I missed out on quite a bit of action recently by going camping, then a long work trip and finally getting really sick. A lot has happened in the US Open Cup.
The New England Revolution will play the Harrisburg City Islanders tonite in the last quarterfinal to be settled. One of the top MLS teams against the last USL-2 team alive.
The winner of that game will play the Carolina RailHawks who defeated the Richmond Kickers in their quarterfinal 1-0.
FC Dallas took the Charleston Battery to extra time before coming away with a 2-1 victory to advance to the semi-finals.
FC Dallas will play the Seattle Sounders who gave the Colorado Rapids a real beating in their quarter-final. The Rapids were beat down by a final score of 5-0. Whoaaa Colorado, whats up with that? I’ve only notice one beating that was worse than that one, but that was a USL-1 team beating an USASA (3 tiers below USL-1) by the score of 10-0. The Atlanta Silverbacks beat Azzuri by that score if anyone was wondering.
So at most 2 MLS teams will make it to the semi-finals, and at least 1. Does this look bad for MLS or good for USL?
SuperLiga starts up tonite, don’t miss FC Dallas and LA Galaxy in action tonite if you are lucky enough to have TeleFutura. All games will be shown on TeleFutura.
All times Central
Tuesday, July 24
FC Dallas vs. Chivas - 8:00 PM
LA Galaxy vs. Pachuca - 10:00 PM
Wednesday, July 25
DC United vs. Monarcas - 7:00 PM
Houston Dynamo vs. América - 9:00 PM
Saturday, July 28
FC Dallas vs. Pachuca - 7:00 PM
LA Galaxy vs. Chivas - 9:00 PM
Sunday, July 29
DC United vs. América - 7:00 PM
Houston Dynamo vs. Monarcas - 9:00 PM
Tuesday, July 31
FC Dallas vs. LA Galaxy - 7:00 PM
Chivas vs. Pachuca - 9:00 PM
Wednesday, August 1
DC United vs. Houston Dynamo - 7:00 PM CT
América vs. Monarcas - 9:00 PM
Tuesday - Wednesday, August 14 - 15
Semifinals
Wednesday, August 29
Final
Two more lower league teams dropped two more MLS teams out of the US Open Cup. The Seattle Sounders beat Chivas USA 3-1 to advance to the quarterfinals and will eventually face the Colorado Rapids. The Carolina RailHawks beat Chicago Fire 1-0 and will go on to face the Richmond Kickers in the quarterfinals.
Major League Soccer teams have not fared too well in this years US Open Cup. Only 3 MLS teams have advanced to the quarterfinals while 3 USL-1 and 2 USL-2 teams are in the quarterfinals. The Next round of games takes place on August 10th.
Here are the quarterfinal matchups:
Harrisburg City Islanders
New England Revolution
Richmond Kickers
Carolina RailHawks
FC Dallas
Charleston Battery
Colorado Rapids
Seattle Sounders
The US Open Cup is in full swing tonite.
DC United vs Harrisburg City Islanders
Rochester Raging Rhinos vs New England Revolution
Richmond Kickers vs LA Galaxy
Carolina RailHawks vs Chicago Fire
Atlanta Silverbacks (lost yesterday to) FC Dallas
Charleston Battery vs Houston Dynamo
California Victory vs Colorado Rapids
Seattle Sounders vs Chivas USA
View the brackets at the official US Open Cup website.
Tonite ESPN2 brings us the Brimstone Cup, which I hear is the oldest MLS rivalry or at least oldest one with a trophy. I didn’t even know they had a trophy for this one before today. I suppose this goes back to the days of Dallas Burn. What would be a better title for that cup when it is the Fire versus the Burn?
Well anyway on to the prediction. I suppose the Fire are real pissed off from being the first team to ever lose** to our newest expansion team. I think they’ll probably end up taking it out on FC Dallas at home this evening and score themselves a 3-1 victory.
** I know it sucks to be the first team to let a new team win. In high school my junior year we were pretty weak. It was also the first year that our cross town private school had a varsity soccer team. Their first win ever came at our expense. I still think about that game today…
Tonight Ronald Waterreus set the MLS record for most consecutive shut out minutes to start an MLS career. Later in the game the Red Bulls captured the MLS record for longest shut out streak to start a season at 4 full games and counting. With their next game against Real Salt Lake they have a good chance of really extending this record quite a ways.
FC Dallas had about 2 or 3 times they looked dangerous and threatened Waterreus, otherwise the RBNY defense looked awfully good. The Red Bulls pretty much dominated almost the whole game. For me they look like they could be top class in the East this year. RBNY and Chivas USA have impressed me the most so far this season. How long until those 2 hook up?
And I finally get one right on the Thursday Night Predictions!
1 - 2
Tonite the East leading New York Red Bulls travel to the West leading FC Dallas. ESPN2’s coverage starts at 7pm central.
Both New York and Dallas are doing unexpectadly well so far this year, although the season is very young still.
I’m really liking NY right now, but they should be without Clint Mathis and they are playing at Pizza Hut Park in Dallas, so it is gonna be a tough pick for me.
Last season FC Dallas won this matchup both times they met, so I’m sticking with the Red Bulls to take both this year as they have already beaten FC Dallas 3-0. I imagine the Red Bulls will continue their shut out streak tonite and enjoy another shut out victory over FC Dallas, but only score 2 goals this time. So that is the prediction: NYRB 2 - 0 FC Dallas. Even without Mathis Bruce will get the result he wants.
If you missed it yesterday the first annual Lamar Hunt Pioneer Cup was won by the powerhouse Columbus Crew over lowly FC Dallas. After a scoreless first half Columbus put 3 in the net and shut out FC Dallas for an impressive win by last years worst team over last years western conference champions.
I watched the game on Fox Soccer Channel and was very impressed with the amount of time they dedicated to this match. The game ended and I noticed the TV schedule still had half an hour listed for the game. They interviewed several Crew and even FC Dallas players, both coaches, presented a man of the match trophy and actually talked about the game. There was almost no crowd, but I guess that should be expected for a non-Beckham pre-season game.
I wasn’t able to give my full attention to the game with my almost 3 month old son demainding some attention so I can’t say much about any individual efforts, but it is probably too early to say the Crew are going to make the playoffs this year and FC Dallas aren’t. The Crew have a lot of potential and FC Dallas have a lot of injuries, so who knows.
technorati tags:Columbus-Crew, FC-Dallas, Lamar-Hunt-Pioneer-Cup
Just yesterday it was announced that David Beckham is coming to the MLS, and today there is rumor about Edgar Davids joining up with FC Dallas. Davids spent time Ajax, Juventus, and Barcelona, three of the top teams in their respective leagues, before coming to play for his current club Tottenham in the EPL.
This would be another huge signing for the MLS that I’m sure any FC Dallas fan would be very happy about.
The MLS has steadily improved over the years since it started back in 96, but this new “Beckham’s Rule” could be huge for the growth of the MLS and of soccer in the United States. I always thought I’d live to see the day that soccer challenges other sports for popularity in the US, and when that day comes, we can probably all look back and say it all started when David Beckham and Edgar Davids came to play in the MLS!
Earlier I watched as the Chicago Fire looked like they would cruise into the Eastern Conference semi-finals when they went up 2-0 on aggregate vs the New England Revolution. The Revolution fought back and scored 2 goals to force overtime and eventually a shoot out. Thiago and Guerrero both missed PK’s for the Fire before Taylor Twellman stepped up and scored the game winner. Revolution advance to the semi-finals.
I have not been able to watch the FC Dallas/Colorado Rapids 2nd leg in Dallas tonite, but I’ve been following online. Seems Clint Mathis scored a late goal in extra time to force a shootout, then took and made the first PK. Finally on the 6th shot, Pablo Mastroeni hit the game winning goal to send the Rapids into the Western Conference semi-finals.
