Richmond Kickers (USL-2) at New England Revolution (MLS)
Where - Veterans Stadium - New Britain, Connecticut
When - 7:00 p.m.
Preview - MLSnet.com / USLSoccer.com
Recent Form
New England, the defending cup champions, are perched atop the MLS Eastern Conference with 30 points, and have dropped only 10 out of a possible 33 points in the last 11 games. The Kickers have struggled a bit this season, stuck in the middle of the USL Second Division standings. After a strong 4-2-0 start, Richmond have gone 2-2-2 since, and are also coming into the game having played back-to-back games in Cleveland and Pittsburgh this past weekend.
Did You Know?
These two teams have never met, either in friendlies or in competition. However, a bit of Revolution history is owned by a longtime Kicker. Rob Ukrop, who played for Richmond for 11 seasons, scored the first two goals in New England history in 1996. Ukrop was drafted by the Revolution in the inaugural MLS season. New England also has an Open Cup history at Veterans Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut. New England have played two previous cup games at the venue, and if the previous results are any indication, we could see 120 minutes of soccer. The first match was in 1997, a 4-3 extra time third round loss to the Long Island Rough Riders, then of the A-League. More recently, the venue was the setting as the Revs defeated the Carolina RailHawks in last years semifinals 1-0, on their way to their first U.S. Open Cup championship.
League Leaders:
Richmond - Mike Burke T-4th in USL-2 Assists (3); David Bulow 3rd in Shots (28); Ronnie Pascale 5th in USL-2 Goals Against Average (1.21), 5th in Saves (39), T-2nd in GK Shutouts (5).
New England - Steve Ralston T-4th in MLS Goal Scoring (6); Matt Reis 3rd in MLS Goals Against Average (1.13), 2nd in saves (63), T-2nd in GK Shutouts (5).
Kansas City Wizards (MLS) at Carolina RailHawks (USL-1)
Where - WakeMed Soccer Park Cary, N.C.
When - 7:30 p.m.
Preview - USLSoccer.com / MLSnet.com
Recent Form
Results have not been kind to the Wizards, who are stuck at the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference. Their victory this past weekend over Real Salt Lake was their first in eight league games, stretching back to April 26. The RailHawks have been in a similar plight as far as recent league form goes. Friday’s 1-0 win over Portland was Carolina’s first victory in six games, a stretch that saw them shut out four times.
Did You Know?
Aside from winning the cup in 2004, Kansas City have only advanced past two matches one other time, a 2002 semifinal run that ended with a 3-2 extra time loss to Columbus. In fact, KC were one and done in four straight tournaments, from 1996 through 2000. The Wizards have gone 410 minutes in league play without a goal scored by it’s own players.
League Leaders:
Carolina - Kupuno Low T-1st in USL-1 Assists (4); Daniel Antoniuk 3rd in USL-1 Fouls Committed (23); Chris McClellan 1st in USL-1 Saves (56).
Kansas City - Kevin Hartman 5th in MLS Goals Against Average (1.23), 4th in Saves (56), 1st in GK Shutouts (6).
Cleveland City Stars (USL-2) at Chicago Fire (MLS)
Where - Toyota Park - Bridgeview, Ill.
When -7:30 p.m.
Preview - MLSnet.com
Recent Form
The Fire have hit a rough stretch in MLS play, going winless in their last four games. Their last MLS win was a 5-1 thrashing of the New York Red Bulls, in which Chad Barrett scored twice, and Cuauhtemoc Blanco had an assist hat-trick. In between then and now was their thrilling 3-2 extra time win on June 10 over Columbus to earn their U.S. Open Cup berth.
Did You Know?
This is the first meeting between the two clubs, but of course, Floyd Franks will be playing against familiar foes. Franks spent two seasons with the Fire, logging 16 games and scoring one goal. Although they have played the Columbus Crew in friendly matches in the past two seasons, this will be Cleveland’s first meeting with an MLS side in a match that matters. In 32 Open Cup matches since 1998, the Fire have only faced USL-2 level competition three times, and have come out on top on each occasion.
League Leaders:
Chicago - Cuauhtemoc Blanco T-3rd in MLS Assists (6); Jon Busch 1st in MLS Goals Against Average (0.85), 1st in Saves (64), 2nd-T in GK Shutouts (5).
Cleveland - Sallieu Bundu T-3rd in Goals Scored (5), T-4th in Shots (27); Adriano Souza T-4th in Assists (3), T-4th in Shots (27); Dana McGregor T-4th in Assists (3); Hunter Gilstrap 4th in USL-2 GAA (0.83); Eric Reed 3rd in USL-2 GAA (0.71), T-4th in GK Shutouts (4).
Rochester Rhinos (USL-1) at DC United (MLS)
Where - Maryland SoccerPlex - Boyds, Md.
When - 7:30 p.m.
Preview - MLSnet.com
Recent Form
It’s been an up and down season for Rochester. After the team was saved by new ownership just before the season, the Rhinos started the season with a seven game winless streak. June was a bit brighter for the 1999 Cup champs, going 2-1-2 last month. After trudging through a spell which they lost 6 out of 7 games, D.C. seem to have woken up, going 5-0-1 and outscoring their opponents 18-8. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that forward Luciano Emilio has scored nine of his ten league goals in that six game stretch.
Previous Meetings
Rochester and D.C. United have met twice in U.S. Open Cup play, both resulting in 3-0 wins for DCU. The first was, of course, the 1996 U.S. Open Cup final, D.C.’s one and only Open Cup championship. The second was in the third round in 2000, a game which saw Chris Albright score twice, and Marco Etcheverry assist on all three goals.
League Leaders:
D.C. United - Luciano Emilio 2nd in MLS Goals Scored (10), 3rd in Shots (44); Jamie Moreno T-1st in MLS Assists (7); Rod Dyachenko 5th in Fouls Committed (25).
Rochester - Mauricio Salles T-5th in Goals Scored (4), T-4th in Shots (29).
Miami FC (USL-1) at FC Dallas (MLS)
Where - Pizza Hut Park - Frisco, Tex.
When - 8:30 p.m.
Preview - MLSnet.com / USLSoccer.com
Recent Form
Miami have turned into the shutout kings, blanking their opponents a league-best eight times. Unfortunately, their offense has been unable to score in five of those games. Dallas has struggled a bit recently, going 1-3-1 in their last five games.
Did You Know?
The last time FC Dallas faced a club from Florida in the Open Cup was in 1999, when they defeated the A-League’s Jacksonville Cyclones 3-0 in the third round. If Miami FC are leery of Texas clubs, they have a reason to be. In 2006 and 2007, Miami were ousted from the cup after one game amateur clubs Dallas Roma FC (’06) and the El Paso Patriots (’07). This past Friday, a goal from Vancouver’s Chris Pozniak snapped Miami’s shutout streak at 641 minutes. Vancouver has accounted for two of the three goals Miami has allowed in the last ten games. Forward Alex Afonso has been involved in nine of the club’s thirteen goals scored in league play.
League Leaders:
FC Dallas - Kenny Cooper 4th in MLS Goals Scored (8), 2nd in Shots (48); Andre Rocha T-4th in MLS Assists (6); Juan Toja T-2nd in MLS Fouls Committed (27); Dario Sala T-5th in MLS GK Shutouts (4).
Miami - Alex Afonso T-1st in Goals scored (7); Josh Saunders T-6th in USL-1 GAA (1.00), 5th in Saves (48), 1st in GK Shutouts (8).
Houston Dynamo (MLS) at Charleston Battery (USL-1)
Where - Blackbaud Stadium - Charleston, S.C.
When - 7:30 p.m.
Preview - USLSoccer.com / MLSnet.com
Recent Form
Houston have only lost two games since the beginning of May. However, with a league-high seven draws, they are two points out of first place. Remarkably, the U.S. Open Cup is one of five competitions Houston will have participated in outside the MLS season this year. They started with the Pan-Pacific Championship and the 2007 CONCACAF Champions Cup, and still have the SuperLiga and the 2008/09 CONCACAF Champions League to follow. Charleston has also lost only twice since May, but with only three draws marring their record they have climbed to the top of the USL-1 standings.
Previous Meetings
While the Battery and Dynamo met in the pre-season Carolina Challenge Cup in 2006 and 2007, their first meeting in a meaningful game was in the third round of the 2007 U.S. Open Cup. Houston fielded a lineup primarily of reserves, and the Battery won on a 108th minute goal from Stephen Armstrong.
League Leaders:
Houston - Brian Ching T-5th in MLS Goals Scored (6); Dwayne De Rosario 1st in MLS Shots (49); Pat Onstad 4th in MLS Goals Against Average (1.16).
Charleston - Randi Patterson T-1st in Goals Scored (7), 3rd in Shots (30); Aaron King T-5th in USL-1 Goals Scored (4); Christopher Williams T-3rd in USL-1 Assists (3); Michael Richardson T-3rd in USL-1 Assists (3); Dusty Hudock T-6th in GAA (1.00).
New York Red Bulls (MLS) at Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2)
Where - Lawrence E. Knight Stadium - Annapolis, Md.
When - 7:30 p.m.
Preview - MLSnet.com
Recent Form - The Red Bulls have had modest success in the month of June, posting a 2-1-2 record in league play. They came close to a unique double in the past week. On June 25, they defeated CD Guadalajara 1-0 in a friendly. three days later, they played to a 1-1 draw with Guadalajara’s MLS club, Chivas USA. After a 5-0-0 start, Palace lost three in a row before returning to their winning ways with a three game unbeaten run.
Did You Know?
New York has only faced a USL-2 level club twice in the Open Cup. In 2000 & 2006, they faced the Wilmington Hammerheads, winning both games by 2-1 margins.
League Leaders:
New York - Jon Conway T-5th in MLS GK Shutouts (4).
CP Baltimore - Gary Brooks 2nd in USL-2 Goals Scored (6), 5th in Fouls Committed (20)
Chivas USA (MLS) at Seattle Sounders (USL-1)
Where - Starfire Sports Complex - Tukwila, Wash.
When -10:00 p.m.
Preview - USLSoccer.com / MLSnet.com
Recent Form - The Sounders have only lost twice all year, and only once in their last ten games. However, six draws in that stretch have kept the Sounders in fourth place in the USL First Division. Chivas USA started the season slow, going 1-4-2, but have posted a 4-2-1 record since. Should Chivas USA win, the month of July will become tight schedule-wise. Between MLS play, the Open Cup and the SuperLiga, Chivas will play six matches in sixteen days.
Previous Meetings - The two clubs met twice in 2007. Chivas USA won a friendly match at Quest Field in Seattle on June 2 by a score of 3-1. Nearly a month and a half later back at Quest Field, the Sounders won the more important of the two contests, a 3-1 victory in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup. Sebastien Le Toux scored two of his 2007 tournament leading five goals in the match. Of course, the two clubs also have Maykel Galindo in common. After defecting while playing for the Cuban National team at the 2005 Gold Cup in Seattle, Galindo appeared in nine games for the Sounders in 2006, notching four goals and four assists, and catching the eye of Chivas, whom he signed with the following year. Galindo went on to lead Chivas USA in goal scoring in 2007 with 12.
League Leaders:
Seattle - Sebastien Le Toux T-3rd in Goals Scored (5), 2nd in Shots (33); Kenji Treschuk T-4th in USL-1 Fouls Committed (22); Chris Eylander 5th in USL-1 GAA (0.84), 4th in Saves (49), T-3rd in GK Shutouts (5).
Chivas USA - Paulo Nagamura 1st in MLS Fouls Committed (28); Atiba Harris 2nd in MLS Fouls Committed (27); Justin Braun 4th in MLS Fouls Committed (26).
