Top Stories

U.S. Soccer announces fourth-round draw for U.S. Open Cup

USOPENCUPGF100113186

By RYAN TOLMICH

The games that make up the third round of the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup have yet to be played, but the dates for the fourth round contests have already been decided.

U.S. Soccer announced on Tuesday the potential match-ups that will happen in the competition’s fourth round, which will take place June 10-18. The third round games are scheduled to take place next week.

The fourth round will feature the entry of the 16 American-based MLS sides, each of which will be matched with a winner from the third round. As for hosting privileges, venue was determined based on a random draw among teams whose stadiums met minimum tournament requirements.

Potential highlights include the Colorado Rapids taking on Orlando City ahead of the Lions’ MLS move, the Seattle Sounders taking on LA Galaxy II and a potential New York clash between the Red Bulls and the Cosmos.

Here’s a list of the potential match-ups for next month’s fourth round:

June 11 – N.Y. Greek American Atlas (USASA) at New England Revolution (MLS) – Stevenson Field (Brown University); Providence, R.I.

OR

June 18 – New England Revolution (MLS) at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO) – Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Va.

 

June 11 – Brooklyn Italians SC (NPSL) at New York Red Bulls (MLS) – Red Bull Arena

OR

June 14 – New York Red Bulls (MLS) at New York Cosmos (NASL) – Shuart Stadium (Hofstra University); Hempstead, N.Y.

 

June 10 – Baltimore Bohemians (PDL) at Philadelphia Union (MLS) – PPL Park

OR

June 17 – Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO) at Philadelphia Union (MLS) – PPL Park

 

June 17 – D.C. United (MLS) at Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) – Sahlen’s Stadium; Rochester, N.Y.

OR

June 17 – Reading United A.C. (PDL) at D.C. United (MLS) – Maryland SoccerPlex; Boyds, Md.

 

June 17 – Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) / Indy Eleven (NASL) winner at Columbus Crew (MLS) – FirstEnergy Stadium (Univ. of Akron); Akron, Ohio

 

TBD – RWB Adria (USASA) at Chicago Fire (MLS) – Toyota Park; Bridgeview, Ill.

OR

June 18 – Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO) at Chicago Fire (MLS) – Toyota Park; Bridgeview, Ill.

 

June 18 – Minnesota United FC (NASL) / Des Moines Menace (USASA) winner at Sporting Kansas City (MLS) – Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.

 

June 11 – Laredo Heat (PDL) / Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) winner at Houston Dynamo (MLS) – BBVA Compass Stadium; Houston, Texas

 

June 14 – NTX Rayados (USASA) / San Antonio Scorpions (NASL) winner at FC Dallas (MLS) – Toyota Stadium; Frisco, Texas

 

June 11 – Oklahoma City Energy FC (USL PRO) at LA Galaxy (MLS) – StubHub Center; Carson, Calif.

OR

June 18 – LA Galaxy (MLS) at Arizona United SC (USL PRO) – Peoria Sports Complex; Peoria, Ariz.

 

June 11 – Fresno Fuego (PDL) / Sacramento Republic (USL PRO) winner at San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) – Kezar Stadium; San Francisco, Calif.

 

June 14 – Chivas USA (MLS) at Carolina RailHawks (NASL) – WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.

OR

June 17 – Chivas USA (MLS) at Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) – Alumni Soccer Stadium (Davidson College); Davidson, N.C.

 

June 11 – PSA Elite (USASA) at Seattle Sounders (MLS) – Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Wash.

OR

June 18 – Seattle Sounders (MLS) at LA Galaxy II (USL PRO) – StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium; Carson, Calif.

 

June 14 – Real Salt Lake (MLS) at Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) – Atlanta Silverbacks Park; Chamblee, Ga.

OR

June 18 – Real Salt Lake (MLS) at Chattanooga FC (NPSL) – Finley Stadium; Chattanooga, Tenn.

 

June 17 – Orlando City U23s (PDL) at Portland Timbers (MLS) – Providence Park; Portland, Ore.

OR

June 18 – Portland Timbers (MLS) at Charleston Battery (USL PRO) – Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.

 

June 10 – Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) at Colorado Rapids (MLS) – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park; Commerce City, Colo.

OR

June 17 – Orlando City (USL PRO) at Colorado Rapids (MLS) – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park; Commerce City, Colo.

—-

What do you think of the match-ups? Which potential games excite you? Plan to attend any?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I say, invite Sunderland, let them play for the U.S. Open Cup. They would win. If not Sunderland, then Reading from the 2nd tier, they would win too.

    Look, I understand, I too want the U.S. to become a world player, but putting your head into the sand is not doing anything but hurting us. I don’t know, maybe it is because we have the Super Bowl, no other team in the world can compete, maybe it is because we have the World Series, no other baseball team in the world can compete (as long as we keep Japan out) that a lot of us think as we do, and we show it, in our posts here.

    I am sorry to tell you, soccer is not american football or baseball, it is something more. Being an american, it is difficult for me to say this, but I must. I think we fans stink, we are smug in talking about soccer, knowing it will always be a 3rd rate sport, and we can get away with our outrageous statements.

    But I have news for you, in mid-February a deal was struck, Now we will see what happens next, won’t we?

    Reply
  2. I love the idea of the USOC. However, it is just handled so poorly. How is it that the two finalist from last year have to enter the competition so early and on the road no less?

    Similar tournaments around the world work to have the best teams play in the meaningful rounds. The contenders from previous seasons should be rewarded. It is ridiculous that RSL or DCU have to play in Round 4 but so much worse that they have to play on the road.

    Reply
    • Are you kidding? Tournaments around the world have a “draw” where they pull the match ups out of a hat. The two best teams could meet in an early round. Think FA Cup.

      Reply
    • You can’t blame home/road assignments on the organizers. If the MLS teams cared about playing at home they’d bid more for it. Evidently they don’t think it’s an issue.

      Reply
  3. What would a Union vs Harrisburg City Islanders mean? They’re about half Union contracted players. Is everyone eligible for them? Can the Union recall players to keep them out of that game?

    Reply
      • Happened last year too – so weird. The Union have at least 4 guys on loan in Hburg at any given time (and there are more than half a dozen guys who were drafted, signed, or kept on trial for a while with the U in the squad). If a player appears in the USOC for one side or the other, they are tied to that team for the rest of the tournament. McLaughlin had an assist in the last round, so I know he’s tied to the City Islanders. I don’t know if he played in the last round, but I think Hernandez is officially there on a full year loan instead of the flexible deal they used last year (and are using this year with Marquez, Ribeiro, White, etc.). It just seems to me like there are enough other local teams that this match up could be avoided – just like how they avoided LA Galaxy vs LA Galaxy II, DC United vs Richmond Kickers, and New England Revolution vs Rochester Rhinos.

  4. Home game for the Cosmos against the Red Bulls (if it happens that way). I wonder if the Red Bulls will use their first-team?

    Reply
    • Cahill and Miller will be playing at the world cup and Henry will be doing English TV for the world cup so it won’t be the first team regardless.

      Reply
    • Really Silverback fan, you are being wronged here? RSL is a powerhouse team that was in the final last year and has to go on the road this early in the competition. You really think you are the one that has the beef?

      It is so ridiculous that perhaps the best team in the NASL and the best in the MLS will meet so early in the competition. This draw is the perfect example of how one of the oldest and most prestigious tournaments in world soccer has become a joke due to mismanagement.

      Reply
      • Don’t count out Chattanooga! They have a great venue and support. It will be an epic upset!

Leave a Comment