With the regular season rolling and the CC Cup thankfully over for the embarassed MLS sides, it's time to look to the USOC Cup. The draw for the first 2 rounds will happen Thursday. The format can be found at www.ussoccer.com. KC is qualified to round 4 as one of the best 8 MLS teams. DC and MET will be in R3. As USSoccer usually does things regionally, KC's portion of the draw will probably have A-Minnesota in R4. A-Milwaukee Wave United is another possibility, but should be paired with Chicago should they advance. A quarterfinal game should be either COL, DAL, or CHI KC's history up to last year is extremely inglorious. 1997 - Lost to Marquis White and D3 SF Bay Seals 1-2 in an appropriatly thick SF fog. SF went to the semis beating several others. 1998 - Lost in another road opener 1-3 at D3 Nashville Metros. 1999 - Lost the qualifier to get in to Colorado Rapids in a rain shower played at Arrowhead. Snitko rediculously threw in the tying goal late through his legs. KC proceeded to lose the SO 3-0. I left wet and p1ssed off. 2000 - Yet another lower level road opener loss. D4 PDL Chicago Sockers won on pks 7-6 in a scoreless game featuring 23 KC shots, many off the posts. 2001 - KC beat Seattle Sounders 4-0 to get a first ever USOC win. Chicago Fire thugged their way to an undeserved 1-0 win the following Wednesday also over in Kansas. 2002 - A nice run to the semis started with a 3-2 OT win in Rocester. In a game KC was outplayed, the tying goal for KC came at the final whistle and the winner minutes later from Brown, I think. A trip to Milwaukee to pick up a 2-0 win was next. In the semifinal KC blew a late 2-1 lead and gave up the OT decider minutes later. KC couldn't stop Buddle, couldn't even slow him down. CLB went on to beat LA in the final to deny LA the "double". That's 3-6 in games that mean anything and a big doughnut for 3 v MLS teams, ugh!
The draw is out and as expected the draw is mostly regional. If USS continues on that theme... Looking at the pairings of the first two rounds and the teams qualified to play in R3, it looks like KC's likely 4th Round Aug 6th opponent will be from the following: R1 Milwaukee Bavarians USASA-Region 2 (Am) at Des Moines Menace (D4) R2 Winner v Reading Rage (D3) R3 Winner v Minnesota Thunder (A league/D2) OR R2 Long Island Roughriders (D3) at Mid Michigan Bucks (D4) R3 Winner v Milwaukee Wave United Whichever one Chicago does not get will be KC's opponent. If MWU advances, they will be paired w/Chicago. Everyone else in the draw is better paired with other MLS sides. FYI, Minnesota's bench blew out a D4 team yesterday and is leading the Central with a 5-0-2 record +6 GD. Milwaukee is 2-0-1, with the only loss being to Minny. Milwaukee's roster is loaded with MISL studs including Dino Delevski-the MVP the last 2 years, and Digital.
Come on Milwuakee!!!!!!!!!!!! That trip was a blast last year. For those who have a hard time remebering. All you can drink in the stadium. Plus my girlfriend has an intership there this summer. Another good excuse to go see her.
FYI the brackets will be split east and west at the third round, and will be redrawn after each round.
YOu have to think that is MIL has a sniff of R4 they will be paired with Chicago. On that note, Minnesota pounder Portland on the road 3-0 midweek.
Update on possible opponents: The Syracuse Salty Dogs had a Sat/Sun road trip to Blain Minnesota and Milwaukee last weekend. Minnesota popped the Dogs 4-2 and Syracuse rebounded by popping Milwaukee 3-1. Minny is bringing the "Thunder" on people of late. They have won 4 straight by big scores.
In the only "West" result in the USOC last night: Round 1 Chico Rooks USASA 0 Fresno Fuego PDL 1 (Espindola 80) Other West match is June 7th or 8th.
Actually, Nashville was an A-League team when the Wizards lost to them in Open Cup play. The Wizards, who did not take the Open Cup seriously until 2001, are the only MLS team that has lost to second, third and fourth division teams in Open Cup play.
Hey we tied the amateur fourth division team! It was penalty kicks that did us in. And the Nasheville Metros owners (some nice guys, btw) sold their A-League rights to the group screwed up the Hampton Roads Mariners (now under new management as the Virginia Beach Mariners). But I digress.
Yeah, but which team advanced? Who won the 1994 World Cup? Sorry, AndyMead, but in my opinion, the Wizards lost to a fourth division team in Open Cup play. And if I asserted that as a fact, I think I would be correct.
A friendly reminder from your BigSoccer moderator: Turn your sarcasm meter on when you come on BigSoccer Please.
Minnesota Thunder - setting them up and knocking them down like a row of shot glasses at a 21st birthday party... From Tuesday - Minnesota 3-1 indiana. Yikes, they are just kicking butt and saving names for later.
Also from round 1 in the "West": Milwaukee Bavarians USUSA 2 Des Moines Menace PDL 1 - 2OT So much for DM's Cup run repeat of '02. It also makes a trip to Blaine, Minny more likely.
Weekend results from A-league teams close by: Minnesota 0 Milwaukee 1 - Dino Delevski (KC Comet and MISL 2-time defending MVP) Apparently Minny can beat everyone except Milwuakee. Milwaukee 4 Vancouver 0 - Whitecaps calmed on rain soaked field. The game had to be moved to a practice field. The heavily MISL based Milwaukee Wave United continues to adjust well to the boardless game. Delevski to a Dusouski thug/twin/brother for the opening tally and Delevski had the last two as well. Not bad for an indoor player incapable of playing a "real" game.