Your 8-time defending US Open Cup participant Philadelphia Union return for another shot at the cup! The 2018 Lamar US Open Cup format and play dates have been released! Relevant info: tl;dr Unless MLS schedules interfere, the games will be: June 6th June 20th July18th August 8th Sept 26th
Given the proviso about two day's rest allowing games to be bumped up a day, I think it's likely we'll play our 4th round tie on Tuesday June 5th.
It's even slimmer than usual in terms of local teams.... if Penn FC gets bounced we might get someone new... Local(ish) teams include: Penn FC Ocean City Reading Extended region of rest of PA, rest of NJ and Maryland includes: Pittsburgh, Erie, FC Motown, Christos FC Nothing from Delaware this year. that's really it unless you want to start looking into New York State and DC extended metro which brings in: Lansdowne Bhoys, Rochester Lancers, Brooklyn, Kingston, Long Island, RBNY U23s, NYCFC, RBNY and Richmond
Ocean City gets Ann Arbor, Reading gets Christos. Erie gets Rochester, Motown gets RBNY U23s. The Cosmos also weaseled their way back in the tournament... they play Brooklyn in a play-in game and the winner plays Lansdowne.
Reading beats Christos in PKs... will play Richmond. Ocean City beats down Ann Arbor 3-0 on the long road trip. (Better than the Union could ever hope on the road) Ocean City will travel to Charlotte to play the independence. Reading will host Richmond. Penn FC travels to FC Motown who beat the Red Bull’s U23s tonight.
I'm pretty sure I will make zero effort to stream USOC games. I hope they go out early. Jim shouldn't get to hang his hat on any success.
Cosmos, Miami and Jacksonville shouldn't be in the tournament in the first place... sort of BS they let them in. Other results for the "extended region teams" Erie beats Rochester River Dawgz in PKs - they host Pittsburgh in Round 2. (heh, RiverDawgz to Riverhounds) Lansdowne beats Brooklyn, they will travel to North Carolina FC. Long Island beats Kingston AET. They will travel to Louisville. Shot in the dark but I'm guessing: Penn FC v. FC Motown winner will face the Reading v. Richmond winner.... and the winner of that will get the Union.
actually, do MLS teams enter the 3rd round this year? We might just straight up get the winner of Penn FC and Motown.
The winner of @ReadingUnited (PDL) & @RichmondKickers (USL) will host @fc_motown (NPSL) or @PennFCOfficial (USL)#USOC2018 | Third Round— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) May 14, 2018 It's looking possible that we might draw someone different... ...nah, I'm sure Reading will probably win out and we'll get to watch them play the Union. Again.
FYI- its Penn FC that they've played multiple times (formally Harrisburg City Islanders), not Reading.
Full list of 3rd round pairings: https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/20...st-scenarios-for-2018-us-open-cup-third-round Realistically we're in the Reading/Penn/Richmond/Motown pot... but outside chance at NCFC/Ocean City/Charlotte/Lansdowne pot. Also a chance we end up with an MLS matchup... pretty sure there will be 4 of those this year... the way things look, at least one, maybe 2 matchups will be Eastern teams. Not sure how the 4th round draw will work, but if they do it more random than in the past I could see a draw between: Revs Union NYCFC Red Bulls DCU Columbus drawing to play: NCFC/Ocean City/Charlotte/Lansdowne Reading/Penn/Richmond/Motown Erie/Cincy/Detroit/Pitt NCFC/Ocean City/Charlotte/Lansdowne then the 4 odd teams out get paired together to make the last fixtures.
yeah that could be it. They've played RUAC a few times in friendlies. Is RUAC allowed to play the Union? I know some teams had to redraw because of affiliations
they are. Technically not the same ownership so it can happen. The only re-draw scenario left would be the Timbers getting their U23 team.
Ah ok, didn't know that was the rule. Def different owners. One of RU 's owners lives up the street from me (pardon me while I pick up the name I just dropped). And no, he doesn't own a helicopter
Ocean City with the upset to knock out Charlotte 3-1! OC will now travel to NCFC who beat Lansdowne 3-0. Reading falls to the Kickers 2-1. Penn FC beats Motown 3-1. Penn FC will travel to face the Kickers. Extended region: Pitt beats Erie 2-1 the Riverhounds will host Cincy. Long Island slaughtered 5-0 by Louisville. Louisville will host St. Louis.
OC's little run comes to an end in North Carolina as they lost 1-4. There is a chance, if Pittsburgh & Penn FC lose tonight that the Union could be one of the teams playing another MLS team in their first match (probably either RBNY or NYCFC). This all depends on how "regional" they want to keep things.
I didn't include it in the original post, but if anyone is wondering, the first draw that will include the Union is tomorrow.