USOC 2009: No Auto Bid for DCU

[Bootsy Collins]

Goff reports (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2009/02/monday_kickaround_7.html) that despite being the holding USOC Champion, because we missed the MLS Cup Playoffs last year, we don't automatically advance to the Third Round as we have in years past. Eight MLS teams come into the competition in the third round: six automatic qualifiers, and two which are determined from a pair of play-in tournaments.

So instead, we have a play-in game against Dallas, to be hosted sometime in April at RFK. If we win, we face either San Jose or Jersey in a 2nd round of qualifying in May. If we win that, we're in the USOC and start regular Cup play presumably in early July.

[DCU1996]

I thought I heard a news that all MLS clubs will enter USOC from this season.

[onefineesq]

Well, a couple more chances to to mix some backups into the games, which i'm sure is what the opponents will do in the early rounds. With the fact that the reserve league is dead and DC looking at a heavy workload at the END of the year due to the CCL, it may be a good way to get some decent opportunities for a few guys who may actually need to be able to contribute during the congestion in august-october (assuming we actually qualify for the group stage of the CCL).

[Bootsy Collins]

I thought I heard a news that all MLS clubs will enter USOC from this season.

It's all in how you define it. You could, if you wanted to, consider these play-in matches as part of the tournament. In that case, the practical effect of having to play-in is that we enter the tournament two rounds earlier than six other MLS teams, and have to play MLS teams in those two rounds (as opposed to the rest of the First and Second round teams, which are USL1, USL2 and PDL teams typically).

[fatbastard]

well, that makes no damn sense ...... how can a tournament not offer a bone to the defending cup holder?
Oh well, no biggie :)

[DCU1996]

so anyways, even if we apply that definition, not all 15 MLS teams playing in USOC?

I checked http://www.usopencup.com/ but couldn't find the info.

[Bootsy Collins]

so anyways, even if we apply that definition, not all 15 MLS teams playing in USOC?

I checked http://www.usopencup.com/ but couldn't find the info.

Toronto is not in the United States. Therefore they do not participate in the United States Open Cup.

[DCU1996]

Toronto is not in the United States. Therefore they do not participate in the United States Open Cup.

right, ok so then rest of all 14 teams can participate in some ways?

[Bootsy Collins]

right, ok so then rest of all 14 teams can participate in some ways?
Yes, I thought that was clear in my original post. Six teams from MLS go to the third round automatically. The other two slots for MLS teams in the third round come from winners of play-in tournaments. The fact that the tournaments are two games long (we play Dallas, and if we win we play either San Jose or Jersey) means that each of the two play-in tournaments has four teams in it. 6+4+4 = 14.

[DCU1996]

Yes, I thought that was clear in my original post. Six teams from MLS go to the third round automatically. The other two slots for MLS teams in the third round come from winners of play-in tournaments. The fact that the tournaments are two games long (we play Dallas, and if we win we play either San Jose or Jersey) means that each of the two play-in tournaments has four teams in it. 6+4+4 = 14.

great. all the US based MLS teams are in, and a berth to CCL. it's getting more interesting.

[iammrben]

This thread was about 6 posts (including mine, of course) longer than it needed to be...

[bigredfutbol]

This thread was about 6 posts (including mine, of course) longer than it needed to be...

Bump.

:p

[fatbastard]

How come our play-in bracket is so MLS-intensive? I get we have to play other MLS teams for the right to get in, as only 8 or 10 actually make the tourney "proper" - but why do we play either SJ or NJ once we get there? Is the play-in side of the bracket intentionally harder? That would also make sense ...... but I enjoy playing the USL guys, it's more fun to play someone different, and I like going to their venues when close as well. Plus it's a cool way to scout up-n-comers (or watch down-n-fallers who used to play MLS).
I'd say we're more likely to win that way as well, but to say that would be to deny our history :p

[pr0ner]

What's wrong, FB, don't you want more chances to beat up on the Pink Cows?

[Bootsy Collins]

How come our play-in bracket is so MLS-intensive? I get we have to play other MLS teams for the right to get in, as only 8 or 10 actually make the tourney "proper" - but why do we play either SJ or NJ once we get there?

I think you misunderstood. We don't play SJ or NJ once we get there; we play them *to* get there. If we beat Dallas, we play the winner of San Jose-NJ. If we win *that*, we qualify for the USOC.

MLS teams don't come in until the third round of the USOC, which is a round of 16 teams in 8 matchups. MLS gets eight teams seeded into that round, one for each matchup; the other eight teams -- the teams that the MLS teams will face -- are the successful teams from the first two rounds of the USOC.

So which eight (US-based) MLS teams should be seeded into the third round, and which six (US-based) MLS teams should sit out the USOC? They could have just picked the top four finishers from each conference, or the eight playoff teams, or something like that. That would have given them eight MLS teams for the third round, and the MLS teams that didn't finish in their conference's top four (or missed the playoffs, or whatever) would miss the USOC. Instead, what they decided to do is pick the top *three* teams from each conference. That leaves two slots for MLS teams left to fill; for each of those two slots, they decided to have a little mini-playoff between four teams. In one of those little tournaments are Dallas, San Jose, Jersey and us. One of those teams will emerge and grab one of the two remaining spots. That way, *all* the teams from MLS have at least a chance of participating in the USOC.

You might think "but that means those MLS teams that have to play their way in against other MLS teams have a very tough road to hoe, compared to teams from lower leagues"; but you're grabbing onto the wrong fact. The relevant fact is that only eight MLS teams get to participate in the USOC. Period. Any more is unfair to the other leagues. This play-in tournament stuff against Dallas and either SJ/NJ is just part of the way to decide "which eight?"

[fatbastard]

I remember how it is done (generally), I just thought NJ would get an automatic seed as they lost MLS Cup, so that's where I got confusticated.
Confusing me is often very easy :)

What's wrong, FB, don't you want more chances to beat up on the Pink Cows?:D I like beating someone new.
Heck, even Ike Turner probably looked for someone else to beat up on now and then ;)

[Th4119]

I think this is the right choice. I thought it was crap when UEFA bended over for Liverpool despite their inability to qualify during their championship run.

If you don't do well enough the season before based on the rules, you shouldn't be in, regardless of how you do in that tournament. That's my opinion, at least.

[SideshowBob]

great. all the US based MLS teams are in, and a berth to CCL. it's getting more interesting.

:confused:

It's the same exact system that was used the past 2 seasons.

[JoeSoccerFan]

Yes, I thought that was clear in my original post. Six teams from MLS go to the third round automatically. The other two slots for MLS teams in the third round come from winners of play-in tournaments. The fact that the tournaments are two games long (we play Dallas, and if we win we play either San Jose or Jersey) means that each of the two play-in tournaments has four teams in it. 6+4+4 = 14.

OW!

Math

hurts

my

head

[nick]

:confused:

It's the same exact system that was used the past 2 seasons.

The general play in system may be the same, but the chances of winning the cup decrease each year as more teams join MLS.