Anyone know why Fresno Fuego (PDL) wasn't included, even though they beat Tucson in playoffs? Is it because their name changed to Fresno FC U-23?
Fresno FC of the USL is participating. I don't know why Fresno FC U-23 was excluded. The list of over 100 suspended players includes Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who's now a politician.
The playoffs don't matter, PDL teams qualify based on regular season record. Fresno Fuego did finish with the 10th most points so they would have qualified. It could be that the USSF decided that since the Fuego were acquired by Fresno FC that Fresno FC U-23 is a substantially different team.
Or maybe in the uncertainty period there where it was not clear what was going to happen with the PDL team, no one filled out the paperwork to actually enter. Don’t know.
I'm glad to see semi-geography now in the first MLS round of USOC. It's a good balance between minimizing midweek travel, especially for any amateur teams remaining, and still having a variety of opponents year to year. Personally, I hope the addition on LAF means RSL will face the Rapids in the USOC again. The only time they squared off was 2006. RSL routinely plays west coast teams, while Colorado gets pulled to the Texas and the Plains. And while Portland and Seattle opened against each other in 2017 and 2015, the only other time they played as MLS teams in the contest was 2014 in the quarterfinals (after both had won twice). They had also faced off in 2009, when Seattle was MLS and Portland was USL, and '07 and '05 when both were. The three times they faced off as MLS clubs were all within the last four years, but they were the only times it happened in seven years, which isn't too much. Especially going forward, when MLS rivals only play home and home series, adding one more game in the USOC will be overwhelmingly positive.
Don't worry. It's an even year, we get San Jose for our first game in the US open cup. It's gone Seattle 2015&2017, San Jose 2016 and coming soon to 2018.
The USSF has relented and allowed the remnants of the NASL into the 2018 U.S. Open Cup. Officially this an invitation only at this point but it seems likely that they will accept the invitation. https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/20...-2-new-york-cosmos-b-invited-to-2018-open-cup The USSF is going to create a play-in round so the NY Cosmos B, Miami FC 2, and Jacksonville Armada will get to face nearby NPSL or PDL teams with the winners advancing to the 1st round of the Open Cup. Those games will be May 5-6 ahead of the May 9 First Round.
Prepare yourself for the "USSF picked the strongest teams for them to play against and MLS paid off the refs" narrative.
https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/20...ksonville-armada-miami-fc-2-new-york-cosmos-b The NY Cosmos B, Miami FC 2, and Jacksonville Armada accepted the invitation from the USSF to take part in the 2018 U.S. Open Cup. The USSF picked out some already qualified NPSL and PDL teams that were geographically close to them and then drew to see who would meet in the Play-In Round. The Villages SC (PDL) vs. Jacksonville Armada FC Miami City (PDL) vs. Miami FC 2 Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) vs. New York Cosmos B The teams listed first get the option to host the games on May 5-6.
Since these games are not part of the tournament proper, they will not be included in my ELO rankings.
It's going to be the Cosmos' first competitive match, I do believe. But these will be professional (ostensibly, anyway) players against amateurs. Pros have lost to amateurs before, but I would be surprised if all three lost these play-in games.
The Play-In and First Round pairings have been announced. The 2nd round pairings announcement has been delayed until April 11. https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/20...soc-first-round-pairings-for-2018-us-open-cup 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Home team first, times are ET Play-In Round May 5-6 The Villages SC (PDL) v. Jacksonville Armada (NPSL) FC Miami City (PDL) v. Miami FC 2 (NPSL) Sunday, May 6 May 6 Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) v. New York Cosmos B (NPSL) 8:00 pm First Round Northeast Region Wednesday, May 9 AFC Ann Arbor (MI) (NPSL) v. Ocean City Nor'easters (MD) (PDL) 6:00 pm Western Mass Pioneers (PDL) v. Elm City Express (CT) (NPSL) 7:00 pm Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) v. Kingston Stockade FC (NY) (NPSL) 7:00 pm FC Motown (NJ) (NPSL) v. New York Red Bulls U23 (PDL) 7:00 pm Reading United AC (PA) (PDL) v. Christos FC (MD) 7:00 pm Erie Commodores FC (NPSL) v. Rochester River Dogz (NY) 7:00 pm Seacoast United Phantoms (MA) (PDL) v. Kendall Wanderers (MA) 7:00 pm Detroit City FC (NPSL) v. Michigan Bucks (PDL) 7:30 pm New York Cosmos B (NPSL)/Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) winner v. Lansdowne Bhoys FC (NY) 7:30/8:00 pm Southeast Region Wednesday, May 9 SIMA Aguilas (FL)(PDL) v. The Villages SC (FL) (PDL)/Jacksonville Armada (NPSL) winner 7:00 pm Charlotte Eagles (PDL) v. Inter Nashville FC (NPSL) 7:00 pm New Orleans Jesters (NPSL) v. Mississippi Brilla FC (PDL) 7:00 pm Myrtle Beach Mutiny (SC) (PDL) v. South Georgia Tormenta FC (PDL) 7:10 pm Miami United FC (NPSL) v. FC Kendall (FL) 7:30 pm Red Force FC (FL) v. FC Miami City (PDL)/Miami FC 2 (NPSL) winner 8:30 pm Central Region Wednesday, May 9 FC Wichita (KS)(NPSL) v. OKC Energy U23 (PDL) 8:00 pm Duluth FC (MN)(NPSL) v. Dakota Fusion FC (ND) (NPSL) 8:00 pm Midland-Odessa Sockers FC (TX) (NPSL) v. Lakeland Tropics (FL) (PDL) 8:30 pm NTX Rayados (TX) v. Fort Worth Vaqueros (NPSL) 8:30 pm FC Denver (CO) v. Azteca FC (CO) 9:15 pm West Region Tuesday, May 8 Portland Timbers U23 (PDL) v. Kitsap Soccer Club (WA) (NPSL) 10:00 pm Wednesday, May 9 CD Aguiluchos USA (CA) (NPSL) v. San Francisco City FC (PDL) 9:00 pm FC Golden State Force (CA)(PDL) v. L.A. Wolves FC (Calif.) 10:00 pm Orange County FC (CA) (NPSL) v. Santa Ana Winds FC (CA) 10:00 pm FC Arizona (NPSL) v. Sporting AZ FC (AZ) 10:00 pm FC Tucson (PDL) v. La Máquina FC (CA) 10:30 pm The 2nd round is May 16.
I would like to go, but I will be flying home from vacation then. I don't know why the game will be in Massapequa Park, at a place other than the two sites on the Rough Riders' website. It's 5.9 miles from where I live, and I don't know if there has ever been a U.S. Open Cup game closer to me that that.
Update on the Play-In Round with hosts, dates, and times: 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Home team first, times are ET Play-In Round Sunday, May 6 FC Miami City (PDL) v. Miami FC 2 (NPSL) 7:00 pm Jacksonville Armada (NPSL) v. The Villages SC (PDL) 7:00 pm Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) v. New York Cosmos B (NPSL) 8:00 pm
Apropos of nothing, but for those keeping track, Sporting AZ FC is, apparently, the old Arizona Sahuaros, who have been in and out of various leagues for the last 20+ years. And FC Arizona, which had a great regular-season run a year ago (rumored to be because they had an NASL payroll in the NPSL, which I don't know that I quite believe, but they certainly looked better than everybody else), may be seeing the foundation crumble. They haven't won a game and they're not crowing about their attendance figures anymore.
2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Home team first, times are ET 2nd Round Pairings Due to conditional scenarios these are listed irrespective of hosts. Northeast Region Wednesday, May 16 North Carolina FC (USL) v. Brooklyn Italians (NPSL)/New York Cosmos B (NPSL)/Lansdowne Bhoys FC (NY) winner 7:00 pm Charlotte Independence (USL) v. AFC Ann Arbor (NPSL)/Ocean City Nor'easters (PDL) winner 7:00 pm Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL) v. Erie Commodores FC (NPSL)/Rochester River Dogz (NY) winner 7:00 pm Richmond Kickers (USL) v. Reading United AC (PDL)/Christos FC (MD) winner 7:00 pm Louisville City FC (USL) v. Kingston Stockade FC (NPSL)/ Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) winner 7:00 pm Penn FC (USL) v. FC Motown (NPSL)/New York Red Bulls U23 (PDL) winner 7 or 7:30 pm Western Mass Pioneers (PDL)/Elm City Express (NPSL) winner v. Seacoast United Phantoms (PDL)/Kendall Wanderers (MA) winner 7 or 7:30 pm FC Cincinnati (USL) v. Detroit City FC (NPSL)/Michigan Bucks (PDL) winner 7:30 pm Southeast Region Wednesday, May 16 Charleston Battery (USL) v. Myrtle Beach Mutiny (PDL)/South Georgia Tormenta FC (PDL) winner 7:00 pm Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL) v. SIMA Aguilas (PDL)/Jacksonville Armada FD/ The Villages SC (PDL) winner 7 or 7:30 pm Miami United FC (NPSL)/FC Kendall (FL) winner v. Red Force FC (FL)/FC Miami City (PDL)/Miami FC 2 (NPSL) winner 7/7:30 or 8:30 pm Indy Eleven (USL) v. New Orleans Jesters (NPSL)/Mississippi Brilla FC (PDL) winner 8:00 pm Nashville SC (USL) v. Charlotte Eagles (PDL)/Inter Nashville FC (NPSL) winner 8:30 pm Central Region Wednesday, May 16 Tulsa Roughnecks FC (USL) v. FC Wichita (NPSL)/OKC Energy U23 (PDL) winner 8:00 pm Saint Louis FC (USL) v. Duluth FC (NPSL)/Dakota Fusion FC (NPSL) winner 8:00 pm OKC Energy FC (USL) v. NTX Rayados (TX)/Fort Worth Vaqueros (NPSL) winner 8:30 pm San Antonio FC (USL) v. Midland-Odessa Sockers FC (NPSL)/Lakeland Tropics (PDL) winner 8:30 pm Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL) v. FC Denver (CO)/Azteca FC (CO) winner 9:00 pm West Region Wednesday, May 16 Phoenix Rising FC (USL) v. FC Arizona (NPSL)/Sporting AZ FC (AZ) winner 10:00 pm Fresno FC (USL) v. Orange County FC (NPSL)/Santa Ana Winds FC (CA) winner 10:00 pm Orange County SC (USL) vs. FC Golden State Force (PDL)/L.A. Wolves FC (CA) winner 10:00 pm Reno 1868 FC (USL) v. Kitsap Soccer Club (NPSL)/Portland Timbers U23 (PDL) winner 10 or 10:30 pm Sacramento Republic FC (USL) vs. CD Aguiluchos USA (NPSL)/San Francisco City FC (PDL) winner 10:30 pm Las Vegas Lights FC (USL) vs. FC Tucson (PDL)/La Máquina FC (CA) winner 11:00 pm
No. The Play-in Round has 3 games. You can see that the Second Round schedule has slashes between two clubs that will play in the First Round, and there are more than three slashes.
REMINDER: The Open Cup starts on Sunday. 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Home team first, times are ET Play-In Round Sunday, May 6 FC Miami City (PDL) v. Miami FC 2 (NPSL) 7:00 pm Jacksonville Armada (NPSL) v. The Villages SC (PDL) 7:00 pm Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) v. New York Cosmos B (NPSL) 8:00 pm The First Round starts on May 8.
The 2018 U.S. Open Cup play-in round games start tonight at 7 pm EDT. There are supposed to be streams for the three games at this website: https://www.ussoccer.com/lamar-hunt...aments/2018-usoc/2018-us-open-cup-first-round