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Osvaldo Alonso of Seattle Sounders, Danny Barrera of Cal FC take TheCup.us Player of the Tournament honors

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Osvaldo Alonso of the Seattle Sounders finished with four goals and two assists as he reached a record fifth straight US Open Cup Final. Photo: Seattle Sounders FC

In an open vote that saw six different players names selected on ballots for the TheCup.us Player of the Tournament, it was five-time finalist Osvaldo Alonso of the Seattle Sounders that received the honor while Cal FC’s Danny Barrera was an overwhelming choice as TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament as well as runner-up behind Alonso.

TheCup.us Player of the Tournament: Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle Sounders)

Alonso, who was named the Player of the Round for last year’s Open Cup Final, was the main offensive reason that the Sounders returned to their fourth straight Final, a Modern Professional Era record fifth straight personally dating back to being a member of the 2008 Charleston Battery.

Alonso scored four goals, which tied for second in the 2012 tournament, and dished out two assists in four games before falling in the Final via a penalty kick tiebreaker where his miss in the shootout was perhaps his only blemish in another fantastic campaign. Alonso had a goal and an assist in their 5-1 Third Round win over the Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL), and also had a pair of goals in their 5-0 rout of Cal FC in the Fourth Round, including one from the penalty spot.

The Cuban defensive midfielder did not play in the team’s 1-0 Quarterfinal win at San Jose, but returned to the lineup in the Semifinals to assist on Eddie Johnson’s opening goal before adding another penalty kick to defeat Chivas USA, 4-1. His performance earned him his second career TheCup.us Player of the Round honor.

TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament: Danny Barrera (Cal FC)

In the debut of the honor, there was little debate as Barrera’s performance for the USASA entrant Cal FC was impressive. He also finished second to Alonso in the POTT voting, coming close to becoming the first lower division player to earn the honor since Chris Eylander won the award for leading the USL-1 Sounders to the Semifinals in 2008.

Danny Barrera's journey to the US Open Cup Fourth Round began in the USASA Region IV tournament (with Chicago Fire jerseys), shown here playing PSA Elite in the Final. Photo: PSA Elite

Cal FC became the story of the 2012 tournament thanks to the play of Barrera. The Southern California club managed by former US international Eric Wynalda played every one of their games on the road and made a run all the way to the Fourth Round, becoming just the sixth amateur club and second from USASA to reach Round 4 in the Modern Pro Era.

The journey began when Barrera scored two goals in a 3-1 win against last year’s PDL champion the Kitsap Pumas. That performance earned Barrera TheCup.us Player of the Round recognition for the opening round. He would earn the honor again after traveling across the country and handing USL Pro’s Wilmington Hammerheads a stunning 4-0 drubbing. Barrera scored two goals in the game en route to repeating as TheCup.us Player of the Round, something no one else from a lower division team has done dating back to the debut of the honor in 2006.

The only previous repeat honorees were Pat Noonan, who was recognized following the Semifinals and Final of the New England Revolution’s run to the 2007 title, and Nate Jaqua, who was honored for the Seattle Sounders in the 2010 Quarterfinal and Semifinal wins en route to the team’s second championship.  Both MLS players also went on to be named TheCup.us Player of the Tournament.

The personal recognition ended there for Barrera, but Cal FC’s headlines did not as they pulled off a shocking upset, knocking out Major League Soccer’s Portland Timbers, 1-0, with Barrera leading the way once again. He delivered the game-winning assist to Artur Aghasyan in the 95th minute of extra time in the Rose City before the Cinderella run came to an end in Tukwila, WA as the Seattle Sounders dispatched Cal FC 5-0 in a game that Barrera played the full 90.

TheCup.us Player of the Tournament Osvaldo Alonso of the Seattle Sounders knocks Danny Barrera of Cal FC, the Lower Division Player of the Tournament, off the ball during their Round 4 meeting.Photo: Wilson Tsoi | GoalWa.net

Barrera went on to sign with the Atlanta Silverbacks of the second division NASL in July during Wynalda’s interim management of the club, but has played only 181 minutes since, spending some time on trials overseas.

Voting

The award is voted on by the staff of TheCup.us and a select panel of members from the North American Soccer Reporters.

Other receiving votes for TheCup.us Player of the Tournament behind Alonso and Barrera were the duo of Jimmy Nielsen and Graham Zusi of tournament champion Sporting Kansas City. The list was rounded out by Seattle’s Zach Scott and Brian Ombiji of the Harrisburg City Islanders.

Though Barrera was the runaway winner of TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament honors, also receiving votes were Ombiji and Clint Irwin, goalkeeper of the Charlotte Eagles. Lower Division players are eligible to win both awards. The striker is the first to receive the newly-created award.

Related: Player of the Tournament Finalists

“We began discussing the idea of adding a Lower Division honor a year ago because we felt there were a number of players from clubs below MLS that had quality tournament performances that were being overlooked because their team did not win the championship,” said TheCup.us senior editor Josh Hakala. “It is natural to look at the tournament finalists when it comes time to vote for the event’s best player, but with those being almost entirely MLS clubs, that leaves outstanding play in the first three or four rounds when teams are playing opposition from higher flights out of the equation.”

Since the second-division Rochester Rhinos won the tournament championship in 1999, only the 2008 Charleston Battery have reached the US Open Cup Final from the lower ranks.

2012 TheCup.us Tournament Honors

Player of the Tournament: Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle Sounders)
Lower Division Player of the Tournament: Danny Barrera (Cal FC)
Championship Player of the Round: Matt Besler (Sporting KC)
Semifinals Player of the Round: Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle Sounders)
Quarterfinals Player of the Round: Jose Correa (Chivas USA)
Fourth Round Player of the Round: Sainey Touray (Harrisburg City Islanders)
Third Round Player of the Round: Artur Aghasyan (Cal FC)
Second Round Player of the Round: Danny Barrera (Cal FC)
First Round Player of the Round: Danny Barrera (Cal FC)

Past winners of TheCup.us Player of the Tournament

2012: Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle Sounders)
2011: Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders)
2010: Nate Jaqua (Seattle Sounders)
2009: Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders)
2008: Chris Eylander (Seattle Sounders)
2007: Pat Noonan (New England Revolution)
2006: Andy Herron (Chicago Fire)

2012 US Open Cup Final: Sporting KC wins 2nd title in PKs, ends Seattle Sounders’ historic run

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Photo: Steve Olson | SoccerSTL.net

In a frantic finish at the end of regulation and a dramatic, and controversial, penalty kick shootout, Sporting Kansas City won their second US Open Cup title and deny the Seattle Sounders an unprecedented fourth straight championship. Eddie Johnson sent his penalty kick attempt high over the bar to give Kansas City a 3-2 shootout victory after the match finished tied at 1-1 after 120 minutes.

The match was played in front of a sold-out LiveStrong Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan. The announced attendance was 18,863, which ranks fourth-best in the Modern Era (1995-present).

A rather defensive match came to life late when Kei Kamara put the home team ahead in the 83rd minute when he converted a penalty kick after a cross inadvertently struck the arm of Seattle defender Zach Scott, making his first appearance in the tournament final despite 11 years and 25 tournament previous games played with the USL/MLS Sounders, inside the box. The goal was Kamara’s second Open Cup tally of his career, previously scoring in a 3-0 win against the Chicago Fire PDL last year.

With the crowd still buzzing, however, Scott redeemed himself by heading home from 13 yards a free kick by Mauro Rosales two minutes later to equalize. It was the third career tournament goal for the Hawaiian, who scored twice as a USL Sounder in 2007 and 2008.

Sporting Kansas City: 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup champions. Photo: Steve Olson | SoccerSTL.net

The 2012 Final was the first to go into extra time since 2004, when Kansas City (then known as the Wizards) lifted the trophy on a golden goal by Igor Simutenkov in the 95th minute against the Chicago Fire at Arrowhead Stadium.

The match was the first US Open Cup Final to be decided by penalty kicks since 1997 when the Dallas Burn defeated DC United. Despite losing the shootout, the match is officially a draw, therefore the Sounders keep their Modern Era record unbeaten streak intact at 22 games.

The penalty kicks proved to be the most dramatic, back-and-forth portion of the contest that was particularly slow in the second half before the pair of goals in the final six minutes.  Kamara and Brad Evans converted the opening attempts before things got interesting. Roger Espinoza, freshly back with KC after a standout performance for Honduras at the Olympics, saw his effort in the central portion of the goal stopped by Michael Gspurning, allowing Marc Burch to give the Sounders the advantage. The tables turned in the third round, however, with Matt Besler scored for Sporting and Osvaldo Alonso, a regular penalty taker for Seattle, sent his well over the goal to tie things up at 2-2.

Eddie Johnson of the Seattle Sounders reacts after missing a penalty kick that clinched the 2012 US Open Cup championship for Sporting Kansas City. Photo: Steve Olson | SoccerSTL.net

The fourth round was one both sides wanted to forget. Graham Zusi attempted attempted to chip the keeper, much like Andrea Pirlo in the Euro championships, but he sent his shot over the crossbar. After that, Jimmy Nielsen bailed out Zusi by stopping Seattle newcomer Christian Tiffert with a diving save to his right.

Then came the most dramatic moment with Gspurning stopping Paulo Nagamura initially only to have the attempt retaken as the keeper was a foot off his line before the kick was taken. Nagamura, who lost to Chicago in the 2006 Final as a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy, buried his second effort with Eddie Johnson’s skied effort coming shortly after, sending the hosts and their fans into a frenzy. Nagamura was the only player on the squad who had previously played in a US Open Cup Final.

The result, in some fashion, was redemption for the Sporting, who were eliminated at home by the third division Richmond Kickers, 2-0, in a quarterfinal contest that was interrupted by a lengthy delay for a thunderstorm. Wednesday night’s contest was delayed prior to kickoff for 45 minutes to due a storm that included hail during what should have been pregame warm-ups.

2012 US Open Cup Final Highlights

NOTES:

Patrick Ianni’s red card was the 7th handed out in the Modern Era and the first since Josh Wicks of DC United in 2009 (vs. SEA)

1995 – Kevin Scott (Richmond Kickers vs. El Paso Patriots)
1995 – Hector Cervantes (El Paso Patriots vs. Richmond Kickers)
2001 – Jay Heaps (New England Revolution vs. LA Galaxy)
2002 – Chad McCarty (Columbus Crew vs. LA Galaxy)
2006 – Diego Gutierrez (Chicago Fire vs. LA Galaxy)
2009 – Josh Wicks (DC United vs. Seattle Sounders)
2012 – Patrick Ianni (Seattle Sounders vs. Sporting KC)

2012 – Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) 1:1 (2:3 PKs) Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
August 8, 2012 | LiveStrong Sporting Park – Kansas City, Kansas

Scoring Summary
SKC:  Kei Kamara (PK) – 84th minute
SEA: Zach Scott (Mauro Rosales) – 86th minute

Penalty Kick Shootout
SKC: Kei Kamara (GOAL – upper left)
SEA: Brad Evans (GOAL – bottom left)… 1-1
SKC: Roger Espinoza (SAVED – center)
SEA: Marc Burch (GOAL – upper center)… 2-1
SKC: Matt Besler (GOAL – upper right)
SEA: Osvaldo Alonso (MISS – high)… 2-2
SKC: Graham Zusi (MISS – high)
SEA: Christian Tiffert (SAVED – bottom right)… 2-2
SKC: Paulo Nagamura (GOAL – bottom left)
SEA: Eddie Johnson (MISS – high)… 2-3

Sporting Kansas City: Jimmy Nielsen (GK); Chance Myers, Lawrence Olum, Matt Besler, Seth Sinovic; Paulo Nagamura, Julio Cesar, Roger Espinoza (Michael Harrington 100), Graham Zusi; Teal Bunbury (C.J. Sapong 89), Kei Kamara.
Not used: Eric Kronberg, Neven Markovic, Jacob Peterson, Michael Thomas, Soony Saad

Cautions: None

Seattle Sounders: Michael Gspurning (GK); Zach Scott, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Patrick Ianni, Leo Gonzalez; Mauro Rosales, Osvaldo Alonso, Andy Rose (Brad Evans 69), Alex Caskey (Christian Tiffert 69), Fredy Montero (Marc Burch 106), Eddie Johnson.
Not used: Jeff Parke, Steve Zakuani, Sammy Ochoa.

Cautions:
Osvaldo Alonso (yellow, Dissent) – 4th minute
Mauro Rosales (yellow, Tactical Foul) – 57th minute
Patrick Ianni (yellow, Tactical Foul) – 74th minute
Zach Scott (yellow, Tactical Foul) – 93rd minuet

Ejections:
Patrick Ianni (2nd yellow, Red, Tactical Foul)

Stats
Shots – SEA 8:18 SKC
On Goal – SEA 2:6 SKC
Saves – SEA 5:1 SKC
Fouls – SEA 19:16 SKC
Corners – SEA 3:4 SKC
Offsides – SEA 2:0 SKC

Attendance: 18,863 | Referee – Ricardo Salazar | Linesmen – Corey Rockwell, Peter Manikowski  | 4th Official – Michael Kennedy
Weather: Rain, 87 degrees (45 minute delay due to lightning)

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

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The New York Red Bulls take on FC Cincinnati in the US Open Cup Semifinals at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, OH on Tuesday August 15, 2017. Photo: Ryan Meyer | New York Red Bulls
The New York Red Bulls take on FC Cincinnati in the US Open Cup Semifinals at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, OH on Tuesday August 15, 2017. Photo: Ryan Meyer | New York Red Bulls

Since 1996, only 14 non-MLS teams have advanced to the Semifinals.

2022 – Sacramento Republic FC (USL Championship)*
2017 – FC Cincinnati (USL)
2011 – Richmond Kickers (USL Pro – 3rd Division)
2009 – Rochester Rhinos (USL First Division)
2008 – Charleston Battery (USL First Division)*, Seattle Sounders (USL First Division)
2007 – Carolina RailHawks (USL First Division), Seattle Sounders (USL First Division)
2005 – Minnesota Thunder (USL First Division)
2004 – Charleston Battery (A-League)
1999 – Charleston Battery (A-League), Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-League)*
1997 – San Francisco Bay Seals (USISL Division 3 Pro League)
1996 – Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-League)*

* Advanced to the Final

Since 1996, only seven teams have advanced to the Semifinals after beginning play in the First Round. The Richmond Kickers (2011), Rochester Rhinos (2009), Charleston Battery (2008), Carolina RailHawks (2007), San Francisco Bay Seals (1997) and the Seattle Sounders who did it twice in 2007 and 2008. San Francisco and Richmond are the only Third Division pro clubs to advance to the final four during that span.Ukrainian Nationals logo

When the Sacramento Republic eliminated Sporting Kansas City in penalty kicks in the 2022 Semifinals, they became just the fourth lower division club in the Modern Era (1995-present) to advance to the Final. They joined the Charleston Battery who eliminated the Seattle Sounders in the 2008 Semifinals, and the Rochester Raging Rhinos in 1996 and 1999. The Rhinos were the only non-MLS team (since 1996) to win the title when they defeated the Colorado Rapids 2-0 in 1999.

In 2008, the Charleston Battery and the Seattle Sounders ended in a 1-1 draw, and then went to penalties where the Battery moved on 4-3. It was the first time a Semifinal game went to penalties during the Modern Era and the first time two non-MLS teams met in the final four.

The Chicago Fire entered Major League Soccer as an expansion team in 1998, and won the US Open Cup (and MLS Cup) in their inaugural season. In total, they have advanced to the Semifinals 13 times, which is more than any team in the history of the tournament (1913-present).

After Major League Soccer debuted in 1996 (1996 doesn’t make sense to include, since every Semifinalist was in their inaugural season that year), only four teams have advanced to the Semifinals in their inaugural season. The Fire (1998), Houston Dynamo (2006 – although they were essentially the San Jose Earthquakes, but they were still technically a “new franchise”), Carolina RailHawks (2007). The Seattle Sounders were a new MLS franchise in 2009, but the club had existed in the USL for several years prior to joining MLS.

In 2010, the Seattle Sounders became the first MLS expansion team to win a Semifinal match in each of their first two seasons as a franchise. They also won a Semifinal match in their third year (2011), and their fourth year (2012).

The Houston Dynamo celebrate after defeated LAFC in a PK shootout in the 2018 US Open Cup Semifinals. Photo: Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo celebrate after defeating LAFC in a PK shootout in the 2018 US Open Cup Semifinals. Photo: Houston Dynamo

The 2007 US Open Cup marked the first time that both Semifinal matches went to extra time. The New England Revolution edged the Carolina RailHawks 2-1, followed by FC Dallas eliminating the Seattle Sounders (USL-1) by the same scoreline. Since then, this has only happened one other time: 2017 US Open Cup when Sporting Kansas City needed penalty kicks to take out the San Jose Earthquakes and then the New York Red Bulls came back to beat FC Cincinnati, 3-2 in extra time. It happened again in 2017 when Sporting Kansas City eliminated the San Jose Earthquakes in penalty kicks while the New York Red Bulls edged USL side FC Cincinnati 3-2 in extra time.

Semifinal appearances by MLS teams:

Chicago Fire – 13 (6-7-0 record)
DC United – 9 (5-4-0)
FC Dallas – 9 (4-4-1, 0-1 PKs)
LA Galaxy – 7 (4-3-0)
New York Red Bulls – 6 (2-4-0)
Sporting Kansas City – 6 (3-1-2, 1-1 PKs)
Seattle Sounders – 5 (5-0-0)
Columbus Crew – 4 (3-1-0)
New England Revolution – 4 (3-1-0)
Philadelphia Union – 4 (2-1-1, 1-0 PKs)
Houston Dynamo – 4 (1-2-1, 1-0 PKs)
Real Salt Lake – 3 (1-2-0)
Chivas USA – 2 (0-2-0)
Colorado Rapids – 2 (1-1-0)
Orlando City SC – 2 (1-1-0)
Portland Timbers – 2 (0-2-0)
San Jose Earthquakes – 2 (0-1-1, 0-1 PKs)
Atlanta United FC – 1 (1-0-0)
FC Cincinnati – 1 (0-0-1, 0-1 PKs)
Inter Miami CF – 1 (0-0-1, 1-0 PKs)
Los Angeles FC – 1 (0-0-1, 0-1 PKs)
Miami Fusion – 1 (1-0-0)
Minnesota United FC – 1 (1-0-0)
Tampa Bay Mutiny – 0

Note: The New York Red Bulls (Metrostars) have the most semifinal appearances (six) without an Open Cup championship.

Semifinal appearances by non-MLS teams:

Charleston Battery – 3 (0-2-1, 1-0 PKs)
Rochester Rhinos – 3 (2-1-0)
Seattle Sounders – 2 (0-1-1, 0-1 PKs)
Carolina RailHawks – 1 (0-1-0)
FC Cincinnati – 1 (0-1-0)
Minnesota Thunder – 1 (0-1-0)
Richmond Kickers – 1 (0-1-0)
Sacramento Republic FC – 1 (0-0-1, 1-0 PKs)
San Francisco Bay Seals – 1 (0-1-0)

Most consecutive Semifinal appearances (all-time):

Ukrainian Nationals (Philadelphia) – 8 (1959-66) — champions: 1960, 1961, 1963, 1966
Seattle Sounders (USL/MLS) – 6 (2007-2012) — champions: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Stix, Baer & Fuller (St. Louis) – 6 (1932-37) — champions: 1933, 1934, 1935
Bethlehem Steel (Bethlehem, Pa.) – 5 (1915-19) — champions: 1915, 1916, 1918, 1919
Chicago Fire – 4 (2003-06) — champions: 2003, 2006
Chicago Fire – 4 (2013-16) — champions: None
Los Angeles Galaxy – 4 (2000-03) — champions: 2001
Philadelphia Nationals (1949-52) — champions: None
DC United – 3 (2008-2010) — champions: 2008
Pawtucket Rangers – 3 (1933-35) — champions: 1941
Dallas Burn (FC Dallas) – 3 (1996-98) — champions: 1997
Maccabee AC (Los Angeles) – 3 (1980-82) — champions: 1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981
NY Greek Americans (New York City) – 3 (1967-69) — champions: 1967-69
Brooklyn Hispano (Brooklyn, NY) – 3 (1943-45) — champions: 1943, 1944
Croatian SC (Chicago) – 3 (1979-81) — champions: None
Ponta Delgada (Mass.) – 3 (1946-48) — champions: 1947
Fall River Rovers (Mass.) – 3 (1916-18) — champions: 1917
Scullin Steel (St. Louis) – 3 (1921-23) — champions: 1922

The most popular Semifinal matchup in the Modern Era has been the Chicago Fire against the Los Angeles Galaxy who have played each other three times.

2000: Chicago Fire 2:1 (ASDET) Los Angeles Galaxy (at Los Angeles)
2001: Los Angeles Galaxy 1:0 (ASDET) Chicago Fire (at Los Angeles)
2003: Chicago Fire 3:2 Los Angeles Galaxy (at Chicago)

The highest attendance for a Semifinal match in the Modern Era was 16,117 set by Sporting Kansas City when they defeated Real Salt Lake 3-1 at Sporting Park in Kansas City on Aug. 12, 2015. Two years later, USL side FC Cincinnati more than doubled that record with an announced crowd of 33,250. At the time, according to TheCup.us records, this was the second-highest attendance ever recorded for a US Open Cup match.

The highest average attendance between two Semifinal matches came in 2013 when Real Salt Lake hosted the Portland Timbers and the Chicago Fire hosted DC United. The average was 12,889. Real Salt Lake drew a then-record 14,742 and Chicago had an announced crowd of 11,036. However, in 2017, FC Cincinnati’s record crowd of 33,250 pushed the average attendance to nearly double the previous record: 24,722.

The following states have never had a team advance to the Semifinals:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Delaware
Hawaii
Idaho
Iowa
Kentucky
Maine
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
North Dakota
Oklahoma
South Dakota
Tennessee
Vermont
West Virginia
Wyoming

The longest current Semifinal drought is from the state of Rhode Island, who hasn’t had a time reach the Semifinals since 1942 when the Pawtucket Rangers reached the final four for the ninth and final time.

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

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

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

Notable Semifinal matches in US Open Cup history

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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.

2010 Open Cup Champion Sounders Set for CONCACAF Champions League starting Tuesday

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The 2010 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup champion Seattle Sounders will kick off their second consecutive campaign in the CONCACAF Champions League Tuesday evening with a first leg match against San Francisco at Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama. The match is the opening contest of the 2011-12 edition of the CCL event, now in its fourth year as the new version of the confederation’s club championship. Current semifinalist FC Dallas is slated for its CCL debut.

Seattle Sounders in second CCL event as Open Cup champions

Currently in the midst of an 11-game unbeaten streak in league and Open Cup play, the Sounders have already booked a trip to the Open Cup semifinals in a bid to win a third consecutive tournament and are only third overall in the league table, four points back of first. With the postseason seemingly firmly in sight, the club may have an opportunity to seek redemption for its unfortunate results from a year ago.

In Seattle’s first CCL appearance last year, the Sounders advanced from the Preliminary Round 2-1 on aggregate against Isidro Metapan (EL Salvador) with a 1-0 win at home on a Fredy Montero strike and a 1-1 draw on the road with an Alvaro Fernandez equalizer. It then all went downhill in group play as they lost their first four games. Roger Levesque scored in a 2-1 loss at Marathon (Honduras) in the opener before they suffered a pair of 2-0 losses versus Monterrey (Mexico) and at Saprissa (Costa Rica) before falling 3-2 in Mexico in which Michael Fucito added to an own goal on the Sounders’ ledger. Fucito, who was recently honored as TheCup.us Player of the Round for his two goals in the Third Round 2-1 win against the Kitsap Pumas, continued to play a star role with two goals at home against Marathon for the club’s first group win, 2-0. Nate Jaqua tallied the final goal in their 2-1 loss to Saprissa.

San Francisco, meanwhile, is only two matches into its league campaign. Like Seattle, the club advanced to group play in its CCL debut in 2008-09 with a 5-1 aggregate victory over Jalapa (Guatemala), but came up winless in group play with only a pair of draws in six outings. Among the group matches San Francisco were a pair of games against the Houston Dynamo of MLS, playing to a scoreless draw at home and falling 2-1 in Texas.

Since then, however, San Francisco has failed to advance to the group stage. In their second appearance they were edged 3-2 on aggregate by San Juan Jabloteh (Trinidad). A year ago, they received the unfortunate draw of facing two-time CCL Finalist Cruz Azul, who dominated 9-2 over the course of the two games.

Panama’s outing from San Francisco, Arabe Unido and Tauro last year was the league’s worst in three years as the trio went 2-8-0 for a point-percentage of .200, ranking only better than Trinidad, which was .167. MLS, meanwhile had its best combined CCL campaign a year ago with a 14-12-4 record and .511 point-percentage, which trailed Mexico (.722) and Costa Rica (.556) of the nine leagues represented.

Head-to-head MLS has had the better of the match-up versus clubs from Panama with a record of 5-2-3, going unbeaten at home (4-0-1). Last year MLS was 3-1-0 versus Panamanian opposition, winning both home contests.

Three other MLS clubs prior to the Sounders represented the US Open Cup in CONCACAF’s championship tournament. In 2009-10 DC United advanced from the Preliminary Round versus Luis Angel Firpo (El Salvador) via penalties after a pair of 1-1 draws. They would find themselves too far behind after losing the first two groupd games versus Marathon and Toluca (Mexico) to advance despite winning the next three (two against Jabloteh plus Marathon) before wrapping up with a 1-1 draw in Mexico.

The year prior, the New England Revolution were embarrassed in the inaugural edition of the CCL, falling 6-1 on aggregate to Joe Public of Trinidad after a 4-0 loss in the second leg. In the previous Cup-version of the tournament, the Columbus Crew (2002 US Open Cup champions) won their First Round series versus Arabe Unido of Panama 4-2 on aggregate before bowing out in the Quarterfinals, 6-2 on aggregate, against Monarcas Morelia (Mexico) as the two split the series with a pair of shutout wins.

Seattle also has a little more history in CONCACAF. The lower division edition of the Sounders were entrants in the 1996 Champions Cup as the 1995 winners of the A-League (second division). The club dominated in a playoff between US and Caribbean entrants, downing SV Transvaal (Suriname), 10-0, before losing all three matches in the Championship Group phase, falling 2-0 to Comunicaciones (Guatemala), 4-1 to Necaxa (Mexico) and 11-0 to Cruz Azul.

Current Open Cup semifinalist FC Dallas makes CCL debut after MLS Cup runners-up finish

Seattle’s Semifinal US Open Cup opposition, FC Dallas, is the other MLS club set to begin play in the Champions League. The club will make its tournament debut with a Preliminary Round series against Alianza of El Salvador on the road Thursday at Estadio Cuscatlan.

It is also the first appearance in the CCL for Alianza, who will kick off their current league campaign Sunday against fellow CCL-qualifier Isidro Metapan, who host the Puerto Rico Islanders (NASL) Wednesday evening in the first leg of their Preliminary Round series.

The other US-based league side in the Champions League is Toronto FC. They will be the lone club of the four to play at home in the first leg of the Preliminary Round, playing host to Real Esteli of Nicaragua. It marks the Central American nation’s return to the tournament for the first time since the same club fell 1-0 on aggregate to the Montreal Impact (then USL First Division) in the 2008-09 Preliminary Round.

Although it may be a debut night for both FC Dallas and Alianza Thursday evening, teams from the two leagues have met previously with MLS hold the 3-1-4 edge in the all-time record of the current CCL format, including an unbeaten 3-0-1 record at home versus Salvadoran clubs. Last year’s only meeting was the Preliminary Round in which Seattle defeated Metapan.

Overall, El Salvador has not seen much success with only four match wins in 26 games over three years (4-13-9). Salvadoran clubs have been eliminated in three of their four Preliminary Round series. Firpo was a direct Group Stage entrant in 2008-09 with Metapan getting a group seed in 2009-10. Last year FAS became the first to advance from the Preliminary Round, posting a 3-1 aggregate victory over Xelaju (Guatemala) courtesy of a 2-0 road win that was the nation’s only victory in 10 total games as they went 1-5-4 combined.

Visit TheCup.us blog Extra Time for a preview of all the Preliminary Round CONCACAF Champions League matches [+]

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2011 US Open Cup Third Round: Seattle Sounders quest for three-peat opens with 2-1 win over Kitsap Pumas

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The defending two-time US Open Cup champion Seattle Sounders grabbed a two-goal lead on a pair of Mike Fucito goals, but were unable to cruise to victory in a Puget Sound showdown against the local PDL Kitsap Pumas, who fought back in a contest that finished in a back-and-forth 2-1 decision.

Photo: Corky Trewin / SoundersFC.com

With a ninth consecutive tournament victory (in regulation or penalty kicks) over the course of three years, the MLS club made history with the longest such streak as they started their quest to become the first team to three-peat since New York Greek American Atlas, who accomplished the feat from 1967-69.  Seattle advances to the Quarterfinals to face the Los Angeles Galaxy, who are also looking for a third US Open Cup championship.

Continual pressure from the top flight club finally found a result in the 39th minute when Nate Jaqua, who scored five goals in the three previous Open Cup games at Starfire Sports Stadium the past two years, knocked the ball down for Fucito.

Fucito would double the advantage in the 62nd minute by dancing through the Kitsap defense and around the goalkeeper, 2011 Sounders draft pick Bryan Meredith, before finding the back of the net.

With Kitsap appearing to tire and a win appearing to be in hand, the Pumas dug deep and found a second breath. Leading the resurgence was former MLS number one draft pick Nik Besagno. A cross from Second Round hero Robbie Christner found Besagno for the easy finish in the 71st minute, setting up a tense finish.

Four minutes later Meredith made an excellent save, one of several on the night, to deny Miguel Montano from restoring a two-goal Sounders advantage, and then stopped Jaqua as well.

Warlen Silva had a great opportunity for an equalizer with a breakaway but missed on a brilliant chance. Meredith was forced to play the hero again, making yet another save after Osvaldo Alonso beat three tied Pumas players for a chance.

With the final seconds ticking away, Stephen Mohn sent in a cross to Silva for a final look that, symbolically, proved just a shade too high for the onrushing Brazilian.

TheCup.us Match MVP: Mike Fucito

Scoring Summary
SEA — Mike Fucito (Nate Jaqua) 39
SEA — Mike Fucito (unassisted) 62
KIT — Nikolas Besagno (Robert Christner) 71

Misconduct Summary
KIT — Taylor Hyde (caution; Reckless Tackle) 43
KIT — Dan Scott (caution; Tactical Foul) 80

Lineups

Kitsap Pumas — Bryan Meredith, Stephen Mohn, Taylor Hyde, Dan Scott, Mark Lee, Matt Friesen (David Gray 84), Nikolas Besagno, Elliott Fauske, Cameron Hepple (Tye Perdido 83), Robert Christner, Bryan Burke (Warlen Silva 69).
Substitutes Not Used: Zac Lubin, Samuel Roca, Chris Andre, Kendell McFayden.

Seattle Sounders — Terry Boss, Zach Scott, Leo Gonzalez, Taylor Graham, Michael Tetteh, David Estrada (Pat Noonan 54), Osvaldo Alonso, Mike Seamon (Servando Carrasco 85), Miguel Montano, Mike Fucito (Jeff Parke 68), Nate Jaqua.
Substitutes Not Used: Roger Levesque, Lamar Neagle, Tyson Wahl, Josh Ford.

Referee: Tyler Ploeger
Referee’s Assistants: Mike Rottersman; Jeff Hosking
4th Official: William Niccolls
Weather: Cloudy and 63 degrees
Attendance: 3,811

Home Away From Home: Tuesday’s Alternate Venues Have Quite the History for Seattle Sounders, LA Galaxy

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Numerous Major League Soccer teams have resorted to using alternate venues for US Open Cup matches for different reasons over the years, but when the Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles Galaxy take the field at Starfire and Titan Stadium Tuesday night, they will be hoping history repeats.

Top: Seattle's two Open Cup title campaigns went through Starfire Bottom: The Galaxy won the 2001 Open Cup at Titan Stadium

It has been quite a long time since the Galaxy last stepped on the pitch at Titan Stadium for a US Open Cup match. They have not played a competitive match at their former alternate home since the debut of the Home Depot Center in 2003, a span of nine years since they defeated the then Dallas Burn 4-1 in the semifinals of a runners-up campaign in the 2002 US Open Cup. It was the final of nine Open Cup matches played at the venue over the course of four years.

And it was a successful four years in Fullerton. The club lost at Titan Stadium only twice in the nine matches, falling 3-1 to the Columbus Crew in the 1999 Quarterfinals, the first-ever match there, and 2-1 to the eventual 2000 champion Chicago Fire in the Semifinals.

After that defeat, the Galaxy won five consecutive at their second home to the Rose Bowl, including four the very next year as they won the first of two US Open Cup championships. It started with a 5-0 thumping of then A-League (pro second division) Nashville Metros, followed by a Third Round 3-1 win against the Seattle Sounders Select, who had nabbed a shocking 3-2 overtime road upset against the Dallas Burn the round before. They avenged the previous year’s loss with a 1-0 Semifinal win against the Fire.

They concluded the 2001 championship run with a 2-1 victory against the New England Revolution at Titan Stadium. It still stands as the only Final in the US Open Cup Professional Era (since 1995) in which a club’s alternate venue has been the host location.

Starfire’s history as an alternate MLS venue is much briefer, but has played a key role in back-to-back tournament championships for the Seattle Sounders, who have played the Quarterfinal and Semifinal matches there the past two years.

In 2009, the Sounders edged Kansas City 1-0 on a Sebastien Le Toux strike in the Quarterfinals. Since then, it has been Nate Jaqua’s playground. He scored in the 2-1 Semifinal win against Houston en route to their first title. Then last year he struck for two goals in each game as they blanked the Galaxy 2-0 in the Quarterfinals and downed the other Los Angeles side Chivas USA 3-1 in the Semifinals.

And Starfire has trophy-lifting championship history too.

The USL Seattle Sounders began using the Tukwila venue as an alternate to then named Qwest Field in 2005, winning a regular season contest and playing to a win and draw in the playoffs in addition to a Second Round 3-1 victory over the Salinas Valley Samba. Although they used it for several league contests the following year, they would not play another Open Cup match at Starfire until 2007 when they defeated Banat Arsenal 4-1 in the First Round and rival Portland 2-1 in the Second Round.

But it was later in the 2007 campaign that Starfire became the center of attention. Returning to the venue for postseason action for a second time the team suffered its first-ever loss at the alternate home in a 2-1 playoff defeat to the Puerto Rico Islanders in which they would advance via penalties at the conclusion. That penalty kick decision proved critical as the team won the 2007 USL First Division title with a dominant 4-0 victory over the Atlanta Silverbacks at Starfire.

In 2008 the Sounders USL side registered their first win against an MLS club at the venue, downing Chivas USA 3-1 in the Third Round after blasting Hollywood United 6-0 in the previous round.

More importantly, 2008 was the club’s final campaign in the USL First Division, and was played entirely at Starfire where they had suffered only one loss in all competitions in nine previous matches.

The Sounders would drop four more matches during the 2008 regular season, giving the Sounders a final record of 15-5-7 overall record at the venue during the USL era. The home fans have seen only five losses, none in the US Open Cup, in 31 total games since 2005.

One common link between the two venues is current Sounders coach Sigi Schmid, who led the Galaxy to the 2001 Open Cup title at Fullerton during his 1999-04 tenure with LA.

LA Galaxy Open Cup Matches at Titan Stadium

1999: 1-3 L – QF – Columbus Crew (MLS)
2000: 2-1 W – R2 – Seattle Sounders (USL)
2000: 2-0 W – QF – San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
2000: 1-2 L – SF – Chicago Fire (MLS)
2001: 5-0 W – R2 – Nashville Metros (A-League)
2001: 3-1 W – R3 – Sounders Select (PDL)
2001: 1-0 W – SF – Chicago Fire (MLS)
2001: 2-1 W – F – New England Revolution (MLS)
2002: 4-1 W – SF – Dallas Burn (MLS)

Seattle Sounders (MLS) Open Cup Matches at Starfire

2009: 1-0 W – QF – Kansas City Wizards (MLS)
2009: 2-1 W – SF – Houston Dynamo (MLS)
2010: 2-0 W – QF – LA Galaxy (MLS)
2010: 3-1 W – SF – Chivas USA (MLS)

Seattle Sounders (USL) Open Cup Matches at Starfire

2005: 3-1 W – R2 – Salinas Valley Samba (USASA)
2007: 4-1 W – R1 – Banat Arsenal (USASA)
2007: 2-1 W – R2 – Portland Timbers (USL-1)
2008: 6-0 W – R2 – Hollywood United (USASA)
2008: 2-0 W – R3 – Chivas USA (MLS)

Notable upsets in the Second Round of the US Open Cup

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UPDATED 5/18/17

2000 – Mid-Michigan Bucks (PDL) 1:0 New England Revolution (MLS)

The Mid-Michigan Bucks have always been one of the lower division troublemakers of the US Open Cup, and this match against the New England Revolution at Foxboro Stadium helped build that reputation. Goalkeeper Eric Pogue was the early hero for the Bucks, saving a Shaker Asad penalty kick in the 7th minute to keep the game scoreless. The Bucks stayed with the Revolution for 90 minutes using a high-tempo style of play and eventually sent the sparse crowd of 1,857 Revolution fans home disappointed.

Three minutes into stoppage time, midfielder Chad Schomaker scored the winner on an assist from Boniventure Maruti. The win was the first time an amateur side defeated a Major League Soccer team. The Bucks, however, remain the only amateur club to upset an MLS team without the help of extra time or penalty kicks. Their Cup run would come to an end in the next round, when the Miami Fusion of MLS came to Saginaw, Mich., they needed a penalty kick shootout to eliminate the giant killers after a 3-3 draw in regulation.

2000 – Chicago Sockers (PDL) 0:0 Kansas City Wizards (MLS) (Chicago advances, 7-6 on PKs)

The Mid-Michigan Bucks weren’t the only team slaying MLS giants in the Second Round of the 2000 Open Cup. The Kansas City Wizards were leading Major League Soccer in points at the time of the match, but that didn’t matter to the PDL’s Chicago Sockers, who were the defending champions of the fourth division league. Adam Throop of the Sockers put in a spectacular performance, keeping a clean sheet for 105 minutes despite 23 shots from the Wizards. Both teams slugged though extra time scoreless as well, and the 3,140 on hand at Forest View Park in Chicago eagerly awaited the penalty kick session to decide the game. Throop came though again, saving Uche Okafor’s penalty to give Chicago the win.

The Sockers, like the Bucks, went on to put a scare into their next MLS opponents. In the Third Round, the Sockers took on the Chicago Fire and only a Josh Wolff goal in the 22nd minute seperated the two clubs in a rare Open Cup derby match.

2006- Dallas Roma FC (USASA – Region III) 1:0 Miami FC (USL-1)

Dallas Roma FC pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the Modern Era of the US Open Cup (1995-present), defeating the USL First Division’s Miami FC 1-0 in front of their home fans in Dallas. Roma scored the lone goal of the match early in the game, when Miami midfielder Zinho was called for a handball in the penalty area. John Waters stepped to the spot and converted the penalty for the 1-0 lead.

The Roma defense, led by goalkeeper Jessie Llamas, held World Cup winners Romario and Zinho in check all night, only allowing Miami to attack from the side, instead of up the middle. Roma head coach Michael Schell did not start three of his regulars for disciplinary reasons, making the 1-0 lead that much more remarkable. When he eventually brought in the likes of Patrick Shamu and Mark Rowland, Schell said the Miami players began to get frustrated.

“They (Miami) realized these guys were better then the ones they replaced”, Schell said. It was during this time that both Michael Erush and Fabian Sandoval were sent off, leaving Miami with just nine men to finish the game. Schell was also quick to point out that the visitors did not take his team lightly, as they constantly put pressure on Roma’s defense throughout the night.

The win marked the first time a USASA club had beaten a team from the USL First Division. Roma are also only the second USASA team since 1995 to advance to the Third Round of the US Open Cup. “I don’t think I’m going to go to sleep tonight!” said an ecstatic Schell after a post-match dinner with his team.

Other Second Round upsets

1997 – San Francisco Bay Seals (D3 Pro) 1:0 Seattle Sounders (A-League)
1998 – Orlando Nighthawks (D3 Pro) 2:1 Milwaukee Rampage (A-League)
1998 – Chicago Stingers (D3 Pro) 3:2 Hershey Wildcats (A-League)
1999 – Mid Michigan Bucks (PDL) 2:1 Minnesota Thunder (A-League)
1999 – Carolina Dynamo (D3 Pro) 2:0 Orange County Zodiac (A-League)
2000 – Richmond Kickers (A-League) 3:0 Colorado Rapids (MLS)
2001 – Connecticut Wolves (MLS) 3:2 Tampa Bay Mutiny (MLS)
2001 – Charleston Battery (A-League) 4:1 Metrostars (MLS)
2001 – Seattle Sounders Select (PDL) 3:2 Dallas Burn (MLS)
2001 – Pittsburgh Riverhounds (A-League) 3:0 Colorado Rapids (MLS)
2003 – Bavarian SC (USASA) 1:0 Reading Rage (PSL)
2006 – Michigan Bucks (PDL) 2:1 Cincinnati Kings (USL-2)
2006 – Des Moines Menace (PDL) 1:0 Minnesota Thunder (USL-1)
2006 – Carolina Dynamo (PDL) 1:0 Richmond Kickers (USL-2)
2008 – Cleveland City Stars (USL-2) 2:0 Minnesota Thunder (USL-1)
2009 – Ocean City Barons (PDL) 1:0 (AET) Real Maryland Monarchs (USL-2)
2012 – Michigan Bucks (PDL) 1:0 Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL Pro)
2012 – Cal FC (USASA) 4:0 Wilmington Hammerheads (USL Pro)
2012 – Ventura County Fusion (PDL) 3:1 (AET) Los Angeles Blues (USL Pro)
2013 – Reading United (PDL) 1:0 Harrisburg City Islanders (USL Pro)
2013 – Ocean City Nor’easters (PDL) 1:0 Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL Pro)
2013 – Des Moines Menace (PDL) 1:0 Minnesota United FC (NASL)
2013 – FC Tucson (PDL) 2:2 (4:3 PKs) San Antonio Scorpions (NASL)
2014 – Fresno Fuego (PDL) 2:0 Orange County Blues (USL Pro)
2014 – Chattanooga FC (NPSL) 3:1 Wilmington Hammerheads (USL Pro)
2017 – Reading United AC (PDL) 3:2 New York Cosmos (NASL)
2017 – Christos FC (USASA) 1:0 Richmond Kickers (USL)
2017 – Charlotte Eagles (PDL) 3:2 Charlotte Independence (USL)
2017 – Michigan Bucks (PDL) 1:0 Indy Eleven (NASL)
2017 – Chicago FC United (PDL) 3:1 Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL)

Things you should know about the First Round of the US Open Cup

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David Geno and the Seattle Sounders Under-23s celebrate one of the club's five goals in a 5-1 win over Doxa Italia in the First Round of the 2013 US Open Cup. Photo: Chris Coulter | SoundersPhotos.com
David Geno and the Seattle Sounders Under-23s celebrate one of the club’s five goals in a 5-1 win over Doxa Italia in the First Round of the 2013 US Open Cup. Photo: Chris Coulter | SoundersPhotos.com

A total of 40 clubs took part in the first Lamar Hunt US Open Cup (then known as the National Challenge Cup) tournament in 1913/14, a majority of whom came from the Northeast region of the country.

In 2008, the Seattle Sounders USL franchise became the first club in the Modern Era to advance to the Semifinals in consecutive seasons after beginning play in the First Round.

Since 1996, only five teams have advanced to the Semifinals after beginning play in the First Round. The Charleston Battery (2008), Carolina RailHawks (2007), San Francisco Bay Seals (1997) and the Seattle Sounders who did it twice in 2007 and 2008. San Francisco remain as the only third division club to advance to the final four (after beginning in Round 1) during that span.

Since 1995, an Open Division Local team has failed to advance past the First Round only three times (1995, 1998, 2002). Uruguay SC from Florida made the Second Round in back-to-back years (2000, 2001), and Mexico SC (Fresno, CA) joined them in 2000. Dallas Roma FC advanced in consecutive seasons in 2005 and 2006 and Bavarian SC (Milwaukee, WI) moved on to the next round in 2003 and 2007. From 2008-2010, only one USASA club survived the opening round each year (Hollywood United – 2008, Sonoma County Sol – 2009, Arizona Sahuaros – 2010). After the tournament expanded in 2012, it has become more common.

In 1999, the Wilmington Hammerheads saw two players score hat tricks in their First Round match. Ryan Walker and Luke Griffith both scored three times in Wilmington’s 8-1 rout of Los Lobos, a USASA team from Oklahoma.

The Atlanta Silverbacks (USL First Division, Div. 2 pro) embarrassed Azzurri, an Open Division Local club from North Texas, 10-0 in the First Round of the 2007 tournament. It was the biggest route in the Modern Era, topping the Chicago Stingers’ (USL D3 Pro) 8-0 win over SAC Wisla (USASA) in 1997.

2007 marked the first year that all non-MLS teams began the tournament in the First Round. It was also the first year that any Division 2 pro teams started in Round 1.

In 2013, David Geno of the Seattle Sounders U-23s (USL League Two) became the first player from an Open Division team to score four goals in one game, and just the 10th player from any division to pull off the feat. He did this in Seattle’s 5-1 home win over Doxa Italia, and he scored all four of his goals in the first half.

The First Round in 2013 marked the first time that four different players scored a hat trick in the same round. Prior to that year, no more than two players had ever done it in the same round in the Modern Era (1995-present).  David Geno of the Sounders U23s scored four against Doxa Italia (USASA), while Hakan Ilhan (Carolina Dynamo), Kwadwo Poku (Georgia Revolution) and Argjent Duka (Icon FC) each scored a trio of goals in their respective games.

The attendance record for the First Round of the US Open Cup (Modern Era) is 5,816, when the Arizona Sahuaros (D3 Pro League) hosted the San Gabriel Valley Highlanders (PDL) at Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona on June 12, 1998.

The record for highest average attendance in the First Round (Modern Era) is 1,247, but there were only four games scheduled that year (and one of them was forfeited).

The record for the biggest Second Round in the Modern Era is 2017 when there were 28 games played.

Updated after the 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

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