Soccer By Ives

U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals kick off tonight

By SEAN RUBIO

Four MLS and four USL teams will combine for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals, with two USL-2 sides looking to go glory hunting into the semifinals.

In the only all-MLS tie, Kansas City Wizards are travelling to the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, WA to take on Seattle Sounders FC. It will be the Wizards' 5th game in two weeks, including a 4-3 penalty shootout win against Minnesota Thunder in the Third Round of the Open Cup last week. Meanwhile, the Sounders have had a week to prepare, with their last match being the 2-1 win over Portland Timbers in the previous round of the cup.

After surviving a late scare with Ocean City Barons, DC United will play host to Harrisburg City Islanders, a USL-2 side that up-ended New England Revolution 2-1 in extra time in the previous round.

U.S. Open Cup: Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers (Your Running Commentary)

 

U.S. Open Cup matches don't generally have the heated rivalry factor, but the Portland Timbers-Seattle Sounders third-round match-up isn't your normal rivalry.

Forged from the days of the old NASL, and kept alive for decades in the A-League and USL, Timbers-Sounders is one of the most intense, and arguably the best rivalry in the United States.

That rivalry has been put on hold since the Sounders joined Major League Soccer, but the U.S. Open Cup has brought it back to life, with the Timbers playing host to the Sounders tonight (10pm).

If you will be watching tonight's match, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

U.S. Open Cup: Upsets galore as four MLS teams fall

When six MLS teams took the field on Tuesday night in U.S. Open Cup play, the group was expected to be able to handle competition from lower level USL teams (and one PDL team). By the end of the night, only D.C. United was able to win in regulation, while four other MLS teams saw their U.S. Open Cup runs ended.

The Chicago Fire, New England Revolution, Chivas USA and Columbus Crew all suffered defeats in third-round play on Tuesday night, while the Kansas City Wizards needed penalty kicks to knock off the Minnesota Thunder.

The tournament's Cinderella story heading into the third round, the Ocean City Barons, put up a brave fight against D.C. United, but eventually fell, 2-0. D.C. needed 74 minutes to finally break through Ocean City's defense and put an end to the PDL team's improbable run through the tournament.

The Wizards nearly became the fifth MLS team to bow out on Tuesday, but eventually downed the Thunder in penalty kicks after squandering the lead on three different occasions.

Sounders-Timbers headlines U.S. Open Cup Third Round

 

By SEAN RUBIO

One of the biggest rivalries in American soccer will be rekindled as long-time foes Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders FC highlight the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

The Pacific Northwest clash headlines a third round filled with intriguing match-ups. The Houston Dynamo face off against the Austin Aztecs, the Kansas City Wizards will take on the Minnesota Thunder and the Cinderally story of the tournament, the Ocean City Barons, meet MLS power D.C. United.

In their first meeting since Seattle’s “promotion” to MLS, emotions will be high as the high-flying Sounders will travel to PGE Park to take on a Portland Timbers side that has only lost once in USL First Division play this season. The Timbers are coming off a 4-0 drubbing of the Montreal Impact, and should prove a stern test for Sigi Schmid’s men.

SBI's Mid-Day Musings (Notes on the U.S. Open Cup, Red Bulls and other MLS moves)

Today is one of those days where you watch the clock and count the minutes until game-time, making almost everything else you do in that time just a tad bit more difficult to do.

It's okay, we are all in that boat. I am trying to finish up the Bext XI, Worst XI, Team of the Week this afternoon, but am having a hard time getting it done. I will knock it out before 2pm for those of you who haven't abandoned your computers for a watch party by then.

If you're struggling to get through the day, here are some news, notes and soccer thoughts for you:

The Seattle Sounders defeated the Colorado Rapids, 1-0, in U.S. Open Cup play-in action in Washington. The victory helped the Sounders join D.C. United, Columbus, Chicago, Houston, New England, Chivas USA and Kansas City in the full U.S. Open Cup field. Kevin Forrest scored the lone goal for Seattle. The schedule and opponents for the eight MLS teams should be released today.

(U.S. Open Cup) D.C. United 5, Red Bulls 3: A Look Back

 

                                                                              Photo by ISIphotos.com

So how did the Red Bulls walk into a four goals in 26 minutes haymaker from D.C. United that effectively ended last night's U.S. Open Cup qualifier before it began? They can point the blame squarely on one coach and a handful of bench players who made the least of their chances to impress.

Juan Carlos Osorio got it wrong. No, he couldn't be blamed for wanting to rest starters ahead of Sunday's crucial league match vs. Chicago, especially considering the team's desperate need for points, but where he went wrong was in trotting out a team made up completely of reserve players.

Osorio wasn't just wrong for leaving out all of his top regulars, he's wrong because it was easy to see coming, and easy for D.C. United coach Tom Soehn to gameplan for. Soehn had to know that Osorio would trot out the iceberg-slow Andrew Boyens with the faster-but-still-not-fast Carlos Mendes for Wednesday's match, so he started two fast forwards, Boyzz Khumalo and Ange N'Silu, and let the track meet commence.

The result wasn't pretty for the Red Bulls. In fact, it might have been the ugliest 30 minutes in the history of a club that knows ugly all too well.

Red Bulls blasted by D.C. United in Open Cup qualifier

                                               Photo by ISIphotos.com

 

BY DYLAN BUTLER

Juan Carlos Osorio wasn't mincing words when he spoke to reporters outside of the New York Red Bulls locker room after his team crashed and burned out of the U.S. Open Cup Wednesday night.

"There was a big test for some of the guys and, if I am honest, some of them failed today," Osorio said after a 5-3 loss to D.C. United at RFK Stadium. "In the first half we were horrible. It's probably the  worst game I coached here with the Red Bulls."

The Red Bulls conceded four goals in the opening 26 minutes and looked like a hungover pub team defensively.

"It seemed like we were playing  a scrimmage game, no tackles, not competing for 50/50 balls," Osorio fumed. "That is unacceptable."

Chris Pontius, Thabiso Khumalo, Brandon Barklage and Fred struck to give the hosts a commanding 4-0 lead before John Wolyniec closed out the half with a goal one minute from halftime.

Inside the Red Bulls locker room, Osorio laced into his team for an embarassing performance.

"I want to apologize to the fans, especially the fans who came here and had to suffer by coming here," Osorio said. "I do apologize because we lacked character, we lacked passion and we lacked heart."

U.S. Open Cup: Red Bulls at D.C. United (Match Night Commentary)

The New York Red Bulls have made the trip down I-95 to take on D.C. United in a U.S. Open Cup play-in match at RFK Stadium.

The Red Bulls are coming off a 1-1 tie vs. Houston while D.C. United also managed a late equalizer in its 2-2 tie vs. Chivas USA.

Both teams are resting starters, though the Red Bulls look to have fewer starters in their lineup for tonight's match. Juan Pablo Angel did not make the trip, while Mac Kandji and Kevin Goldthwaite are on the bench tonight.

I will be providing commentary and analysis throughout the match so feel free to follow along. As always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action:

U.S. Open Cup: New York at San Jose (Match Night Commentary)

By SEAN RUBIO

The New York Red Bulls and San Jose Earthquakes begin their U.S. Open Cup campaigns tonight in a play-in match at Buck Shaw Stadium in San Jose.

A rest for many starters on both sides seems to be on tap tonight as the two MLS strugglers look to rest key players for crucial league matches this weekend.

I will be providing running commentary throughout the match so feel free to follow along here. As always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

U.S. Open Cup: Red Bulls at Earthquakes (The Pre-Game)

 

The New York Red Bulls are in San Jose today for tonight's U.S. Open Cup play-in match vs. the Earthquakes (10:30pm). The Red Bulls will be looking to erase the memory of Sunday's awful 3-2 loss to D.C. United, while also looking to improve on their 2008 Open Cup performance, which saw the Red Bulls bounced out by USL-2 side Crystal Palace Baltimore.

Tonight's U.S. Open Cup match won't be televised, but fear not, SBI will be providing live commentary from the match. SBI correspondent Sean Rubio will be at Buck Shaw Stadium tonight to keep you informed on all the action.

So what should we expect tonight? Don't expect to see full-strength teams. With both squads struggling in MLS play, you can bet that the Red Bulls and Earthquakes will be fielding plenty of reserves. So why should you still care about the match? Considering the struggles for both teams this season, tonight's match might help provide some insight into what reserve players may be ready to step up for bigger roles. The U.S. Open Cup might also be the best hope either team has for winning a trophy this season.

Here are some things to look for tonight:

Morning Ticker: Marquez sidelined, Vela quarantined and MLS deals made

 

Rafael Marquez, every American's favorite Mexican national team player, is set to miss the rest of the European season after suffering a knee injury on Wednesday.

Marquez, who made headlines back in February for once again drawing a red card vs. the United States, suffered a torn meniscus during Barcelona's 0-0 tie vs. Chelseain their Champions League semifinal first-leg match-up.

The injury puts Marquez's availability for upcoming World Cup qualifiers for Mexico in serious doubt. He had already served his two-match suspension for the red card earned for kicking U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard, but now may not be available for Mexico's upcoming qualifiers vs. El Salvador (June 6th) and Trinidad & Tobago (June 10th).

The injury also means Marquez will miss the highly-anticipated La Liga clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid on Saturday. He joins Real Madrid defender and MMA wannabe Pepe on the suspended list for that match.

Here are some other stories from this morning and Tuesday to get your day going

D.C. United downs FC Dallas in U.S. Open Cup opener

 

Defending U.S. Open Cup champions D.C. United began defense of its title on Wednesday night with a 2-0 victory vs. FC Dallas at RFK Stadium. Fred and Brandon Barklage scored the goals for D.C., which move on to play the winner of the New York Red Bulls/San Jose Earthquakes play-in match (set for April 29th).

In case you missed the match (and chances are you did since fewer than 6,000 attended and there was no TV), You can see the highlights on DC United's website.

What did you think of D.C. United's performance? Impressed with United's rookies? Hoping for a D.C.-New York play-in game in May? Think D.C. can repeat as Open Cup champions?

Share your thoughts below.

Morning Ticker: DC wins U.S. Open Cup, Puerto Rico advances in CCL and USA up to 28th in FIFA rankings

                                                                           Photo by ISIphotos.com

It took a dozen years but D.C. United finally added a second U.S. Open Cup trophy to its loaded trophy case.

The four-time MLS Cup champions downed USL side Charleston Battery 2-1 in the U.S. Open Cup final on Wednesday night, giving D.C. its first championship trophy since 2004.

The win helped salvage some pride for MLS, which saw two of its teams eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday night while the USL Montreal Impact advanced to the group stages.

Here are some other stories to get your day going:

U.S. Open Cup Final: D.C. United vs. Charleston Battery (Your Running Commentary)

The USL's Charleston Battery are in RFK Stadium tonight to take on D.C. United in the U.S. Open Cup final (7:30pm, FSC).

D.C. United is looking to win its first U.S. Open Cup title since 1996 while the Battery looks to become the first USL team since the Rochester Raging Rhinos in 1999 to win the cup.

If you will be watching the match, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below. If you can't watch on Fox Soccer Channel, you can also keep track of the match on the U.S. Soccer website.

Enjoy the action.

U.S. Open Cup semifinals: Your Running Commentary

The U.S. Open Cup semifinals are set to kick off tonight with one MLS match-up and one all-USL clash.

D.C. United will play host to the New England Revolution (7:30pm), which has an eye toward repeating as U.S. Open Cup champions while also adding to the SuperLiga trophy it just won last week. D.C. will look to shake off a shock 4-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls to claim a place in the final.

The other semifinal pits soon-to-be MLS squad Seattle Sounders against the Charleston Battery (7:30pm), which will host tonight's match.

Here is ESPN.com colleague Steve Davis' preview of the semifinals.

If you want to follow the scores, and listen to some radio, you can find both at the U.S. Open Cup website.

Now, if you will be attending tonight's matches, or listening to them, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play, in the comments section below (You spent all that money on your I-Phone, now put it to use).

Enjoy the matches.

Cuauhtemoc Blanco fined by MLS

Chicago Fire midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco has been fined $7,500 by MLS for his actions during the Fire's U.S. Open Cup loss against D.C. United on July 8th.

Blanco has been suspended for the next two U.S. Open Cup tournaments (in 2009 and 2010, and potentially longer depending on how far Chicago goes in the tournaments) by U.S. Soccer but avoided an MLS suspension for actions that included punching an opponent and allegedly attempting to gouge the eyes of D.C. midfielder Clyde Simms and allegedly head-butting a member of D.C. United's match-day staff.

Blanco will be serving an MLS suspension this weekend. He won't play in Chicago's match against Chivas USA on Saturday due to a suspension for yellow-card accumulation.

What do you think of the punishment? Should MLS have suspended Blanco? Is a $7,500 fine a just punishment or more a waste of time? Will we ever see the video of Blanco's actions that D.C. United submitted to U.S. Soccer?

Share your thoughts below.