2008 US Open Cup - Third Round sees three MLS teams go down

Last night is the perfect example of why I enjoy the US Open Cup so much. Seeing all these underweight teams try to out punch MLS sides really is enjoyable. Sure, the MLS teams see this as little more then a reserves match, but it is still good fun.

As bad as it is that MLS teams dropped three of the eight games last night, it is actually much better then last season when five top teams fell. The biggest surprise of the night took place in Maryland where Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2) bounced the Red Bulls out of the Open, even though they played down a man for an hour.

Ranking just below on the shock level was the Dynamo losing on kicks to the Charleston Battery (USL-1), even though Houston played up a man for 50 minutes and up 2 men for 15. Really, the defending MLS Champions were up two men for 15-minutes and could not find a way to get a goal. Not only that but the Battery's Osvaldo Alonso was still giving the Dynamo fits in the second period of overtime (Alonso must be on Kinnear's radar after last night). I think Dynamo forward Franco Caraccio summed up the whole night for his club when he collapsed to the pitch in shame after having his penalty kick stopped, thus giving the Battery the win.

The only other lose came in Seattle where the Sounders showed Chivas USA the exit. The goats have not won a USOC match since beating the Charlotte Eagles (USL-2) on 13 July 2005. This streak includes a defeat by Roma FC of the USASA.

There was almost something big in Dallas, however FCD was able to get a late stoppage time goal to take Miami 2-1.

Kansas City also needed a little rally as they were down 2-0 in the 67' minute before coming back to tie and send it to extra time where they piled on two more goals for the win.

DC United needed two goals via free kicks from Marc Burch to take down the Rhinos of Rochester. Both New England (last year's USOC champ) and the Fire (perennial USOC powerhouse) easily saw off their foes for the evening.

Here is the full list of results:
FC Dallas (MLS) 2-1 Miami FC (USL-1)
Charleston (USL-1) 1(4-3)1 Houston (MLS)
DC United (MLS) 2-0 Rochester (USL-1)
Carolina (USL-1) 2-4 Kansas City (MLS)

CP Baltimore (USL-2) 2-0 New York (MLS)
New England (MLS) 3-0 Richmond (USL-2)
Chicago (MLS) 4-1 Cleveland (USL-2)
Seattle (USL-1) 2-0 Chivas USA (MLS)

These results move the numbers a bit when it comes to higher versus lower ranked teams. Before last night, it stood at 19-2 (90.5%) for those higher ranked, but now is at 24-5 (82.75%).

It does look like home field advantage was reinstated. During the second round, home sides only went 3-5, but yesterday saw only one visitor walk away with a win.

Here is the schedule for next Tuesday night's round of eight:
Chicago Fire at DC United (Boyds, Md)
Crystal Palace (USL2) at New England (New Britain, Conn)
Charleston (USL1) at FC Dallas
Kansas City at Seattle Sounders (USL1)

Can Crystal Palace bring down two giants? Will the Battery take out both teams from the Lone Star state? Will Seattle give another MLS team an introduction to soccer in the Northwest? Can DC finally beat Chicago in a playoff situation? It will be fun to find out.

2008 US Open Cup - Second Round results

The second round of the US Open Cup is in the books and yet again the biggest factor is which team is in the higher division. During the first round, only one lower division team pulled off an upset, resulting in a 15-1 run for higher level clubs. Last night saw the higher division squad take 4 and lose 1, while 3 games involved clubs of the same level. That means that 86% of all games are won by the team higher up on the US Soccer pyrimid.

The Minnesota Thunder (USL-1) join the Portland Timbers (USL-1) as the only teams to lose to a lower division team as they lost 0-2 to the Cleveland City Stars (USL-2).

Here are the full results:
Harrisburg (USL-2) 2(1-3)2 CP Baltimore (USL-2)
Western Mass (USL-2) 1-2 Richmond (USL-2)
Rochester (USL-1) 3-0 Pittsburgh (USL-2)
Charleston (USL-1) 2-1 Charlotte (USL-2)

Carolina (USL-1) 1-0 Real Maryland (USL-2)
Minnesota (USL-1) 0-2 Cleveland (USL-2)
Miami (USL-1) 1-0 Atlanta (USL-1)
Seattle (USL-1) 6-0 Hollywood United (USASA)

The winners move on to round three where they will face a MLS team. If the 86% number holds, it means one MLS side will lose in round three. Who could it be?

Here is the schedule:
Houston Dynamo (MLS) at Charleston Battery (USL-1)
Blackbaud Stadium, Charleston, S.C., 7:30 PM

New York Red Bulls (MLS) at Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2)
UMBC, Catonsville, Md., 7:30 PM

Kansas City Wizards (MLS) at Carolina Railhawks (USL-1)
WakeMed Soccer Park - Cary, N.C., 7:30 PM

Rochester Rhinos (USL-1) at DC United (MLS)
Maryland SoccerPlex, Boyds, Md., 7:30 PM
Broadcast: English/Spanish Radio (DCU)

Richmond Kickers (USL-2) at New England Revolution (MLS)
Veterans Stadium - New Britain, Conn., Time TBD

Cleveland City Stars (USL-2) at Chicago Fire (MLS)
Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Ill., 8:30 PM

Miami FC (USL-1) at FC Dallas (MLS)
Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, Texas, 8:30 PM

Chivas USA (MLS) at Seattle Sounders (USL-1)
Starfire Sports Complex, Tukwila, Wash. - 10:00 PM

By the way, home pitch advantage is limited as home sides went 10-6 in round 1 and 3-5 in round two. In matches were the teams were in the same division, home teams only went 1 for 3.

2008 US Open Cup - First Round results

The first round is all but done (one game was rained out) and things pretty much went as expected as the team in the tougher league won every match except one. So what underdog sunk a higher division side? None other then Hollywood United (USASA) who dropped the Portland Timbers (USL-1) in Portland.

There were two other matches that came close to being an upsets as the Austin Aztex's (USL-PDL) pushed Atlanta Silverbacks (USL-1) all the way to penalty kicks and the USASA's RWB Adria forced Rochester (USL-1) to overtime. Atlanta won by converting all their pks and Austin missing one of their's while Rochester got a goal by Tiger Fitzpatrick in the first overtime period.

Although not technically a US Open Cup match, the Chicago Fire and Columbus played last night for the final MLS spot in the tournament and the Crew lost again.

In all, a great night of soccer in America.

Here are the results:

Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) 5-1 Yakima Reds (USL-PDL)

Charlotte Eagles (USL-2) 5-2 Clearwater Galactics (USASA)

Minnesota Thunder (USL-1) 4-1 St. Louis Lions (USL-PDL)

Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2) 2-0 Boston Olympiakos (USASA)

Michigan Bucks (USL-PDL) 1-2 Cleveland City Stars (USL-2)

Rochester Rhinos (USL-1) 2-1 RWB Adria (USASA)

Charleston Battery (USL-1) 3-0. ASC New Stars (USASA)

Carolina Railhawks (USL-1) 1-0 Brooklyn Knights (USL-PDL)

Real Maryland Monarchs (USL-2) vs. NY Pancyprian Freedoms (USASA)
Postponed due to rain

Miami FC Blues (USL-1) 4-2 Bradenton Academics (USL-PDL)

Richmond Kickers (USL-2) 3-0 Fredericksburg Gunners (USL-PDL)

Austin Aztex (USL-PDL) 1(4)-(5)1 Atlanta Silverbacks (USL-1)

AAC Eagles (USASA) 0-4 Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL-2)

Portland Timbers (USL-1) 2-3 Hollywood United (USASA)

LA Legends (USL-PDL) 1-2 Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2)

Arizona Sahuaros (USASA) 0-1 Seattle Sounders (USL-1)

Chicago Fire (MLS) 3-2 Columbus Crew (MLS)

The second round will take place in two weeks on 24 June. The eight MLS teams join the tournament in the third round (1 July).
Here is the schedule (home team listed first):

Carolina Railhawks (USL-1) vs. Real Maryland Monarchs (USL-2)/NY Pancyprian Freedoms (USASA) winner
Richmond Kickers (USL-2) vs. Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2)
Minnesota Thunder (USL-1) vs. Cleveland City Stars (USL-2)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL-2) vs. Rochester Rhinos (USL-1)

Atlanta Silverbacks (USL-1) vs. Miami FC Blues (USL-1)
Charlotte Eagles (USL-2) vs. Charleston Battery (USL-1)
Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2) vs. Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2)
Seattle Sounders (USL-1) vs. Hollywood United (USASA)

2008 US Open Cup - Real smash 'Quakes

San Jose Earthquakes 0-4 Real Salt Lake

Last night's US Open Cup Qualifier was nothing short of a complete disaster for San Jose. From the get go it was obvious coach Frank Yallop wasn't ready to risk his best for the match as Ronnie O'Brien didn't even suit up for the game. Without their top play maker in the mix, the Earthquakes only real chance was an outstanding defensive performance, but this notion was dismissed early when defenders Jay Ayres and Ryan Cochrane collided resulting in a double sub in the first 15 minutes. From that point on, San Jose was dead in the water.

Real's Beckerman scored six minutes later. Done 1-0, the 'Quakes looked to be in trouble, however the true knockout blows didn't come till the 33rd minute when Salt Lake scored twice in less then a minute.

From then on, it was just a matter of killing the clock.

With the win, Real advances to the second round of qualifying where they will take on the Columbus Crew on May 27th.