When will RSL know if they are going to host their round of the Open Cup? Doesn't the MLS team usually travel for their first match?
http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=183578 Looks like we enter in the Third Round, which is not until July 13. I don't think we find out who we play, or where, until the second round is complete, which will be June 29.
Not sure, but I would suspect that both RSL and Chivas would get home games as their first match. Since it's their first time ever in the competition, I wouldn't want either of those teams to go out of the tournament without at least one game for the home fans (win or lose).
Of course RSL fans are used to seeing winning US Open Cup matches. They have seen their share of Blitzz games in the Open Cup. But your theory makes sense.
I believe the MLS team usually travels, but it also depends on what kind of facility the other team has. I think the Blitzz had to travel once or twice when they played the A-league team.
I think it is semi-random. But I do believe MLS teams usually travel for the first match. Thats what most of them did last year. Onefine might have a point though, since Chivas and RSL are expansion teams they might get the first one at home.
The Open Cup was always exciting. Who can forget the great matches against Portland, and Seattle. Seeing Brian Ching, and Leighton O'Brien (the latter receiving a Red Card against the Blitzz). This year I am kind of nervous. ReAL could be one of those MLS teams that falls to a lower team. We should all pray RSL doesn't draw Fresno.
Plus a lecture in American religions. The Mormons are not the same as the Amish. (Referring to the dress aspect, not the sheep aspect.)
Can any one tell me how the format is are the teams picked at random about who they play and which one gets the fist home game and if its two games each is winner based on aggreget score or if they end up tide then is there OT or penalties or is it the whole thing similar to the FA cup?
ussoccer.com can probably tell you. Follow the link to "competitions," and then to Open Cup or U.S. Open.
Yep. Usually in the region. Although last year the region was the Galaxy travelling to Minnesota to lose. And then San Jose travelling to Minnesota..... to squeek out a win in a great match.
The US Open Cup is set up as a bracket, not a random draw for each round like the FA Cup in England. Each team's position in the bracket is determined by the standings in each league from the previous year and/or qualifying playoffs, plus the geographic region. Since there is always so much instability in the USL, the exact rules to determine the bracket change every year, but the gist remains the same. The US Open Cup is historically (well, at least the last few decades) a west versus east competition, so the brackets are set up in order to get a west versus east final. Cali teams will always be in the west, and New York teams will always be in the east. The midwest teams can be in either bracket depending on where the geographical balance is among qualified teams. Here is the bracket for 2005: http://usopencup.com/2005bracket/index_E.html - Paul
So according to the Bracket, RSL could play and/or host the following teams in the West: (order by proximity to SLC and still in the Cup) Salinas Valley (NPSL) Seattle Sounders (USL1) Des Moines Menace (PDL) Chicago Fire Premier (PDL) El Paso Patriots (PDL) Minnesota Thunder (USL1) Charlotte Eagles (USL2) Charleston Battery (USL1) USL1 3rd round teams Atlanta Silverbacks, Portland Timbers, Richmond Kickers, Rochester Raging Rhinos
Looks like RSL will be on the road for their first Open Cup game. Third Round - RSL v. Minnesota Thunder in St. Paul -OR- RSL v. Chicago Fire Premier in Lisle Ill. (will be determined by who wins the Minnesota v. Chicago Fire Premier game in Round Two on 6/29). Full pairings are here.
Your right. July 13 Real Salt Lake at Minnesota Thunder James Griffin Stadium; St. Paul, Minn. 7 CT or Real Salt Lake at Chicago Fire Premier Illinois Benedictine College; Lisle, Ill. 8 CT
New about it on the Minnesota Thunder website http://www.mnthunder.com/news/Display.php?NewsItemId=1030
Thunder won 2-1 last night. hope you guys take us seriously because if you bring a reserve squad we might embarass you
Damn. I hope that you guys aren't going to just let "smcg" come in here and talk smack on your boards! lol
Dude our reserve team has lost to PDL teams, do you think we will bat an eye at a USL1 team beating them? Seriously, I hope RSL takes the first team, but who knows. We are missing Pope to Gold Cup and all the reinforcements won't be here until August. We might be sending the B team after all.