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U.S. Open Cup semifinals: Your Running Commentary

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By night's end, the final of the 2011 U.S. Open Cup will be set.

The Chicago Fire and Richmond Kickers square off in a battle of unlikely semifinal participants who are both looking to maintain their surprising runs (8:30 p.m., live stream on Chicago-Fire.com). The Kickers are the last non-MLS team remaining in the field and will look to beat their third straight MLS opponent, although the Fire enter the match in good form as winners of two straight games.

In the nightcap, two MLS Western Conference powers do battle for a spot in the final as the Seattle Sounders host FC Dallas (10 p.m., live stream on SoundersFC.com). Both teams have been coping with schedule congestion, but both will be amped up in hopes of getting a step closer to potentially sealing a place in the 2012-2013 CONCACAF Champions League.

If you will be watching Tuesday's U.S. Open Cup semifinals, please feel free to share any thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below. Enjoy the action.

Comments

  1. Well, I think part of the “national-ness” of Wembley is that no club plays their league matches there. The stadium belongs to the nation.

    That said, I think the Clink would be a pro-US crowd against any country with a potential exception of Mexico, but I dunno. Football talk at my office is Sounders, not USMNT.

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  2. With all due respect, why do we need a Wembley?

    England is a small country and London is the capital as well as the largest urban area–by a large stretch. Even folks who don’t cheer for London teams must feel a connection to the city due to its role in the nation.

    You think Ives feels that way about Seattle? Or Joe Blow in Philly? Or any typical MLS or USMNT fan?

    Don’t get me wrong–I’m a Sounders STH and love this town. But it does feel a little isolated up here sometimes. It’s a long way to pretty much anything except Portland and Vancouver, which goes a long way towards explaining the rivalry.

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  3. All fair points-especially the stadium district one, obviously being in an urban setting like that is a big deal.

    My question then is, is Century good enough as a stadium to become the US’ Wembley?

    Demographically and support-wise, could you guys get a majority/super-majority US crowd to games, even against small Central American countries?

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  4. Seattle has Stadium district, an entire district of the city built around the two stadiums. Bars, restaurants, public transpo, parking, everything is built around Qwest and Safeco.

    There’s not room for another stadium in Stadium district and building anywhere else would make the gameday experience much worse. We have a “SSS” (Soccer SPECIFIC stadium). We do not have an “SOS” (Soccer ONLY Stadium).

    Plus, our goal is to sell out Qwest for MLS matches, not downsize.

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  5. The only valid point is the turf.

    I assume you have never been there.

    CLink is the best stadium in the world. I have been to over 100 soccer games there, it is an awesome stadium.

    They will build The Starfire Complex to seat more than 4.5 thousand very soon. I hope they don’t go too small. Make it 15,000 or so, rather than 7,000.

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  6. I think we’re a good match. Any given game, either of these two can win.

    I’m expecting them in the playoffs. Kinda sucks because one of the two best teams will be out too soon, but it’s gonna be one helluva series.

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  7. classy move directed at a REAL Seattle homegrown product.. who was also the best player on the pitch for the last 45+min.

    why wasnt he starting Schellas? damn

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