Aztex in the 2008 U.S. Open Cup

[TwoMeters]

I've just heard the great news: Mississippi Brilla lost to Houston Leones, 3-0! WE'RE IN THE CUP!! :D

[sokaymckay]

Yeee Haaaw! :D

[Roma_Wolves]

Awesome!:D:D:D

[mgrayscale]

Hail, Hail, The Aztex!!!

[Native Aztexan]

Hell yeah!

http://www.msbrillafc.org/home/251474.html

It never went right for Mississippi Brilla FC on Friday night. The team apparently left their A, B, and C games on the bus as they stepped on the field at Soccer World Center to face the Houston Leones. From the opening whistle, the Leones controlled play while Brilla was always at least one step behind. At then end of the match, Brilla was on the losing end of a 3-0 score-line and eliminated from Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Qualifying contention.

[VioletCrown]

Mark your calendars, June 10!!!!!!!

I am SO STOKED!

;)

[FrogHammer]

This is huge. Look at some of the teams playing in the cup...
Here is the website as well www.usopencup.com

I really hope we get a game against an MLS or even A-League team out of this.

2008 U.S. Open Cup
Automatic Entries

MLS: Houston Dynamo, New England Revolution, DC United, Chivas USA, FC Dallas, New York Red Bulls.

USL-1: Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, Charleston Battery, Miami FC Blues, Minnesota Thunder, Portland Timbers, Rochester Rhinos, Seattle Sounders

USL-2: Harrisburg City Islanders (defending league champion), Richmond Kickers (defending regular season champion)

[VioletCrown]

This is huge. Look at some of the teams playing in the cup...
Here is the website as well www.usopencup.com

I really hope we get a game against an MLS or even A-League team out of this.

2008 U.S. Open Cup
Automatic Entries

MLS: Houston Dynamo, New England Revolution, DC United, Chivas USA, FC Dallas, New York Red Bulls.

USL-1: Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, Charleston Battery, Miami FC Blues, Minnesota Thunder, Portland Timbers, Rochester Rhinos, Seattle Sounders

USL-2: Harrisburg City Islanders (defending league champion), Richmond Kickers (defending regular season champion)

According to one of the articles on the front page of opencup.com:

Like last year, every amateur team (PDL, USASA) will be matched up with a professional side (USL-1, USL-2) to begin the tournament

So our first game will be against a USL-1 (or "A-League", as you called it;)) or USL-2 team.

Here's the rest of the USL-2 teams that have qualified:

Crystal Palace Baltimore, Charlotte Eagles, Cleveland City Stars, Real Maryland Monarchs, Western Massachusetts Pioneers, Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

Last year, El Paso started against Miami FC. And two years ago, when Dallas Roma made their legendary run through the cup, their second game (after knocking off Laredo) was Miami FC. So I wouldn't be surprised to get Miami FC.

I did a little analysis of last year's pairings, but nothing really jumped out at me. The one thing that I do know is that this is not a random draw like the FA Cup and most other national cup competitions. The US is too big and the tournament not well-known (meaning, it doesn't bring in any money), so they match things up as best they can to minimize travel. Which does cause some frustration. Rochester and New England now have a very long record between them because of this.

That's why I wouldn't be surprised to be up against Miami FC. The other team that I would expect us to play is Minnesota Thunder. They played the USASA team from El Paso last year -- El Paso Indios USA. However, this year there's two Chicago teams in and a team from St. Louis. Which is why I can't really even make an educated guess as to who we'll get.

I'm excited, though. Really hoping that we get to host. At the very least, if we get away to a USL-1 team, we should be able to watch and/or listen online.

[Roma_Wolves]

I'm excited, though. Really hoping that we get to host. At the very least, if we get away to a USL-1 team, we should be able to watch and/or listen online.

I don't know how strict USSF are with the rules, but page 17 of the 2008 US Open Cup Handbook states that the following, among other things, must be guaranteed:


A playing surface of at least 68 yds by 110 yds.
Smooth, flat and level playing surface with natural grass.
Clear and distinct field markings according to FIFA specifications


I don't know how close Dragon Stadium is to the first criterium, but it surely falls short of the second. The third is debatable either way. Everything else seems fine.

[VioletCrown]

I don't know how strict USSF are with the rules, but page 17 of the 2008 US Open Cup Handbook (http://www.ussoccer-data.com/docfile/2008OpenCupHandbook.pdf) states that the following, among other things, must be guaranteed:


A playing surface of at least 68 yds by 110 yds.
Smooth, flat and level playing surface with natural grass.
Clear and distinct field markings according to FIFA specifications


I don't know how close Dragon Stadium is to the first criterium, but it surely falls short of the second. The third is debatable either way. Everything else seems fine.

(edited yours to include a link to that pdf)

Actually, it says the following, right before your three bullet points:

All Open Cup Matches from Round 3 to the Final must guarantee:

In other words, we're in the clear for hosting the first game. As far as I can see, there's no criteria listed to host the first two rounds. If you can find one, let us know!

There's this additional comment at the bottom of the list:

The U.S. Open Cup Commissioner shall have the authority to waive or modify the stadium requirements
for good cause, or may place additional conditions or requirements for hosting an Open Cup game.

Getting impatient here...:)

[STXSoccer_dot_com]

Spoke to US Soccer today. They said to look for the pairings "late today"

[Roma_Wolves]

What the hell else do they have to work on today?

Anyways, if we're doing a pool, I'm taking 11:59 p.m. PDT.

[mgrayscale]

Well, to help pass the time, here's an article from ESPN that talks about the qualification (sorry, no pairings).

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=539697&&cc=5901

[VioletCrown]

According to a post over on the Open Cup thread (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=14708348&postcount=237), we're not getting either Rochester (darn) or Pittsburgh.

[mgrayscale]

So, they said that the draws would be done May 27th. I guess our mistake was assuming they meant 2008.

[VioletCrown]

So, they said that the draws would be done May 27th. I guess our mistake was assuming they meant 2008.

The draw was done, but they're in the process of trying to confirm that the teams that said they'd host will indeed host. At least, that's the report over on the Open Cup board. I seem to remember that this is typical. I guess it's hard to get in touch with 16 different teams... and then, if someone backs out, trying to contact the other team, then back and forth trying to get it all sorted out. The difficulty of which is compounded by having USASA teams who's managers have day jobs, etc.

I've now seen one more report from over on the Open Cup board that the Michigan Bucks are playing Cleveland City Stars.

At this point, the Aztex should have heard something... if they were the ones that won the right to host. They're probably scrambling trying to contact RRISD to secure the stadium.

I'm sure we'll hear something today.

[The Truth Commission]

I'm sure we'll hear something today.

You're having a laugh.

[Barbaro]

This just in: We got a home game!
The full schedule is at http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Blogs/Sports

Atlanta Silverbacks (USL-1) at Austin Aztex (PDL)
Dragon Stadium 7:30 p.m.

[VioletCrown]

This just in: We got a home game!
The full schedule is at http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Blogs/Sports

Atlanta Silverbacks (USL-1) at Austin Aztex (PDL)
Dragon Stadium 7:30 p.m.

And, if I read that right, the winner plays the winner of this game:

ASC New Stars (USASA) at Charleston Battery (USL-1) Blackbaud Stadium 7:30 p.m.

Not that we can look past the Silverbacks.

[VioletCrown]

Here's Atlanta's website (http://www.atlantasilverbacks.com/).

Looking at the current standings (http://www.uslsoccer.com/standings/8588667.html), we got an OK draw for our first game.

Checking their schedule, it works out really nicely for them. Coming here will be the start of a road trip for them. They play Portland on Thursday, and Minnesota on Saturday.