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2014 US Open Cup Round 4: New York Cosmos battle Red Bulls to highlight rare Saturday gameday (live stream links)

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UPDATE: All three Major League Soccer teams were eliminated by their NASL opponents tonight. The New York Cosmos dominated the Red Bulls 3-0, while the Carolina RailHawks eliminated Chivas USA for the second time in the last three years, this time by way of PK shootout. And finally, last year’s runner-up, Real Salt Lake followed up their best tournament run in team history by losing to the Atlanta Silverbacks 2-1 on a 90th minute goal by Kwadwo Poku.

Check back with TheCup.us for details …

The New York Cosmos defeated the Brooklyn Italians 2-0 in their US Open Cup debut. Photo: New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos defeated the Brooklyn Italians 2-0 in their US Open Cup debut in Round 3. Photo: New York Cosmos

For the first time since 2003, the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup will feature tournament games on a Saturday. Three Major League Soccer (MLS) vs. North American Soccer League (NASL) matchups are on the schedule with the headliner featuring a game two years in the making with the New York Cosmos hosting the New York Red Bulls. The other two games are rematches from a year ago as the Carolina RailHawks welcome Chivas USA, and the Atlanta Silverbacks will host Real Salt Lake. Both games from last year went to extra time with the MLS team emerging victorious in both contests.

NY RED BULLS AT NY COSMOS

Over the years, the tournament, as is the case in many domestic cup competitions around the world, holds their games midweek to minimize the impact on league schedules. Since 1995, there have only been 50 Open Cup games that have been played on Friday (19), Saturday (11) or Sunday (20) out of the 742 (6.7%). The reason a weekend date was made possible was because of the MLS break during the FIFA World Cup. The last Saturday game was a 2003 First Round game where a young Clyde Simms and the Raleigh CASL Elite (PDL) defeated DS United (USASA, FL), 4-1.

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MLS will attempt to keep their perfect record so far in 2014 as the Houston Dynamo and San Jose Earthquakes emerged victorious on Wednesday night. The Dynamo edged the PDL’s Laredo Heat 1-0, while the Earthquakes eliminated USL PRO expansion team Sacramento Republic 2-1.

All three games on Saturday night are scheduled to be streamed live online, with the Cosmos-Red Bulls being chosen as US Soccer’s ‘Game of the Round.’ The other two games will be broadcast live on NASLLive.com.

As always, fans can follow and use the hashtag #USOC2014 on Twitter for the latest updates and discussion from all three games. Be sure to follow all the latest news with the tournament on Twitter at @USOpenCup.

Here is a preview of each of the three Saturday games:

New York Red Bulls (MLS) at New York Cosmos (NASL)
Shuart Stadium (Hofstra Univ.); Hempstead, NY – 8:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Video (YouTube)
NEXT: Winner will play at Philadelphia Union or host Harrisburg City Islanders

New York Red Bulls Open Cup records
Overall: 15-15-1 (1-0 PKs) | Away: 8-9-1 (1-0 PKs) | vs. Div. 2: 4-4-0
Last entry: 2013 (Lost 4-2 at New England Revolution of MLS – Round 4)
Best finish: 2003 Runner-Up (Lost 1-0 vs. Chicago Fire of MLS)
How they got here … First game

New York Cosmos Open Cup records 
Overall: 1-0-0 | Home: 1-0-0 | vs. MLS: N/A
Last entry: First entry
Best finish: N/A
How they got here …
Round 3: 2-0 home win vs. Brooklyn Italians (NPSL)

By Mike Anderer

Since the official announcement that the Cosmos would be joining the NASL for the fall 2013 season, New York soccer fans have been waiting for one game; The New York Cosmos versus the MLS’s New York Red Bulls. The Cosmos entered the NASL openly commenting that they preferred the league structure of the second division as opposed to the stringent rules in MLS. The Cosmos fans reveled in the rebellious move of their team, while Red Bull fans chuckled and made small market jokes about the NASL. Saturday night, the two teams clash in Shuart Stadium in Hempstead, NY.

Both teams come into the match on the heels of award winning seasons. The Red Bulls won the MLS Supporters’ Shield, awarded for most points in the regular season. Cosmos are reining NASL Soccer Bowl champions, though some critics argue that they had an advantage of only playing half of the NASL split season. Equally, both teams are suffering from underwhelming play in the beginning of their 2014 campaigns.

Although the Cosmos finished second in the Spring Season, their 14 goals scored over nine games tied them for third in the scoring category despite upgrading their offense in the off-season. It would be three goals, the only three the defensive-minded team gave up all season that ended costing them a total of 8 points. Those 8 points, or even just three of them, would have secured a position in the new NASL post-season playoff. Now, Cosmos find themselves still fighting to defend their title.

The Red Bulls find themselves fifth in the MLS’s Eastern conference at the halfway mark of the season. The team has played some hard-fought matches and owes a fair amount of credit to the outstanding play of goalkeeper, Luis Robles. The Red Bulls also has the offensive firepower of players like Thierry Henry, Tim Cahill and one of the league’s breakout stars of 2014 in Bradley Wright-Phillips. Their Achilles’ heal has been their road play. They have only two wins out of nine road games this season and are minus three in goal differential.

One thing that will dampen some of the excitement surrounding the game will be the line-ups. Although neither side has released their 18 for the match, there are some notable Red Bull players unavailable. First is captain, Thierry Henry. Red Bull manager Mike Petke commented earlier in the week that he is not using field turf as the reason, but the 36-year-old striker does not play in away games on artificial surfaces like the turf at Shuart. Additionally, midfielder, Tim Cahill and defender, Roy Miller are away representing their country’s at the FIFA World Cup. Cahill, since arriving last season, has been a fan favorite and in many people’s opinion the MVP of the club.

Petke did say to reporters on Thursday that he does expect to rest goalkeeper, Luis Robles, and give the start to Ryan Meara. Meara was sidelined in 2012, his rookie season, with a hip injury and has not played in an MLS game since July of that year.

Cosmos’ manager Giovanni Savarese is notorious for keeping his lineup a secret to the very end although a few positions are locks for Saturday. Norwegian striker Mads Stokkelien will play his first game against an MLS side. Defenders Hunter Freeman and Carlos Mendes are no strangers to MLS or the Red Bulls having played for the club previously. Also in the backline for the Cosmos is Seattle Sounders’ loan player Jimmy Ockford and from Spain and La Liga, Ayoze.

Savarese also has history as a player with the Metrostars organization and is currently ranked third in goals scored. Savarese has been very vocal about the excitement he feels about the game, likening the matchup to a derby. Petke on the other hand has downplayed the event saying that because the teams lack history and play in two different leagues that the competitive relationship needs time to build.

Either way, fans are sure to get a great match on Saturday, a perfect way to end a soccer-filled day. Even US Soccer is taking note of the event, carrying the broadcast stream on USsoccer.com for fans from across the country to see.

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Chivas USA (MLS) at Carolina RailHawks (NASL)
WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, NC – 8 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Video (NASLLive.com)
NEXT: If Chivas USA wins … play at Los Angeles Galaxy or Arizona United SC
If Carolina wins … will host Los Angeles Galaxy or Arizona United SC

Chivas USA Open Cup records
Overall: 7-7-1 (0-1 PKs) | Away: 5-7-0 | vs. Div. 2: 2-4-0
Last entry: 2013 (Lost 3-1 in OT at Carolina RailHawks of NASL – Round 4)
Best finish: Semifinals (2010, 2012)
How they got here … First game

Carolina RailHawks Open Cup records
Overall: 14-5-1 (0-1 PKs) | Home: 14-2-1 (0-1 PKs) | vs. MLS: 4-4-0
Last entry: 2013 (Lost 3-0 at Real Salt Lake of MLS in Quarterfinals)
Best finish: 2007 Semifinals (Lost 2-1 in OT at New England Revolution of MLS)
How they got here …
Round 2: 2-0 home win vs. Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO)

By Neil Morris | @ByNeilMorris

Two years ago, a Chivas USA lineup that included Juan Agudelo, Juan Pablo Angel and Danny Califf visited Cary, NC and knocked the Carolina RailHawks out of the 2012 US Open Cup. A year later, the RailHawks returned the favor, netting two goals in extra time to eliminate the Goats from the tournament.

Brian Shriver of the Carolina RailHawks celebrates his game-winning goal against the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2012 with his teammates. Photo: Rob Kinnan | Carolina RailHawks
Brian Shriver of the Carolina RailHawks celebrates his game-winning goal against the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2012 with his teammates. Photo: Rob Kinnan | Carolina RailHawks

Today, the RailHawks host Chivas USA for the third consecutive Open Cup, this year in the tournament’s Fourth Round. However, Chivas USA comes to Carolina this time with a full week of rest and no looming league games. In their previous two Cup ties, Chivas had to fly to Carolina for midweek matches bracketed by weekend MLS engagements.

While Chivas USA is currently mired at the bottom of the MLS Western Conference, the league’s break during the group stage of the FIFA World Cup affords the Rojiblancos the opportunity to field a near-full strength squad, if for no other reason than to maintain match fitness. That said, manager Wilmer Cabrera also said that he intends to rest some of his top players during the break from league play.

So, it remains to be seen whether Cabrera will field leading goalscorer Erick Torres, who has nine goals through 14 league matches, the third-most in MLS. Mauro Rosales has 5 assists since joining Chivas USA this year following three seasons with the Seattle Sounders. Former US National Team defender Carlos Bocanegra anchors the backline. And goalkeeper and team captain Dan Kennedy is in his seventh season with the Red-and-White.

Another possible lineup inclusion is Leandro Barrera. The 23-year-old forward, on loan from Argentinos Juniors, has started all but one match this MLS season but hasn’t yet notched a goal.

Meanwhile, the RailHawks enter the match with two distinct advantages. The first is their tremendous Open Cup success under manager Colin Clarke, including wins over the LA Galaxy in 2012 and 2013, plus the victory over Chivas USA last year that advanced Carolina to the tournament quarterfinals. Overall, the RailHawks are 6-2 in Open Cup play since 2012 under Clarke.

The other is the RailHawks’ 21-game home unbeaten streak, a run that comprises both North American Soccer League (NASL) and Open Cup competition. Carolina has not lost a competitive match at WakeMed Soccer Park since October 12, 2012.

With the NASL also on break until mid-July, the RailHawks will certainly field a full-strength starting XI. Ty Shipalane and Cesar Elizondo, who scored the equalizing and game-winning goals, respectively, against Chivas USA last year, remain the team’s most potent attacking playmakers. Shipalane is hoping to duplicate his tournament performance from last year as he was named TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament.

Helming the midfield is team captain Jun Marques Davidson, who spent the last two seasons with the Vancouver Whitecaps. Goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald has three clean sheets out of Carolina’s four home games this season. And Mike Grella has become ensconced as the team’s target man since signing with Carolina three games into the 2014 season. Grella, the former Duke University standout, spent the last five seasons in Europe, including three years with Leeds United, before joining Carolina.

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Real Salt Lake (MLS) at Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks Park; Chamblee, GA – 8 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Video (NASLLive.com)
NEXT: Winner plays at Colorado Rapids or Orlando City SC

Real Salt Lake Open Cup records
Overall: 6-5-0 | Away: 0-2-0 | vs. Div. 2: 3-2-0
Last entry: 2013 (Lost 1-0 vs. DC United in US Open Cup Final)
Best finish: 2013 Runner-Up (Lost 1-0 vs. DC United in US Open Cup Final)
How they got here … First game

Atlanta Silverbacks Open Cup records
Overall: 8-9-2 (1-1 PKs) | Home: 4-3-0 | vs. MLS: 0-4-1 (0-1 PKs)
Last entry: 2013 (Lost 3-2 in OT at Real Salt Lake of MLS – Round 3)
Best finish: 2004 Fourth Round (Lost 4-1 vs. Kansas City Wizards of MLS)
How they got here …
Round 3: 5-0 road win at Chattanooga FC (NPSL)

By Josh Hakala

For the second year in a row, the Atlanta Silverbacks will be the first opponent in Real Salt Lake’s US Open Cup run. Last year, in the first of five straight home games, RSL got extra time goals from Devon Sandoval and Khari Stephenson to lead the MLS side to a 3-2 victory. It was the beginning an impressive journey for the Utah club as they reached the championship game for the first time, only to fall to DC United in the Final, 1-0.

Real Salt Lake cruised past the NASL's Carolina RailHawks to reach the Semifinals for the first time in club history last year. Photo: Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake cruised past the NASL’s Carolina RailHawks to reach the Semifinals for the first time in club history last year. Photo: Real Salt Lake

RSL will play their first road game since 2011 as they look to get back to their winning ways as the club is on a three-game winless streak (0-2-1) after starting the 2014 campaign on a 12-game unbeaten streak (6-0-6). The MLS side will be without the services of U.S. internationals Kyle Beckerman and Nick Rimando, as well as Costa Rican striker Alvaro as they are competing in the World Cup in Brazil. Alvaro Saborio is also out for the next 3-4 months suffered while getting ready for the World Cup with Costa Rica. RSL’s depth under new head coach Jeff Cassar will definitely be tested.

RSL will look to carry the momentum from their first successful Open Cup run, after years of disappointment. Prior to reaching their first title game last year, the Sandy, Utah-based club had never won multiple games in the competition, suffering two upset loses to Division 2 teams (Minnesota Thunder, Minnesota United FC) and failing to even qualify for the tournament from 2007-2010.

The Silverbacks will need to keep an eye on diminutive forward Joao Plata, RSL’s leading scorer. Jeff Attinella, who made his professional debut against Atlanta in 2011 as a member of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, is likely to get the nod in goal.

The Open Cup has not been kind to Atlanta over the years as the club is under .500 in club history (8-9-2, 1-1 in PKs). They have only won multiple games in one tournament once in franchise history (2007).

Atlanta is currently in 8th place in the NASL Spring Season with a 3-5-1 record. For the third year in a row, the Silverbacks defeated an NPSL team on the road to kick off the tournament, but will look to upset their first MLS team and avoid their third straight loss to a team from the top division. This year, Atlanta kicked off their tournament with a 5-0 win over Chattanooga FC (NPSL) with Junior Burgos leading the way with two goals and one assist. Junior Sandoval, Deon McCauley and Jaime Chavez also scored for the Silverbacks.

This will also be the first home game for the Silverbacks since 2007, and will be the first time they will host an MLS team in the Open Cup. In 2012, they were awarded a home game against the Seattle Sounders in the Third Round, but agreed to sell their hosting rights to the eventual champions. This was an unpopular decision among Atlanta fans, and signalled the end of the practice of selling hosting rights as the US Soccer Federation outlawed the practice the following year.

Silverbacks head coach Eric Wynalda has been trying to shake up the lineup recently in an effort to spark the team’s offense, and he saw his lineup shakeup pay off with three goals against the Indy Eleven last week. However, they would give up a late equalizer and finish the game at 3-3. Chavez has been responsible for give of the team’s nine goals in league play, while Eric Ati anchors the defense in goal. Both will need to contribute if the club wants to defeat their first pro club since 2007.

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2014 US Open Cup Fourth Round Schedule

Laredo Heat (PDL) 0:1 Houston Dynamo (MLS)
BBVA Compass Stadium; Houston, TX – June 11 at 10 p.m. ET
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Sacramento Republic (USL PRO) 1:2 San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
Kezar Stadium; San Francisco, CA – June 11 at 10:30 p.m. ET
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Real Salt Lake (MLS) 1:2 Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks Park; Chamblee, GA – June 14 at 8 p.m. ET
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Chivas USA (MLS) at Carolina RailHawks (NASL)
WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, NC – June 14 at 8 p.m. ET
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New York Red Bulls (MLS) 0:3 New York Cosmos (NASL)
Shuart Stadium (Hofstra Univ.); Hempstead, NY – June 14 at 8:30 p.m. ET
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DC United (MLS) at Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO)
Sahlen’s Stadium; Rochester, NY – June 17 at 7 p.m ET
———————–
Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO) at Philadelphia Union (MLS)
PPL Park; Chester, PA – June 17 at 7 p.m. ET
———————–
Indy Eleven (NASL) at Columbus Crew (MLS)
FirstEnergy Stadium (Univ. of Akron); Akron, OH – June 17 at 7:30 p.m. ET
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San Antonio Scorpions (NASL) at FC Dallas (MLS)
Toyota Stadium; Frisco, TX – June 17 at 9:00 p.m. ET
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Orlando City SC (USL PRO) at Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park; Commerce City, CO – June 17 at 9 p.m. ET
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Orlando City U23s (PDL) at Portland Timbers (MLS)
Providence Park; Portland, OR – June 17 at 10:30 p.m. ET
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New England Revolution (MLS) at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO)
Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, VA – June 18 at 7 p.m. ET
———————–
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO) at Chicago Fire (MLS)
Toyota Park; Bridgeview, IL – June 18 at 8:30 p.m. ET
———————–
Minnesota United FC (NASL) at Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
Sporting Park; Kansas City, KS – June 18 at 8:30 p.m. ET
———————–
PSA Elite (USASA) at Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, WA – June 18 at 10 p.m. ET
———————–
LA Galaxy (MLS) at Arizona United SC (USL PRO)
Peoria Sports Complex; Peoria, AZ – June 18 at 10:30 p.m. ET

2014 US Open Cup Fifth Round Potential Pairings

New York Red Bulls (MLS) at Philadelphia Union (MLS)
PPL Park; Chester, PA – June 24, 7 p.m. ET
OR
New York Cosmos (NASL) at Philadelphia Union (MLS)
PPL Park; Chester, PA – Date TBD, 7 p.m. ET
OR
Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO) at New York Red Bulls (MLS)
Red Bull Arena; Harrison, NJ – June 24, 7:30 p.m. ET
OR
Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO) at New York Cosmos (NASL)
Belson Stadium (St. John’s Univ.); Queens, NY – June 24, 7 p.m. ET
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New England Revolution (MLS) at D.C. United (MLS)
Maryland SoccerPlex; Boyds, MD – Date TBD, 7 p.m. ET
OR
Richmond Kickers (USL PRO) at D.C. United (MLS)
Maryland SoccerPlex; Boyds, MD – June 24, 7 p.m. ET
OR
Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) at New England Revolution (MLS)
Stevenson Field (Brown Univ.); Providence, RI – June 25, 7:30 p.m. ET
OR
Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO)
Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, VA – Date TBD, 7 p.m. ET
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Indy Eleven (NASL) / Columbus Crew (MLS) winner at Chicago Fire (MLS)
Toyota Park; Bridgeview, IL – Date TBD, 8:30 p.m. ET
OR
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO) at Columbus Crew (MLS)
Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, OH – June 25, 7:30 p.m. ET
OR
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO) at Indy Eleven (NASL)
Carroll Stadium; Indianapolis, IN – June 25, 7:30 p.m. ET
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San Antonio Scorpions (NASL) / FC Dallas (MLS) winner at Houston Dynamo (MLS)
BBVA Compass Stadium; Houston, TX – Date TBD, 8:30 p.m. ET
OR
San Antonio Scorpions (NASL) / FC Dallas (MLS) winner at Laredo Heat (PDL)
Texas A&M International Univ. Soccer Complex; Laredo, TX – Date TBD, 9:15 p.m ET
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LA Galaxy (MLS) / Arizona United SC (USL PRO) winner at Carolina RailHawks (NASL)
WakeMed Soccer Park Field 2; Cary, NC – June 24, 7:30 p.m. ET
OR
Chivas USA (MLS) at Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
StubHub Center; Carson, CA – June 24, 10:30 p.m. ET
OR
Chivas USA (MLS) at Arizona United SC (USL PRO)
Peoria Sports Complex; Peoria, AZ – June 24, 10 p.m. ET
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San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) at Seattle Sounders (MLS)
Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, WA – Date TBD, 10 p.m. ET
OR
Sacramento Republic (USL PRO) at Seattle Sounders (MLS)
Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, WA – June 24, 10 p.m. ET
OR
PSA Elite (USASA) at Sacramento Republic (USL PRO)
Bonney Field (Cal Expo); Sacramento, CA – June 24, 10:30 p.m. ET
OR
PSA Elite (USASA) at San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
Buck Shaw Stadium; Santa Clara, CA – Date TBD, 10:30 p.m. ET
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Real Salt Lake (MLS) / Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) winner at Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park; Commerce City, CO – Date TBD, 9 p.m. ET
OR
Real Salt Lake (MLS) / Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) winner at Orlando City (USL PRO)
ESPN Wide World of Sports; Kissimmee, FL – June 24, 7:30 p.m. ET

Orlando City U23s (PDL) at Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
Sporting Park; Kansas City, KS – Date TBD, 8:30 p.m. ET
OR
Portland Timbers (MLS) at Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
Sporting Park; Kansas City, KS – Date TBD, 8:30 p.m. ET
OR
Orlando City U23s (PDL) at Minnesota United FC (NASL)
National Sports Center Stadium; Blaine, MN – June 25, 9 p.m. ET
OR
Portland Timbers (MLS) at Minnesota United FC (NASL)
National Sports Center Stadium; Blaine, MN – June 24, 9 p.m. ET

2013 US Open Cup Final: Underdog DC United upsets Real Salt Lake to win third title

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2013 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup champions: DC United | Photo: Julie Harper, Prost Amerika

DC United did what few thought they could do: put their regular season disaster behind them, travel to Utah and upset Real Salt Lake in the 100th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Lewis Neal’s goal just before halftime — the team’s only shot on goal in the game — was all they needed as United won their third US Open Cup title, 1-0 over RSL. With the win, DC United completes a Cinderella story the likes of which the tournament has not seen since MLS joined the competition in 1996. DC becomes the first Open Cup champion to lift the trophy with more cup wins (4) than league wins (3). Not to mention, they become the only Modern Pro Era team to win a title with only one shot on goal.

Bill Hamid, making his first start of the competition after Joe Willis had played the previous four games, made four saves and shut out Major League Soccer’s top offense.

2013 LAMAR HUNT US OPEN CUP

2013 US Open Cup results
2013 US Open Cup bracket
2013 US Open Cup goalscoring leaders
TheCup.us Player of the Round awards
The First Cup series (1913/14)
US Open Cup Final 1914-present
US Open Cup Final all-time goalscorers
Biggest Open Cup controversies: Part 1 | Part 2
Official name of the Open Cup a mystery

#USOC100

In a tournament that was modeled after England’s FA Cup 100 years ago, this year’s champion was modeled after England’s winner this year. Last spring, Wigan Athletic, sitting near the bottom of the Premier League standings, pulled off one off the biggest upsets in tournament history, defeating powerhouse Manchester City 1-0 to lift the trophy.

The difference between Wigan and DC United is that the black-and-red have hope for next season as Neal’s 45th minute goal earns the club $250,000 in prize money and a spot in the 2014/15 CONCACAF Champions League. Wigan earned their prize money, but they were relegated at the end of their league season.

United joins the Seattle Sounders (2009-11) and the New York Pancyprian Freedoms (1980, 1982-83) as the only three-time champions.

The opening half was relatively uneventful as the visitors were careful not to let RSL, behind their announced crowd of 17,608, to get their offensive machine rolling. The first chance of the game came after 27 minutes when Joao Plate received a pass down the right side of the box and launched his attempt on goal several rows deep into the crowd.

About 10 minutes later, Javier Morales nearly helped create a goal himself as he fought off two defenders on the right wing, found space and sent a dangerous cross into the box where it took a deflection and was eventually cleared to safety.

DC United celebrates Lewis Neal’s goal in the 45th minute. | Photo: Julie Harper, Prost Amerika

It appeared as though both teams were going to go into the locker room with a scoreless draw, but John Thorrington controlled the ball on the left wing, faked to his right and created space to his left to send in a cross. The ball was deflected off a player in front of the goal and rolled back out to the top of the box for Lewis Neal who hit a well-placed ball that beat a diving Nick Rimando to his left. It was a shot of redemption for Neal who didn’t make the cut while on trial with Real Salt Lake in 2012.

In the second half, RSL cranked up the pressure looking for an equalizer.

In the 50th minute, Morales ran on to a through ball down the heart of the box, but Dejan Jakovic was there to deliver a tough tackle to clear away the danger. A couple of minutes later, Ned Grabavoy received the ball on the left side of the box but his shot on target was smothered by Hamid.

In the 59th minute, the home team finally got one past Hamid. Sebastian Velasquez dribbled into the box on the left side and launched a left-footed blast that beat Hamid, but struck the crossbar. The pressure continued throughout the second half, but DC’s backline held on. In the 81st minute, Grabavoy sent a header into the penalty area which fell to Saborio behind the defense, but his volley attempt sailed high over the bar.

The kitchen sink was being thrown forward by RSL as stoppage time approached. In the 90th minute, Kyle Beckerman played a ball in to Devon Sandoval who delivered a one-touch to Grabavoy as he was headed toward goal, but the ball was knocked away before he could get a shot off.

Bill Hamid gathers the loose ball that deflected off the crossbar on the final play of the 2013 US Open Cup Final. | Photo: Julie Harper, Prost Amerika

Seconds later, a long ball from midfield was headed into the box where a United defender got to it first, but his attempted clearance went straight up in the air, sending Hamid into action. He leaped into the crowd of players to punch it away and did just enough to clear it from danger as RSL’s attempts to send it back into the mixer failed and DC was able to turn the near goal into a counter attack. The ball fell out of the penalty area and was launched upfield to a wide open Conor Doyle, who found himself one-on-one with Rimando positioned more than 20 yards outside his penalty area. Rimando’s take down of Doyle produced cries for a red card, but the veteran goalkeeper only received a yellow.

RSL used every bit of the announced six minutes of stoppage time, creating two heart-stopping moments for the home fans dreaming of a dramatic goal to force extra time. First, after a ball was sent into the box, it fell to Nat Borchers on the right side of the area and the defender chipped into the middle of the box where Sandoval attempted an overhead kick that went straight at Hamid positioned in the middle of the goal.

Moments later, in their final attempt to draw level, Beckerman’s corner kick found Saborio who headed the ball on goal after making a run down the middle of the box. There to save the day, whether he did it on purpose or not, was James Riley, who deflected Saborio’s header off the crossbar and Hamid came off his line to jump on the loose ball to secure the win.

For Riley, his deflection in front of goal clinched his fifth US Open Cup title, more than any individual player in the Modern Professional Era (1995-present). Riley won the tournament with New England in 2007, followed by three straight with Seattle from 2009-11. With a fifth title, Riley is more than halfway toward the all-time record of eight held by Hall of Famer Billy Gonsalves.

MORE: 2013 US Open Cup Final photo gallery (Prost Amerika)

Scoring Summary:
DC – Lewis Neal – 45’

Misconduct Summary:
DC – James Riley (Yellow, Foul) – 21’
RSL – Kyle Beckerman (Yellow, Dissent) – 46’
DC – Nick DeLeon (Yellow, Dissent) – 58’
DC – Chris Korb (Yellow, Dissent) – 80’
RSL – Nick Rimando (Yellow, Foul) – 90’ + 1’

Lineups:

Real Salt Lake (4-1-2-1-2): Nick Rimando, Chris Wingert, Nat Borchers, Carlos Salcedo (Devon Sandoval, 81’), Tony Beltran, Kyle Beckerman, Ned Grabavoy, Sebastian Velasquez (Khari Stephenson, 69’), Javier Morales, Joao Plata (Olmes Garcia, 57’), Alvaro Saborio

Substitutes not used: Jeff Attinella, Chris Schuler, Yordany Alvarez, Cole Grossman

D.C. United (4-4-2): Bill Hamid, James Riley, Dejan Jakovic, Ethan White, Chris Korb, Perry Kitchen, Lewis Neal, Chris Pontius (Conor Doyle, 87’), John Thorrington, Nick DeLeon, Dwayne de Rosario (Luis Silva, 75’)

Substitutes not used: Joe WIllis, Dennis Iapichino, Kyle Porter, Daniel Woolard, Jared Jeffrey

Referee: Juan Guzman
Assistant Referees: Kermit Quisenberry, Fabio Tovar
4th Official: Baldomero Toledo

Attendance: 17,608
Weather: Clear and 66 degrees

2013 US Open Cup Final: DC United, Real Salt Lake square off in 100th championship game

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On Tuesday night, the United States Soccer Federation will crown a national champion for the 100th time.

In a tournament that was born a century ago to emulate tournaments like England’s FA Cup, it would be fitting that this year’s final will be so similar to the FA Cup final played earlier this year. DC United are in the midst of a historically bad regular season, sharing some similarities with Wigan Athletic who became the first FA Cup champion to be relegated.

On the other side of the ball is Real Salt Lake, who are among the league’s elite, much like Manchester City in the Premier League, who suffered a 1-0 loss to Wigan in their cup final.

The game will be broadcast live on GolTV starting at 9 p.m. ET and RSL will offer English and Spanish language radio. Fans can also follow all the action on Twitter with the hashtag #USOC100.

2013 US OPEN CUP FINAL

DC UNITED (MLS)
at
REAL SALT LAKE (MLS)
Rio Tinto Stadium – Sandy, UT
9 p.m. ET

TV: GOLTV
ENGLISH RADIO: ESPN700
SPANISH RADIO: La Gran D 102.3,
Juan 1600 AM

#USOC100

Find those links below as well as an in-depth look at each match-up:

* 2013 US Open Cup results
* 2013 US Open Cup bracket
* 2013 US Open Cup goalscoring leaders
* TheCup.us Player of the Round awards
* The First Cup series (1913/14)
* US Open Cup Final 1914-present
* US Open Cup Final all-time goalscorers
* Biggest Open Cup controversies: Part 1 | Part 2
* Official name of the Open Cup a mystery

DC United (MLS) at Real Salt Lake (MLS)
Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, UT – 9 p.m. ET
TV broadcast: GolTV
English Radio: ESPN700 (RSL)
Spanish Radio: La Gran D 102.3 FM & Juan 1600 AM (RSL)

DC United Open Cup records
Overall: 29-10-4 (2-2 PKs) | Away: 7-6-2 (2-0 PKs) | vs. MLS: 9-7-2 (0-2 PKs)
Last entry: 2012 (Lost 2-1 AET vs. Philadelphia Union in Round 4)
Best finish: 1996, 2008 US Open Cup champions

Real Salt Lake Open Cup records
Overall: 6-4-0 | Home: 6-2-0 | vs. MLS: 1-2-0
Last entry: 2012 (Lost 3-1 vs. Minnesota Stars FC in Round 3)
Best finish: 2011 Quarterfinals (Lost 2-0 at FC Dallas)

PAST MEETINGS

Real Salt Lake and DC United have only met once this season, with United pulling out a 1-0 win on March 9 at RFK Stadium. Lionard Pajoy headed home the eventual game-winner when Nick Rimando saved a curling shot from John Thorrington. This is the first meeting between the two teams in Open Cup play. Real Salt Lake holds the advantage all-time between these two teams, 6-4-6.

DC UNITED’S US OPEN CUP HISTORY

The two-time Open Cup champions have been one of the powers in the tournament since they entered the competition for the first time in 1996. United’s 29 wins and five championship game appearances are second only to the Chicago Fire (31 wins, 6 title games) and winning a third would put them in a club with the Seattle Sounders (2009-11) and the New York Pancyprian Freedoms (1980, 1982-83) as the only three-time champions. United remains one of two DC-area clubs in the 100-year history of the tournament to reach the championship game (Club Espana won the 1987 US Open Cup)

DC UNITED’S LEAGUE FORM: (Previous 5 matches) LLDLL

DC United is currently experiencing one of the worst MLS seasons of all time. United has won only three regular season games this season, all inside the friendly confines of RFK. With a 15 percent win percentage this season, DC United can walk away with a trophy while also setting a maximum of eight MLS records for futility.

DC UNITED’S PATH TO THE FINAL

DC United started out their Open Cup run with a penalty kick thriller in Richmond, Virginia against the Richmond Kickers of USLPRO. In a game that saw two DC players receive a red card, United pulled out a 4-2 penalty victory. In the round of 16, DC United took on the Philadelphia Union at the Maryland Soccerplex. United cruised to a 3-1 win on the strength of a Dwayne De Rosario hat trick. Two weeks later they played the New England Revolution, again at the Soccerplex. Chris Pontius, Dwayne De Roasrio and Lionard Pajoy all tallied goals for the hosts, and United moved on, 3-1. In the semifinal of the Open Cup, United traveled to Toyota Park, where they took on the four-time champion Chicago Fire. In a tense and chippy affair, both Dwayne De Roasrio and Nick DeLeon netted goals, and DC United moved on to their fifth championship game with a 2-0 scoreline.

KEY PLAYERS: DC UNITED

Chris Pontius (#13) will be a force to reckon with in this game after having been rested in United’s 4-1 loss against Toronto FC on Sept. 28. Pontius has been a occasional feature for United this season, only scoring two goals after dealing with small hamstring and groin injuries, but looks to be ready to make his mark on this Open Cup final. Bill Hamid (#1) is the wildcard on the United side coming into this matchup. Backup keeper Joe Willis had previously started every match of their Open Cup run this season, including a Player of the Round performance in the Semifinals, but Hamid is being handed the start for the final. The DC United Academy product has been a busy in net this season, notching 68 saves. If the final proceeds to penalty kicks, it should be noted that Hamid has blocked two of five penalty attempts against him this season.

Dwayne De Rosario, making his first appearance in the Open Cup Final, is tied for the tournament lead in goals with five. He has nine career tournament goals, which ties him for third with teammate Carlos Ruiz among all MLS goalscorers in the Modern Professional Era. If he’s able to score more than one goal in the game then he would break the Modern Professional Era record for most goals in a tournament. David Bulow (Richmond Kickers, 2011), Herculez Gomez (Los Angeles Galaxy, 2005), Melvin Tarley (Minnesota Thunder, 2005), Josh Wolff (Chicago Fire, 2000), Welton (Miami Fusion, 2000), Mugurel Dimitru (San Diego Flash, 1999) and Marquis White (San Francisco Bay Seals, 1997) are the only ones to score six.

GOALSCORERS

Dwayne De Rosario – 5
Nick DeLeon – 1
Lionard Pajoy – 1
Chris Pontius – 1

KEY INJURIES

Daniel Woolard and Dennis Iapichino were both listed as questionable for the MLS regular season game against Toronto FC on Sept. 28. Both players should be available to play by kickoff.

OPEN CUP FINAL EXPERIENCE

One thing that United have going for them is that they have a lot of Open Cup Final experience to draw from. Dejan Jakovic and Chris Pontius both started for DC in their 2009 loss to the Seattle Sounders, which featured James Riley starting on the backline. Riley is attempting to add to his MLS record four Open Cup titles (New England in 2007, Seattle in 2009, 2010, 2011). He will also join Osvaldo Alonso, Andy Williams and Peter Vagenas as the only players in the Modern Professional Era (1995-present) to play in five US Open Cup Finals.

Sanna Nyassi made a splash in his only Open Cup Final appearance in 2010 with the Sounders. Not only did he become the first player in the Modern Professional Era to score multiple goals in a Final, but prior to his two-goal performance, no one had scored more than one career goal in the championship game. Carlos Ruiz has played in two finals but came up short both times, losing with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2002 and FC Dallas in 2007. Marcelo Saragosa has an Open Cup championship medal, winning with the Galaxy in 2005.

WHY DC UNITED WILL WIN

DC United will win this game on the backs of their rested starters. United head coach Ben Olsen rested nearly all of his regular starters in last weekend’s league match against Toronto FC. United will have a very fresh and rested lineup, which could prove vital if this game were to go to extra time or penalties. They will also win if Bill Hamid has a quality game and keeps his cool. The USMNT pool goalkeeper has proven that he can come up with amazing saves in big games, such as the 2012 playoff legs against the New York Red Bulls. If his temper gets the best of him and he pulls a Josh Wicks, then United know that Joe Willis can fill in as he has all tournament long. Finally, pure grit can push this United team to victory. The MLS season has not mattered to United for a couple weeks, and the team has been focusing on the Open Cup final for some time. Expect to see a very sharp, tactically aware United team, more than in weeks past.

WHY DC UNITED WON’T WIN

The United offense has been several steps short of anemic during the entirety of the MLS season. Currently United has scored more own goals (4) than their leading scorers, Dwayne De Rosario and Luis Silva, have (3). If they turn in another lackluster performance on the offensive front, they will have no shot of winning against a very strong, tactically disciplined Salt Lake backline. United will also lose this game if they don’t establish a rhythm early. The Black-and-Red have, as stated above, not played a meaningful game in quite a while. If they come out “rusty” and are not able to establish a rhythm early, Real Salt Lake will capitalize on that and exploit United’s lack of cohesion in front of what is expected to be a sold-out crowd at Rio Tinto Stadium.

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REAL SALT LAKE’S OPEN CUP HISTORY

The goal of Real Salt Lake is simple; find success in the US Open Cup. This year, they have finally accomplished that. Since their inaugural season in 2005, they failed to qualify four years in a row (2007-2010), and didn’t win more than one game in a single Open Cup prior to this year. As an organization, they market their Cup games very well, and last year they set an attendance record for the Modern Pro Era for a non-doubleheader/non-final (17,212). But unfortunately for RSL, that record crowd watched the home team get upset by the NASL’s Minnesota Stars. This year, they’ve put their poor history behind them and will host the first-ever US Open Cup Final in the state of Utah.

RSL’s LEAGUE FORM (Previous 5 matches) WLLWW

Real Salt Lake rebounded from back-to-back losses to Seattle and San Jose to earn a 1-0 road win against the Vancouver Whitecaps this past weekend to put them in a tie for first place in the Western Conference with the Sounders. Devon Sandoval, the team’s leading goalscorer in Open Cup play with three, scored the lone goal for RSL to keep them in the race for the Supporters’ Shield. They are currently one point behind the Red Bulls.

RSL’s PATH TO THE FINAL

Real Salt Lake may not have played a Major League Soccer team until the Semifinals, and haven’t played a game away from home in the tournament, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t have a difficult road to their first championship game. They began with a 3-2 extra time win over the NASL’s Atlanta Silverbacks where Devon Sandoval and Khari Stephenson each scored OT goals to lift RSL. In Round 4, RSL rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to send the match into extra time where the offense exploded for three goals. Sandoval and Stephenson scored again in the extra frame, along with Javier Morales, to send RSL to the Quarterfinals. After a 3-0 shutout of the Carolina RailHawks (NASL) with goals from Tony Beltran, Chris Wingert and Alvaro Saborio, they had their biggest test with the Portland Timbers in the final four. Goals from Saborio and Plata had the home team in front 2-0, but Portland threw the kitchen sink at them in the final 12 minutes and after giving up a stoppage time goal, RSL held on for the win.

RSL is attempting to become the fourth team in the Modern Professional Era to win an Open Cup title without playing a single game away from home, and just the second team to play every game in the same stadium (Chicago Fire in 2006 at Toyota Park). The other two teams to accomplish that feat were DC United in 2008 and the Seattle Sounders in 2011.

KEY PLAYERS: REAL SALT LAKE

Much like league play, it’s been a balanced attack by Real Salt Lake in the US Open Cup. The key to success in the Open Cup is usually depth, and RSL’s has been on display with Devon Sandoval leading the team with three goals and Khari Stephenson with two. At the center of the goalscoring production all season has been Javier Morales who leads the team in assists with 10 and is second behind Alvaro Saborio with eight goals. As the league’s top offensive team, the biggest key might be the defense, led by US internationals Kyle Beckerman and goalkeeper Nick Rimando.

GOALSCORERS

Devon  Sandoval – 3
Khari Stephenson – 2
Kyle Beckerman – 1
Tony Beltran – 1
Javier Morales – 1
Joao Plata – 1
Alvaro Saborio – 1
Chris Wingert – 1

KEY INJURIES

Defenders Rich Balchan and Kwame Watson-Siriboe are out due to injury, as well as goalkeeper Josh Saunders.

OPEN CUP FINAL EXPERIENCE

There are five players on the RSL roster who have been a part of a US Open Cup Final, but Nick Rimando is the only one who actually stepped on the field in a title game. Khari Stephenson (Kansas City Wizards, 2004), Ned Grabavoy (Los Angeles Galaxy, 2005) and Abdoulie Mansally (New England Revolution, 2007) all lifted the trophy, while Rimando and Kyle Beckerman both fell short as teammates with the Miami Fusion in 2000 in their loss to the Chicago Fire.

WHY RSL WILL WIN

The easy answer is because they are playing at home in front of an expected sold-out crowd and they are one of the best teams in MLS, playing against the worst team in the league. They also have revenge on their minds as United only has three league wins this year and one of them was against RSL early in the season. The retoric around the home team’s camp has been to make the tournament a priority and that approach may ultimately pay off as home teams are 11-3-2 (1-1 in PKs) in championship games since 1995. However, of the last six finals, the home team is 3-2-1 (1-0 in PKs).

WHY RSL WON’T WIN

RSL will be up against a well-rested underdog who has nothing to lose. For weeks, DC United has been out of the league playoff picture, so the Open Cup has become a focus for them to salvage their season. A team that has a number of players with championship game experience, who rested most of their starters this past weekend, could come in and quiet the crowd early and put the pressure on the favorites.

2013 US Open Cup Semifinals: Real Salt Lake tops Portland Timbers 2-1 for first trip to Final

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With a 2-1 win over the Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake will host the 100th US Open Cup Final on Oct. 1 against DC United. Photo: Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake has won an MLS Cup and played for the CONCACAF Champions League title. Now the nine-year-old Utah club will play in its first Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final.

Alvaro Saborio scored in the seventh minute and set up substitute Joao Plata for what proved to be a vital insurance goal in the 78th as Real Salt Lake held off the Portland Timbers 2-1 Wednesday night in front of 14,742 fans at Rio Tinto Stadium – a record attendance for a semifinal in the tournament’s Modern Pro Era.

RSL will play host to DC United in the 100th US Open Cup final October 1 at Rio Tinto. The winning team will claim a berth in next season’s CONCACAF Champions League and a $250,000 prize in addition to the trophy.

While things certainly could change over the next eight weeks, Real Salt Lake currently is tied for the most points in Major League Soccer, while DC United has the fewest. However, two-time Open Cup champion DC United won the only league meeting between the sides 1-0 back on March 9 in the nation’s capital.

Both Portland and RSL fielded strong sides in the first match of the season between the Western Conference rivals, who also will meet in league play August 21 and 30 and October 19.

RSL welcomed back starting outside backs Tony Beltran and Chris Wingert, but had Ned Grabavoy at the top of its diamond midfield with Javier Morales limited to the bench because of an adductor injury suffered in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with the Colorado Rapids in MLS play. The Timbers’ starting XI was highlighted by midfielder Will Johnson’s return to Salt Lake, where he played for five seasons before being traded to Portland last offseason.

Saborio gave the home team the early lead, heading in a cross from Kyle Beckerman. After a corner kick, Beckerman got the ball on the right flank, created some space around Rodney Wallace and played a cross to the far post that Saborio headed over Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts and into the right side of the net for the 1-0 lead.

Each side enjoyed stretches of extended possession, but Portland had two great chances to pull level before halftime.

First, Darlington Nagbe found center back Andrew Jean-Baptiste somewhat surprisingly cruising free down the right side in the 40th. Baptiste carried the ball into the box and squared it for Will Johnson, who hit the skipping ball first-time. RSL keeper Nick Rimando made a fine save, flipping the ball up and over the crossbar for a corner kick.

This US Open Cup Semifinal match featured two teams that have never reached the final four, aiming for their first Open Cup title. Photo: Real Salt Lake

Then in first-half stoppage time, Diego Valeri served in a corner kick from the right side that Ryan Johnson got to at the far post. He headed the ball from a tough angle and it hit Beltran – replays indicated the ball might have hit the left back’s arm or shoulder, but whatever the case, referee Mark Geiger didn’t blow his whistle.

The visitors had the better of play for the opening 10 minutes of the second half, too, but didn’t really threaten the goal in that time. Will Johnson received a nice ovation from the RSL fans when he was subbed out with an apparent right arm injury in the 63rd.

Portland had a golden chance to equalize in the 72nd. The RSL back line lost track of Valeri, who was left all alone and got his head on a pinpoint cross from left back Ryan Miller, but the ball flashed wide of the left post.

Six minutes later, the combination of Saborio and Plata teamed up to double Real Salt Lake’s lead.

Plata played the ball ahead to Saborio near the top of the box, and he laid it back for his strike partner. The 5-foot-3 Ecuadorian promptly ripped a shot from 25 yards out that zipped past Ricketts into the left side of the goal, giving RSL a 2-0 lead in the 78th.

The second goal proved to be integral as Valeri did get the Timbers on the board in the first minute of second-half stoppage time. He worked past both Beltran and Borchers and let loose with a shot that Rimando was able to save, but the Argentinian stayed with the ball and headed it in to cut the lead in half. It was the first goal surrendered by RSL in Open Cup play in 282 minutes dating to their 5-2 win over USL Pro’s Charleston Battery in the fourth round.

Semifinal: Portland Timbers 1-2 Real Salt Lake

August 7 | Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy UT | Attendance: 14,742

Scoring Summary

RSL: Alvaro Saborio (Kyle Beckerman) 7

RSL: Joao Plata (Alvaro Saborio) 78

POR: Diego Valeri 91+

Lineups

Real Salt Lake: Nick Rimando; Tony Beltran, Carlos Salcedo, Nat Borchers, Chris Wingert; Luis Gil (Yordany Alvarez 88), Kyle Beckerman, Ned Grabavoy, Khari Stephenson (Javier Morales 80); Alvaro Saborio, Robbie Findley (Joao Plata 61). Substitutes not used: Jeff Attinella (GK), Lovel Palmer, Sebastian Velasquez, Olmes Garcia.

Portland Timbers: Donovan Ricketts; Ryan Miller (Alvas Powell 77), Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Pa-Modou Kah, Michael Harrington; Will Johnson (Jose Adolfo Valencia 63), Diego Chara, Diego Valeri; Rodney Wallace, Ryan Johnson (Kalif Alhassan 63), Darlington Nagbe. Substitutes not used: Jake Gleeson (GK), Jack Jewsbury, Rauwshan McKenzie, Ben Zemanski.

Disciplinary Summary

RSL: Carlos Salcedo (caution) 42

POR: Ryan Johnson (caution) 42, Pa-Modou Kah (caution) 94+

Statistics

Saves: RSL (Rimando) 5, POR (Ricketts) 2. Shots: RSL 9, POR 13. Corner kicks: RSL 4, POR 8. Fouls: RSL 11, P 12. Offsides: RSL 2, POR 3.

#USOC100

First timers win: Winner of Real Salt Lake, Portland Timbers will host 2013 US Open Cup Final

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Lamar Hunt US Open Cup logoThe United States Soccer Federation announced today that the 100th championship game of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup will be hosted in a state that has never crowned a tournament champion. After a coin flip at the US Soccer headquarters in Chicago, it was determined that the winner of the semifinal match-up between the Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake will be the host of the 2013 US Open Cup Final.

Both semifinal matches are scheduled to be played on Aug. 7. If Real Salt Lake is victorious, they will host the Final on Oct. 1 at Rio Tinto Stadium. If the Portland Timbers prevail, they will host the title game at Jeld-Wen Field on Sept. 24.

The Timbers/RSL game will be broadcast locally in Portland on Root Sports, while Chicago will be providing a live webcast of their game against DC United.

Neither Real Salt Lake or the Timbers have ever reached the championship game, but there’s added significance because neither the state of Utah or the state of Oregon has ever hosted the US Open Cup Final in the 99 previous years of the tournament.

The championship game will be broadcast live on GolTV.

Note: According to a report by Steven Goff, DC United did not apply to host, “citing logistics involving non-soccer events on the RFK Stadium campus during the hosting window.”

2013 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Real Salt Lake blanks league-focused Carolina RailHawks, reaches first final four (video)

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Real Salt Lake cruised past the NASL’s Carolina RailHawks to reach the Semifinals for the first time in club history. Photo: Real Salt Lake

For the first time in its 2013 tournament campaign, Real Salt Lake defeated a squad without the use of extra time, and for the first time in club history, the Claret-and-Cobalt moved on to the Semifinals of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. RSL defeated the NASL leading Carolina RailHawks 3-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.

With the win, RSL became the first Utah-based club to reach the Semifinals in the 100-year history of the US Open Cup.

Through the first half hour of Wednesday’s match, the MLS side couldn’t break through the RailHawks defense that kept at least 10 men behind the ball. Carolina’s goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald was equal to a Kyle Beckerman curler that seemed destined for the top corner. Finally in the 35th, defender Tony Beltran fired a shot through traffic and beat the sprawling Fitzgerald to the far post.

With Carolina fielding a weakened side, another RSL defender, Chris Wingert, surged into the attack to score from distance on a deflection in the second half, proving that the rout was on. The victory sent Major League Soccer’s hottest club to the Semifinals for the first time in the franchise’s nine-year history. It’ll host the Portland Timbers, who are also making its first appearance in the final four, on August 7.

“I’m pleased but it means nothing to be in the Semifinal,” Salt Lake head coach Jason Kreis said in post-game media comments. “It means something to me to win the whole thing.”

The RailHawks, first in the NASL standings, avenged a 2012 Open Cup loss by beating MLS’s Chivas USA 3-1 in the tourney’s fourth-round to reach the Quarters. The second-division side decided to go with a makeshift lineup for the match, keeping the NASL’s goal scoring leader Brian Shriver on the bench in the first half. After 45 minutes, the RailHawks totaled zero shots.

“I was disappointed that I couldn’t put the team that I wanted to put out,” Carolina coach Colin Clarke said. “It would be our first championship and we need to get over that hurdle and win that first championship.”

The RailHawks opted to save key starters, including club captain Floyd Franks and midfielder Cesar Elizondo, for Saturday’s match against the Atlanta Silverbacks, which would give the side its first NASL Spring Season title and the right to host 2013 Soccer Bowl.

“It’s often the case that coaching staffs and players need to make decisions about where you’re going to put all your eggs, and they chose Saturday so maybe that’s a good thing for us,” Kreis said.

In the beginning, it didn’t look to be RSL’s day. The Utah side’s first shot came in the 10th minute when forward Robbie Findley sprinted down the left flank, but Fitzgerald pushed the ball out for a clearance. The Claret-and-Cobalt were reduced to pouring long balls over the top only to come out fruitless until the Beltran strike.

“Saborio made a great pass and I wasn’t sure after I took the first touch if I was going to take another one, to kind of drive to the end line and cut it back,” the RSL defender said. “I heard Beckerman say hit it and I just decided to rip it and it went into the far post.”

The goal gave Beltran the confidence to go on another foray forward in the 44th minute, collecting the ball from a Ned Grabavoy pass and lofting a shot to the far post to force another diving save from the Carolina keeper.

At the break with RSL up 1-0, the crowd of 10,287 jeered the opposition for not forcing Salt Lake goalkeeper Josh Saunders into a save. In the 50th minute, RailHawks forward Brian Ackley tried to catch the former LA number one off his line, but the shot sailed just wide of the net. Off of the ensuing goal kick, sloppy play led to a turnover that found Chris Wingert just outside of the penalty box for a goal. The defender’s shot caromed off of a Carolina back, catching Fitzgerald off guard who was unable to make the save. It was Wingert’s second goal in his career.

“I would say it doesn’t have quite the same feeling as if you hit a blast, but they all count and I’ll take anything,” the unapologetic defender said.

Finally in the 61st minute, Carolina brought in the cavalry, taking off Eddie Ababio and Justin Willis in favor of Brian Shriver and Cesar Elizondo, who made an impact on the game. The duo forced a corner kick in the 68th minute, but Ackley’s header couldn’t find the frame.

“We tried to keep it tight and try to get 50 or 60 minutes without conceding and then bring on some players who could help us win the game,” Clarke said. “Cesar and Shriver changed the game with their pace and kept the ball moving.”

Still, the second-division side failed to take advantage of its men with fresh legs, allowing RSL to bring on forward Olmes Garcia and midfielder Yordany Alvarez for Javier Morales and Khari Stephenson in the 78th. Immediately Garcia was active, crossing the ball to a wide open. Joao Plata in the 80th minute whose shot flashed high over the bar.

Just five minutes later, the Columbian got the assist he deserved, when Ned Grabavoy’s pass sprung the 20-year old down the right flank. With Alvaro Saborio streaking to the near post, Garcia crossed the ball for a far post header by the Costa Rican to give Salt Lake its third goal.

“He’s a guy that thrives on confidence and momentum,” Kreis told of the striker. “Unfortunately, he’s off to Costa Rica so maybe they can enjoy his momentum.”

The loss in the Quarterfinals was Carolina’s furthest run in the tournament since its inaugural 2007 squad made it to the Semis. In the ’07 run, the RailHawks lost to another MLS side, the New England Revolution, 2-1. The second-division side continues its NASL Spring Season title quest with two games left.

With the victory, Kreis earned his 100th win across all competitions as the head man at Real Salt Lake.

“It’s not just a crest on a shirt,” the RSL legend beamed. “Obviously it feels like my home. This is where I started and this is where I got my first chance.”

The Claret-and-Cobalt continues the 2013 MLS campaign at Toronto FC Saturday. In the Cup, Salt Lake will host the Portland Timbers in the Semis when captain and former Salt Lake midfielder Will Johnson returns on August 7 to Rio Tinto Stadium. It will be the Canadian’s first game back in Utah since he was traded in 2012.

“I’m pleased with the performance overall, and tonight I thought we responded will after a pretty sluggish start. I’m happy that we’re moving on,” Kreis said.

Quarterfinals :: Carolina RailHawks 0 : 3 Real Salt Lake

June 26 – Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy UT – Attendance: 10,207; Sunny & 85 degrees

Scoring Summary

RSL: Tony Beltran (Alvaro Saborio) 35

RSL: Chris Wingert 50

RSL: Alvaro Saborio (Ned Grabavoy) 85

Cautions:

No cautions.

Lineups:

RSL (4-4-2): Josh Sauders (GK); Tony Beltran, Nat Borchers, Carlos Salcedo, Chris Wingert; Kyle Beckerman, Ned Grabavoy, Khari Stephenson (Olmes Garcia 79), Javier Morales (Yordany Alvarez 79); Robbie Findley (Joao Plata 64), Alvaro Saborio. Substitutes not used: Nick Rimando (GK), Lovel Palmer, Sebastian Velasquez, Devon Sandoval

CAR (4-4-2): Akira Fitzgerald (GK); Jordan Graye, Austen King, Kevin Rutkiewicz, Kupono Low; Jonathan Greenfield (Austin da Luz 80), Nick Millington, Justin Willis (Brian Shriver 61), Eddie Ababio (Cesar Elizondo 61); Ciaran O’Brian, Brian Ackley. Substitutes not used: Tim Murray (GK), Paul Hamilton, Floyd Franks, Zack Schilawski

2013 US Open Cup Fourth Round: Real Salt Lake super subs spark rally, beat Charleston Battery 5-2 in OT

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For the second consecutive round, Real Salt Lake escaped embarrassment at the hands of a lower division opponent by finding some magic and prevailing in overtime, avoiding a repeat of their home loss a year ago to Minnesota of the NASL. In the Fourth Round Wednesday night the MLS club scored five unanswered goals, erasing a two-goal deficit to send the match to extra time where they found three more against an exhausted, visiting Charleston Battery of USL Pro.

Through an hour Wednesday night, it looked like the Battery were going to add another Major League Soccer team to their collection of Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup upsets. But Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis, whose team was sluggish throughout a first half that saw them allow two goals in four minutes, turned to his bench, and the duo of Joao Plata and Khari Stephenson helped turn the match.

Real Salt LakeRookie Devon Sandoval scored twice, Plata and Javier Morales had a goal and an assist apiece and Stephenson scored on a long-range rocket as Real Salt Lake surged to the victory at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, sending them to the Quarterfinals for the third time in their nine-year history after previous appearances in 2006 and 2011. They’ll play host to the Carolina RailHawks of the NASL on June 26.

“I was really, really disappointed with what happened in the first half,” Kreis said in post-game media comments. “But I challenged the guys at halftime, and credit to them for the response they showed. To score five goals unanswered is pretty good.”

The Battery, third in the USL Pro standings and coming off a 1-0 victory over Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes in the Third Round of the Open Cup, opened the scoring just after the quarter-hour mark. Charleston’s Jarad van Schaik – drafted by Real Salt Lake in 2011 but never offered a contract – played a long ball from the left side for striker Dane Kelly, who got behind center back Nat Borchers and finished to the far post against goalkeeper Josh Saunders.

The goal came on Charleston’s first foray into the attacking end, but was quickly followed by another.

Mark Wiltse did well on the right flank and played the ball to Quinton Griffith in the box. He ripped a shot that clanged off the far post, but striker Nicki Paterson was there to finish off the rebound and give the visitors a stunning 2-0 lead just 18 minutes in. Paterson has six career Open Cup goals and has scored in the tournament for five straight years.

The scoreline remained that way through halftime, at which point some in the crowd of 13,763 booed the team off the field.

It was a vastly different story after the break; especially after Kreis brought on Plata and Stephenson for defender Aaron Maund and midfielder Sebastian Velasquez in the 63rd, switching to a three-man back line as the Battery sat back and tried to defend their advantage.

“We thought we could get at them in that first half and it worked. If we got that third goal, it might’ve put them under some more pressure,” Battery coach Michael Anhaeuser said. “I have to give credit to them, they really changed it up in the second half. The substitutes changed the game.”

Just three minutes later, Sandoval got Real Salt Lake on the board, heading a cross by defender Tony Beltran from the right side back across the goal to the far post past Battery keeper Odisnel Cooper.

“Excellent, really really good,” Kreis said of Sandoval, a physical, 6-foot-1 striker out of New Mexico. “(He) got better as it went on, because I actually think he wasn’t the sharpest until he scored the goal, and then I thought he was fantastic. And the work rate is always there, so I’m very appreciative of that, but he scored that goal that broke things open, then almost didn’t really put a foot wrong the rest of the way.”

Plata turned in a similar performance, setting up chance after chance for the claret and cobalt. The 5-foot-2 forward worked a give-and-go with Ned Grabavoy down the left side and appeared to have his legs taken out by a Charleston defender, then stepped to the spot and dispatched the ensuing penalty with authority to tie the score in the 79th.

“I don’t know if it was a penalty,” Anhaeuser said. “I think if you ask him, he might say it was. It looked like he slipped a little bit, but of course, you can’t bump a guy. If it looks like it and especially on the road, you don’t get those calls.”

Cooper and the Battery back line turned away some good opportunities in the final 10 minutes of regulation, but Real Salt Lake was back in the goals in extra time.

Sandoval got his second of the night and fourth of the season on another header in the 96th. Morales took a corner kick from the right side that sailed over his intended targets, but Plata got the ball on the left side of the box. He deftly chipped a it up for Sandoval, who nodded past Cooper again.

“The first half was definitely frustrating, because we’ve got to come out better than that. They had a game plan and executed it and got two goals from it,” Sandoval said. “The second half we came out a lot better and got our chances and put them away.”

Stephenson put Charleston away in the 105th, crushing a shot from 30 yards out past Cooper. Coincidentally, it also was Sandoval and Stephenson who scored extra-time goals in Real Salt Lake’s 3-2 win over the NASL’s Atlanta Silverbacks in the third round.

“You look at all the guys that came into the match were difference-makers for me, and that’s what you need to have,” Kreis said. “The energy level was a little low from quite a few of the players tonight. So the guys coming off the bench were critical. All of them did well, worked hard and were a big part of the difference.”

Morales finished things off two minutes later in stoppage time of the first 15-minute period of extra time, converting another penalty after Sandoval was judged to have been held down on a corner kick. His goal marked the first time Real Salt Lake has scored five goals since a 5-0 rout of New England in an MLS match back on July 2, 2010, and gave the team a whopping 19 goals in its past six games overall.

With another lower division opponent set to visit Rio Tinto for the Quarterfinals, Kreis is hoping his team has learned the level of commitment needed against such foes.

“I hope so. I really thought that we were a smart enough, experienced veteran team that we wouldn’t have to go through this twice,” he said of playing extra time. “I’m hopeful that the third time we won’t need to play 120 minutes.”

Charleston has a rich Open Cup history, having lost in the final in 2008 and advanced to the semifinals in 1999 and 2004 and quarterfinals in 2007, ’09 and ’10.

“The club takes it seriously. The players take it seriously,” Battery veteran defender John Wilson said. “When you have a lot of young players you want to show up well. You want to try and win the game.”

Fourth Round :: Charleston Battery 2 :: AET :: 5 Real Salt Lake

June 12 – Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy UT – Attendance: 13,763; Cloudy & 92 degrees

Scoring Summary:

CHB: Dane Kelly (Jarad van Schaik) 16

CHB: Nicki Paterson 18

RSL: Devon Sandoval (Tony Beltran) 66

RSL: Joao Plata (penalty kick) 79

RSL: Devon Sandoval (Joao Plata) 96

RSL: Khari Stephenson (Javier Morales) 105

RSL: Javier Morales (penalty kick) 105+

Cautions:

CHB: Nicki Paterson 56, Mike Azira 57, John Wilson 93, Cody Ellison 112

RSL: Devon Sandoval 94

Lineups:

RSL: Josh Saunders; Tony Beltran, Nat Borchers, Aaron Maund (Khari Stephenson 63), Chris Wingert; Kyle Beckerman, Ned Grabavoy, Sebastian Velasquez (Joao Plata 63), Javier Morales; Devon Sandoval, Olmes Garcia (Robbie Findley 74). Substitutes not used: Jeff Attinella (GK), Kwame Watson-Siriboe, Lovel Palmer, Yordany Alvarez.

CHB: Odisnel Cooper; John Wilson, Colin Falvey, Kenneth Ellison, Mark Wiltse; Jarad van Schaik, Michael Azira, Nicki Paterson; Jose Cuevas (Zach Prince 68), Quinton Griffith (Taylor Mueller 72), Dane Kelly (Haviel Cordoves 82). Substitutes not used: Kevin Klasila (GK), Shawn Ferguson, Maikel Chang.

#USOC100

2013 US Open Cup Third Round: Real Salt Lake forced to OT by Atlanta Silverbacks, but prevail 3-2

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Real Salt LakeOn a rainy, gloomy day at Rio Tinto Stadium, it appeared Real Salt Lake would avoid a repeat of last year’s upset loss to Minnesota with a 1-0 lead only to see the visiting Atlanta Silverbacks tally a late equalizer to send the contest to overtime where the MLS side would eventually prevail 3-2 to move onto the Fourth Round.

The game started off quickly with a clear RSL chance in the second minute.  The Silverbacks back line had trouble clearing the ball and it came to wide-open Robbie Findley in front of goal, forcing Silverbacks keeper Joe Nasco to make a brilliant save that forced a corner.

On the resulting corner, Real Salt Lake took the early lead when an unmarked Kyle Beckerman finished at the near post.  Javier Morales was credited with the assist.

After that early goal, the game slowed down a bit in the wet and rainy conditions.  When there were chances, Real Salt Lake’s were the most threatening.   Nasco made many quality saves to keep the underdogs in the match.

After a few great chances in the second half for Real Salt Lake were saved by Nasco, Atlanta turned on the pressure.  For about 25 minutes, the Silverbacks were the team with the majority of the ball and chances.  Still, with minutes left, the Silverbacks were looking for the equalizer.

That equalizer came in the 86th minute on a fast counter.  Danny Barrera had the ball in midfield and slotted a gorgeous through ball to Ruben Luna on the wing.  Luna found Kellen Gulley who chipped the ball over the stranded keeper for a nice goal that would force extra time.

As extra time began, both teams were showing signs of fatigue and frustration.  Real Salt Lake scored in the 98th minute when Devon Sandoval scored on a dangerous cross through the box.  Minutes later, Real Salt Lake would add another goal for insurance with an absolute rocket from Khari Stevenson from over 25 yards out.  With the score now 3-1 in favor of Real Salt Lake, the Silverbacks were scrambling to get back into the game.

Atlanta looked to have a miracle of a chance when they scored in the 121st minute when Pablo Cruz made a nice finish in the box, but that wound up being the last kick of the game.  With the 3-2 victory, Real Salt Lake will host the Charleston Battery of USL Pro in the Fourth Round of the US Open Cup on June 12.

RSL: Kyle Beckerman 3

ATL: Kellen Gulley 86

RSL: Devon Sandoval 98

RSL: Khari Stephenson 101

ATL: Pablo Cruz 121

Discipline

RSL: Yordany Alvarez (caution) 4

ATL: Daniel Barrera (caution) 44

ATL: Milton Blanco (caution) 65

RSL: Javier Morales (caution) 68

ATL: Borfor Carr (caution) 80

RSL: Ned Grabavoy (caution) 117

Champions League kicks off tonight; Open Cup champ Sounders play Thursday

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The fifth edition of the CONCACAF Champions League begins Tuesday evening with two matches featuring the defending two-time champions Monterrey in one contest and Real Salt Lake of MLS in the other. The 2011 US Open Cup champion representative Seattle Sounders open their third consecutive CCL campaign Thursday.

Sounders celebrate third Open Cup title | photo: Gerald Barnhart

The reigning three-time Open Cup champion Sounders, who will try for an unprecedented fourth August 8 in Kansas City, face Trinidad & Tobago side Caledonia AIA in their first match of group-play as the event kicks off under a revised format that has seen the elimination of the Preliminary Round that was utilized the past four years. Instead of the 16 non-seeded teams playing in a two-leg series to advance to the four groups of four, the tournament has shifted to a group format that has eight groups of three, leaving little room for error while providing more schedule flexibility.

The Sounders’ group also features Marathon, who return to the tournament for a fourth appearance after failing to qualify for last year’s event. The two sides previously squared off in the 2010-11 Group Phase with the Hondurans winning the opening match at home, 2-1, and the Sounders taking the second, 2-0, in Seattle. Caledonia AIA is making its first appearance in the tournament, and is the fourth different side to represent T&T.

Two of the Sounders’ four fellow MLS sides in the event are also kicking off their CCL campaigns this week. Real Salt Lake faces Herediano (Costa Rica) Tuesday night. Canadian champion Toronto FC opens against Aguila (El Salvador) Wednesday. Tauro (Panama) is the third team in RSL’s group while Toronto’s group features last year’s runner-up Santos Laguna.

The Houston Dynamo play their first game August 22 versus FAS and the LA Galaxy open up the following night against Isidro Metapan (El Salvador). Olimpia (Honduras) is the third team in Houston’s group. The Galaxy’s group features Caribbean power and CCL darling Puerto Rico Islanders, who stunned the Galaxy two years ago in the Preliminary Round. The US Second Division NASL entry reached the tournament yet again and will begin their campaign this Wednesday against Metapan.

The Islanders are one of only three teams that have advanced to the event all five years. Group foe Metapan, who eliminated Puerto Rico in the Preliminary Round a year ago, is one and and Olimpia of Honduras is the other. On the flip side, only five of the 24 teams are making their CCL debuts, two of them from Mexico. All five MLS teams have played in the event previously.

GROUPS

1: Toronto FC (MLS, 4th appearance)… Aguila (El Salvador, 1st appearance)… Santos Laguna (Mexico, 4th appearance)
2: Real Salt Lake (MLS, 2nd appearance)… Herediano (Costa Rica, 3rd appearance)… Tauro (Panama, 4th appearance)
3: Houston Dynamo (3rd appearance)… Olimpia (Honduras, 5th appearance)… FAS (El Salvador, 2nd appearance)
4: Seattle Sounders (MLS, 4th appearance)… Caledonia AIA (T&T, 1st appearance)… Marathon (Honduras, 4th appearance)
5: LA Galaxy (MLS, 3rd appearance)… Puerto Rico Islanders (NASL, 5th appearance)… Isidro Metapan (El Salvador, 5th appearance)
6: Alajulense (Costa Rica, 3rd appearance)… Real Esteli (Nicaragua, 3rd appearance)… UANL Tigres (Mexico, 1st appearance)
7: Chorrillo (Panama, 1st appearance)… Monterrey (Mexico, 3rd appearance)… Municipal (Guatemala, 4th appearance)
8: Guadalajara (Mexico, 1st appearance)… W Connection (T&T, 2nd appearance)… Xelaju (Guatemala, 2nd appearance)

SCHEDULE [+]

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2012 US Open Cup Round 3: Minnesota Stars shock Real Salt Lake’s record crowd at Rio Tinto

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Simone Bracalello and the Minnesota Stars celebrate a goal against Real Salt Lake (MLS) in the Third Round of the 2012 US Open Cup. Photo: Michael Mangum

There was good news as well as bad for Real Salt Lake as the Utah side entered the Lamar Hunt Open Cup tournament against Minnesota Stars FC. The good news was the fanatical supporters of the Claret and Cobalt set an attendance record for the Open Cup tournament as 17,212 packed Rio Tinto Stadium on a Tuesday night with short notice. Unfortunately for the RSL faithful, that was the only good news of the night.

The bad news of course, was the Minnesota Stars FC of the NASL thoroughly outplayed the MLS side throughout the game and sent the majority of fans in attendance home disappointed after a 3-1 win to advance to the next round of the tournament.

RSL proved that head coach Jason Kreis is serious about the Open Cup tournament, trotting out a lineup that was as close to Kries’ first eleven as possible, with the exceptions being away for national team duty. Every player on the field at the beginning of the match had previous MLS experience, even though some of the players are only in their rookie campaign.

RSL looked sluggish out of the gates however, as Minnesota didn’t seem overly nervous to be playing in front of so large a crowd and applied pressure to the RSL backline as many fans were still finding their seats.

Photo: Real Salt Lake

The visitors took control of the match in the fourth minute as a free kick into RSL’s box got lose and landed at the feet of Minnesota midfielder Kevin Venegas, who powered his shot into the back of the net to give Stars the 1-0 lead and keep the crowd out of the match from the early moments.

Salt Lake seemed to use that as a wake-up call and began to apply pressure to Minnesota, but still struggled to hold possession and gave the ball up too easily for stretches in the first half. Minnesota continued to be dangerous, but couldn’t find a second goal to bury the MLS side.

The match turned in the 30th minute though, as 18 year old Luis Gil fired a laser past Minnesota goalkeeper Matt VanOekel to draw RSL even at 1-1 and many in the crowd undoubtedly felt as if RSL would be able to continue playing their game and wear out the NASL team that wouldn’t be ready for the altitude at Rio Tinto.

After back-to-back saves by VanOekel to deny RSL the lead, momentum shifted for the final time just before the halftime whistle as the referee awarded Minnesota with what many deemed a questionable penalty kick awarded for a handball by Jamison Olave on a cross struck by Amani Walker. Neil Hlavaty  put the spot kick past a diving Kyle Reynish and the Stars felt confident that they would be able to spring  the upset heading into the break.

Kreis made his first change of the match, inserting regular starter Tony Beltran into the defense for rookie Terakazu Tanaka, but the RSL defense still seemed to struggle with the Stars players for whatever reason.

Only three minutes later, an injury forced RSL defensive mid Yordanny Alvarez from the match, as he was replaced by another rookie in Sebastian Velasquez in the midfield. And then Minnesota found the back of the net for the third time as Simone Bracalello scored his first of the match.

RSL is no stranger to late game heroics, and applied pressure to the Minnesota backline repeatedly over the final 25 minutes of the match, with a number of shots just missing the mark. The Minnesota defense bunkered behind the ball to hold their lead and had little problem clearing the danger out of their defensive third, while always prepared to counter attack when possible.

The crowd tried to will the ball toward the back of the net, but it wasn’t meant to be as the team that played the best on the night won the match. Afterward, Kreis spoke to the media, saying “We owe an apology to our fans. They were terrific and we let them down miserably.”

The feeling from the veteran leaders of the team was the same, as many of them took to Twitter after the game. Defender Nat Borchers, who wears the armband when normal captain Kyle Beckerman is away, posted: “That was embarrassing from us tonight. It’s okay to make mistakes; it’s not okay to give up. Thanks to all of you for coming out tonight.”

It is the second time RSL has been upended by Minnesota in the tournament. The previous incarnation, Thunder, stunned the visiting expansion MLS side, 6-4 in overtime, in the 2005 tournament, something that came to mind when the song Thunderstruck aired throughout the stadium, perhaps sparking the Stars’ second-half performance.

RSL now has a couple weeks to think about the result, as they do not have another match scheduled until June 16th. For Minnesota however, the squad will travel to face San Jose next week. If they can play with the same togetherness and determination that they took to Rio Tinto Stadium, the Earthquakes will have their hands full and Minnesota could keep advancing in the Open Cup.

Minnesota Stars 3:1 Real Salt Lake
Rio Tinto Stadium – Sandy, UT

Scoring Summary:
MIN – Venegas (Kallman) 3’
RSL – Gil (Grabavoy) 29’
MIN – Hlavaty (PK) 45’
MIN – Bracalello (Kallman) 58’

Misconduct Summary:
RSL – Velasquez (handball) 83’
RSL – Olave (tactical foul) 85’

Lineups:

Real Salt Lake (4-1-2-1-2) – Kyle Reynish; Terukazu Tanaka (Tony Beltran 46), Jamison Olave, Nat Borchers (c), Chris Wingert; Yordany Alvarez (Sebastian Velasquez 53), Ned Grabavoy, Jonny Steele, Luis Gil; Emiliano Bonfigli, Paulo Junior (Cody Arnoux 67)

Substitutes Not Used: Lalo Fernandez (GK), Enzo Martinez, Chris Estridge, Fabian Espindola

Minnesota Stars FC (4-2-3-1) – Matt VanOekel; Justin Davis, Brian Kallman, Kyle Altman (c) (Connor Tobin 76), Ernest Tchoupe; Neil Hlavaty, Kentaro Takada, Kevin Venegas, Miguel Ibarra, Martin Nunez (Devin Del Do); Amani Walker (Simone Bracalello 46)

Substitutes Not Used: Mitch Hildebrandt (GK), Kevin Friedland, Fuad Ibrahim, Daniel Wasson

Referee: Tyler Ploeger
Referee’s Assistants: Brandon Major, Alex Krelo
4th Official: Brad Jensen

Attendance: 17,212
Weather: Sunny and 77 degrees

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