Real Salt Lake had another impressive victory at home last night in their US Open Cup play-in game vs expansion San Jose EarthQuakes. Kyle Beckerman notched the first two goals of the game. After that Yura Movsisyan and Andy Williams each got a goal of their own to complete a 4-0 demolition of the EarthQuakes.
This sends Real Salt Lake to Columbus for their next Open Cup qualifying game. The winner of that game then plays at Chicago Fire in a winner qualifies, loser out game.
Some MLS teams are about to start playing some qualifying games for the 2008 US Open Cup. The teams are organized based on their final standings in the league at the end of last year. This is how it breaks down:
Already In:
- DC United
- Chivas USA
- Houston Dynamo
- New England Revolution
- FC Dallas
- New York Red Bulls
The other teams have to win their way in - some teams have to win more than others (the winner of the bolded games qualify for the US Open Cup):
1. San Jose EarthQuakes vs. Real Salt Lake
2. (Winner #1) vs Columbus Crew
3. (Winner #2) vs Chicago Fire
4. Colorado Rapids vs LA Galaxy
5. (Winner #4) vs Kansas City Wizards
So the Wizards and Fire only have one game to win to get in. Colorado, LA, and the Crew have to win 2. San Jose and Real Salt Lake need 3 consecutive victories to qualify.
That first game between San Jose and Salt Lake is taking place tonight - but unfortunately it doesn’t look like it is going to be televised anywhere.
The New England Revolution got goals from Pat Noonan, Taylor Twellman and Wells Thompson to top FC Dallas in tonite’s US Open Cup. FC Dallas scored goals by Arturo Alvarez and Abe Thompson.
This is the first major trophy for the New England Revolution. They have been runners up in both the US Open Cup and the MLS Cup several times. The Revolution could be one of the favorites to get the double this year as they are having a strong regular season, but trail DC United in the east standings.
Both semi-finals featured MLS teams against USL teams and both of the games went into extra time.
First the New England Revolution needed an extra time goal before they ended the run of the Carolina RailHawks with a 2-1 score. Later FC Dallas took the Seattle Sounders to overtime before also winning 2-1.
The New England Revolution will travel to FC Dallas home Pizza Hut Park on October 3rd for the final.
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?
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
Another lower league team has dumped another MLS team out of the US Open Cup. This time it is DC United that fell to the Harrisburg City Islanders 1-0.
This leaves 3 USL-1 teams alive in the tournament and 2 USL-2 teams. Already qualified for the quarter-finals are 3 MLS teams, 2 USL-2 teams and one USL-1 team.
Still to play in the round of 16 is Seattle Sounders (USL-1) vs Chiavs USA, and the Carolina RailHawks (USL-1) vs. Chicago Fire.
Four MLS team were in action tonite, only half of those teams advanced to the quarterfinals. The Galaxy and Dynamo fell to the Richmond Kickers and Charleston Battery respectively. The Colorado Rapids and New England Revolution each won their games by a two goal margin over thier USL opponents.
3 - 1
0 - 1
4 - 2
0 - 1
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.
The Columbus Crew are out of the US Open Cup at the hands of the Galaxy. Landon Donovan hooked up with Nate Jaqua for Jaquas first goal of the season and the game winner in the 1-0 victory for the Galaxy.
The Crew suffer the same fate as the Kansas City Wizards already have this year dropping out of the USOC early. Maybe it will allow them to focus on league play a little bit more. If last year is any sign of things to come, both of these teams will need that extra time to focus on league play.
