It's US Open Cup Night!

Los Angles Galaxy vs FC Dallas
11pm EST
TV: GolTV

Los Angles or Dallas? One of these two will win their second US Open Cup tonight.

If you look at the two sides quickly, you'll probably come to one conclusion; the Galaxy is going to hold that cup high tonight. LA is playing at home and they don't often lose at home. They are also playing with all their key players. For Dallas, they have never beat LA at the Home Depot Center. Also, they are without Eddie Johnson, Alex Yi and Richard Mulrooney due to injury and Simo Valakari is suspended. Sure they will have Carlos Ruiz available, but this is still not their A-team. So pack it up and get ready for the picture of Donovan kissing the Cup, right?

Maybe not. FCD has had these same or at least similar troubles for a while now, but have still managed not to drop a game in four matches. Also, even when Dallas was on their long summer slide, they were still able to get results in the Open Cup. Add to all this the 4-1 thrashing that happened between these two sides last Wednesday and you have the making of something special.

Both teams are coming off good games with LA beating KC at home and FCD tying San Jose in the Bay Area (although FCD would have won if it were not for a missed offside call), so moral should be high. Also, there is a $100,000 check waiting for the winner, so that should provide just a little more motivation.

I think that if Dallas can get a lead in this game, it will be hard for the Galaxy to overcome. The Hoops backline has been looking a lot better of late and should be able to hold up to some intense action.

LA, on the other hand, needs to remind their Western Conference rivals of where they are and get a goal early. If FCD find themselves in a hole during the first 15, they will need to shine in a way that I just am not sure they can.

So whom do I think will win? Most things seem to point LA's way, but I woke up with this odd feeling today. Perhaps it was the pizza with heavy garlic I had last night or maybe it's something else, but I think FC Dallas is going to find a way to win this one. It might take penalty kicks, but I think the upset will happen.

FCD 3 - LA 2

One final note, it is a shame that GolTV is not carried by most cable providers because this should be a fun one to watch.