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Potential pairings for U.S. Open Cup semifinal round revealed

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By DAN KARELL

The potential semifinal pairings for the 101st addition of the U.S. Open Cup have been released, and it includes the likelihood that a North American Soccer League club could host a semifinal game.

Out of the eight teams remaining in the tournament, only four clubs will host in the next round, including the Carolina RailHawks. If the RailHawks defeat FC Dallas in the quarterfinals, they’d host either the New England Revolution or the Philadelphia Union at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.

In the other potential semifinals scenarios, FC Dallas would host either the Revolution or Union, and the winner of the Chicago Fire and Atlanta Silverbacks matchup will visit either the Portland Timbers or Seattle Sounders, depending on who wins that game. If the Sounders win, the match would be played at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash.

The semifinal matches will take place on Aug. 12 or 13, after the quarterfinal round taking place on July 8-9. The final of the U.S. Open Cup will take place on either Sept. 30 or Oct. 1. U.S. Soccer’s “Game of the Round” will be the Sounders vs. Portland matchup.

Here’s a closer look at the potential semifinal pairings:

2014 U.S. OPEN CUP POTENTIAL SEMIFINAL ROUND PAIRINGS

Aug. 12

8 p.m. CT – Philadelphia Union (MLS) at FC Dallas (MLS) – Toyota Stadium; Frisco, Texas

or

Aug. 13

8 p.m. CT – New England Revolution (MLS) at FC Dallas (MLS) – Toyota Stadium; Frisco, Texas

or

Aug. 12

7:30 p.m. ET – Philadelphia Union (MLS) at Carolina RailHawks (NASL) – WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.

or

Aug. 13

7:30 p.m. ET – New England Revolution (MLS) at Carolina RailHawks (NASL) – WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.

Aug. 13

7:30 p.m. PT – Chicago Fire (MLS) / Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) winner at Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)

Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Wash.

or

Aug. 13

7:30 p.m. PT – Chicago Fire (MLS) / Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) winner at Portland Timbers (MLS) – Providence Park; Portland, Ore.

Comments

    • This is a joke, right? You realize Carolina hasn’t lost at home for something like 3 million years? Including an Open Cup match against a fully stocked Galaxy with Keane and Donovan? And their benchwarmers just took out LigaMX side Puebla FC in a friendly (they were resting their starters for Dallas).

      Reply
  1. Alright, I know that comment about Ann Coulter was f*ing crazy, though seriously, she sucks. Making blanket statements that nobody who’s great grandfather was born here is watching soccer is so moronic. What would lead someone to make a comment like that? That p*sses me off, man.

    Reply
    • Wrong, bro. We will destroy Chicago and then (hopefully if they win) head up to Seattle to get some get-back for their kicking us outta the Cup in 2012. Then one more MLS lackey club to embarrass after that and it’s ATL in tha CCL, baby!

      (Can’t wait til the ATL MLS club loses their first Open Cup match to us. Just counting the days til 2017… )

      Reply
      • Your team will come to Starfire and the players will do their best to impress the Sounders coaching staff . Most likely you will all go home losers

      • Um, I am not saying they would beat the Sounders, but Atlanta hasn’t seemed too worried so far about “impressing” the opponent’s coaching staff. If that’s what you’re anticipating, you’re in for a rude awakening. (Let’s just say they’re going in with more of a punk rock attitude.)

      • Just saying they have the longest odds to the final.

        If they can beat Chicago w/o Poku, Chavez, Carr and both of coaches then I’ll believe!

      • How ATL beat RSL:

        Commentator: And the Dutch have done it! Beating the World Champs 5-1 in Group B of the World Cup!

        Cassar (in the lockerroom): He fellas, Eric Wynalda is on the phone. He is wondering when we are going to be in Atlanta?

        Findley: We’re going to Atlanta?

        Cassar: Yeah, I guess we must have schedule a scrimmage against them during the World Cup break. Who wants to go?

        Cassar: We can’t back out now, so anyone who isn’t injured grab your gear.

        (in Atlanta)

        Wynalda: Coach, welcome to Atlanta. You showed up a little late for this US Open Cup match.

        Cassar: US what what?

        Wynalda: US Open Cup? The competition NASL teams try desperately to win each year while MLS teams avoid it?

        Cassar: Oh, the “Darn, I need to field a team but I have more important games to worry about” Cup. We were watching the World Cup.

        Wynalda: Ok, well, good luck.

        Cassar: I guess.

      • I personally find it hilarious when an MLS team loses to a lower division team. Portland losing to Cal FC is a personal favorite. That doesn’t prove anything for the NASL or USL squads, it only shows how little the MLS teams regard this silly tournament.

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