Rochester Rhinos

Things you should know about the Quarterfinals of the US Open Cup

June 26, 2012 by Josh Hakala

MORE: Notable upsets in the Quarterfinals of the US Open Cup (Modern Era)

SHANNIE &N SHANE — The 1997 San Francisco Bay Seals are one of two Division 3 clubs to not only reach the Quarterfinals, but to advance to the Semifinals. Photo: San Francisco Bay Seals

In 2019, Los Angeles FC broke the Modern Era’s Quarterfinal attendance record in the club’s 1-0 loss to the Portland Timbers at Banc of California Stadium. The announced attendance was 18,947, which narrowly broke the previous record of 17,898 which was set last year in the same stadium, against the same opponent.

That big number for LAFC in 2019, combined with 12,401 at Minnesota United’s win over New Mexico United, it broke the Modern Era’s Quarterfinal record for average attendance for the entire round with 11,525. Elsewhere, Atlanta United drew 7,523 in their 2-0 win over Saint Louis FC (USL-C) and Orlando City SC drew 7,227 in their penalty kick win over New York City FC.

The 2008 US Open Cup marked the first time that a pair of 2nd Division teams advanced out of the Quarterfinals for the second consecutive year.

In 2007, when the Seattle Sounders (USL First Division) defeated the Colorado Rapids (MLS) 5-0, it was the worst loss suffered by an MLS team in the US Open Cup.

In 2007, the USL First Division (2nd Division) had three teams in the Quarterfinals (Carolina, Charleston, Seattle), the most ever. That same year, only three MLS teams advanced to the Quarterfinal round, the fewest ever. For the first time ever, two USL Second Division (3rd Division) teams (Richmond Kickers, Harrisburg City Islanders) made the round of eight in the same year. In 2010, a pair of USL-2 clubs advanced to the Quarterfinals (Charleston Battery, Harrisburg City Islanders) in the same year.

2012 marks the first year in the Modern Era that three Division 3 clubs reached the Quarterfinals with the Harrisburg City Islanders, Dayton Dutch Lions and the Charlotte Eagles all playing in the Round of Eight.

The Carolina RailHawks and the Seattle Sounders won their Quarterfinal matches in 2007, marking only the second time that two USL First Division (2nd Division) teams had done that in the same year. In 1999, the Charleston Battery and the Rochester Raging Rhinos both made the Semifinals, with Rochester eventually winning the tournament.

The Second Division of US Soccer has been represented in the Quarterfinals by at least one team in all but five tournaments (2000, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2015). In 2010, it was the first year that the Quarterfinals were without Second Division representation but there were still USL Second Division (3rd Division of US Soccer) remaining: Charleston Battery and the Harrisburg City Islanders.

The Harrisburg City Islanders are the first Third Division team to ever reach the Quarterfinals in consecutive seasons (2009, 2010). 2010 also marked the first time that two USL-2 clubs (Third Division) reached the Quarterfinals two years in a row. (Wilmington & Harrisburg in 2009, Charleston & Harrisburg in 2010).

FC Dallas have the most Quarterfinals appearances among all Major League Soccer teams.

16	FC Dallas	8-7-1 (1-0)	1996^ 1997^ 1998^ 1999 2000 2002^ 2004 2005^ 2006 2007^ 2008 2011^ 2013, 2014^ 2016^ 2017
14	Chicago Fire	11-1-2 (2-0)	1998^ 2000^ 2001^ 2003^ 2004^ 2005^ 2006^ 2008 2011^ 2013^ 2014^ 2015^ 2016^ 2018^
12	LA Galaxy	6-5-1 (1-0)	1999 2000^ 2001^ 2002^ 2003^ 2005^ 2006^ 2010 2011 2015 2016^ 2017
11	DC United	9-1-1 (0-1)	1996^ 1997^ 2000 2001^ 2003^ 2005 2006^ 2008^ 2009^ 2010^ 2013^
11	Sporting Kansas City	5-5-1 (0-1)	1996 2002^ 2004^ 2005 2008 2009 2011 2012^ 2015^ 2017^ 2018
9	NE Revolution	2-5-2 (2-0)	2001^ 2003 2006 2007^ 2008^ 2013 2014 2016^ 2017
9	New York Red Bulls	4-3-2 (1-1)	1997^ 1998^ 2000^ 2002 2003^ 2006 2011 2015 2017^
9	San Jose Earthquakes	1-5-3 (1-2)	1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2004^ 2005 2012 2017^
7	Columbus Crew	4-2-1 (0-1)	1998^ 1999^ 2000 2001 2002^ 2004 2010^
6	Colorado Rapids	2-4-0	1996^ 1999^ 2002 2003 2006 2007
6	Houston Dynamo	3-3-0	2006^ 2009^ 2010 2015 2016 2018^
6	Seattle Sounders	5-1-0	2009^ 2010^ 2011^ 2012^ 2014^ 2016
5	Philadelphia Union	3-0-2 (1-1)	2012^ 2014^ 2015^ 2016 2018^
4	Tampa Bay Mutiny	0-4-0	1996 1997 1998 1999
4	Portland Timbers	2-2-0	2013^ 2014 2018 2019^
3	Real Salt Lake	2-1-0	2011 2013^ 2015^
2	Chivas USA	2-0-0	2010^ 2012^
2	Miami Fusion	1-1-0	1998 2000^
3	Orlando City SC	0-2-1 (1-0)	2015 2018, 2019^
2	Los Angeles FC	1-1-0	2018^, 2019
1	Atlanta United FC	1-0-0	2019^
1	Minnesota United FC	1-0-0	2019^
1	New York City FC	0-1-0	2019

^ Advanced in their Quarterfinal match

The Charleston Battery have the most lower division Quarterfinal appearances since 1996.

6	Charleston Battery	3-3-0	1999^ 2004^ 2007 2008^ 2009 2010
5	Rochester Rhinos	3-1-1 (0-1)	1996^ 1999^ 2004 2005 2009^
4	Richmond Kickers	1-3-0	2001 2004 2007 2011^
4	Seattle Sounders	1-2-1 (1-0)	1996 2003 2007^ 2008^
4	H’burg City Islanders	0-4-0	2007 2009 2010 2012
3	Carolina RailHawks	1-2-0	2007^ 2013 2014
2	Minnesota Thunder	1-0-1 (0-1)	2004 2005^
2	Wilm. Hammerheads	0-2-0	2003 2009
1	Atlanta Silverbacks	0-1-0	2014
1	Carolina Dynamo	0-1-0	1996
1	Charlotte Eagles	0-1-0	2012
1	Chicago Stingers	0-1-0	1997
1	Crystal Palace Baltimore	0-0-1 (0-1)	2008
1	Dayton Dutch Lions	0-1-0	2012
1	Ft. Lauderdale Strikers	0-1-0	2016
1	L.I. Rough Riders	0-1-0	1997
1	Louisville City FC	0-1-0	2018
1	Milwaukee Rampage	0-1-0	2002
1	Nashville Metros	0-1-0	1998
1	New Mexico United	0-1-0	2019
1	Orlando City SC	0-1-0	2013
1	Pittsburgh Riverhounds	0-1-0	2001
1	Saint Louis FC	0-1-0	2019
1	San Fran. Bay Seals	1-0-0	1997^
1	Staten Island Vipers	0-1-0	1999
1	FC Cincinnati	1-0-0	2017^
1	Miami FC (NASL)	0-1-0	2017

^ Advanced in their Quarterfinal match

2012 US Open Cup Third Round: Freddy Adu leads Philadelphia Union to first Open Cup win, 3-0 over Rochester Rhinos

May 30, 2012 by Michael Berton

Severe weather brought the US Open Cup third round match between the Philadelphia Union and the Rochester Rhinos to a halt in the first half, but that was about the only thing that was able to slow the Union offense down. Josue Martinez scored first, and Freddy Adu added two more to give the Union a 3-0 victory over their USL Pro opponents.

“The issue was obviously you can’t give MLS teams the chances we gave them, especially in the minute off a corner kick. They deserved the win, but we certainly did not help ourselves out,” Rochester coach Jesse Myers said.

Philadelphia was the brighter of the two sides to start the game. An incisive pass found Keon Daniel in the box, where he earned a corner.Adu curled the ensuing corner in, and shoddy defending led to a wide open shot and goal for Martinez in the 5th minute.

Philadelphia earned several more chances before the referee halted the game due to a severe weather warning. After a lengthy delay, the Union picked up where they had left off. Adu nearly put one in a few seconds after the restart. Then in the 29th minute, Martinez found an open Adu for an easy headed goal to put the Union up 2-0.

“I was joking with Freddy when we pulled him off,” Union coach John Hackworth said. “I said that was first time he ever scored with his head. He told me I was wrong…I don’t believe him.”

Part of the reason for the Union’s success was due to their flank play. Both Philadelphia fullbacks were heavily involved in the attack, often setting up dangerous plays. However, Rochester started to press the attack and nearly got back into the game in the 41st minute, when a goal was negated due to an offside call. The Rhinos had some more good efforts toward the end of the half, but they could not find a way to score.

In the second half, Rochester earned some more chances, but they could not convert any of them. Then, as the half wore on, the Rhinos seemed to wear down a bit. This game was their third in five days—a brutal stretch that included two league games on the road before facing the Union at PPL Park.

Substitute Michael Zaher had a great chance for Rochester in the 69th minute. The ball was played to his feet, and he had just the goalie to beat, but he hit it wide of the net. Four minutes later, the Union made him pay for his missed opportunity, as Michael Farfan was taken down in the box. Adu stepped up and buried the penalty kick in the 73rd minute to put the game away.

With the victory, the Union move on to face DC United in the 4th round of the cup. United were 2-1 winners over the Richmond Kickers.

“It was an important game for us,” Hackworth said. “We needed to come out and play a good game for ourselves more than anything…A good night for the Union.”

Philadelphia Union 3:0 Rochester Rhinos
PPL Park – Chester, Pa.

PHI: Josue Martinez (Adu) 8
PHI: Freddy Adu (Martinez) 29
PHI: Freddy Adu (penalty) 73

Discipline:

RR: Danny Earls caution 40
RR: Jack Traynor caution 52
PHI: Michael Lahoud caution 56
RR: Tyler Rosenlund 90+

Lineups:
Philadelphia Union: Chris Konopka; Michael Farfan, AmobiOkugo, Sheanon Williams, Gabriel Farfan (Kai Herdling-71); Brian Carroll, Michael Lahoud, Keon Daniel, Freddy Adu (Jimmy McLaughlin-80); Josue Martinez (Chandler Hoffman-90), LionardPajoy

Rochester Rhinos:KristianNicht; Jack Traynor, George Kyriazis, Troy Roberts, Quavas Kirk (Michael Tanke-76); Drew Cost (Michael Zaher-59), Tyler Rosenlund, Danny Earls, JC Banks; Thomas McManus, GracianoBrito (Andrew Hoxie-59)

Att: 4,175

2012 US Open Cup Second Round: Rochester Rhinos stay perfect against amateurs, blank Brooklyn Italians 3-0

May 23, 2012 by Gerald Barnhart

web-Rochester-6 — Photo: Rochester Rhinos

The Rochester Rhinos remain perfect against lower level clubs with their 10th victory over an amateur club in the completion, downing the Brooklyn Italians of the National Premier Soccer League at Sahlen’s Stadium, 3-0. They advance to a Third Round meeting with the Philadelphia Union.

Corner kicks were key in the contest. A corner from Danny Earls in the 25th minute opened the scoring with Troy Roberts flicking the ball onto Tom McManus for the first strike of the game. Two minutes before the break Roberts directed another Earls corner with a header to Conor Chinn for a seven-yard left-footer.

It marked only the second time in eight games this season Rochester had scored two goals in a game. The news got worse on the hour mark for Brooklyn, who lost Scarlet Kirk to a red card for a tackle that resulted in McManus leaving the contest.

Graciano Brito headed the ball forward to JC Banks, who beat goalkeeper Nathan Stockie in the 76th minute to give the Rhinos the biggest offensive night of the campaign thus far as goalkeeper Kristian Nicht registered his seventh shutout of the year.

Next week the Rhinos travel to PPL Park to face the Union, who will be making their tournament debut.

Notable Semifinal matches in US Open Cup history

August 27, 2011 by

4/18/14 Pawtucket, Rhode Island
New Bedford FC 1-2 Brooklyn Field Club

New Bedford – Beckton 24’
Brooklyn – Robert Millar (2)
Sent Off – Clark (Brooklyn) 34’, Chadwick (New Bedford) 34’

4/26/14 Olympic Park – Paterson, New Jersey
Brooklyn Celtic 6-2 Niagara Falls Rangers (3-0 HT)

Celtic – O’Hallaran (3), King (Campion), Campion, Lonie
Rangers – Kemp, Wallace

The very first Semifinal round of the US Open Cup (then called the National Challenge Cup) saw a pair of Brooklyn teams reach the Final. On April 18, the Brooklyn Field Club, which finished first in the National Association Football League, defeated New Bedford FC 2-1, on two goals by Hall of Famer Robert Millar, after Beckton had given the New Englanders a 1-0 lead. Both teams played much of the game with ten men each, after Clark of Brooklyn and Chadwick of New Bedford were sent off in the 35th minute for fighting.

In the other Semifinal on April 26 Brooklyn Celtic, eventual winners of the New York State Amateur Foot Ball League, easily defeated the Niagara Falls Rangers 6-2. O’Hallaran lead the way for Celtic with a hat trick.

3/17/29 Sportsman’s Park – St. Louis, Missouri
Madison Kennels 7-4 Sparta A & BA

Madison – Bud Grennon (3), Dinty Moore, Worden, Oster, Eddie Flavin
Sparta – Barger (2), Kratochvil, Oster (og)

St. Louis’s Madison Kennels and Chicago’s Sparta A & BA combine for 11 goals, setting a new Semifinal mark that would later be equaled in 1962. Madison’s Bud Grennon led all scorers with three goals, while Barger led Sparta with two.

3/16/30 Polo Grounds – New York, New York
Bethlehem Steel 1-1 Fall River Marksmen (Match Report)

Bethlehem – Sandy Dick
Fall River – Alex McNab 82’

Bethlehem – Fraser, Finlayson, McGregor, Reid, Carnihan, Pitt, Gillespie, Jaap, Stark, Massie, Dick

Marksmen – Reder, McGill, R. McAuley, McPherson, Priestley, Ballantyne, McNab, Gonsalves (Nilsen), Patenaude, J. McAuley, White

Att – 17,000 Referee – C. E. Creighton. Linesmen – F. DeGroof and M. Hutchinson

3/23/30 Battery Park – New Bedford, Massachusetts
(replay) Fall River Marksmen 3-2 Bethlehem Steel

Fall River – Billy Gonsalves 50’, Dave Priestley 67’, Bobby Ballantyne 71’
Bethlehem – Archie Stark 64’ 70’

Bethlehem Steel makes their final appearance in the National Challenge Cup, losing to the Fall River Marksmen 3-2 and ending the first great dynasty of the Cup. After a 1-1 draw at the Polo Grounds in New York, Fall River took the replay at New Bedford. Billy Gonsalves gave the Marksmen a 1-0 lead after 50 minutes, but Archie Stak put Bethlehem ahead with two goals in the middle of the half. Fall River snatched the lead for good on scored from Dave Priestly and Bobby Ballantine. Effects of the Great Depression forced Bethlehem Steel to stop fielding a team after 1930.

Bethlehem made the Semifinals a total of nine times from 1915-1930, including five in a row from 1915-1919, in which they reached the Final each time.

3/6/32 St. Louis, Missouri
(first leg) Stix, Baer & Fuller 3-2 Bricklayers FC

Stix – McCarthy (2), Willie McLean
Bricklayers – Lillie, Coutis

3/14/32 Sparta Field – Chicago, Illinois
(second leg) Bricklayers FC 2-0 Stix, Baer & Fuller

Bricklayers – Munro, Lillie

3/19/32 Sportsman’s Park – St. Louis, Missouri
(third leg) Stix, Baer & Fuller 1-0 Bricklayers FC

Stix – Jack O’Reilly 1’

Stix, Baer & Fuller, featuring Hall of Famers Billy Gonsalves, William Lehman, Alex McNab, Willie McLean, began their run of six straight appearances in the Open Cup Final by defeating Chicago’s Bricklayers SC over three legs in the 1932 Western Final. The team reached the 1932, 1933 & 1934 Finals under the sponsorship of Stix. Baer and Fuller, a St. Louis department store. The team switched sponsorship for the 1935 season, playing as Central Breweries. Sponsorship changed again, and the team reached the 1936 & 1937 finals under the name Shamrocks. The team finally folded after many of its players left to play for another St. Louis club, St. Patricks.

3/24/35 St. Louis, Missouri
(First leg) Central Brewery 2-1 Weiboldt Wonderbolts

4/1/35 De Paul Field – Chicago, Illinois
(Second leg) Weiboldt Wonderbolts 1-1 (aet) Central Brewery

Weibolt – Littie 28’
Central – McNab 30’

4/6/34 St. Louis, Missouri
(Second leg replay) Central Brewery 3-3 (aet) Weiboldt Wodnerbolts

4/14/35 Sparta Stadium – Chicago, Illinois
(Second leg – second replay) Weiboldt Wonderbolts 3-2(aet) Central Brewery (0-2 HT, 2-2 FT)

Weibolt – Monroe (2 PK), Hill
Central – Billy Gonsalves, Bert Patenaude

4/21/35 St. Louis, Missouri
(third leg) Central Brewery 1-0 Weiboldt Wonderbolts

Central – Bert Patenaude 68′

The longest Semifinal matchup was between Chicago’s Weiboldt Wonderbolts and Central Brewery of St. Louis. The three-leg Western Final actually lasted five games. Central won the first game 2-1 in St. Louis. The second leg in Chicago finished 1-1 after extra time. A week later in St. Louis, the second leg replay finished 3-3, meaning a second replay of the second leg would take place a week later in Chicago. That game also went to extra time, but the Wonderbolts managed to come out on top 3-2. Nearly a month after it started, the series finally ended when Central won the decisive leg 1-0.

4/23/44 Winnemac Park – Chicago, Illinois
(first leg) Viking AA 0-2 Morgan Strasser

Morgan – Elgie Grant 21′ 80′

5/7/44 Bridgeville Park – Bridgeville, Pennsylvania
(second leg) Morgan Strasser 9-0 Viking AA (Chi.) (4-0 HT)

Morgan – Aldo Donelli 15′ (Hart) n/a’ , Felix Mitchell (2), Pucker (2), Urbanic, Grant, Pietersek

The most lopsided Semifinal pairing was in 1944, when Pittsburgh’s Morgan Strasser demolished Chicago’s Viking AA 11-0 over two legs. Morgan won the first leg in Chicago 2-0, but the return leg in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania turned into a rout. Aldo Donelli, Felix Mitchell and Pucker each scored twice as Morgan ran away with a 9-0 win, a mark that still stands as the highest score by a single team in a single Semifinal game.

3/28/54 Rancho la Cienega Stadium – Los Angeles, California
Scots SC 0-1 Kutis SC
Att-4,000

The Scots SC of Los Angeles became the first team West of St. Louis to appear in a US Open Cup Semifinal, losing to Kutis SC 1-0. 1954 was also the first year teams from California participated in the US Open Cup, and the winner between Los Angeles and San Francisco went on to face the survivor between St. Louis and Chicago in the Semifinals.

6/10/62 St. Louis, Missouri
Kutis SC 5-6 (aet) San Francisco Scots 6-5

Scots – Tom Dawkins n/a’ 118′

The Scots and Kutis combine for 11 goals in the 1962 Western Final, equaling a mark set by Madison Kennels and Sparta A & BA in 1929 for the most combined goals in a single Semifinal game. Tom Dawkins scored twice for the Scots, including the winning goal with a minute left in extra time. The game was tied 3-3 after ninety minutes, and also marked the first time a club from San Francisco would reach the Open Cup Final.

3/6/71 Seattle, Washington
(1st Leg) Heidelberg Brewers (Sea.) 1-0 Yugoslav SC

3/14/71 Rancho la Cienega Stadium – Los Angeles, California
(2nd Leg) Yugoslav SC 2-0 Heidelberg Brewers

Yugoslav – Karlo Mertisek, Rade Savic

In the last two-leg Semifinal in Open Cup play, San Pedro, California’s Yugoslav SC edged out Seattle’s Heidelberg Brewers on a 2-1 aggregate.

5/27/73 Metropolitan Oval – Queens, New York
New York Greek Americans 1-3 Inter-Italia SC

NYGA – Joe Ognajac 31’
Inter – Valentino Stavole 3’, Vito Colonna 40’, Gianpietro Gasparin 41’)

Cleveland’s Inter-Italia SC halted a six-year streak of New York/New Jersey clubs appearing in the US Open Cup Final, thanks to a 3-1 victory over New York Greek Americans. Inter dominated play for the most part, and were lead by Gianpietro Gasparini, a priest by trade, who played a part in all three of Inter’s goals.

Cleveland started off right away, as Gasparini fed a pass to Valentino Stavole, who beat G-A goalkeeper Joe Canal from 15 yards out after just two minutes of play. The Greeks managed to draw the match level after 31 minutes however, as Joe Ognajac put in a header from close range. Cleveland took the lead for good just before halftime, as Vito Colonna scored in the 40th minute, and Gasparini scored just a minute later. Cleveland kept up the pressure, but missed several chances to further grow the scoreline.

6/3/79 Norton Park – St. Petersburg, Florida
H. Brooks Dodge Chargers 0-3 Brooklyn Dodgers

The St. Petersburg, Florida-based Chargers are the first team from the Southern US to make an appearance in the Semifinals of the US Open Cup. By this time the tournament was split into four regions, and only three teams entered from the southern region.

6/20/87 St. Louis Soccer Park – Fenton, Missouri
Mitre Eagles 5-4(aet) Busch SC (2-2 FT)

Eagles – John Klein 119’ (2), Eddie Kruger, Peter Klein, Andy Churlin
Busch- Steve Trittschuh 85’

St. Louis’s Busch SC tried the game at 2-2 in the 85th minute on a goal from Steve Tritschuh. The teams traded goals in extra time to make it 4-4, and John Klein sent the Eagles to the final with a 25-yard shot in the 119th minute.

6/25/94
Bavarian Leinekugel w/o McCormick Kickers

The Kickers are forced to forfeit since most of the team held tickets to a World Cup game in Orlando that fell on the same day. The team had purchased the tickets well in advance, and were assured the dates for the Open Cup would not conflict.

9/2/97 Stagg Memorial Stadium – Stockton, California
San Francisco Bay Seals 1-2 DC United

The Cinderella run of the San Francisco Bay Seals comes to an end with their Semifinal loss to DC United. The D3 Pro League Seals had upset two MLS teams (Kansas City and San Jose) on their way to becoming the only team from the third tier of US soccer to reach the Semifinals in the Professional Era (1995-present).

9/1/99 Virginia Beach Sportsplex – Virginia Beach, Virginia
Rochester Raging Rhinos 3-2 Columbus Crew

Rochester – Darren Tilley 68’, Scott Schweitzer 86’, Tom Hardy 90’
Columbus – Robert Warzycha 56’, Brian West 77’

9/1/99 Virginia Beach Sportsplex – Virginia Beach, Virginia
Colorado Rapids 3-0 Charleston Battery

Colorado – Jorge Daly Valdes 55’ 87’, Paul Bravo 82’

For the first time in Pro Era history, two non-MLS teams reach the Semifinals. Rochester’s 3-2 triumph over Columbus paved the way for the only time a lower league club would win the Open Cup title in the Pro Era. While Charleston fell 3-0 to Colorado, their run was catapulted by their famous 4-3 sudden death extra time win over DC United in the Fourth Round. Both games were played in Virginia Beach, Virginia due to the fact that they were scheduled to host the 1998 Open Cup Final, but a hurricane forced a venue change.

8/12/08 Blackbaud Stadium – Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston Battery 1-1 (aet) Seattle Sounders
Charleston advance on penalty kicks, 4-3

Charleston – Randi Patterson 32’
Seattle – Osvaldo Alonso 20’ (og)

For the only time in the Pro Era, a Semifinal match is contested between two lower league teams, ensuring the Final would feature at least one non-MLS team.

7/21/09 Starfire Sports Complex – Tukwila, Washington
Seattle Sounders FC 2:1 (aet) Houston Dynamo

The Seattle Sounders, in their inaugural season in Major League Soccer, advanced to the Final in dramatic fashion. Houston’s Ade Akinbiyi put the Dynamo up in the 32nd minute, but the home team wasn’t able to equalize until the 89th minute when Nate Jaqua sent the game into extra time. With all the momentum and the home crowd behind them at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash., Stephen King scored what would prove to be the game-winner in the 95th minute on an assist from Sebastien Le Toux and the club would hold on to the 2-1 lead throughout extra time, despite defender Jhon Hurtado being sent off in the 110th minute. The Sounders become the first Seattle-based team to reach the Open Cup Final since the Mitre Eagles did it in 1987.

2011 US Open Cup: Richmond Kickers are ‘The Last Men Standing’

July 8, 2011 by Gerald Barnhart

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.

feature-lastmenstanding-LC — Richmond coach Leigh Cowlishaw Photo: Suz Kitsteiner

And for Richmond, that would mark the second title for a team that was the last to win the tournament beforehand, capturing the double in 1995.

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 with the Rochester Rhinos and Charleston Battery being the only two to achieve that status twice. All but one lost their very next game. The lone victory by a Last Men Standing team came in the 1999 Open Cup championship when the Rhinos defeated the Colorado Rapids 2-0 at Columbus Crew Stadium as the Rhinos were one of two lower division teams in the Semifinals that year along with the Battery.

DC United defeated the last two Last Men Standing clubs, topping the Rhinos in the 2009 Semifinals and the Battery in the 2008 Championship by the same 2-1 scoreline. They also lost, 2-1, in the 1997 Semifinals to the San Francisco Bay Seals, the first club to claim Last Men Standing status.

Richmond’s Quarterfinal opponent Sporting Kansas City knocked out Last Men Standing side Milwaukee Rampage in the 2000 Quarterfinals, 2-0.

Last Men Standing History

2011 – Richmond Kickers – Quarterfinals – TBD
2009 – Rochester Rhinos – Semifinals – Lost 2:1 to DC United
2008 – Charleston Battery – Final – Lost 2:1 to DC United
2005 – Minnesota Thunder – Semifinals – Lost 5:2 to LA Galaxy
2004 – Charleston Battery – Semifinals – Lost 1:0 to Chicago Fire
2002 – Milwaukee Rampage – Quarterfinals – Lost 2:0 to Kansas City Wizards
1999 – Rochester Rhinos – Final – Won 2:0 versus Colorado Rapids
1998 – Nashville Metros – Quarterfinals – Lost 5:1 to Dallas Burn
1997 – San Francisco Bay Seals – Semifinals – Lost 2:1 to DC United

The Last Men Standing – The Team

The Kickers could probably best be described as a club of consistency. They are a team comprised of a high rate of return among its roster every year and are perennial contenders for the league championship.

Richmond has reached the league final six of the last nine campaigns, winning a pair of championships. The club has missed the postseason only once since its second season in 1994. In many markets around the country, that would make the Kickers stars of the community, but in Richmond they play in the regional shadow of DC United, stealing a little bit of the limelight on occasion in the US Open Cup with victories against MLS. But even in the Open Cup that has been a difficult task as DC has reached the semifinals four of the last five years.

Richmond coach Leigh Cowlishaw, however, disputes being in DC’s shadow. “DC United has limited impact in the Richmond market,” he says. “We have always focused on creating a club structure that will lead the way as the future for US Soccer. Regardless of how the Kickers are perceived from the outside, we continue to work toward that goal.”

The Third Round victory against Columbus made the Crew the fourth MLS club that the Kickers have upset in the tournament having previously knocked out DC (2004), Colorado (2000) and the LA Galaxy (pre-Beckham 2007). All were at home.

With DC struggling in league play for a fourth consecutive season and missing the tournament for the first time since 2002, the Kickers are poised to step fully into the spotlight of the region should they defeat Kansas City at their newly unveiled LiveStrong Sporting Park to reach the semifinals for the first time since winning the title in 1995.

As for the roster stability, five of the players who started all three Open Cup matches this year are in their third season with the club.

Goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale leads the pack in his 12th campaign with a back line consisting of Sascha Gorres (7th season), Henry Kalungi (3rd season), Yomby William (3rd season) and Luke Vercollone (4th season) in front of him.

“It always makes the coaching staff’s job much easier when we work with players who are familiar with the tactics and systems we wish to implement,” said Cowlishaw, adding “We have always focused on signing players who we know can not only excel on the field but also act as positive role models for our youth players and surrounding community.”

Among the other veteran players on the side are strikers Matthew Delicate and David Bulow, who are both in their fifth season with the team. Bulow has played in all three games, starting the first round win against Dayton and the second round victory versus Pittsburgh before coming off the bench in Columbus. Meanwhile, Delicate started the past two games after sitting out the first match.

In addition to being great players in the air, Cowlishaw noted their ability to “lead the line defensively, and most importantly have the ability to score important goals when the team needs them most” as for their importance to the team.

Bulow is coming off of tallying a goal and an assist in their last league outing, a 3-1 victory at home on July 3 against Dayton that gave the club only its second win in its last eight league contests. After opening the season 6-0-1, the team has surprisingly struggled in USL Pro action with a record of 2-4-2, registering just as many wins against their own league foes in the US Open Cup along with their surprising victory in Columbus. They face Charlotte on back-to-back nights in league play Friday and Saturday in advance of their Quarterfinal contest in Kansas City.

And don’t consider for a second that having won numerous league championships has led to the club shifting focus to the tournament as a new challenge. According to Cowlishaw, a member of the team who won the 1995 US Open Cup, priority number one remains qualifying for the USL postseason.

The coach says their “eyes are definitely more focused on securing an USL playoff spot. Unfortunately our Open Cup success along with several injuries to important players and a small squad of players has made the congested schedule difficult to manage.”

“Our mentality is the same as it has been over the previous 20 years. We have always strived to develop teams that can on their day compete with any professional team in the country. The squad is not designed to win a regular season championship; however, we have a small squad of players who are confident and excited about upcoming Open Cup and USL matches.”

The Last Men Standing – The Players

Bangura, Shaka: In only his second season as a professional player, Bangura joined the Kickers after playing for the Puerto Rico Islanders in 2010 and has a goal and assist in the 2011 tournament. He tallied both in his tournament debut, a 4-1 victory against league foe Dayton in the First Round, and has appeared in all three matches thus far. Although he did not see any action in the Puerto Rico’s CONCACAF Champions League campaign a year ago, he made 14 appearances in league play as a rookie.

Bulow, David: The striker is quickly becoming a rising star not only in the current edition of the tournament with five goals, but also for the Professional Era (1995-present), sitting level with Jaime Moreno and Johnny Menyongar with 13 at the top of the goal scoring table. This is the fourth tournament which he has scored in playing for Richmond (2007, 08 & 09) and the sixth overall having also scored for the Cape Cod Crusaders (3 in 2004 & 2 in 2006).

Burke, Michael: Likely only to be seen patrolling the sidelines as an assistant, the longtime midfielder is still on the roster and could be used in the future should an emergency arise. He has been with the club since 2000, scoring his lone Kickers Open Cup goal in 2001. He also tallied once in the 1999 tournament for the Charleston Battery.

Callahan, Michael: He is in his first season with Richmond, but has plenty of US Open Cup experience from six appearances in the last two years of the tournament while playing for the Austin Aztex.

Delicate, Matthew: Tied for eighth on the Professional Era goal scoring list for the tournament with nine goals, Delicate is having his best tournament statistically with three tallies in two appearances after sitting out the First Round match. The striker scored two goals in last year’s Open Cup campaign and also in the 2007 campaign while playing for Rochester, whom he also tallied one for in 2006. A product of the club’s former PDL team (2003-04), he spent two seasons in Richmond before spending three with the Rhinos prior to returning.

Dos Santos, Gerson: In his third season with the club, Dos Santos has played in the tournament the past two years, but has yet to make an appearance in 2011 after suffering an injury June 17 versus Harrisburg. He is slated to return to the squad soon.

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

Elcock, Edson: The striker has become a regular for the Kickers in the Open Cup, setting up two goals in three appearances this year and playing in two contests a year ago. He joined the club in 2009 after stints with the Kansas City Wizards and Puerto Rico Islanders, but made his first appearance in the tournament in 2006 with the Virginia Beach Submariners in the PDL, playing in a first round loss to Wilmington.

Foglesong, Robert: In his second season as a professional, the midfielder has played in one Open Cup match this season after making two appearances a year ago.

Gorres, Sascha: A member of the team since 2005, Gorres has been a staple in the club’s lineup for years. He played in two games last year and has seen action in all three this year. He is one of four players on the squad with two assists in the Open Cup campaign.

Harding, Evan: With the club up 3-1 in the Second Round versus Pittsburgh, Harding came on for only his second appearance overall on the season having only played one minute in the regular season prior to a halftime insertion July 3. The defender has been with the club since 2007.

Heins, Ryan: Heins has had a limited role in the Open Cup campaign with one appearance in his first year with the team despite being a regular in league play. He spent the past three seasons in Rochester, registering his lone Open Cup goal in 2009. He also played in the tournament for Harrisburg in 2008 as well as in three tournaments (2004, 05, 07) while playing for the PDL’s Ocean City Nor’easters (formerly Barons).

Hertel, Dave: In his second season with the club, the midfielder has made two appearances for the Kickers in the last two Open Cup campaigns. He also played in the tournament in 2008 as a member of the Michigan Bucks in the PDL.

Hiroyama, Nozomi: New to the American game, the midfielder has made two appearances in the tournament and scored the opening goal of the club’s 2-1 victory in Columbus in the Third Round.

Kalungi, Henry: In his third season with the club, the defender has increasingly become a part of the team’s Open Cup campaigns. He has played in all three matches this year after making two appearances in 2010 and one in 2009. His tournament debut, ironically came against Richmond in 2008 as a member of the Fredericksburg Gunners in a 3-0 first round loss.

MacKenzie, Ross: Though the midfielder has seen limited action in league play, he has made the most of two appearances in the Open Cup with a pair of assists. In his third year with the team, he previously made an appearance in the 2009 tournament for the Kickers and made his Open Cup debut in 2008, coming off the bench for the Carolina RailHawks.

Nyazamba, Stanley: One of four players on the team with two assists, the midfielder has played in all three games in the tournament this year in his return to the club for the first time since 2008 when he played in two Open Cup matches. He spent 2009 with the Columbus Crew, who he tallied one of the assists against, and made an appearance in the tournament last year while playing for FC Tampa Bay.

Pascale, Ronnie: A member of the team since 2000, Pascale has been the number one netminder for the club since 2002 and has stepped aside on very few occasions in league and Open Cup play. He has played every minute of the 2011 Open Cup campaign, allowing only one goal per game with one coming via the penalty spot.

Vercollone, Luke: A veteran professional that has played with the Kickers since 2008 after two years with Charleston Battery, the defender has played in all three Open Cup games so far this year, marking his sixth consecutive year of playing in the tournament. He scored two goals for the Battery in their 2007 Quarterfinal run.

Wallace, Jamel: Despite limited time in the lineup on the season, Wallace has made two starts in the tournament, including against Columbus in the Third Round. He also played in the Open Cup a year ago with the Kitsap Pumas.

William, Yomby: One of the leaders on the club, the defender has played in all three games of the current Open Cup campaign and made appearances in his previous two seasons with the Kickers. The defender developed his tournament acumen with the Puerto Rico Islanders in 2008, coming off the bench in the first leg of their Preliminary Round series of the CONCACAF Champions League in Costa Rica. He would go on to start in five of the six group stage matches as the Islanders advanced to the CCL Quarterfinals. He joined the Islanders on a transfer from Kansas City, where he did not make a first team appearance with the club despite being the 23rd overall pick by the then-named Wizards.

2011 US Open Cup Third Round: Chicago Fire snare narrow 1-0 road win over Rochester Rhinos

June 29, 2011 by Gerald Barnhart

The old adage third time’s a charm proved to come true as the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer earned their first regulation victory in three US Open Cup trips to Rochester, downing the Rhinos 1-0 in the Third Round Tuesday night on a goal from Diego Chaves in the 37th minute.

web-chicago-rochester-062811 — Photo: Rochester Rhinos

The Fire had lost at Rochester 1-0 in 1999 during the Rhinos championship campaign and advanced via penalties 5-4 after a 1-1 draw in the 2005 Quarterfinals. More importantly, the victory ended a two-year run of being eliminated in the Third Round by lower division clubs, falling 1-0 to Wilmington Hammerheads in 2009 and being bounced in penalties 3-0 by the Charleston Battery after a scoreless draw a year ago.

It was the first loss at home in the 2011 campaign for the Rhinos, who entered the match 4-0-1 at Sahlen’s Stadium and in a three-way tie for second overall in the league table. And the game could have gone to overtime or penalties if it weren’t for the unfortunate goal.

Going back and forth in a scrappy contest with a reserve-filled Fire squad, the Rhinos saw Chaves send the ball out to the left flank to Corben Bone in the 37th minute. Bone would drive past a defender toward the box and let loose a ball that forced goalkeeper Neal Kitson to knock it 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.

It was the fifth goal of the year for Chaves, who is second on the MLS season for the Fire in scoring and games started. He also set up the opening goal of the club’s 2-1 qualification victory against Colorado in the opening game of this year’s Open Cup campaign.

It was a crushing blow for the 5,558 on hand who had seen the Rhinos come up short on several chances in the first half hour. The first great opportunity came in the 16th minute when a turnover led to a Kendall Jagdeosingh chance that narrowly soared over the cross bar from 10 yards. Three minutes later goalkeeper Sean Johnson, one of the two regular starters in the lineup, stopped a dangerous Tony Donatelli cross from being finished. And striker Andrew Hoxie couldn’t get his foot on the ball in a heart-stopping moment around the six in the 29th minute.

Johnson, who started both of the team’s qualification matches and is 2-2-7 in the regular season, proved key in the performance, also coming out to stop a potential breakaway by Jagdeosingh in the 64th minute on a ball from Donatelli that got behind his defense. The scrappy Rhinos also nearly got the equalizer in stoppage time with a frenzy around the ball in the area, but the goal evaded them and the final whistle sounded moments later.

Even though the Rhinos have not exactly been dominant in league and Open Cup play going into the contest, the team had not been shutout in nine matches with the last coming in a scoreless draw May 20 against current league leader Orlando City.

The loss also snaps the Rhinos’ 9-game home unbeaten streak in the tournament, dating back to 2007. During that span, they were 7-0-2 (2-0 in PKs) in their home stadium.

TheCup.us Match MVP: Diego Chaves

Scoring Summary

CHI: Diego Chaves (Unassisted) – 37th min.

Lineups

Chicago: Sean Johnson, Bratislav Ristic, Josip Mikulic, Dasan Robinson (Jalil Anibaba 49), Pari Pantazoplouis; Corben Bone (Dominic Oduro 75), Mike Videira, Daniel Paladini, Gabriel Ferrari (Patrick Nyarko 46); Cristian Nazarit, Diego Chaves

Rochester: Neal Kitson; TJ Gore (Rich Costanzo 44, Troy Roberts, Tyler Bellamy, Quavas Kirk; Alfonso Motagalvan, Tony Donatelli, Michael Tanke (Isaac Kissi 79), Tyler Rosenlund; Andrew Hoxie (JC Banks 67), Kendall Jagdeosingh

Discipline

ROC: Troy Roberts 26 – caution
CHI: Mike Videira 72 – caution
ROC: Rich Costanzo 87 – caution
CHI: Cristian Nazarit 90 – caution
ROC: Alfonso Motagalvan 90 – caution

Attendance: 5,558

2011 US Open Cup Quarterfinal Bracket A: FC New York at NY Red Bulls; Chicago Fire at Rochester Rhinos

June 27, 2011 by Gerald Barnhart

THIRD ROUND

FC New York at New York Red Bulls
June 28, 8 p.m. ET – Red Bull Arena; Harrison, NJ
Video/Audio: Video: New York Red Bulls; Audio: TBA

Chicago Fire at Rochester Rhinos
June 28, 7:35 p.m. ET Sahlen’s Stadium; Rochester, N.Y.
Video/Audio: Video: USL Live; Radio: Rochester

FC New York

The club is an expansion side playing in USL Pro.

First Round: Western Mass Pioneers (PDL) 0:3 FC New York (USL Pro) 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 [+]

Second Round: NY Pancyprian Freedoms (USASA) 0:0 (AET, 5:6 PK) FC New York (USL Pro) The two Big Apple clubs played to a stalemate and needed extra rounds of penalties to decide the tiebreaker. In the seventh round, a shot from the Freedoms rang off the post, sending FC New York through. Recap [+]

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

This Month in USL Pro: In a light month for the club, it has been feast or famine in league play, just as it has been in the two rounds of Open Cup play. They opened the month with a 1-1 draw against visiting Charleston June 3 on an equalizer from Graciano Brito. They then blanked Dayton June 10, on tallies from Troy Cole, Jhonny Arteaga and Gary Boughton, before falling 2-0 at home to Richmond. Idle between the opening two rounds of the Open Cup, New York returned to league play at home last Friday with a scoreless draw against Richmond. They are currently in fourth place in the USL Pro National Division with a 3-5-5 overall record.

Open Cup History: First appearance in the tournament.

New York Red Bulls

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

This Month in MLS: In a continuation of a lengthy road run, the Red Bulls fell 4-2 in Seattle Thursday despite pulling even from a two-goal hole on a Dane Richards strike and own goal. They then traveled to Chicago Sunday and played to a 1-1 draw, with Joel Lindpere tallying the opening goal in the 40th minute. New York came away with a dramatic come-from-behind 3-3 draw at Portland June 19. 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 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. Their final game before Round 3 on Sunday saw the Red Bulls nearly pick up their first-ever win at Toyota Park, but Chicago’s Marco Pappa equalized in the 58th minute and both teams had to settle for a 1-1 draw. Joel Lindpere scored the lone goal for New York.
Last Five: D-L-D-W-D | Season record: 5-3-9 (4-1-3 at home), tied for second place in Eastern Conference, sixth 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) | 2-2-0 vs. 3rd Division teams

Rochester Rhinos

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.

First Round: Phoenix SC (USASA) 1:2 Rochester Rhinos (USL Pro) 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 [+]

Second Round: Rochester Rhinos (USL Pro) 1:0 Harrisburg City Islanders (USL Pro) In a showdown of two league foes, it looked as though the match was headed to overtime before Kendall Jagdeosingh was taken down in the box for a late penalty, which was converted by Tony Donatelli in the 89th minute. Recap [+]

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

This Month in USL Pro: Rochester finished unbeaten on the month, with a stoppage time winner from JC Banks against Dayton Saturday evening. Rochester traveled to Pittsburgh last week to blank the Riverhounds 3-0 June 17, on first half goals from Rich Costanzo, Andrew Hoxie and Drew Cost. They opened the month with a two-game visit to Antigua, winning 2-1 June 3 on a pair of Hoxie goals, and nabbing a last-minute 2-2 draw two nights later with equalizers from Donatelli and goalkeeper Neal Kitson. They returned home for a 1-0 victory against Harrisburg June 11 on a strike from Jagdeosingh. The Rhinos are in first place in the National Division with a 7-4-3 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: 27-12-5 (3-2 in PKs) overall | 18-3-5 vs. pro teams (all as 2nd Division franchise) | 7-10-4 (2-2 in PKs) vs. MLS

Chicago Fire vs. Rochester Rhinos: This will be the third all-time meeting between the Chicago Fire and the Rochester Rhinos in the tournament. In 1999, fresh off their Open Cup title in their inaugural season the year prior, the Fire were stunned by becoming the first of what would be four consecutive MLS upsets by the Rhinos. Yuri Alnutt scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win for the Rhinos in the Third Round, as they would move on to replace the Fire as Open Cup champions that year. In the 2005 Quarterfinals, they would meet again, but this time it was the Fire that would move on. Samuel Callabrero and Doug Miller traded goals in regulation, but the match would have to be decided by penalty kicks, and the Fire won 5-4.

Chicago Fire

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: Chicago played to a scoreless draw at home against Real Salt Lake Wednesday in the first of two games on the week. They hosted New York on Sunday, rallying for a 1-1 draw on a strike in the 58th minute from Marco Pappa, who just returned from the Gold Cup. The Fire played its fourth league match of the month June 18, when they traveled to New England and drew the Revolution 1-1, with Dominic Oduro scoring the opening goal. 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 road 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-D-D-W-D | Season Record: 2-4-11 (1-3-5 Away), tied for sixth in Eastern Conference, 15th 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) | 4-1-1 (0-1 in PKs) vs. 3rd Division teams

2011 US Open Cup Quarterfinal Scenarios

NY Red Bulls / FC NY at Chicago Fire
Toyota Park – Bridgeview, Ill. – 8:30 pm ET
OR
NY Red Bulls / FC NY at Rochester Rhinos
Sahlen’s Stadium – Rochester, NY – 7:35 pm ET

2011 US Open Cup Second Round: Rhinos edge Harrisburg 1-0 on late penalty kick goal

June 22, 2011 by Tavio Palazzolo

In a heated battle that saw both clubs get multiple chances from the run of play, it was a penalty kick that provided the difference as the Rochester Rhinos defeated the Harrisburg City Islanders 1-0 at the Skyline Sports Complex in the Second Round of the 2011 US Open Cup.

The Rhinos made sure to set the pace right off the kickoff as Kendall Jagdeosingh forced a corner kick for Rochester mere seconds into the match. However, it would be Harrisburg maintaining offensive control for most of the first half. The leader in the charge was City Islanders midfielder Brian Ombiji, who continually found his way into the Rhinos end. His play helped result in eight first half corner kicks, the result of which, however, left Harrisburg empty.

The second half saw some spectacular plays by the Rhinos defense. Early in the half, a Harrisburg shot was destined for goal, but Quavas Kirk was able to clear it off the line. Rochester almost edged their way in front as a header by Andrew Hoxie sailed just over the bar in the 65th minute. Back at the other end, the 81st minute is where Rochester keeper Neal Kitson would shine. A Harrisburg free kick just outside the box was sent inside, and after a one-timed shot from about 12 yards out, Kitson made a point blank save to keep the game scoreless. The rebound was later cleared for another City Islanders corner, on which they once again couldn’t capitalize.

The 89th minute would be where the game would finally change course. Jagdeosingh was taken down in the box by Harrisburg keeper Phil Tuttle, resulting in a Rochester penalty kick. Tony Donatelli stepped up to the spot and placed it inside the left post to put the Rhinos ahead 1-0. Rochester would hold on to that lead to earn a road victory with the same familiar scoreline that the teams have already seen on two other occasions this season.

The Rhinos will now host the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer in the Third Round on June 28 at Sahlen’s Stadium. The Rhinos are undefeated in regulation in the US Open Cup against Chicago, having a 1-0-1 record. Their most recent encounter was in the 2005 Quarterfinals, where after a 1-1 draw, the Fire would advance by a 5-4 margin on penalties. Their first meeting was in 1999, as the Rhinos won 1-0 in the Third Round. That made the Fire the first MLS victim of four as Rochester went on to make history as the first (and to this date, only) non-MLS side to win the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup since MLS kicked off in 1996.

TheCup.us Match MVP: Neal Kitson

Scoring:
89′: Tony Donatelli (PK) (Roc)

Lineups
Rhinos: GK: Kitson; D: Roberts, Bellamy, Gore, Kirk; M: Motagalvan, Rosenlund, Tanke, Donatelli (Traynor 90+2′); F: Hoxie (Banks 80′), Jagdeosingh

City Islanders: GK: Tuttle; D: Basso, Bixler, Bloes, Calvano; M: Pelletier, Welker (Touray 81′), Noone, Schofield; F: Ombiji (Hotchkin 60′), Angulo

Cautions:
77′: Rosenlund (Roc)

Ejections:
90+4′: Touray (Har) (straight)

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

June 20, 2011 by Gerald Barnhart

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

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

Toyota Park — 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.

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 Third Round MLS pairing scenarios announced; Rochester only lower division team to host

June 15, 2011 by Gerald Barnhart

The United States Soccer Federation announced the pairing and hosting scenarios for the Third Round of the 2011 edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Tuesday afternoon, unveiling the opponents for the eight Major League Soccer clubs that enter the tournament June 28 and 29. Seven of the eight MLS clubs are guaranteed to host their opening match of the tournament with the Chicago Fire the lone exception as they would travel to play the Rochester Rhinos.

The Rhinos have faced the Chicago Fire twice before in the US Open Cup, both at home in 1999 and 2005. The Rhinos won the first, 1-0, en route to becoming the only tournament champions from a lower division since the launch of MLS in 1996. In 2005, the Fire prevailed 5-4 in penalties after a 1-1 draw. Chicago’s other potential opponent is the Harrisburg City Islanders, whom they have never met in the tournament.

The defending two-time champion Seattle Sounders as well as the New York Red Bulls, Sporting Kansas City and Los Angeles Galaxy all drew pairings with two potential opponents that are in their tournament debut or have never played an MLS club before in the Open Cup. Among them are the Chicago Fire Premier, who in their fourth tournament appearance, may advance to play at Kansas City’s newly unveiled LiveStrong Sporting Park.

The Sounders match will be the lone contest not on Tuesday, June 28. Seattle will play either the Real Colorado Foxes or local side Kitsap Pumas the following night at the StarFire Sports Stadium, one of two alternate venues being utilized in the Third Round. The Galaxy will not host their match versus one of the two local sides vying for the match – Los Angeles Blues and Ventura County Fusion – at the Home Depot Center, but at Titan Stadium.

The Columbus Crew were paired with the winner of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Richmond Kickers second round contest. The Crew have never faced Pittsburgh in the tournament, but defeated the visiting Kickers 3-0 in 2002.

FC Dallas drew either the tournament debutant Orlando City or perennial giant-killer Charleston Battery, who they have a lengthy tournament history against. The Battery were eliminated by Dallas twice in Charleston at Blackbaud Stadium, but will be traveling to Pizza Hut Park, where they were finally victorious in 2008 in a stunning 3-1 result. In 2006 the Battery were felled via penalties, 5-3, after playing to a thrilling 3-3 draw. A year later, Dallas returned to South Carolina and needed overtime to advance 2-1.

The New York Red Bulls, who play in New Jersey, will square off against one of the two teams who do play in the greater New York City metropolis, either the three-time US Open Cup champion New York Pancyprian Freedoms or expansion side FC New York.

Real Salt Lake will play host to a club that will be making the largest trek in the nation, coming in from North Carolina will be either the Charlotte Eagles or Wilmington Hammerheads.

If the Rochester Rhinos win, it would be the club’s 22nd meeting with an MLS opponent in 16 previous appearances in the tournament, 14 of which have seen the club play against an MLS team at least once. It would be the 19th such match for the Charleston Battery, who have played a club from the top flight in 10 of its 11 previous appearances. The Richmond Kickers also have a lengthy history versus MLS clubs in the tournament having played them in nine of their dozen previous trips to the Open Cup, a total of 11 contests.

Harrisburg and Wilmington are next on the list, among the second round field, with six previous MLS matches in tournament history, and Pittsburgh is sixth with three MLS meetings. Charlotte has played an MLS team in the event only once before, and although Orlando City is in its first season, coach Adrian Heath and many of the players played against an MLS opponent the past two years as members of the Austin Aztex franchise that relocated during the offseason.

2011 US Open Cup Third Round Pairing Scenarios

JUNE 28
FC New York / NY Pancyprian Freedoms at New York Red Bulls
8 p.m. ET Red Bull Arena; Harrison, N.J.

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

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

Charlotte Eagles / Wilmington Hammerheads at Real Salt Lake
7 p.m. MT Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah

Orlando City SC / Charleston Battery at FC Dallas
8 p.m. CT Pizza Hut Park; Frisco, Texas

Chicago Fire Premier / Madison 56ers at Sporting Kansas City
7:30 p.m. CT LIVESTRONG Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.

Los Angeles Blues / Ventura County Fusion at Los Angeles Galaxy
7:30 p.m. PT Titan Stadium (CSUF); Fullerton, Calif.

JUNE 29
Real Colorado Foxes / Kitsap Pumas at Seattle Sounders
7 p.m. PT Starfire Sports Stadium; Tukwila, Wash.

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