The pairings for the first round have been posted: http://thecup.us/first-round-pairings-potential-second-round-matchups-unveiled-for-the-2010-lamar-hunt-us-open-cup/ Not entirely clear who the Crew will play yet, but my hunch is that we should keep our eyes on the winners of Games 7 and 8. Whoever advances out of Dayton, Rochester, Detroit, and Pittsburgh would certainly seem to be a prime candidate to play the Crew. If you prefer to look at the matchups in bracket form, you can do so here: http://thecup.us/2010-lamar-hunt-u-s-open-cup-bracket/ though I'm not sure the brackets past the third round are set in stone yet. Anyways, first round games are June 15, just twelve days from today. With MLS taking the week off, I'd suggest going out to support some USOC soccer, but there aren't too many local games. Maybe Detroit at Pittsburgh for people in the far eastern part of Ohio (or western PA). Maybe some other game for folks who live in a different part of the country.
I hesitate to say this, because I know it will probably be misconstrued as baiting footy fans of the northern North American persuasion, but the contrast is startling between the USOC format and the 3 team, round-robin farce that concluded last night in Toronto with one side trotting out academy prospects and a 3rd string keeper in a cup final to claim a CCL spot. On the other hand, I don't hesitate to say this: Looking at the USOC bracket, I'm excited and proud of US soccer.
I apologize if this is addressed elsewhere, but how do they decide which MLS team plays in which MLS spot? Cleazer seems to hint that its based on geographic proximity. Is that what the criteria is, is there a random draw? Why don't they just assign the 8 MLS teams now?
Because in a strangely timed move, the USSF decided to release the round 1 and bracket information a few hours before DC and RSL battled it out for the last remaining MLS slot. If DC won, a few MLS teams probably shift one way. If RSL won, a few MLS teams shift another way.
After the first round games in 12 days, potential third round games (with MLS teams) will be announced. It's supposedly a somewhat random draw, but geographic proximity is always taken into account (which always helps the financial considerations of the tournament--fewer plane rides, more bus trips). The Chicago Fire is likely to get the winner from the Minnesota/Des Moines/St Louis bracket. (Or if US Soccer really wants to make it "random", maybe they'll flipflop Chicago and Columbus.) Frankly, they could if they wanted to. But in the past 15 or so years, I only recall tham announcing a full tournament bracket once at the start of the tournament (back in 2000 or 2001 or so). Perhaps they just want to keep the suspense and the possibility alive that maybe some minor league team will get to host the Galaxy (even though Beckham and Donovan won't be there). I'm not sure that was necessarily the case this year. There are more MLS teams from the west this year than there are minor-league teams from the west. (Galaxy, Chivas, Seattle, and Houston.) If RSL would've beaten DC last night (DC won 2-1 in overtime), they probably would've gone back to the east coast to take on Richmond or Real Maryland or Charlotte or some team like that. Anyways, in about 12 days, expect potential third round pairings to be announced that look like this: Columbus at Rochester or Pittsburgh at Columbus Unless Dayton or Detroit can pull off an upset. Too bad Dayton got matched up with Rochester, instead of the theoretically weaker team from Pittsburgh. Or maybe it'll be a truly random draw this year, and we'll get to play a team from Texas or Florida.
Yeah, I was noticing that after I posted and saw how heavy the West Coast is for MLS representation and there are three groups of teams hailing from the Southeastern US. Either everyone is going to get screwed on round 3 travels or the West Coast teams could get really screwed on a couple of games.
Bump! As if there wasn't enough soccer going on already, there are 16 Open Cup games tonight. Then the second round games are next week, and then the Crew will play a third round game just 14 short days from today! Potential second round games (for next week) have been announced here: http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Lamar-Hunt-U-S-Open-Cup/2010/06/Home-Teams-For-2010-Lamar-Hunt-US-Open-Cup-Second-Round-Matches-Determined.aspx Expect a similar third round reveal (featuring the Crew's first USOC match this year) to show up in just 2-3 days, after today's first round results are known.
I will be taking in the Des Moines Menace - AC $t. Louis (wait, that's St. Louis because they have no $) match tonight. Potentially, if NSC Stars don't pooch it, I could catch the winner from tonight back home next week.
Dayton Flyer Jack Pearson on the Des Moines Menace roster. Notable alum - Gruenebaum & Ezra Hendrickson. Both wearing black & gold in the program
Not too many upsets tonight. Pittsburgh beat Detroit, Rochester beat Dayton, St Louis beat Des Moines, and Minnesota beat the Kansas City Athletics. Second round matches in the midwest, to take place on June 22: Pittsburgh at Rochester St Louis at Minnesota
All the first round results can be seen here: http://thecup.us/2010-lamar-hunt-us-open-cup-results/ I'd like to point out one score in particular: Central Florida Kraze (PDL) 1:5 (AET) Miami FC (USSF D-2) You're reading that right, the score was 5-1, after extra time. And that isn't even the best part. All four overtime goals were scored by the same player: Paulo Araujo Jr!! Pretty wild stuff. Anyways, expect an official announcement about the Crew's potential third round matchups in the next few days.
No big surprise, but we'll officially host the winner of Rochester/Pittsburgh on June 29 at 7:30pm http://thecup.us/host-possibilities-for-the-2010-lamar-hunt-us-open-cup-third-round-announced/ When was the last home open cup game? Can't even remember it's been so long.
Definitely 08 Salt Lake. It was the game right after we were "banned" from throwing streamers at the players taking corners, and since it wasn't a MLS sanctioned game we still bounced streamers off Andy Williams head many a time!
Maybe we can get revenge on the Rhinos for last year (although their announcers were priceless). What's the pricing like for USOC games? Is it comparable to CCL dates?
Wow, we're actually hosting the game? That IS a big surprise. The last time the Crew had a home game in the Open Cup proper (not counting MLS qualifiers) was the infamous Dallas game in 2005. (As some will recall, that game was not at Crew Stadium.) The last time we hosted a lower league team was when we welcomed Syracuse (the Salty Dogs!!!) to Crew Stadium in June of 2004. So from that point of view, it's only been six long years! I'm going to take it as a good sign that we're actually hosting this game. Maybe we're actually going to try to win the tournament this year. And I'm relieved to see that Crew Stadium is the listed location. (You'll note that Houston, DC, and Chivas all have some alternate home venues listed, not their regular MLS stadiums.)
I'm hoping to make it out for this match as other commitments are likely to keep me from the next couple of MLS matches (will definitely make the trip for one of the mid-July league matches). By the way, this is NCR but related to the thread (found the info in the possible matchups link): If Minnesota beats St. Louis and hosts the Beckham-less Beck Ham United, could the Goats' match get moved to HDC (from Fullerton) as it would be available that night?
The rage I have over this game is well balanced by the humorous memory that this is the only game where my wife wanted to stick around afterwards so she could hurl boo's and insults at the refs. And that was a long wait but she did not care, she wanted to let them know for sure (which is not like her should you happen to know her).
Just to follow up on this, as the Crew have announced nothing about ticket prices yet, but so far I've seen USOC 3rd round ticket prices for 3 other teams: DC United - $25 Chicago - $15 Chivas - $10 I believe in all 3 cases its the same price for every seat in the stadium. I would expect a similar uniformity from the Crew.
If it's $15 or below, I'll be there. Full price would be a bit much to see Duka destroy the Raging Rhinos
So much for charging the same price for every seat in the house. It's going to be the same as any regular season match. From thecrew.com: I'd rather not pay full price for my midfield seats. Looks like a good idea to go the Crew Union/HSH route.
Dangit, why do they do this? I understand needing to keep the major league image for league matches, but cup games are a different story.