thecrew.com link: http://columbus.crew.mlsnet.com/new...t_id=139785&vkey=news_coc&fext=.jsp&team=t102 hmm... that is a bye! nice! May 27th is a Tuesday night.... starts at 7:30PM, three days after playing the Revs at home on Saturday night.
The winner of the Crew vs RSL/SJ game will then have to play Chicago in the next qualifying round, for a spot in the regular thrid round of the USOC. So theoretically, RSL or San Jose would have to win three straight games just to get to the same round that Dallas, Red Bulls, and the top 4 MLS teams get an automatic spot in. Seems a little unfair.
It would be nice it they counted these play in qualifiers as open cup matches. Officially, we didn't participate in the Open cup last year since we didn't get far enough in qualifying. Makes us sound like a low level amateur side. Hmm
If the US system had Promotion/Relegation all MLS teams could be given a pass. Because it's a locked top division there has to be something to even the playing field a little for the lower leagues. That's my take anyway. I forgot SJ was an expansion team and was really dreading playing them. It's almost like a deja vu sensation.