The Chicago Fire return to the US Open Cup Final for the sixth time with a 2-1 win over the USL’s Richmond Kickers at Toyota Park. A skillful goal from Dominic Oduro in the 61st minute proved to be the difference as the Kickers mounted a comeback with a William Yomby goal seven minutes later, but the Cinderella story came to an end for Richmond.
Richmond Kickers
2011 US Open Cup Semifinal Preview: USL’s Richmond Kickers face rebounding Chicago Fire in ‘Cinderella Semifinal’
The third-division Richmond Kickers of USL Pro are not supposed to be here, especially considering they had to go through two MLS clubs on the road in the past two rounds. And the Chicago Fire, though four-time tournament champions, are not considered title contenders in MLS, sitting outside the playoff window while playing with an interim coach. One, however, will move on to face either Seattle or Dallas for the 2011 tournament championship.
Hosting scenarios for 2011 US Open Cup Final announced
The United States Soccer Federation has unveiled the hosting possibilities for the 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The match will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 4, regardless of the location. The combination of winners of the Semifinal match-ups, which will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 30, will determine where the championship will be decided. Seattle to host if Sounders advance while Dallas would travel to Chicago or host Richmond should Seattle not reach a third consecutive final.
2011 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Ronnie Pascale leads Richmond Kickers to historic victory, earns TheCup.us Player of the Round
The Richmond Kickers continue to be the Cinderella story of the 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup after a 2-0 historic upset of Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City in the Quarterfinals. At the heart of their Open Cup run is veteran goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale, who made five saves to help the Kickers become the first lower division team to defeat back-to-back MLS teams on the road. For his efforts, Pascale has been voted as TheCup.us Player of the Round for the Quarterfinals.
2011 US Open Cup Quarterfinal Recap: Historic pair of nights as Richmond, Seattle post wins
A stunning first night of US Open Cup Quarterfinal action was highlighted by a shocking upset registered by the USL Pro Richmond Kickers in Kansas City and the actions by coaches before and after each game. Tune in at 9:30 pm ET here for another edition of TheCup.us Live Blog as we follow who becomes the last to join the Final Four with LA visiting Seattle.
2011 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Lightning strikes as Richmond Kickers pull off historic upset of Sporting KC (Video)
Richmond becomes only the second 3rd Division team to reach the Semifinals. The only other team to do it was the San Francisco Bay Seals in 1997. There they will face the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park on Aug. 30 with a spot in the Open Cup Final on the line.
2011 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Chicago Fire turn out the lights on no-show Red Bulls (Video)
The Chicago Fire earn their record-tying eighth trip to the US Open Cup semifinals after defeating the self-depleted New York Red Bulls 4-0 at Toyota Park in the Quarterfinals of the 2011 tournament.
2011 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Richmond Kickers at Sporting KC Preview
The lone remaining lower division side Richmond Kickers try to knock off a second consecutive MLS club on the road as they visit Sporting Kansas City.
2011 US Open Cup: Richmond Kickers are ‘The Last Men Standing’
Heading into the 2011 US Open Cup Quarterfinals the Richmond Kickers are the last men standing as representatives of the lower divisions in the tournament, As the lone underdog in the Elite Eight, the club will need to defeat three top flight Major League Soccer teams in order to become the second lower division team to win the championship since the 1996 launch of MLS. The ‘Last Men Standing’ club is a small group comprised now of seven sides that have been the solitary lower division team remaining in the tournament on nine occasions.
2011 US Open Cup: Semifinal host scenarios unveiled
The United States Soccer Federation announced the pairing and hosting scenarios for the 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Semifinals Thursday, unveiling that Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City would host the winners from the opposite side of their bracket with victories in the Quarterfinals. The USSF also officially revealed a schedule change for the Quarterfinals.