Extreme Makeover Under new format, it's all in for MLS teams in 99th edition of USOC Get ready for a US Open Cup like you’ve never seen it before. The US Soccer Federation on Wednesday unveiled an expanded version of the domestic cup competition which will see all 16 US-based MLS clubs participating, a random selection process for home teams in select rounds and a champion crowned by the first week of August. The MLS qualifying system employed in recent years has been scrapped and all 16 MLS teams eligible for participation – the three Canadian teams play in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship – will join the competition in the third round. A total of 64 teams – a record number in the modern era of the USOC – will feature 32 professional teams, including all six NASL teams and all 10 USL PRO teams, as well as another 32 from the amateur ranks of the USASA (nine qualifiers), PDL (16 qualifiers), NPSL (6.5 qualifiers) and US Club Soccer (0.5 qualifiers). http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/01/11/us-open-cup-gets-facelift-2012-details-announced
2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule: April 29: Qualifying deadline May 15: First Round May 22: Second Round May 29: Third Round June 5: Fourth Round June 26: Quarterfinals July 10: Semifinals Aug. 7 or 8: Final Participating Professional Teams (32 total) Major League Soccer (Division I – 16 teams): Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, LA Galaxy, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC, Sporting Kansas City. North American Soccer League (Division II – 6 teams): Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, NSC Minnesota Stars, San Antonio Scorpions, Tampa Bay Rowdies. USL PRO (Division III – 10 teams): Charleston Battery, Charlotte Eagles, Dayton Dutch Lions, Harrisburg City Islanders, Los Angeles Blues, Orlando City, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Richmond Kickers, Rochester Rhinos, Wilmington Hammerheads. Distribution of Amateur-Level Places (32 total): U.S. Adult Soccer Association Regional Qualifiers – 9 places: USASA regional qualifiers will increase their number of places in the tournament by one compared to 2011. United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League – 16 places: The PDL will have the largest increase in representation among the amateur leagues since 2011, growing from nine slots. National Premier Soccer League – 6.5 places: The NPSL is a national amateur league affiliated with the USASA. In previous years, its teams participated via USASA regional qualifying. US Club Soccer – 0.5 place: U.S. Club Soccer is an organization member of U.S. Soccer. Note: One team from the National Premier Soccer League will face a US Club Soccer representative for the final place in the tournament http://www.nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=1634
The opening portion of the U.S. Open Cup schedule will occur in rapid fashion as the first four rounds take place in back-to-back weeks from May 15 to June 5. The quarterfinals are set for June 26, the semifinals for July 10, and the final for Aug. 7 or 8. The majority of the tournament will have only a minimal overlap with CONCACAF Champions League play. 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule FIRST ROUND - Tuesday, May 15 Jacksonville United (NPSL) at Orlando City U-23s (PDL): Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla.; 7 p.m. ET Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) at FC Sonic (NPSL): Ulrich Sports Complex, Lehigh University; Bethlehem, Pa.; 7:05 p.m. ET Carolina Dynamo (PDL) at Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (USASA): Maryland SoccerPlex Stadium; Boyds, Md.; 7:30 p.m. ET Jersey Shore Boca (USASA) at Michigan Bucks (PDL): Ultimate Soccer; Pontiac, Mich.; 7:30 p.m. ET Mississippi Brilla FC (PDL) at Georgia Revolution (NPSL): RYSA Soccerplex; Conyers, Ga.; 7:30 p.m. ET Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) at GPS Portland Phoenix (PDL): Memorial Field, Deering High School; Portland, Maine; 8 p.m. ET N.Y. Greek Americans (USASA) at Reading United AC (PDL): TBD Croatian Eagles (USASA) at Chicago Fire PDL (PDL): Toyota Park Practice Field; Bridgeview, Ill.; 6 p.m. CT Des Moines Menace (PDL) at Milwaukee Bavarians (NPSL): Bavarian Soccer Park; Glendale, Wis.; 7 p.m. CT ASC New Stars (USASA) at Laredo Heat (PDL): Texas A&M International University; Laredo, Texas; 8:15 p.m. CT K.C. Athletics (USASA) at Real Colorado Foxes (PDL): Shea Stadium; Littleton, Colo.; 7 p.m. MT NTX Rayados (USASA) at El Paso Patriots (PDL): Patriots Stadium; El Paso, Texas; 8 p.m. MT Fresno Fuego (PDL) at Stanislaus United Turlock Express (US Club Soccer): Academica Fields; Turlock, Calif.; 7 p.m. PT USASA Region IV Club (TBD) at Portland Timbers U-23s (PDL): JELD-WEN Field; Portland, Ore.; 7:10 p.m. PT USASA Region IV Club (TBD) at Kitsap Pumas (PDL): Bremerton Memorial Stadium; Bremerton, Wash.; 7:15 p.m. PT Ventura County Fusion (PDL) vs. Fullerton Rangers (NPSL): TBD SECOND ROUND- Tuesday, May 22 Jersey Shore Boca (USASA)/Michigan Bucks (PDL) Winner at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO): Chartiers Valley Stadium; Bridgeville, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET Long Island Rough Riders (PDL)/FC Sonic (NPSL) Winner at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO): Skyline Sports Complex; Harrisburg, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET USASA Region IV Club (TBD)/Kitsap Pumas (PDL) Winner at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL PRO): Legion Sports Complex; Wilmington, N.C.; 7 p.m. ET USASA Region IV Club (TBD)/Portland Timbers U-23s (PDL) Winner at Carolina RailHawks (NASL): WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.; 7:07 p.m. ET Fresno Fuego (PDL)/Stanislaus United Turlock Express (US Club Soccer) Winner at Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL): Lockhart Stadium; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET K.C. Athletics (USASA)/Real Colorado Foxes (PDL) Winner at Orlando City Soccer Club (USL PRO): Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET N.Y. Greek Americans (USASA)/Reading United AC (PDL) Winner at Charleston Battery (USL PRO): Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.; 7:30 p.m. ET Brooklyn Italians (NPSL)/GPS Portland Phoenix (PDL) Winner at Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO): Sahlen's Stadium; Rochester, N.Y.; 7:35 p.m. ET Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) at Jacksonville United (NPSL): Patton Park; Jacksonville, Fla.; 7 p.m. ET OR Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) at Orlando City U-23s (PDL): Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla.; 1 p.m. ET Carolina Dynamo (PDL) at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO): Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Va.; 7 p.m. ET OR Richmond Kickers (USL PRO) at Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (USASA): Maryland SportsPlex Stadium; Boyds, Md.; 7:30 p.m. ET Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) at Georgia Revolution (NPSL): RYSA Soccerplex; Conyers, Ga.; 7:30 p.m. ET OR Mississippi Brilla FC (PDL) at Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL): Atlanta Silverbacks Park; Atlanta, Ga.; 7:30 p.m. ET ASC New Stars (USASA)/Laredo Heat (PDL) Winner at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL): Heroes Stadium; San Antonio, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) at Chicago Fire PDL (PDL): Toyota Park Practice Field; Bridgeview, Ill.; 6 p.m. CT OR Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) vs. Croatian Eagles (USASA): TBD Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) at Des Moines Menace (PDL): Valley Stadium; Des Moines, Iowa; 7:30 p.m. CT OR Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) at Milwaukee Bavarians (NPSL): Bavarian Soccer Park; Glendale, Wis.; 7 p.m. CT Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at NTX Rayados (USASA):Richland College; Dallas, Texas; 8 p.m. CT OR Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at El Paso Patriots (PDL): Patriots Stadium; El Paso, Texas; 8 p.m. MT Ventura County Fusion (PDL)/Fullerton Rangers (NPSL) Winner at Los Angeles Blues (USL PRO): Titan Stadium, Cal-State Fullerton; Fullerton, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT http://www.nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=2191
USOC: MLS clubs learn 3rd-round pairings set for next week All 16 US-based MLS clubs learned their opening match-ups in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup after Tuesday night's second round was played. The third-round single-elimination matches will be played between Tuesday, May 29 and Wednesday, May 30. Half the MLS teams will be hosting matches, while another half will take to the road with the longest trips set to be logged by the MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy, who travel to North Carolina, while the Colorado Rapids go all the way to St. Petersburg, Fla. US OPEN CUP 3RD ROUND Tuesday, May 29 7 pm ET: D.C. United at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO) -- Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Va. 7 pm ET: NE Revolution at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO) -- Skyline Sports Complex; Harrisburg, Pa. 7 pm ET: LA Galaxy at Carolina RailHawks (NASL) -- WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C. 7:30 pm ET: Chicago Fire at Michigan Bucks (PDL) -- Ultimate Soccer; Pontiac, Mich. 7:30 pm ET: Colorado Rapids at Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) -- Al Lang Stadium; St. Petersburg, Fla. 7:30 pm ET: Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) at Columbus Crew -- Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio 7:30 pm ET: New York Red Bulls at Charleston Battery (USL PRO) -- Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C. 7:30 pm ET: Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) at Philadelphia Union -- PPL Park; Chester, Pa. 8:30 pm ET: Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at FC Dallas -- FC Dallas Stadium; Frisco, Texas 8:30 pm ET: Houston Dynamo at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL) -- Heroes Stadium; San Antonio, Texas 8:30 pm ET: Orlando City (USL PRO) at Sporting KC -- LIVESTRONG Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan. 9 pm ET: Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) at Real Salt Lake -- Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah 10 pm ET: Chivas USA at Ventura County Fusion (PDL) -- Ventura College; Ventura, Calif. 10:30 pm ET: Ft. Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) at SJ Earthquakes -- Cagan Stadium; Stanford, Calif. Wednesday, May 30 10 pm ET: Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) at Seattle Sounders -- Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Wash. 10:30 pm ET: Cal FC (USASA) at Portland Timbers -- JELD-WEN Field; Portland, Ore. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...lubs-learn-third-round-pairings-set-next-week
USOC Roundup: 7 MLS sides tumble in third-round action It was a grim night for many MLS sides in US Open Cup play, as seven of the 14 sides in action were knocked out by lower-league opposition at the first time of asking. New England, LA, Chicago, Columbus, FC Dallas, Houston and Real Salt Lake will all watch the rest of the competition unfold from the sidelines, while D.C. and San Jose also endured close calls, but emerged with victories. However, a few teams, notably Philadelphia and New York, enjoyed comfortable wins, and will look forward to fourth-round action in a week's time. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/05/29/2012-us-open-cup-live-scoreboard
SCHEDULE - Round 4 Date/Time Home Team/Away Team Location June 5, 2012 7:07 pm Carolina RailHawks (NASL) v. Chivas USA WakeMed Soccer Park 7:30 pm Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO) v. New York Red Bulls Skyline Sports Complex 7:30 pm D.C. United v. Philadelphia Union Maryland SoccerPlex 7:30 pm Michigan Bucks (PDL) v. Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) Ultimate Soccer Arena 8:30 pm Sporting Kansas City v. Colorado Rapids Livestrong Sporting Park 8:30 pm San Antonio Scorpions (NASL) v. Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) Heroes Stadium 10:30 pm Seattle Sounders FC v. Cal FC (USASA) Starfire Sports Complex 11:00 pm San Jose Earthquakes v. Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) Cagan Stadium
USOC Roundup: Seattle thump Cal FC; RBNY fall again Tuesday night's US Open Cup fourth round provided more than its fair share of late dramatics, including a stoppage-time winer, another extra-time scoring outburst, and the three-time defending champs bringing Cinderella's ball to a painful end. Here's how the evening went... http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/06/05/usoc-live-fourth-round-commentary-kicks-7-pm-et
U.S. Soccer News Release -- www.ussoccer.com Thursday, June 21, 2012 CHICAGO – U.S. Soccer has announced the semifinal possible pairings and locations for the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Results from the quarterfinal round of play next Tuesday, June 26, will determine the matchups for the semifinals taking place on Tuesday, July 10, and Wednesday, July 11. The remaining eight-team field consists of five MLS (Division I) teams – three-time defending champion Seattle Sounders FC, Chivas USA, the Philadelphia Union, San Jose Earthquakes and Sporting Kansas City. The other three organizations represent USL PRO (Division III) – the Charlotte Eagles, Dayton Dutch Lions and Harrisburg City Islanders, which are shooting for their third straight win against an MLS side when they visit the in-state Union at PPL Park in Chester, Pa. QUARTERFINALS – Tuesday, June 26 Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO) at Philadelphia Union (MLS): PPL Park; Chester, Pa.; 7:30 p.m. ET Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) at Sporting Kansas City (MLS): LIVESTRONG Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.; 7:30 p.m. CT Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at Chivas USA (MLS): Titan Stadium, Cal State Fullerton^; Fullerton, Calif.^; 7:30 p.m. PT Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) at San Jose Earthquakes (MLS): Kezar Stadium; San Francisco, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT ^ Note: Changed from original June 2 announcement
USOC Roundup: MLS teams through, Sounders top Quakes June 26 7:30 pm Philadelphia Union 5-2 Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO) PPL Park June 26 8:30 pm Sporting Kansas City 3-0 Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) Livestrong Sporting Park June 26 10:30 pm Chivas USA 2-1 Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) Titan Stadium June 26 10:30 pm San Jose Earthquakes 0-1 Seattle Sounders FC Kezar Stadium http://www.mlssoccer.com/us-open-cup
One Step Closer Sporting KC defeat Union 2-0, will host USOC final at LSP http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-07-11-phi-v-skc/recap Fantastic Fourth Sounders slam Chivas to earn fourth straight USOC final berth http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-07-11-sea-v-chv/recap
