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U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals: A Look Ahead

ValenciaWoodberry (Getty)

By THOMAS FLOYD

FC Dallas didn’t have to wait long for an opportunity to exact revenge against the Portland Timbers.

Just 11 days after Portland defeated Dallas 1-0 in a league match at Jeld-Wen Field, the clubs will meet again Wednesday at FC Dallas Stadium in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals.

The match is one of two fixtures Wednesday pitting MLS clubs against each other in the 100-year-old tournament, with D.C. United hosting the New England Revolution in the other.

The other two matchups are David and Goliath encounters, with the second-tier Carolina RailHawks traveling to face Real Salt Lake and third-division Orlando City trying to continue its Cinderella run with a win at the Chicago Fire.

Here is a rundown of the quarterfinal slate:

D.C. UNITED vs. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (Wednesday, 7 p.m.)

After playing to a scoreless draw at New England earlier this month, the longtime Eastern Conference foes will meet again at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds. While the Revolution are 5-1-1 in their past seven games overall and United have the worst record in MLS, the D.C. side is coming off its first league win since March 9.

Look for United, whose regular season has become a lost cause, to play a full-strength lineup including captain Dwayne De Rosario, who had a hat trick in a round of 16 win over Philadelphia and was rested for United’s league triumph over Vancouer on Saturday.

CHICAGO FIRE vs. ORLANDO CITY (Wednesday, 8:30 p.m.)

On-loan striker Dom Dwyer, who had to sit out Orlando’s round of 16 upset because it came against parent club Sporting Kansas City, will return to the lineup for Orlando, which tops the USL Pro table with a 10-1-2 record and also eliminated the Colorado Rapids from the Open Cup.

While Dwyer tops the third tier with 15 goals, Chicago’s Mike Magee is tied for the MLS lead with 10 tallies. Since joining the Fire in a trade with Los Angeles, Magee has scored in all six matches spanning MLS and Open Cup play.

FC DALLAS vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS (Wednesday, 9 p.m.)

Portland, which hasn’t lost a game on the road in 2013, will put that mark to the test against a Dallas team that is one point back of the Timbers for first in the Western Conference. While Dallas defeated Houston in the Open Cup round of 16, the Timbers are facing their first MLS opponent of the tournament.

Both teams offer plenty of depth, which should help produce an entertaining matchup even if certain starters are rested. Although Portland has the weekend off from league play, Dallas has a clash with the Philadelphia Union around the corner.

REAL SALT LAKE vs. CAROLINA RAILHAWKS (Wednesday, 9:30 p.m.)

At first place in the NASL with a 5-1-4 record, Carolina should provide a tough test to Salt Lake after having already knocked off the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA. With eight goals, Carolina’s Brian Shriver tops the second division.

Boasting a 6-0-1 record in its past seven matches spanning all competitions, Salt Lake will want to continue its winning ways and secure the Open Cup semifinal berth that has eluded the proud organization over the past decade.

Comments

  1. Nagbe’s goal tonight vs Dallas was just freakish. If he’d try that once or twice a game instead of once or twice a season he’s be the MLS version of Messi.

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  2. Dallas should learn to stop fouling Nagbe persistently. He doesn’t get dejected or taken out of the game, he gets mad and looks to punish with a goal.

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  3. I expect the guy doing the Fire broadcast to break out “and boom goes the dynamite” at any moment. He…..well, he needs to work on some things.

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  4. Why don’t the Big Boys (MLS) have to travel to the Minnows (2nd/3rd/Amateur)?

    Having Carolina travel across the country to play a superior team puts them at a HUGE disadvantage! Not to mention that it offers them a short recovery for the CRUCIAL game they have this weekend.

    Doesn’t it benefit the Soccer landscape to have the Big Boys travel to parts of the country where they rarely visit? This could have big financial implications and lasting impact for growing the game in these smaller markets.

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    • Is this your first time here?

      There’s a process of bidding and coin-flips that essentially determines who hosts. It’s not always the minnows going to the big boys. In fact, if either Orlando or Carolina wins this round, both would host an MLS team in the semifinals.

      Point being, they don’t just give it to the MLS teams

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    • Seriously? If you are so aware of Carolinas schedule I would think you would know that the reason they have made it this far is because in the last 2 rounds they HOSTED MLS teams from Los Angeles.

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  5. Huge week for the Railhawks … a USOC QF game tonight and a home game Saturday where they could clinch the 1st half championship with a victory. They’ll be playing hard tonight, but facing a fierce challenge (then again, Charleston managed a 2-0 lead at RSL in the last round).

    Reply

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