A stunning first night of US Open Cup Quarterfinal action was highlighted by a shocking upset registered by the USL Pro Richmond Kickers in Kansas City and the actions by coaches before and after each game. Tune in at 9:30 pm ET here for another edition of TheCup.us Live Blog as we follow who becomes the last to join the Final Four with LA visiting Seattle.
Sporting Kansas City/Kansas City Wizards
2011 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Lightning strikes as Richmond Kickers pull off historic upset of Sporting KC (Video)
Richmond becomes only the second 3rd Division team to reach the Semifinals. The only other team to do it was the San Francisco Bay Seals in 1997. There they will face the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park on Aug. 30 with a spot in the Open Cup Final on the line.
2011 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Richmond Kickers at Sporting KC Preview
The lone remaining lower division side Richmond Kickers try to knock off a second consecutive MLS club on the road as they visit Sporting Kansas City.
2011 US Open Cup: Semifinal host scenarios unveiled
The United States Soccer Federation announced the pairing and hosting scenarios for the 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Semifinals Thursday, unveiling that Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City would host the winners from the opposite side of their bracket with victories in the Quarterfinals. The USSF also officially revealed a schedule change for the Quarterfinals.
2011 US Open Cup Third Round Recap: Richmond Kickers post lone upset on night of close contests
For the first time in the Professional Era the Round of 16 saw no matches go to overtime, but there was plenty of drama as six of the eight contests were decided by one goal. In the end, Major League Soccer teams posted one of their best nights in the tournament versus lower division opposition with seven clubs advancing to the Quarterfinals for only the fifth time in 15 years.
2011 US Open Cup Third Round: Sporting KC no trouble with PDL version of Chicago Fire
In front of a sparse crowd of 4,487 at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, MLS side Sporting KC overcame Chicago Fire PDL with goals from Teal Bunbury, Milos Stojcev and Kei Kamara to send them to the Quarterfinals.
2011 US Open Cup Quarterfinal Bracket B: Richmond Kickers at Columbus Crew; Chicago Fire PDL at Sporting KC
The quarterfinal foursome features one of two remaining clubs from the PDL as the Chicago Fire development squad travels to play Sporting KC in the Third Round and become the first opponent to win at the new stadium. In the other Third Round contest, the Richmond Kickers visit the Columbus Crew.
2011 Gold Cup & US Open Cup: The Overlap
Beyond the obvious fact that the first two rounds of the 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup occur during the current edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup that kicked off Sunday, there is some extended overlap with players. The overlap will come when the Major League Soccer teams enter the competition in the Third Round, set for June 28 – three days after the Gold Cup Final.
2011 US Open Cup qualifying (Win & You’re In): Sporting KC qualify with drubbing of 2nd string New England
In the pouring rain, Sporting Kansas City became the eighth and final MLS entry into the 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup after thrashing the New England Revolution, 5-0. Chance Myers and CJ Sapong each scored two in the most lop-sided MLS qualifier ever.
2011 US Open Cup qualifying updates: MLS play-in tournament underway
For the fifth year in a row, Major League Soccer will conduct a play-in tournament to narrow the number of teams that enter the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Beginning on June 28, eight MLS clubs will join the 98th edition of the tournament in the third round, with the top six MLS teams based on the 2010 league standings automatically qualifying. The 10 remaining US-based clubs are left to fight for the last two spots.