Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2) at New England Revolution (MLS)
Where - Veterans Stadium, Willow Brook Park - New Britain, Conn.
When - 7:00 PM
Broadcast: Online Radio (New England)
Previews: RevolutionSoccer.net / CrystalPalaceUSA.com
Recent Form
After defeating the Richmond Kickers 3-0 in the third round, the New England Revolution defeated the MLS Western Conference leading Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 on the road behind two goals from Adam Cristman to improve to a league best 10-4-3. Crystal Palace Baltimore has not played since their 2-0 upset win over the New York Red Bulls.
Previous Meetings
This is the first ever meeting between these two clubs.
Did you know?
Ibrahim Kante of Crystal Palace Baltimore played for the New England Revolution in 2003, only appearing in two games, but did make an appearance in the Revs’ quarterfinal loss to the Metrostars that year. He will not be on the field as Crystal Palace Baltimore take on his former club because he is serving his one-game suspension for the red card that he received in the 35th minute of Palace’s 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls in the third round. Kante’s brother, Daouda, played three seasons with New England from 2002-2004 (26 GP, 24 GS, 1 goal scored, 6 playoff starts)
Open Cup History
New England is the defending Open Cup champion, having won their first trophy of any kind last year in a 3-2 win over FC Dallas. Prior to that title, their success in the tournament was limited to a run to the 2001 final where they lost to the Los Angeles Galaxy in extra time. Outside of the 2001 and 2007 tournaments, the Revs have only won two games, both coming against the Rochester Rhinos (one of them is officially a draw, with New England advancing on penalty kicks in the fourth round in 2006).
NER Overall Open Cup record: 10-6-2 (38 GF, 25 GA, 1-1 PKs, 1-4 AET)
Record vs. USL-2: 1-0-0 (2 GF, 1 GA, 0-0 PKs, 0-0 AET)
Crystal Palace Baltimore are only in their second season and are making up for a disappointing Open Cup debut last year. In 2007, they were upset in the first round 1-0 by the Ocean City Barons of the Premier Development League.
CPB Overall Open Cup record: 2-1-1 (6 GF, 4 GA, 1-0 PKs, 0-0 AET)
Record vs. MLS: 1-0-0 (2 GF, 0 GA, 0-0 PKs, 0-0 AET)
League Leaders
New England: Adam Cristman and Steve Ralston T-5th in MLS Goals (6); Ralston 1st in Game Winning Goals (4), T-1st in Game Winning Assists, T-9th in Assists (6); Cristman 7th in Shots (21); Jeff Larentowicz 7th in Fouls Committed (25), T-7th in Fouls Suffered (29); Mauricio Castro T-10th in Fouls Suffered (27), 6th in Goals Scored (4); Matt Reis 3rd in MLS GAA (1.12), T-2nd in GK Shutouts (5), 2nd in Saves (65) , 2nd in Save Percentage (74.7)
CP Baltimore: Gary Brooks 2nd in USL-2 Goals Scored (6), 4th in Points (13), 10th in Fouls Committed (20); Patrick Healey 12th in Points (8)
Chicago Fire (MLS) at DC United (MLS)
Where - Maryland SoccerPlex - Boyds, Md.
When - 7:30 PM
Broadcast - English & Spanish language radio (DCU)
Previews: MLSnet.com
Recent Form
Chicago and D.C. United are headed in opposite directions in the MLS Eastern Conference standings. The Fire have not won a league game since May 25, and are 1-4-3 in their last eight games. D.C. have been red-hot in MLS play, holding a 6 game unbeaten streak since losing four in a row at the beginning of May. United have outscored opponents 18-8 in their run.
Previous Meetings
D.C. and Chicago have only met once in U.S. Open Cup play, a 3-0 win for the Fire in the 2006 semifinals. Calen Carr scored twice to propel the Fire to what would be their fourth championship. More recently, the two clubs met on May 8 of this year, with the Fire coming out on top 2-0, through goals from Justin Mapp and Cuauhtemoc Blanco. Chicago holds the advantage over D.C. in all competitions with a 17-12-10 record. In meetings of other notable competitions, Chicago won their first MLS Cup in 1998 vs. D.C. (2-0). The teams played to a 2-2 draw in the CONCACAF Champions Cup third place game. Finally, D.C. adn Chicago have met three times in the MLS Cup Playoffs (2003, 2005 & 2007), with Chicago coming out on top each time.
Open Cup History
Chicago’s Open Cup pedigree speaks for itself: Four championships, one runner-up, and two semifinal appearances since their debut in 1998. In fact, the three times the Fire did not make at least a semifinal appearance, they exited the tournament after one game.
CHI Overall Open Cup record: 25-6-2 (65 GF, 28 GA, 2-0 PKs, 6-2 AET)
Record vs. MLS: 15-3-1 (37 GF, 18 GA, 1-0 PKs, 4-2 AET)
D.C. United won the first U.S. Open Cup to involve MLS clubs in 1996, and after a return to the final in 1997 they have not made it as far since. They have made three semifinal appearances (2001, 2003 & 2005) since. Perhaps their most legendary Open Cup appearance resulted in a loss. In 1999, United fell to the Charleston Battery 4-3 in extra time in their opening cup match. Some of United’s players were so incensed after the game, they ripped up showerheads and broke two coffee pots. Since 2004, the supporters of both clubs present the winning group with a coffee pot full of beer when the clubs meet.
DCU Overall Open Cup record: 17-7-3 (54 GF, 25 GA, 1-2 PKs, 2-2 AET)
Record vs. MLS: 5-4-2 (17 GF, 14 GA, 0-2 PKs, 1-1 AET)
League Leaders
Chicago: Cuauhtemoc Blanco 3rd-T in MLS Assists (6); Jon Busch 1st in MLS Goals Against Average (0.93), 1st in Saves (71), 2nd-T in GK Shutouts (5)
D.C. United: Luciano Emilio 2nd-T in MLS Goals Scored (10) 4th in Shots (44); Jamie Moreno 3rd-T in MLS Assists (6)
Charleston Battery (USL-1) at FC Dallas (MLS)
Where - Pizza Hut Park - Frisco, Texas
When - 8:30 PM
Broadcast: Video (FC Dallas)
Radio (no webcast): REAL 1340AM WQSC (Charleston)
Previews: MLSnet.com / CharlestonBattery.com
Recent Form
Charleston keeps on rolling in the USL First Division. On July 5, the Battery defeated fellow USOC quarterfinalists Seattle 1-0 at home on a Lazo Alavanja goal in the 10th minute. The win puts Charleston five points clear of Vancouver for first place in the USL-1. The Battery have only lost twice since the beginning of May, at home to Vancouver (2-0 on May 28) and away at Montreal (1-0 on June 7). It was Abe Thompson to the rescue again for FC Dallas. After scoring two stoppage time goals to lift his club past Miami FC in the third round of the Open Cup, Thompson scored in second half stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 draw with Kansas City on July 4. While FC Dallas have slipped near the bottom of the MLS Western Conference standings (6th), they are only three points behind first place Los Angeles. FC Dallas are 1-4-2 since the beginning of June
Previous Meetings
This is the third year in a row these clubs will met in the U.S. Open Cup, and both were thrillers. The first was the 2006 fourth round, which Dallas escaped with a penalty kick win after a 3-3 draw. Kenny Cooper scored a hat trick, including an 89th minute goal that seemed to give Dallas the win. Charleston were awarded a penalty kick in stoppage time to tie the game a 2-2. After Charleston scored with five minutes left in extra time, Cooper netted the final goal in the final minute to send the game to penalty kicks, which FC Dallas won 5-3.
Last year they met in the Quarterfinals, and FC Dallas escaped again with an extra time win. After Charleston took a 1-0 lead on Stephen Armstrong’s goal in the 17th minute, Clarence Goodson tied the game a 1-1 five minutes later. In extra time, Arturo Alvarez’s 95th minute goal held up the rest of the way as Dallas continued on their way to the final.
Open Cup History
FC Dallas holds the distinction of being the only MLS club to appear in every U.S. Open Cup tournament since Major League Soccer began play in 1996. FC Dallas have failed to reach the quarterfinals only three times. the first was in 2001, when they were upset by the PDL’s Seattle Sounders Select 3-2 in extra time. The others were in 2003 & 2005, when they were upset by the Wilmington Hammerheads. Dallas won the Cup in 1997 on penalties versus D.C. United, after a 0-0 draw, and have lost to a USL First Division club only once, a 2-1 extra time defeat in 1999 to eventual champions Rochester Raging Rhinos.
FCD Overall Open Cup record: 19-11-4 (65 GF, 50 GA, 4-0 PKs, 7-2 AET)
Record vs. USL-1: 12-1-2 (38 GF, 13 GA, 2-0 PKs, 3-1 AET)
Charleston has been one of the more successful USL-1 clubs in the Open cup. The Battery have reached the semifinals twice (1999 & 2004) and the quarterfinals once (2007). Charleston are 5-6-2 against MLS opposition in the Open Cup, with the two draws resulting in a PK loss in 2006 (vs. FC Dallas) and a PK win in 2008 (vs. Houston).
CHS Overall Open Cup record: 15-7-2 (41 GF, 28 GA, 1-1 PKs, 2-3 AET)
Record vs. MLS: 4-6-2 (16 GF, 21 GA, 1-1 PKs, 2-3 AET)
League Leaders
FC Dallas: Kenny Cooper 4th in MLS Goals Scored (8), 1st in Shots (58) ; Andre Rocha 4th-T in MLS Assists (6) ; Juan Toja 2nd-T in MLS Fouls Committed (28)
Charleston: Randi Patterson 2nd in USL-1 Goals Scored (7), 2nd in Shots (34) ; Christopher Williams 3rd-T in USL-1 Assists (3) ; Michael Richardson 3rd-T in USL-1 Assists (3) ; Dusty Hudock 4th in GAA (0.90)
Kansas City Wizards (MLS) at Seattle Sounders (USL-1)
Where - Qwest Field - Seattle, Wash.
When - 10:00 PM
Broadcast: USLLive.com
Previews: MLSnet.com / SeattleSounders.net
Recent Form
After their third round Open Cup win against the Red Bulls, the Sounders settled back into their USL-1 league schedule with two games this past week. They stumbled a bit, earning one point from both games. The first, a 2-2 draw with the Carolina Railhawks on Thursday. Their second game was a 1-0 loss to first place and fellow cup contenders Charleston Battery. The Wizards, meanwhile, are sitting at the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference. Their last game was a one-all draw with FC Dallas on Friday. The Wizards have slightly more rest but could find Seattle a harder opponent than Carolina.
Previous Meetings
These teams played each other in the second round of the 2001 tournament with the Wizards coming out victorious by a score of 4-0. Seattle played the majority of the match down a man when Kieran Barton was shown two yellow cards in the first 26 minutes. KC made them pay with goals by Matt McKeon , Mike Burns, Mark Santel, and an own goal scored by Seattle in the 20th minute. Bo Oshoniyi made four saves to earn the shutout for the Wizards.
Open Cup History
Kansas City won the 2004 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship, but aside from that shining moment in the club’s history, they have enjoyed very little success in the tournament. In their first four appearances (1996, 97, 98, 2000), they were eliminated in their opening game by a team from every level. Colorado Rapids (MLS) knocked them out in 1996, the San Francisco Bay Seals (D3 Pro League, now the USL-2) in 1997, Nashville Metros (A-League, now USL-1) in 1998, and the Chicago Sockers (PDL) in 2000. They didn’t earn their first Open Cup win until they beat the Seattle Sounders in the second round of the 2001 tournament. Taking away 2004, they are 5-8-1 in Open Cup play entering 2008 and their five wins have all come against lower division opponents. The Wizards are making their first appearance in the competition since 2006 when they were knocked out in the fourth round by the Chicago Fire.
KCW Overall Open Cup record: 10-8-1 (40 GF, 27 GA, 3-1 AET, 0-1 PKs)
Record vs. USL-1: 4-2-0 (15 GF, 9 GA, 1-0 AET)
Seattle’s Open Cup resume begins in 1995 when they were a member of the APSL. They advanced to the semifinals, and did not equal that feat until last year when they won a club record four Open Cup games en route to the final four. Last year, they dismissed Banat Arsenal of the USASA in round 1, followed by their arch-rival Portland Timbers in round 2. For only the second time in club history, they defeated an MLS team, Chivas USA, and then did it again in the quarterfinals, handing the Colorado Rapids a 5-0 thrashing. It was the worst-ever loss for an MLS team to a lower division opponent.
SEA Overall Open Cup record: 13-10-0 (44 GF, 34 GA, 1-3 AET)
Record vs. MLS: 3-7-0 (17 GF, 22 GA, 0-2 AET)
League Leaders
Sounders: Sebastien Le Toux 3rd in USL-1 in points (14), 3rd in goals scored (6), 2nd in shots (34); Kenji Treschuk 4th in fouls committed (24); Chris Eylander 2nd in USL-1 in games played (15), 3rd in shutouts (5), 2nd in saves (57), 3rd in wins (4).
Wizards: Claudio Lopez 8th in MLS in shots (34); Kevin Hartman 4th in saves (61); Jack Jewsbury 2nd in game-winning assist (2); Scott Sealy 3rd in offsides (18)
