderdale wins … at Real Salt Lake/Minnesota Stars FC winner

Fort Lauderdale Strikers’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 2: Fresno Fuego (PDL) 2:7 Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) [+] Recap
San Jose Earthquakes’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
First game of 2012 tournament

Soccer history has a page set aside for the rivalry that was between the Strikers and the Earthquakes. Dating back to the 1970s and ‘80s of the old NASL, the Earthquakes had a significant edge over the Strikers. From 1977-83, San Jose had a 2-10-0 advantage over the Fort Lauderdale team that is making their revival into this year’s US Open Cup.

The Strikers are coming off a 7-2 rout over PDL’s Fresno Fuego. Aly Hassan scored a hat trick, with three other teammates contributing to the scoreline at home. Fort Lauderdale, fifth in NASL, is currently 2-3-4 in their season and is 0-2-2 away from Lockhart Stadium.

San Jose has a US Open Cup record of 8-6-4 (2-2 in PKs) and is making a return to the tournament, a first since a quarterfinal appearance in 2005. Aside from the game not being at their normal home field at Buckshaw Stadium (this game will be at Cagan Stadium on Stanford University’s campus), Chris Wondolowski will not be in the lineup for this third round game. San Jose’s leader in goals and shots is currently serving on the US national team. The Earthquakes are currently second in the Western Conference and overall in MLS, but have only won once in their last five league games.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Fort Lauderdale Strikers
OVERALL: 6-4-1 (0-1 in PKs), 0-3-1 away, 0-2-0 vs. MLS clubs
BEST FINISH: Round 3 (2008, 2010)
LAST ENTRY: Round 3 (2010, lost 1-0 at Houston Dynamo)
San Jose Earthquakes
OVERALL: 8-6-4 (2-2 PKs), 1-3-1 (0-1 PKs) at home, 5-1-2 (2-0) vs. Division 2 clubs
BEST FINISH: Semifinals (2004, lost 1-0 at Kansas City Wizards)
LAST ENTRY: 2005 (Quarterfinals, lost 2-1 vs. Los Angeles Galaxy)

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Cal FC (USASA) at Portland Timbers (MLS)
JELD-WEN Field; Portland, Ore.; 10:30 p.m. PT
Broadcast: PortlandTimbers.com (Video) | 750AM (Audio)
Round 4 scenarios (June 5):
If Portland wins … home vs. Seattle Sounders/Atlanta Silverbacks winner
If Cal FC wins … at Seattle Sounders OR TBD vs. Atlanta Silverbacks

Cal FC’s 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
Rd 1: Cal FC (USASA) 3:1 Kitsap Pumas (PDL) [+] Recap
Rd 2: Cal FC (USASA) 4:0 Wilmington Hammerheads (USL Pro) [+] Recap
Portland Timbers’ 2012 US Open Cup results (home team on right):
First game of 2012 tournament

If any team can have “giant killer” status, Cal FC are definitely merit of that. In the first round, they met PDL champs Kitsap Pumas and sent them packing early, with the help from former US youth international Danny Barrera netting two goals in the 3-1 victory. Cal FC traveled to Wilmington, knocking off the USL Pro side 4-0. Barrera won his second straight TheCup.us Player of the Round award by scoring two more goals, along with Artur Aghasyan and Pedro Ferreira-Mendez contributing.

Cal FC are just the second USASA team from southern California to win a US Open Cup game. The first team, Hollywood United, also faced the Portland Timbers in the next round. The Timbers were a USL First Division team at the time and were upset by Hollywood 3-2.

The current form of the Timbers could be better, with only one win in the month of May and three draws to go along with it. Portland’s three league wins this season have all come playing at home so far, with their home record standing at 3-2-2. The Timbers are currently 7th in the Western Conference and 14th in all of MLS. This will be the first time for Portland’s MLS team to enter the US Open Cup, and the first time since 2010 a Timbers franchise has been in the tournament.

Modern Pro Era Open Cup Records:
Cal FC
OVERALL: 2-0-0, 2-0-0 away, 0-0-0 vs. MLS clubs
BEST FINISH: 2012 is their first entry
LAST ENTRY: 2012 is their first entry
Portland Timbers
OVERALL: 7-6-1 (0-1 PKs), 2-4-1 (0-1 PKs) at home, 5-1-0 vs. amateur clubs
AS MLS: 2012 is their first entry
BEST FINISH: Fourth Round (2005, lost 2-0 vs.San Jose Earthquakes)
LAST ENTRY: 2010 (Third Round, drew 1-1 vs. Seattle Sounders, lost in PKs 4-3)

2011 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Richmond Kickers at Sporting KC Preview

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QUARTERFINAL ROUND

Richmond Kickers at Sporting Kansas City
LiveStrong Sporting Park – Kansas City, Kan.
July 12 – 8:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: TBA

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 2009in USL-2/USL Pro) in eight appearances.

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 [+]

Second Round: Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL Pro) 1:4 Richmond Kickers (USL Pro)
For the second consecutive round, it was the same story as 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 [+]

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 poin,t 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 [+]

Path to Open Cup: Automatic entrant from USL Pro.

This Month in USL Pro: Richmond’s rough midseason stretch was compounded with a congested two-week league campaign that has seen them play four times. They opened the month with a 2-1 loss July 1 in Rochester with their only tally coming courtesy of a Rhinos own goal. They returned home for a Fourth of July celebration, rallying from an early Dayton penalty to top the Dutch Lions 3-1. David Bulow set up Ryan Heins for the equalizer and notched the winner himself from the spot before Edson Elcock secured the win. The Kickers then played a home-away series against Charlotte, falling to the Eagles in Richmond 2-1 on a stormy night July 8 despite Yomby William scoring the opener. The next night in Charlotte Luke Vervollone and Elcock broke a scoreless deadlock in the second half en route to a 2-1 road win.

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: 21-11-1 (1-0 in PKs) overall | 4-8-0 vs. MLS | 1st meeting vs. Sporting KC

Sporting Kansas City

Third Round: Chicago Fire PDL (USL PDL) 0:3 Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
A former rival of the Chicago Fire PDL team, Teal Bunbury got the hosts off to an early lead against the development side with a strike just three minutes in. Chicago would keep the game close though, before back-to-back second half goals put the match out of reach. Milos Stojcev tallied in the 58th, with Kei Kamara finding the back of the net again a minute later. Recap [+]

How They Qualified: Back-up netminder Eric Kronberg and CJ Sapong were the stars in qualifying for Kansas City, which was seeded third and started in the second round of the eastern bracket in MLS qualifying. Sapong netted the overtime game-winner 1-0 at Houston on April 6. Kronberg earned the first of two shutouts, registering the second in the bracket finale May 25 against the New England Revolution, who brought a squad of nearly all reserves. Chance Myers scored the first two goals in the 5-0 win, with Sapong adding two more to secure the berth.

Special Note: Sporting KC has not lost in 10 MLS league play matches (4-0-6) since qualifying for the tournament with its first home game of the year, although at an alternate venue.

This Month in MLS: Sporting Kansas City has been a busy club since winning its US Open Cup opener at the new Livestrong Sporting Park, playing three league contests. The team kicked the month off July 2 in Portland with a 2-1 victory over the Timbers. CJ Sapong tallied first in the 15th minute and helped set up Aurelien Collin four minutes later, which proved to be the winner. They returned home for a 1-1 midweek draw July 6 against the Colorado Rapids, on a 62nd minute equalizer from Graham Zusi. The club heads into the Quarterfinal contest with a second consecutive 1-1 draw, coming from behind again with Omar Bravo scoring an equalizer three minutes into stoppage time to secure a point at home against Chivas USA.
Last Five: D-D-W-W-D | Season Record: 5-6-7 (2-0-3 Home), Tied for fifth in Eastern Conference, Tied for 10th overall

Open Cup History: The team formerly known as the Wizards have a checkered history in the US Open Cup. They won a championship in 2004 as part of a double-winning campaign (also capturing the MLS Cup) when a Igor Simutenkov golden goal defeated the Chicago Fire 1-0 in the Final. In the last four years, Kansas City has missed out on qualifying twice (2007, 2010) and made it to the Quarterfinals twice (2008, 2009). In 2007, the Wizards lost in extra time to Real Salt Lake, while last year they lost in the first round of qualification to the Colorado Rapids. On the occasions they made the quarterfinals they advanced no further, falling to the USL version of the Seattle Sounders in 2008, then to the MLS version the next year. The team was upset the only other time they faced a 3rd division team, as San Francisco Bay Seals prevailed 2-1.
PRO ERA RECORD: 11-9-3 (1-2 in PKs) | 0-1-0 vs. 3rd Division | 1st meeting vs. Richmond Kickers

2011 US Open Cup Semifinal Scenarios

Chicago Fire / NY Red Bulls at Sporting Kansas City
8:30 p.m. – LIVESTRONG Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.
OR
Richmond Kickers at Chicago Fire
8:30 p.m. – Toyota Park; Bridgeview, Ill.
OR
Richmond Kickers at New York Red Bulls
8:00 p.m. – Red Bull Arena; Harrison, N.J.

2011 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: New York Red Bulls at Chicago Fire Preview

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UPDATE: Due to power outages at Toyota Park, tonight’s Quarterfinal match vs. New York Red Bulls has been moved to a 6 p.m. ET kickoff (5 p.m. local time). Tickets and parking for the match are free and the broadcast is still on. TheCup.us Live Blog will now start at 5:30 p.m. ET.

QUARTERFINAL ROUND

New York Red Bulls at Chicago Fire
Toyota Park – Bridgeview, Ill.
July 12 – 6 p.m. ET
Broadcast: Chicago-Fire.com (Video)

New York Red Bulls

Third Round: FC New York (USL Pro) 1:2 New York Red Bulls (MLS)
Scoreless through the first half of the local derby, the Red Bulls found themselves surprisingly trailing at the 56th minute mark. Two minutes later Juan Agudelo found Corey Hertzog to quickly level terms. Defender Tim Ream would set up John Rooney for the winner in the 65th minute. Recap [+]

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

This Month in MLS: The month started off well for New York, posting a 2-2 draw in California July 2 against San Jose on a pair of Joel Lindpere strikes. They then dominated Toronto FC in a stunning 5-0 thumping July 6. Jan Gunnar Solli set up Thierry Henry and Luke Rodgers in the first half with Joel Lindpere advancing the lead to three in the second half before setting up a pair of Juan Agudelo strikes to complete the contest. On Saturday though, it was all about the recent trade as former Red Bull Dwayne De Rosario burning New York just after the hour mark to give DC the 1-0 road win.
Last Five: L-W-D-D-L | Season record: 6-4-10 (1-2-7 Away), tied for first place in Eastern Conference, tied for fifth overall.

Open Cup History: The Red Bulls have come close early in their history, with trips to the Semifinals in 1997, 1998 and 2000, but have never won the US Open Cup. The closest they came was in 2003 when they lost to the Chicago Fire in their only trip to the championship game. Since then, it’s been a series of short runs in the tournament, with a 1-5 record the last five times they have qualified. New York did not qualify in 2007 or 2009. New York is 3-2-1 all-time in Quarterfinal matches, with Five of the Red Bulls’ six Quarterfinal matches have been against MLS clubs. This is their second match against Chicago, the other being the 2003 final loss.
PRO ERA RECORDS: 13-12-1 (1-0 in PKs) | 5-6-1 (1-0 in PKs) vs. MLS teams | 0-1-0 vs. Chicago (2003 Final)

Chicago Fire

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 [+]

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 in 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.

This Month in MLS: The Fire have struggled to find some offense in the two weeks of league play since the Third Round, playing to a 1-1 draw July 2 on the road versus Chivas USA with Dominic Oduro netting the opener. The result in their second consecutive at the Home Depot Center did not get any better against the Galaxy Saturday. Cristian Nazarit leveled the score in the 58th minute, four minutes after Landon Donovan’s opener, only to see David Beckham hit for a winner three minutes later.
Last Five: L-D-D-D-D | Season Record: 2-5-12 (1-1-6 Home), tied for seventh in Eastern Conference, tied for 14th overall.

Open Cup History: The Fire are one of the most successful Pro Era teams, winning the Cup four times (1998, 2000, 2003 against the New York MetroStars, 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 RECORD: 26-8-3 (2-1 in PKs) | 15-4-1 (1-0 in PKs) vs. MLS teams | 1-0-0 vs. New York (2003 Final)

Head to Head 2011
The two teams drew 1-1 in Toyota Park on June 26. Chicago will travel to Red Bull Arena on August 13.

2011 US Open Cup Semifinal Scenarios

Chicago Fire / NY Red Bulls at Sporting Kansas City
8:30 p.m. – LIVESTRONG Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.
OR
Richmond Kickers at Chicago Fire
8:30 p.m. – Toyota Park; Bridgeview, Ill.
OR
Richmond Kickers at New York Red Bulls
8:00 p.m. – Red Bull Arena; Harrison, N.J.

2011 US Open Cup New York Red Bulls bracket preview: FC New York at NY Pancyprian Freedoms

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SECOND ROUND

FC New York at NY Pancyprian Freedoms
Belson Stadium – Queens, NY – 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast: None

THIRD ROUND

FC New York / NY Pancyprian Freedoms at New York Red Bulls
June 28, 8 p.m. ET – Red Bull Arena; Harrison, NJ

NY Pancyprian Freedoms

Founded in 1974, the club has been a long-time member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. The Freedoms also played under the USL auspices for several years, launching in the PDL in 1999 and moving up to the professional third division league for two seasons before leaving USL. Meet the USASA Feature [+]

Path to Open Cup: The Region I tournament kicked off May 1 with the Freedoms dominating former Open Cup qualifier Danbury United, 4-0, with two goals from Julio Cesar Dos Santos. Three weeks later in the Semifinal May 22, New York traveled to Massachusetts for a “Win & You’re In” match and defeated Mass Premier Soccer, rallying from a two-goal deficit at halftime with a pair of goals each from Dos Santos and Stefan Dimitrov to post a 4-2 victory. Region I Semifinal Recap [+]

First Round: Pancyprian Freedoms (USASA) 2:1 Brooklyn Italians (NPSL)
In a showdown of longtime local and Open Cup rivals with five Cup titles between them, the Freedoms and Italians were in a stalemate in the First Round until Stefan Dimitrov gave the Freedoms the lead in the 65th minute. Brooklyn answered back in the 80th only to see Dimitrov immediately reply a minute later with the 2-1 winner. Full recap[+]

League form: The Freedoms are idle in league play. They captured the Cosmopolitan Soccer League First Division championship June 5, rallying from a two-goal deficit to tie NY Athletic Club 2-2 with a penalty from Stefan Dimitrov (55) and goal from Julio Cesar Dos Santos (71) en route to claiming the title via penalties 4-2.

Open Cup History: One of the most successful clubs in the history of the tournament, it is one of the few current long-time participants that have played in the tournament in four decades and one of seven clubs all-time to win the tournament at least three times. The three-time champions won their titles in 1980, 1982 and 1983 when the tournament was an all-amateur event. The third title led to an appearance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup where they upset Mexican side Puebla via penalties and Vida from Honduras, but were disqualified in the final stage for the North/Central America Zone, along with opponent Guadalajara, when they failed to agree on match dates, giving the Caribbean winner Violette AC the title by default. The Freedoms were the last US club to reach the equivalent of the semifinals in the competition until the Seattle Sounders reached the four-team group stage Final in 1996.

The club also reached the Open Cup semifinals in 1988 and the quarterfinals in 1993 before professional teams began to enter in 1995. The club launched a PDL team in 1999 that would qualify and upset professional third division club Cape Cod Crusaders in their debut campaign before falling in a narrow 2-1 overtime defeat in Rochester to the defending second division champion and eventual US Open Cup champion Rhinos. The team played four more seasons, two in the third division, before leaving the USL. They continued to compete in the CSL, qualifying for the tournament through the USASA in 2008. The new Freedoms lost to USL Second Division’s Real Maryland 3-2 in overtime in the First Round. Last year they were also knocked out in the opening round, 2-0, by the PDL Long Island Rough Riders.
PRO ERA RECORD: 3-4-0 overall | 0-1-0 vs. professional teams (0-1-0 vs. 2nd Division)

FC New York

The club is an expansion side playing in USL Pro.

Path to the Open Cup: Automatic entrant from USL Pro.

First Round: FC New York (USL Pro) 3:0 Western Mass Pioneers (PDL)
The expansion New York side dominated the First Round match Tuesday against Western Mass with Jhonny Arteaga scoring all three goals in the 3-0 victory. Recap [+]

League Form: The club is idle in league play this week. The team has only lost once in the last five games (2-1-2) and are in fourth place in the USL Pro National Division with a 3-5-4 overall record.

Open Cup History: First appearance in the tournament. PRO ERA RECORDS: 1-0-0 overall | 1-0-0 vs. amateur teams

New York Red Bulls

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

This Month in MLS: The Red Bulls came away with a dramatic come-from-behind 3-3 draw at Portland on Sunday. Down 3-1, Thierry Henry scored in the 73rd minute, but it was a Timbers handball that led to a Dwayne De Rosario penalty kick in second half stoppage time. They have two more games to play before their Third Round matchup. They will make trips to Seattle on Thursday, June 23 and to Chicago on June 26 before returning home two days later for the Open Cup. They opened the month with a 1-1 draw at home against the Columbus Crew June 4 in which they allowed a 92nd minute equalizer after leading since Mehdi Ballouchy’s ninth-minute strike. They rebounded from the setback a week later on June 10 with a 2-1 victory at home against the New England Revolution. The Red Bulls were the recipient of an own goal and Thierry Henry delivered the second before the Revs answered.
Last Five: D-W-D-D-D | Season record: 5-2-8 (4-1-3 at home), first place in Eastern Conference, fourth overall.

Open Cup History: The Red Bulls have come close early in their history with trips to the Semifinals in 1997, 1998 and 2000, but have never won the US Open Cup. The closest they came was in 2003 when they lost to the Chicago Fire in their only trip to the championship game. Since then, it’s been a series of short runs in the tournament with a 1-5 record the last five times they have qualified, including a pair of upsets to third division clubs (Crystal Palace Baltimore, Harrisburg City Islanders) and two more to second division teams (Charleston Battery, Rochester Rhinos). New York did not qualify in 2007 or 2009.
PRO ERA RECORDS: 12-12-1 (1-0 in PKs)

FIRST ROUND

Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) 1:2 N.Y. Pancyprian Freedoms (USASA – East NY)
Belson Stadium, St. Johns University – Queens, N.Y. – 7:30 p.m.
Full Recap[+]

Western Mass. Pioneers (PDL) 0:3 FC New York (USL PRO)
Met Oval – Queens, N.Y. – 7 p.m.
Full Recap [+]

ELIMINATED TEAMS

Brooklyn Italians

Founded in 1949, the club played in the Metropolitan Soccer League and later the American Soccer League through 1964. Since then, the club has played in the amateur ranks, recently joining the National Premier Soccer League in 2010.

Path to the Open Cup: The club was one of three teams in the NPSL Northeast that entered the qualifying competition. Brooklyn played host to FC Buffalo in the opening game, defeating the Western New York side by a narrow 1-0 margin on a 25th minute goal from Jorge Joseph. The club advanced to face the defending league champions Sonic Lehigh Valley, winning on the road 2-1.

June News Updates: Drew 2-2 against Morris County, rallying from two down on goals from Don Smart and Kordel Samuels.

Open Cup History: One of the 21 clubs to have won the US Open Cup on two occasions, it also one of the few current long-time participants that has played in the tournament in four decades. Brooklyn won the championship as the “Dodgers” in 1979 with a runners-up finish two years later. During that run to the Final in 1981, they defeated the New York Pancyprian Freedoms in the Semifinals to deny them a shot at repeating as champions.

Brooklyn returned to Open Cup prominence as runners-up in 1990 (falling to 2011 qualifier AAC Eagles from Chicago) before winning the championship a second time the following year. They won their 1991 title 1-0 over Houston’s Richardson Rockets on a sixth minute goal by Ernest Inneh. The club, however, did not return to the tournament until last year, falling 4-2 in overtime to the USL Second Division’s Harrisburg City Islanders despite taking the lead twice in regulation. Read more about the Freedoms/Italians rivalry [+]
PRO ERA RECORD: 0-1-0 overall | 0-0-0 vs. USASA

Western Mass Pioneers

Founded in 1998, the club was a long-time member of the professional third division league in USL prior to moving to the PDL in 2010. The team has made the playoffs only six times in 13 previous seasons, but reached the final twice (1999, 2005) and winning the 1999 championship.

Path to the Open Cup: Playing in the smallest of the nine PDL groups, the Pioneers’ campaign came down to the final game against MPS Portland Phoenix. Western Mass opened with a 2-1 win in New Hampshire and then defeated the Phantoms in the return match 4-2. They then played to a scoreless stalemate in Vermont, leaving them at 2-0-1 and needing at least a draw against the 2-1-0 visitors from Maine in the finale. Chris Roswess scored the winning goal in the 71st for the 1-0 win. Kyle Clancy was the lone player with multiple games in the campaign, scoring in both matches against the Phantoms. PDL East Qualifying [+]

June News Updates: The Pioneers fell at home 2-1 June 11 to Vermont with TJ Popolizio scoring an equalizer in the 65th minute while following up with a 1-0 win at Ottawa on June 4 that snapped the Fury’s 26-game regular season home unbeaten streak on a 56th-minute James Mooney strike. Their June 1 match versus Vermont was postponed.

Open Cup History: The Pioneers qualified for the tournament in its inaugural campaign in 1998 and advanced to the second round via a forfeit by USASA entry NY Greek American Atlas. Their run would end with a 3-1 loss to the second division Rochester Rhinos 3-1. They did not return until the 2004 tournament, the first of five appearances over the next six seasons. The club reached the Third Round only once, and that came in the 2005 season when they defeated Reggae Boyz FC (USASA) in their opening second round match 5-0 before falling 3-1 to the Chicago Fire. The club’s five tournament wins have all come against USASA opponents. The Pioneers last qualified in 2009 and were eliminated via penalties by league rival Harrisburg after a scoreless draw.

While Tuesday’s game is being held in New York, Open Cup soccer in the Pioneers’ home of Ludlow, Mass. goes back to 1937, when the Gremio Lusitano club began Cup play. The team continued through the 50s and 60s, and often called Lustiano Stadium their home, the same place the Pioneers play their home games. In 1956, Gremio Lusitano reached the Quarterfinals, but were stopped by a Big Apple team, New York Hakoah. After a 2-2 extra time draw at Zerega Oval in the Bronx, on Feb. 26, 1956, Hakoah won the replay 1-0 on the same field two weeks later.
PRO ERA RECORD: 5-4-1 (0-1 in PKs) overall | 0-1-1 (0-1 in PKs) vs. 3rd Division


2011 US Open Cup Columbus Crew bracket preview: Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Richmond Kickers

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SECOND ROUND

Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Richmond Kickers
Richmond City Stadium – Richmond, Va. – 7 p.m.
Broadcast: None

THIRD ROUND

Pittsburgh Riverhounds / Richmond Kickers at Columbus Crew
June 28, 7:30 p.m. ET  Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio

Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Founded in 1999, the Riverhounds have been a member of USL, playing in the professional second division through 2003 before joining the third division flight, which it took a hiatus from in 2007. Semifinalists for a third time a year ago, they have never reached the playoffs in consecutive seasons.

Path to Open Cup: Automatic entrant from USL Pro.

First Round: Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL Pro) 3:2 (AET) Chattanooga FC (NPSL)
The Riverhounds were the closest USL Pro team to come to being upset in the First Round, falling behind on a pair of Chattanooga goals in the 14th and 55th minutes. Jason Yeisley struck in the 79th and Stefan Lundberg found a late equalizer in the 89th to level terms, forcing overtime. Jeremy Deighton found the game winner nine minutes into the extra frame. Recap [+]

League Form: Pittsburgh was unable to find the same magic Friday in league play, falling at home 3-0 to Rochester. They are second from the bottom in league play, fifth place in the National Division with a 2-8-3 record.

Open Cup History: The Riverhounds may be most thankful to not be in the same foursome as Rochester, having been eliminated four times by the Rhinos, including the last three years (as well as in 2000). The team fell 3-0 last year and in 2008 – both in the second round – but took the Rhinos to penalties in the first round of 2009, dropping the contest after a 1-1 draw. Pittsburgh’s best outing came in 2001 when they upset the Colorado Rapids of MLS, 2-0, in the Second Round. They went on to edge league foe El Paso 2-1 in the Third Round before a Quarterfinal exit in overtime, a 3-2 loss to the Chicago Fire.
PRO ERA RECORDS: 5-6-2 (0-2 in PKs) overall | 0-0-0 vs. 3rd Division

Local History: Pittsburgh-area clubs often found Open Cup success in the 1940s and 50s. Of the 20 finals played between 1940 and 1959, teams from Western Pennsylvania were featured in eight of them, winning four titles. The Harmarville Hurricanes won two titles in 1952 and 1956 and were runners-up in 1953. Morgan Strasser won the cup in 1949 and were runners up in 1943 & 1944. Gallatin (1942 winners), and Heidelberg (1951 runner-up) also represented the Three Rivers area in Open Cup Finals.

Richmond Kickers

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

Founded in 1993, the club is the only other USL team 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, 2006, 2009) in eight appearances.

Path to Open Cup: Automatic entrant from USL Pro.

First Round: Richmond Kickers (USL Pro) 4:1 Dayton Dutch Lions (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 [+]

League Form: Still at home Friday, the Kickers fell 1-0 to Harrisburg on a strike just before the break to snap their three-game unbeaten streak. Richmond sits in second place in the American Division with a 7-3-2 record.

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 PDL, where they also won the league title. Richmond won the Open Cup in penalties after a 1-1 draw against the Patriots in El Paso. Since then, the club has reached the Quarterfinals three times (2001, 2004, 2007) in 13 appearances, defeating MLS clubs twice. 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 LA Galaxy weeks before David Beckham’s arrival, but were eliminated by the Second Division Carolina RailHawks in the Quarterfinals, 1-0.
PRO ERA RECORDS: 19-11-1 (1-0 in PKs) overall |  4-0-0 vs. 3rd Division (as a 3rd Division club)

Columbus Crew

The Columbus Crew celebrate their 2002 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup championship at Crew Stadium with the late Lamar Hunt, who the tournament is named after. | Photo: Columbus Crew

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

This Month in MLS: The Crew played their fourth match of the month against the Dynamo in Houston Saturday, winning 2-0 on goals from Andres Mendoza and Bernardo Anor. They are playing once more at home against the Colorado Rapids before the Third Round. Columbus started the month with a 1-1 draw on the road against the New York Red Bulls June 4 with Rich Balchan scoring the equalizer two minutes into stoppage time. The Crew won 2-1 four days later at home against Real Salt Lake, rallying from behind on a penalty from Andres Mendoza, who also set up Josh Gardner’s winner. The club fell at home June 12 against the Chicago Fire, 1-0.

Last Five: W-L-W-D-D | Season Record: 5-4-6 (4-1-3 Home), Third in Eastern Conference, Eighth Overall.

FIRST ROUND

Chattanooga FC (NPSL) 2:3 (AET) Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO)
Chartiers Valley Stadium – Bridgeville, Pa. – 7 p.m.
Full Recap [+]

Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) 1:4 Richmond Kickers (USL PRO)
Richmond City Stadium – Richmond, Va. – 7 p.m.
Full Recap [+]

ELIMINATED TEAMS

Chattanooga FC

Founded in 2009, the new club has been a dominant force of late in the National Premier Soccer League, finishing the 2010 season unbeaten on the season.

Path to Open Cup: Hosts of the six-team tournament for the Southeast NPSL group, Chattanooga was seeded with a bye as the defending champion. They would open with a 2-0 victory over Rocket City United in the semifinal contest with two second half goals from James Moor and Chris Ochieng, who would prove to be the hero in the Final. Deadlocked in a scoreless stalemate with the Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves, who also had a first round bye, Ochieng scored with four minutes remaining in overtime to send Chattanooga to the tournament with a 1-0 win.

June News Updates: Defeated Rocket City 2-0 June 11 on a pair of goals from Michael Brooks in the final seven minutes… Suffered the club’s first loss in two seasons, falling 1-0 at home June 4 to Jacksonville United.

Open Cup History: First appearance in the tournament

Dayton Dutch Lions

Founded in 2009, the club is in its first USL season as a member of the professional third division after playing its inaugural season in the PDL where it finished third in its division.

Path to Open Cup: Automatic entrant from USL Pro.

June News Updates: Lost 3-0 in New York June 10… Fell June 8 in Harrisburg 4-1 with George Davis scoring consolation strike already trailing by four… Rallied to defeat visiting Pittsburgh 2-1 June 4 with late second half goals (74, 79) from George Davis.

Open Cup History: In its only previous Open Cup contest, the Dutch Lions fell 2-0 to the Rochester Rhinos last year in a match that could have paired them up with the Riverhounds in the Round 2.
PRO ERA RECORD: 0-1-0 overall | 0-0-0 vs. Division 3

Local History: The first known club to participate in the US Open Cup from Dayton was the Edelwiess Soccer Club in the 1970 tournament. They lost to Detroit-area club Carpathia Kickers 6-2 in their first match.

2011 US Open Cup Chicago Fire bracket preview: Rochester Rhinos at Harrisburg City Islanders

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SECOND ROUND

Rochester Rhinos at Harrisburg City Islanders
Skyline Sports Complex – Harrisburg, Pa. – 7 p.m.
Broadcast: USLlive.com

THIRD ROUND

Chicago Fire at Rochester Rhinos
June 28, 7:35 p.m. ET  Sahlen’s Stadium; Rochester, N.Y.
OR
Harrisburg City Islanders at Chicago Fire
June 28, 8:30 p.m. ET  Toyota Park; Bridgeview, Ill.

Harrisburg City Islanders

The club has been a member of USL’s professional third division league since its founding in 2004 and has only missed the postseason on two occasions. The club won the league title in 2007.

Path to the Open Cup: Automatic entrant from USL Pro.

First Round: Harrisburg City Islanders 2:1 Reading United
Harrisburg found themselves trailing by a goal in the First Round to fellow Philadelphia Union affiliate, the PDL’s Reading United AC, at halftime and looked to be heading toward an early exit when JT Noone scored in the 86th minute. Four minutes later Sainey Touray provided the 2-1 game-winner in a late stunner. Recap [+]

League Form: The City Islanders returned to league action Friday with a 1-0 win in Richmond on a goal from Jason Hotchkin just before the break. They are current in second place in the National Division with a record of 5-4-2 (4-1-1 at home).

Open Cup History: After failing to qualify in its first three seasons (2004-2006), the club has reached the quarterfinals three times over its appearances in the last four years. Harrisburg is the only third division club in the Pro Era to reach the quarterfinals three times, and the only one to do it two years in a row (2009-10).

In 2007 the club upset visiting DC United 1-0 in the Third Round before falling 2-1 on the road to the New England Revolution. The following year, however, the team was knocked out in the second round by league rival Baltimore via penalties. After defeating Reading 4-1 and sneaking past league foe Western Mass via penalties in 2009, the club returned the favor against New England, beating the MLS club in overtime 2-1 in Connecticut before falling 2-1 to DC United in the Quarterfinals. The club upset a third MLS club in four years last year. After needing overtime to defeat the Brooklyn Italians 4-2 and edging Long Island Rough Riders 1-0, the City Islanders knocked off the New York Red Bulls in overtime, 1-0, on a goal from Dominic Oppong. DC would knock them out once again in the quarters, this time 2-0.
PRO ERA RECORDS: 10-3-2 (1-1 in PKs) overall | 3-3-2 (1-1 in PKs) vs. pro teams | 0-0-2 (1-1 in PKs) vs. 3rd Division

Rochester Rhinos

Rochester Raging Rhinos: 1999 US Open Cup champions
Rochester Raging Rhinos: 1999 US Open Cup champions

Founded in 1996, the Rhinos are arguably the most successful professional club outside of Major League Soccer, winning three professional second division titles in six league finals appearances. The club, which has also reached the Open Cup Final twice and won it in 1999, has never failed to qualify for the tournament.

Path to the Open Cup: Automatic entrant from USL Pro.

First Round: Rochester Rhinos (USL Pro) 2:1 Phoenix SC (USASA)
The Rhinos took the initial lead through JC Banks in the 27th minute of the First Round Tuesday and Anthony Hamilton doubled the advantage from the spot in the 55th. Visiting Phoenix SC made it a tense finish with a strike midway through the second half to make it 2-1, but Rochester’s defense held on. Recap [+]

League Form: Rochester traveled to Pittsburgh for league action Friday, blanking the Riverhounds 3-0 on first half goals from Rich Costanzo, Andrew Hoxie and Drew Cost. The Rhinos are in first place in the National Division with a 6-4-3 record.

Open Cup History: The club is most famous for its 1999 US Open Cup championship run with four victories over MLS clubs (Chicago, Dallas, Columbus, Colorado) after needing overtime to defeat PDL side New York Freedoms 2-1. The Rhinos also reached the final in their debut season in 1996, beating Tampa Bay and Colorado before falling to DC United in the final at RFK Stadium. Rochester also advanced versus MLS opposition in 2004, edging New England in penalties after a 1-1 draw, and 2005, topping New York 3-1. Both games were in the Fourth Round. The Rhinos reached the Semifinals for a third time in 2009, eliminating Columbus via penalties in a Third Round 1-1 draw and downing third division Wilmington 2-1 in the Quarterfinals before being eliminated 2-1 by DC.

Last year Rochester blanked the PDL Dayton Dutch Lions 2-0 and third division Pittsburgh Riverhounds 3-0 before falling 2-1 to the Crew in the Third Round. The Rhinos also have the distinction as the lower division club that has eliminated the most MLS teams with nine (7-10-4 overall, 2-2 in PKs)
PRO ERA RECORD: 26-12-5 (3-2 in PKs) overall | 17-3-5 vs. pro teams (all as 2nd Division franchise)

Chicago Fire

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 in third minute of 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, ultimately, to penalties where two Earthquakes rang shots off the crossbar in a 5-4 decision to send the Fire to the Open Cup.

This Month in MLS: The Fire played its fourth league match of the month this Saturday when they traveled to Foxboro to take on the New England Revolution, earning a 1-1 draw with Dominic Oduro scoring the opening goal. They also have two more contests before the Third Round with matches at home versus Real Salt Lake and New York Red Bulls June 22 and 26, respectively. They opened the month with a scoreless draw at home against the Seattle Sounders June 4 and repeated the outcome June 9 against fellow play-in qualifier Sporting Kansas City in the MLS debut of LiveStrong Sporting Park. Sean Johnson recorded both shutouts. The club extended an unbeaten streak to five games with a 1-0 home victory June 12 against the Columbus Crew with a stoppage time winning goal from Cristian Nazarit and Johnson registering a third consecutive clean sheet.
Last Five: D-W-D-D-D | Season Record: 2-4-9 (1-1-4 Home, 1-3-5 Away), Tied for sixth in Eastern Conference, 14th overall.

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 has only won one game in the tournament since, going 1-3-1 (0-1 in PKs). Two of those four losses came against third division teams (Wilmington in 2009, Charleston in PKs in 2010), as did their sole win (Cleveland in 2008), with their other losses against MLS’s DC United (2008) and second division Carolina RailHawks (2007).

Last year, the team played a scoreless draw against the Charleston Battery in the third round, then couldn’t find the net in a penalty shoot, losing 3-0.
PRO ERA RECORD: 25-8-3 (2-1 in PKs)

FIRST ROUND

Reading United AC (PDL) 1:2 Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO)
Skyline Sports Complex – Harrisburg, Pa. – 7 p.m.
Full Recap [+]

Phoenix SC (USASA-East PA) 1:2 Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO)
Sahlen’s Stadium – Rochester, N.Y. – 7:35 p.m.
Full Recap [+]

ELIMINATED TEAMS

Reading United AC

Founded in 1996, the club has been a member of USL playing in the professional third division through 2003 and in the PDL since. Previously known as the Rage, the club recently applied the significant image change with its new affiliation agreement with Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union in December of 2009. In recent years the club has been a dominant force, finishing first in the division three straight years and reaching the PDL Final Four twice.

Path to the Open Cup: Reading controlled the Mid Atlantic group essentially from the second game with two wins and a +5 goal differential. With all four games wrapping up midway through the division’s fixture schedule, the team’s perfect record and nearly perfect +11 GD set the bar too high for Long Island to catch up as the Rough Riders failed to earn the maximum differential, leaving them out of reach on tiebreakers come their final game. A Matt Sanner hat-trick doomed Brooklyn in the opener, 3-1, and a three-assist night from Hasani Sinclair in the second game led Reading to a 4-0 win against the Rangers. Will Bates provided a double in the 4-1 win at Westchester for the third win and repeated the feat two nights later in another 4-1 win, this time at home against Ocean City.

June News Updates: Fell 2-0 at home June 10 versus Long Island Rough Riders… Matthew Baker and Matthew Hedges scored in a 2-1 win June 5 at New Jersey Rangers… Four second-half goals after a 1-1 first half led to 5-1 victory (5 different scorers) on June 3 against visiting Central Jersey, who played a man down after 56th (three goals scored after).

Open Cup History: With its three Open Cup appearances the past three years as a PDL team, the club matched the number of times it played in the tournament as a professional third division side. Reading is yet to earn a win in the tournament, falling to higher division opponents on three occasions and once to a USASA club in a 1-0 decision against Bavarian SC (Milwaukee) in 2003. Last year, the team was knocked out in overtime, 2-1, by Real Maryland of the USL Second Division. Two years ago the team was knocked out 4-1 at Harrisburg (USL-2). This year Reading and the Kitsap Pumas made history by joining the Michigan Bucks (1999-2001, 2006-08) as the only three teams in PDL history to qualify for the Open Cup three years in a row.
PRO ERA RECORD: 0-4-0 overall | 0-2-0 vs. 3rd Division | 0-1-0 vs. Harrisburg (2009 First Round)

Local History: The German American Soccer Club represented Reading, Pa. in the Open Cup from 1940-1942, though the club saw little success in the tournament and often failed to move beyond the early stages of the regional qualifying rounds.

Phoenix SC

Officially known as First German Sport Club Phoenix for much of its existence, the Philadelphia club was founded in 1926 and is located in Feasterville, where it is home to numerous sporting activities. Although it is one of the oldest clubs in the 2011 field, it is believed to be making its tournament debut. The club plays in the United Soccer League of Pennsylvania where it recently clinched the Men’s Majors Division title.

Path to Open Cup: The club opened the Region I tournament with a dramatic affair with goals from Scott Rowling and Danny Murtagh to take a two-goal lead against the Maryland Bays only to see the lead disappear at home in the second half, forcing overtime. A Bobby Francis penalty seven minutes into extra time gave Phoenix the 3-2 Quarterfinal win. The Semifinal match proved much easier with Murtagh giving the side a 1-0 lead in the 41st and Francis a two-goal lead from the spot in the 51st. An own goal from Go Soccer FC sealed the opponent’s fate in the 70th, sending Phoenix to the US Open Cup with a 3-0 win.

June News Updates: The team has been idle since winning the United Soccer League of Pennsylvania with a 12-1-1 record (2 games remain unplayed).

Open Cup History: Their first known match in the Open Cup was on October 18, 1936, when Phoenix defeated the German Hungarian SC 4-1. From that point forward you can find their name among the results of both the Open and Amateur Cups year after year. 2011 marks their first entry in the tournament during the Professional Era (1995-present).


2011 US Open Cup Real Salt Lake bracket preview: Charlotte Eagles at Wilmington Hammerheads

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SECOND ROUND

Charlotte Eagles at Wilmington Hammerheads
Legion Stadium – Wilmington, N.C. – 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast: None

THIRD ROUND

Charlotte Eagles / Wilmington Hammerheads at Real Salt Lake
June 28, 9 p.m. ET  Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah

Wilmington Hammerheads

The club has been a member of USL’s professional third division league since its founding in 1996 with the exception of its hiatus in 2010. The club was at its peak early in the 2000’s, finishing first in the division in back-to-back years and reaching the final in 2002 and 2003, claiming the title on the second try.

Path to Open Cup: Automatic entrant from USL Pro.

First Round: Wilmington Hammerheads (USL Pro) 4:0 Central Florida Kraze (PDL)
The Hammerheads blanked the visiting Central Florida Kraze 4-0 in the First Round Tuesday with first half goals from Jyler Noviello and Luke Mulholland. Andriy Budnny tallied twice in the second stanza put put the match out of reach. Full Recap [+]

League Form: Wilmington returned to league play on Saturday at Orlando City, nabbing a late draw 1-1 on the foot of Budnny. The Hammerheads are in fifth place in the American Division with a 5-3-3 record.

Open Cup History: The club’s second quarterfinal appearance in eight trips to the tournament in 2009 was followed up with the club taking a hiatus last year due to financial issues. The run began by downing state rivals Charlotte and Carolina. They blanked league rival Eagles 2-0 in the First Round and downed the second division RailHawks in the Second Round via penalties after a 3-3 draw. Wilmington then surprised the Chicago Fire of MLS, 1-0, in the Third Round before being knocked out by second division Rochester, 2-1. The previous quarterfinal campaign in 2003 also included upsets as Wilmington downed second division Atlanta Silverbacks, 2-1, in the Third Round and MLS’s FC Dallas in a stunning 4-1 result in the Fourth Round before falling, 1-0, to DC United. FC Dallas would avenge the loss in the Third Round in 2005, but needed overtime in a 3-1 decision. The club’s other MLS contest was a 2-1 loss to New York in the Fourth Round in 2006, following another 2-1 upset of the Silverbacks.
PRO ERA RECORDS: 12-8-1 (1-0 in PKs) overall | 6-7-1 (1-0 in PKs) vs. pro teams | 2-0-0 vs. 3rd Division teams (both wins vs. Charlotte Eagles in 2006, 2009)

Charlotte Eagles

Founded in 1991, the team joined USL in 1993 and has been a professional club since 1995, playing primarily in the pro third division with a stint in the second division from 2001-03. The club won the third division title twice (2000, 2005) in six appearances and missed the playoffs last year for the first time since 2003 (second division), the only previous time they missed the playoffs since their debut season. The club is also well known for its sports ministry philosophy of sharing the message of Christianity through soccer.

Path to Open Cup: Automatic entrant from USL Pro.

First Round: Charlotte Eagles (USL Pro) 3:1 Carolina Dynamo (PDL)
Darren Toby gave Charlotte the initial First Round lead Tuesday with Carolina equalizing before the break. Diego Martins and Alan Sanchez added second half strikes to lead the Eagles to the 3-1 win. The win avenges a 4-2 upset by the Dynamo over the Eagles in the Second Round of the 2004 competition. Recap [+]

League Play: Charlotte returned to league play action Saturday at home against Dayton, winning 2-0 on goals from Darren Toby and Salieu Bundu. They are currently in sixth place in the American Division with a 4-4-3 record.

Open Cup History: The club had only one appearance prior to its current run of seven straight dating back to 2004, but were knocked out in the Second Round in 1998 by second division Worcester Wildfire, 2-0. All four tournament victories have come against lower division opponents, three from the USASA. Two of the USASA clubs hailed from Florida (2007, 2008). Last year the Eagles were eliminated by fellow North Carolina club, the second division Carolina RailHawks, in a narrow 1-0 decision.
PRO ERA RECORDS: 5-8-0 overall | 0-7-0 vs. professional teams | 0-2-0 vs. 3rd Division (both losses to Wilmington Hammerheads in 2006, 2009)

Real Salt Lake

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

This Month in MLS: Real Salt Lake returned home from a two-game road swing to face DC United Saturday, giving up a late penalty in a 1-1 draw in which they tallied first from the spot via Fabian Espindola. They are now visiting Chicago Fire June 22 and hosting Toronto FC in two more league contests before the Third Round. They opened the month with a 2-0 victory against the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps (under new coach Tom Soehn) on June 4 with Nick Rimando in goal as Jean Alexandre tallied a goal and an assist. Four days later in Columbus, they fell 2-1 to the Crew after Jamison Olave gave them the initial lead seven minutes in. RSL played to a 1-1 draw in Philadelphia June 11 against the Union with Fabian Espindola providing the equalizer in the 53rd minute. Last Five: D-D-L-W-L | Season Record: 6-3-4 (4-1-2 Home), tied for fourth in Western Conference, tied for fifth overall.

Open Cup History: Having last participated in the Open Cup proper in 2006, Real Salt Lake’s qualifying is the longer of the two lists. RSL’s debut in the Cup in 2005 was an epic 6-4 extra time upset loss to the USL’s Minnesota Thunder. After playing the first half to a 2-2 draw, both teams scored twice more to level the score at 4 after 90 minutes. Minnesota scored twice in extra time for the 6-4 win, leaving Jason Kries’ hat trick for RSL on the losing side. 2006 saw RSL needing extra time again in their opening match, this time against the Virginia Beach Mariners. Jeff Cunningham (RSL) and Tim O’Neill (VBM) traded goals in the first half, and Andy Williams’ 93rd minute strike held up for Salt Lake’s first ever Open Cup win. RSL would be eliminated 1-0 in the next round by their Rocky Mountain Cup rivals, the Colorado Rapids. Colorado would keep the Utah side out of the Open Cup in 2007, defeating them 2-1 in the final round of MLS qualifying. 2008 and 2009 saw RSL eliminated in the opening round of MLS qualifying, while in 2010 they fell yet again in the final round, this time to 2-1 to DC United in overtime. This season, RSL avoided qualifying all together by virtue of their second-place finish in the 2010 MLS regular season.

FIRST ROUND

Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) 3:1 Carolina Dynamo (PDL)
Macpherson Stadium – Browns Summit, N.C. – 7 p.m.
Full Recap [+]

Central Florida Kraze (PDL) 0:4 Wilmington Hammerheads (USL PRO)
Legion Stadium – Wilmington, N.C. – 7:30 p.m.
Full Recap [+]

ELIMINATED TEAMS

Carolina Dynamo

Founded in 1993, the club was an immediate success in USL with championships in its first two professional ranks from 1995-2003 with a hiatus in 1998. The club has since played in the PDL following the opening of its soccer-specific Macpherson Stadium, which opened in 2003.

Path to Open Cup: Of the nine PDL qualifiers, the Dynamo are one of two that finished with a loss in the four-game campaign, advancing via head-to-head tiebreakers with fellow 3-1-0 sides Real Maryland Monarchs and West Virginia Chaos. Carolina opened with a 2-0 win against the Chaos on goals form Hakan Ilhan and Chris Thomas. Ilhan scored again, along with Freddy Gomez, in another 2-0 win at Real MarylandMaryland in the next match before dropping a 1-0 road match to Northern Virginia the next night. The Dyanmo wrapped up the berth with a third Joseph Goodwin shutout, blanking Virginia Beach 3-0 with two more goals from Ilhan.

June News Updates: Rallied from two down to win 3-2 at West Virginia June 9 with three goals in the final 16 minutes, two from Robbie Lovejoy on either side of Freddie Gomez’s 88th minute equalizer… Blanked Northern Virginia Royals 3-0 June 4 with Karo Okiomah tallying goal and assist.

Open Cup History: The Dynamo return to the tournament for an eighth appearance after a four-year absence. The last outing was a success, earning upset victories to the fourth round in 2006. The club opened with a 4-3 win over league foe Cape Cod before surprising third division Richmond Kickers, 1-0, in the second round. They then upset the second division Seattle Sounders in overtime, 3-2, in the third round before falling 4-2 to the Houston Dynamo. The 2004 victory against Charlotte was one of three other upsets the club has registered, although the other two came as a third division side. The Dynamo upset second division New York Fever on the road, 1-0, in 1996 before falling 2-0 to DC United in the quarterfinals. Three years later they blanked second division Orange County Zodiac on the road, 2-0, before a 3-0 third round loss to the Columbus Crew. The club’s only other MLS match was also to the Crew, a 5-1 second round loss in 2001.
PRO ERA RECORDS: 10-7-0 overall | 2-0 vs. Division 3 (as a PDL team)

Central Florida Kraze

Members of the USL PDL since the team’s founding in 1998, the club was at its peak of success with five playoff appearances in six years from 2003-08, winning the league championship in 2004.

Path to Open Cup: Despite finishing perfect, the club had to watch the scoreboard on the final night as Mississippi could also accomplish the feat as well as pass the Kraze in tiebreakers. Fortunately, winless Nashville surprised many with a 2-2 road draw against Brilla. The Kraze got off to a fast start, playing in three of the division’s first four qualification matches. They won the opener 1-0 against Schulz Academy on a Pablo Gutierrez goal in the 88th minute that, in hindsight, was critical. Fredrik Brustad scored twice while leading the club to a 3-1 win in the next outing against Schulz and added another in the third game, a 3-0 victory in Bradenton. Brustad scored in his third straight game as they repeated the 3-0 victory at home against the Academics with Keneil Baker earning his third shutout of the campaign.

June News Updates: Netted a 1-0 victory over FC Jax June 10 on a goal from Nicolas Russo in the 83rd minute… Fell 3-0 at Mississippi Brilla June 4.

Open Cup History: In the tournament for the second straight year and fourth overall, the Kraze are yet to register a victory. The club nearly registered an upset a year ago, falling 5-1 in overtime against second division Miami FC in which now Real Salt Lake striker Paulo Araujo scored four goals in extra time. In 2007 the second division Charleston Battery blanked Central Florida 3-0 and in 2000 the club was upended, 2-1, by Miami-based USASA club Uruguay SC.
PRO ERA RECORDS: 0-3-0 overall | 0-0-0 vs. Division 3


2011 US Open Cup FC Dallas bracket preview: Orlando City at Charleston Battery

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SECOND ROUND

Orlando City SC at Charleston Battery
Blackbaud Stadium – Charleston, S.C. – 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast: USLLive.com

THIRD ROUND

Orlando City SC / Charleston Battery at FC Dallas
June 28, 9 p.m. ET  Pizza Hut Park; Frisco, Texas

Charleston Battery

Founded in 1993, the club has been one of the most successful USL clubs. The Battery joined the professional third division in 1995 and won the championship the following year, moving to the second division in 1997. The club never missed the postseason until 2004, the year following its first second division title. It returned to the third division in 2010, winning its third league championship. The club is also well known for Blackbaud Stadium, the first privately-financed soccer stadium, which debuted in 1999. Blackbaud has been a fortress for the club in the Open Cup, as the stadium that has hosted the most US Open Cup games (24) in the Professional Era (1995-present). The Battery are 18-4-3 (2-1 in PKs) on their home field in the tournament since they first entered the tournament in 1999.

Path to Open Cup: Automatic entrant from USL Pro.

First Round: Charleston Battery (USL Pro) 2:0 Regals FC (USASA)
The amateur Texas club Regals FC gave Charleston a tough time in the first half before a penalty three minutes into the second half from Nicki Paterson broke the deadlock in the First Round contest. Dane Kelly added the second in the 76th and Regals were unable to mount a comeback losing a player to a red card two minutes later and the game finished with a 2-0 result.

League Form: Charleston was back in action Friday evening with a 1-0 victory over visiting Dayton with Levi Coleman scoring in the 77th minute. They are currently in fourth place in the American Division with a 6-5-3 record, seven points behind first place Orlando City.

Open Cup History: One of the most successful lower division teams in the Pro Era of the tournament, the club has failed to qualify only once in the last 12 years, missing the tournament ironically in the same year it won the 2003 second division championship. The Battery have reached the semifinals on three occasions and advanced to the 2008 Open Cup Final amidst a run of four straight quarterfinal trips coming into this year. The 2008 Battery eliminated the MLS Houston Dynamo in penalties after a Third Round 1-1 draw and then stunned FC Dallas on the road, 3-1, to reach their third Semifinal. They took another penalty decision after a 1-1 draw against league foe Seattle Sounders in the final four before falling in a narrow 2-1 contest to DC United in the final. The two MLS upsets raised the tally to six, having upset DC United in overtime, 4-3, in the 1999 Third Round and New York twice, the first in the 2001 Second Round (4-1) and second in the 2004 Fourth Round (1-0). They also previously beat Houston in overtime, 1-0, in the Round 3 of the 2007 competition. They added a seventh MLS upset by defeating Chivas USA 3-1 in the 2009 Third Round before Houston finally got the better of them in the Quarterfinals, 4-0. Last year, they made it eight with a penalty kick decision against the Chicago Fire after a scoreless draw, falling 3-0 in Columbus the following round.
PRO ERA RECORDS: 22-9-4 (3-1 in PKs) overall | 15-10-4 vs. professional teams (0-0-0 vs. USL Pro)

Orlando City

An expansion club, essentially, off the field, the team itself is the former Austin Aztex side that played in the professional second division the previous two seasons. However, despite their connections to the Austin franchise, the Orlando City team is a completely new club.

Path to Open Cup: Automatic entrant from USL Pro.

First Round: Orlando City (USL Pro) 4:0 ASC New Stars (USASA)
A lightning delay of nearly 90 minutes itself stretched the First Round match into a late night, but Orlando, the host side, enjoyed a comfortable 4-0 victory over the ASC New Stars. Devorn Jorsling scored twice with Kevin Molino and Dennis Chin each adding to the tally.

League Form: Orlando City played host to Wilmington Saturday night in league play, settling for a 1-1 draw on a late Hammerheads equalizer after Open Cup hero Jorsling had given them the lead. Orlando City is currently in first place in the American Division with an 8-2-4 record.

Open Cup History (Austin Aztex): This is officially the first appearance in the US Open Cup for Orlando City, but with such close ties to the Austin Aztex franchise, it’s worth mentioning that the Aztex reached the Third Round the last two years. In 2009, the Aztex downed PDL sides Mississippi Brilla, 2-0, and El Paso Patriots, 2-0, before falling by the same 2-0 scoreline to the Houston Dynamo of MLS. Last year the team blanked the PDL’s DFW Tornados, 3-0, and downed the USASA’s Arizona Sahuaros, 3-1, before a 1-0 loss on the road to Chivas USA of MLS in Round 3.
PRO ERA RECORDS: 1-0-0 overall | 0-0-0 vs. professional teams

FC Dallas

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

This Month in MLS: The club played their third contest of the month Saturday in Los Angeles against Chivas USA, winning 2-1 with Break Shea scoring the opener and Jackson Goncalves adding the late winner.  Dallas returns home for one more league match against the Portland Timbers June 25 before playing in the Third Round. FCD opened the month June 4 with a 1-0 win in New England on a 69th minute goal from Marvin Chavez as Kevin Hartman recorded the shutout. They returned home June 12 and were stunned 4-1 by Sporting Kansas City in which Break Shea had an equalizer in the 32nd before seeing KC strike three unanswered.
Last Five: W-L-W-D-W Season Record: 8-4-4 (5-2-2 Home), Second in Western Conference, Second Overall.

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. Poor finishes in MLS play in 2009 and 2010 left them to the mercy of MLS qualifying, where they lost both times to DC United. 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. Another semifinal appearance in 1998 and two quarterfinal finishes in ’99 and 2000 were followed in 2001 by one of the biggest upsets in Pro Era history, a 3-2 sudden death extra time loss to the PDL’s Seattle Sounders Select in the Second Round. It remains the only time Dallas failed to advance past their opening match. Finals appearances in 2005 and 2007 bolstered their Open Cup resume a bit, although they will look to regain some stature after missing the last two tournaments.
PRO ERA RECORDS: 19-12-4 (4-0 in PK’s)

FIRST ROUND

ASC New Stars (USASA-South TX) 0:4 Orlando City Soccer Club (USL PRO)
University of Central Florida Soccer Complex – Oviedo, Fla. – 7:30 p.m.
Full Recap [+]

Regals FC (USASA-South TX) 0:2 Charleston Battery (USL PRO)
Blackbaud Stadium – Charleston, S.C. – 7:30 p.m.
Full Recap [+]

ELIMINATED TEAMS

ASC New Stars

A longtime member of the Houston Football Association, Aria Soccer Club’s New Stars dominated the recent Premier Division season with a 13-4-1 record, allowing only 18 goals in as many while also scoring 58. It was the fifth consecutive title in the division for the New Stars, but marked the first time the club lost more than once in league play, having only three losses total in the previous four campaigns. || Meet the USASA Feature [+]

Path to Open Cup: The club opened with a 2-0 victory on a pair of Alex Bolan strikes against Boston Avenue on opening day of Region III group play. They then defeated Greenville Eagles 4-1 with goals from four different scorers, including Bolan, who also had an assist. They wrapped up the group with a 1-0 win against Florida Gators on another strike from Bolan in the 14th minute to secure the US Open Cup spot. The club would go on to defeat Houston rival Regals FC 2-1 in overtime on a Chuks Ndame goal in the 116th minute.

June News Updates: The team has been idle since it won the HFA Premier Division that ended in May with a 13-4-1 record.

Open Cup History: In the club’s lone previous appearance in 2008, the New Stars fell 3-0 on the road to the second division Charleston Battery. Along with Regals FC, this is the first time two amateur teams from Houston have qualified for the Open Cup in the same year during the Professional Era.
PRO ERA RECORDS: 0-1-0 overall | 0-0-0 vs. 3rd Division

Regals FC

Founded in 2010, the club was a founding member of the newly forged Southern Premier Soccer League. || Meet the USASA Feature [+]

Path to Open Cup: Drawn into the three-team group created when another club withdrew, Regals opened the event with a 2-1 loss on day two to Royal Eagles of Florida, who fell 3-0 to CASL on day one. Regals rebounded in a dramatic group finale, jumping out to a four-goal lead against CASL with two goals from Roy Hernandez. CASL came back with two strikes to force a three-way tie in the table and a two-way deadlock with Regals, sending the duo to penalty kicks to determine the Open Cup berth and finalist. Regals goalkeeper Marcos Sanchez made three saves on four CASL attempts to send Regals through. He would also play brilliantly in the final, only to fall 2-1 to Houston rival ASC New Stars in overtime.

June News Updates: Defeated Houston Hurricane 6-1 via six different goal scorers June 4 to move to 1-1 in the SPSL Summer Cup.

Open Cup History: First appearance in the tournament. Along with ASC New Stars, this is the first time two amateur teams from Houston have qualified for the Open Cup in the same year during the Professional Era.


2011 US Open Cup Sporting KC bracket preview: Chicago Fire Premier at Madison 56ers

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SECOND ROUND

Chicago Fire Premier at Madison 56ers
Breese Stevens Field – Madison, Wis. – 8 p.m.
Broadcast: None | Preview: Wisconsin State Journal

THIRD ROUND

Chicago Fire Premier / Madison 56ers at Sporting Kansas City
June 28, 8:30 p.m. ET  LIVESTRONG Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.

Madison 56ers

The Madison 56ers side that has been a member of the NPSL since 2005 is part of the larger club which was founded in 1956. The club has claimed four USASA Region II titles and the NPSL team has finished first in its division three times (2006, 07, 10) with its best postseason performance resulting in a trip to the final in 2006.

Path to Open Cup: Automatic entrant – was the only club to enter.

First Round: Madison 56ers (NPSL) 4:0 AAC Eagles (USASA)
The 56ers were in First Round stalemate with Chicago’s AAC Eagles before running off four goals in 14 minutes in the second half. Tenzin Rampa opened the scoring in the 67th before Jed Hohlbein scored two back-to-back. Adam Lysak finished it off in the 81st. Recap [+]

League form: Madison traveled in league play Saturday to face Milwaukee Bavarians, falling 2-1 on a late strike after defender Aaron Nichols had equalized. The team is 3-2-2 in the NPSL Midwest Division.

Open Cup History: The club is making its return to the tournament for the first time since debuting in the Open Cup with four straight appearances from 1988-91. The club was knocked out in the Region II semifinals by eventual champion St Louis Busch Seniors. The following year they knocked out by St Louis Michelob in the Regional Round.  The club was again ousted in the regional semifinals, this time by AAC Eagles. They made it past the regional semis in 1991 with a 1-0 win over St Louis Scott Gallagher and narrowly missed the Open Cup semifinals with a 7-6 penalty kick loss to RWB Adria after a 4-4 draw.
PRO ERA RECORD: 1-0-0 overall

Chicago Fire Premier

Founded in 2001, the team was the second PDL club (Boulder Rapids Reserve) directly affiliated with an MLS team. It has been one of the most successful clubs in the league, finishing first in the division seven times and finished below second last year (fourth) for the first time in 10 seasons, missing the playoffs for the first time. The Fire hold the best record in the PDL over their time in the league. The club has reached the league final on two occasions (2003, 2009).

Path to Open Cup: Of the nine PDL entrants, the club was one of two that finished the qualifying campaign with a loss. The team’s 3-0 start clinched the berth as the other clubs in the division knocked one another out. The club opened with a pair of 2-0 victories, winning the opener in Akron on goals from Chris Estridge and Josey Portillo and taking the second at home against Cincinnati with Estridge finding the net again. A 90th minute strike from Estridge in the third match against River City clinched the berth as David Meves posted his third shutout for the 1-0 win. The late winner denied the charging Michigan Bucks a chance to snare the spot, settling with a 2-0 win over the Fire in the finale.

First Round: Chicago Fire Premier (PDL) 1:0 Iowa Menace (USASA)
It looked as though the two PDL rivals, although the Menace qualified through the USASA, were going to see overtime in the First Round Tuesday as they went into the final stages of regulation in a scoreless deadlock until Chris Estridge struck in the 87th for the dramatic road win. Recap [+]

League form: The Fire Premier returned immediately to league action, falling 2-1 Thursday to River City Rovers on the road. Trailing on two first half goals, Hunter Gorskie tallied in the 63rd, but they could not find an equalizer. Chicago rebounded in their second league match Saturday in Cincinnati for a 3-0 victory on goals from Josey Portillo, Paulo Vaz and Harrison Petts. The club is 5-2-1 in the PDL Great Lakes Division.

Open Cup History: Perhaps taking after its four-time champion parent club in MLS, the team has had some success in its three previous appearances. In its 2004 debut, the PDL side opened with a 5-1 win over USASA side SAC Wisla before knocking off third division professional side New Hampshire Phantoms by the same, surprising, 5-1 scoreline. They would be eliminated in the Third Round, 1-0, by the second division Rochester Rhinos. A year later, the club downed city rival AAC Eagles of the USASA 4-1 before falling, 2-1, to the second division Minnesota Thunder. In 2009, they downed Bavarian SC (USASA) 3-1 before being eliminated once again by the Thunder, this time 4-0.
PRO ERA RECORDS: 5-3-0 overall | 4-0-0 vs. Amateur Teams

Sporting Kansas City vs New England Revolution - 2011 MLS qualifying
Sporting Kansas City did a lot of celebrating during their 5-0 win over the New England Revolution. Photo: Taylor Allan | Sporting KC

Sporting KC

How They Qualified: Back-up netminder Eric Kronberg and CJ Sapong were the stars in qualifying for Kansas City, which was seeded third and started in the second round of the eastern bracket in MLS qualifying. Sapong netted an overtime game-winner in the 92nd minute of a 1-0 decision against the Dynamo in Houston April 6 in their opening game. Kronberg earned the first of two shutouts, registering the second in the bracket finale May 25 against the New England Revolution, who brought a squad of nearly all reserves. Chance Myers scored the first two goals in the 5-0 win with Sapong adding two more to secure the berth.

This Month in MLS: In a busy month for the club, Kansas City travels to Philadelphia Wednesday to face the Union in its fifth match of the month June 22 and plays once more at home against the Vancouver Whitecaps June 25 before playing in the Third Round. The opened June with a scoreless draw in Toronto and repeated the result June 9 against the Chicago Fire in the debut of LiveStrong Sporting Park. Eric Kronberg recorded the shutout in the first and relieved starter Jimmy Nielsen in the 67th minute of the second following a red card.
Last Five: W-W-D-D-D | Season Record: 3-6-4 (1-0-1 Home), 9th (last) in Eastern Conference, 18th (last) overall

FIRST ROUND

AAC Eagles (USASA-IL) 0:4 Madison 56ers (NPSL)
Breese Stevens Field – Madison, Wis. – 8 p.m.
Full Recap [+]

Chicago Fire Premier (PDL) 1:0 Iowa Menace (USASA-IA)
Valley Stadium – West Des Moines, Iowa – 8:30 p.m.
Full Recap [+]

ELIMINATED TEAMS

AAC Eagles

Originally known as the PAAC Eagles (Polish American Athletic Club), the Chicago side was founded in 1940. The club currently plays in the Metropolitan Soccer League, where they have won 11 Major Division championships. | Meet the USASA Feature [+]

Path to Open Cup: In a unique six-team format for Region II in which the winner of the opening round by the greatest goal differential earned the first US Open Cup berth, AAC Eagles came up short with its 7-2 victory against FC Indiana as the Iowa Menace were 7-1 winners against a Kansas City Athletics squad that started and played with only 10 men. The Eagles opened with the first five goals, three from Jakub Piotrowski, who would later add a fourth. In the all-Chicago showdown between the other two First Round winners, the Eagles rallied against their city rivals for a 4-1 win against RWB Adria. RWB opened the scoring in the seventh minute with Piotr Kolasinski equalizing seven minutes later. Mark Golik made it 2-1 in the 38th and Kolasinski added two more in the second half to advance to the Open Cup.

June News Updates: Fell 5-0 in league play June 5 to Schwaben, who jumped ahead into second by one point and leaving AAC six points back with three to play.

AAC Eagles celebrate their 1990 US Open Cup championship. Photo: Renee Bechtoldt | AAC Eagles
AAC Eagles celebrate their 1990 US Open Cup championship. Photo: Renee Bechtoldt | AAC Eagles

Open Cup History: The USASA side is among the current clubs that has one of the oldest records in the Open Cup, making its debut in 1948 and reaching the tournament in six decades. The team reached the western quarterfinals in its debut with a trip to the western final the following year, falling 4-3 on aggregate to Morgan SC, who defeated the eastern winner Philadelphia Nationals 4-3 on aggregate in the championship. In 1950, the club was knocked out 5-0 on aggregate by St Louis side Simpkins-Ford in the opening quarterfinal round. The team returned to the tournament in 1989, advancing to the semifinals, and won the Open Cup championship in 1990, downing Brooklyn Italians 2-1. They opened the tournament that year with a 1-0 win over the Madison 56ers in the Region II semifinals. The team fell in the opening rounds of the 1994 and 1995 tournaments before a six-year absence. The team advanced to the tournament in 2002, 2005 and 2008, but failed to advance from the opening round.
PRO ERA RECORDS: 0-4-0 overall | 0-1-0 vs. Amateur Teams (0-0-0 vs. NPSL)

Iowa Menace

A second team of the Des Moines Menace soccer club that plays in the PDL, the side will be made up largely of the PDL team in the Open Cup. The PDL side has long been one of the best in the league on and off the field, leading in attendance and reaching the league semifinals on four occasions with a championship in 2005. Last year was, surprisingly, the third time in four years it failed to make the playoffs.

Path to Open Cup: In a unique six-team format for Region II in which the winner of the opening round by the greatest goal differential earned the first US Open Cup berth, the Menace were fortunate that host Kansas City Athletics only had 10 players for its match. The Menace dominated with a 7-1 victory that gave them the Open Cup berth by one goal as AAC Eagles won their match 7-2. Surprisingly, the hosts got the opening tally in the 31st minute, but it was all Menace after that with Bryan Perez scoring twice as the Menace took a 3-1 lead to the break. John Sosa and Jarrett Hamilton each scored twice in the second half.

June News Updates (PDL): The Menace completed their four-game Canadian trip with a second straight loss to Thunder Bay, falling 3-0 June 11… On the third game of its Canadian trek June 10, the Menace fell 2-0 in Thunder Bay… Nabbed a second win in as many nights June 8 in Winnipeg, downing WSA 4-3 in a back-and-forth match in which four difference players scored… Posted a 2-0 shutout at Winnipeg June 7 on goals from Matt Lagrassa and Bryan Perez as Phil Boerger recorded the clean sheet… Opened the month with a 5-2 win at Kansas City June 1 with Deshorn Brown tallying two goals and assist.

Open Cup History: This is the first time the USASA version of the Des Moines Menace has qualified for the US Open Cup

However, since the club is basically the PDL team, here is their history:

Despite being one of the top clubs in the PDL, the team did not make the first of its five previous appearances until 2002. It marked the run of four trips in five years for the Menace, who returned to the Open Cup last year, falling in the first round, 1-0, to second division AC St Louis. The club’s debut was a symbol of the future as they downed third division New Jersey Stallions 3-1 before falling 3-2 in overtime to the second division Rochester Rhinos in the second round. A surprise exit, 2-1 in overtime, came at the hands of Bavarian SC (USASA) in the opening round of 2003. Two years later, the Menace were back on the upset track, however. They opened with a penalty kick decision over third division Pittsburgh Riverhounds in a 1-1 draw before eliminating a pair of second division clubs. They topped the Charleston Battery, 3-2, in the second round and the Atlanta Silverbacks on the road in a stunning 5-1 scoreline in the Third Round before being knocked out by MLS side Kansas City, 6-1. After eliminating two USASA sides (Croatian Eagles, Dallas Mustang Legends), the team collected another second division upset in 2006, edging the Minnesota Thunder 1-0 before being knocked out again by Kansas City, this time 2-1 in the Third Round.
PRO ERA RECORDS: 6-5-1 (1-0 in PKs) overall | 2-1-0 vs. Amateur Teams (0-0-0 vs. PDL)

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