Thursday, May 22, 2008
TAMPA, FL – The qualifying process for the 2008 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the USL Second Division and Premier Development League comes to a close Memorial Day weekend. Five of the six USL-2 berths have been clinched and all eight PDL spots are still up for grabs going into the final days of qualifying.
With all eight USL First Division teams automatically in the tournament along with the USL-2 regular season and playoff champions Richmond and Harrisburg, the remaining seven American USL-2 clubs were left vying for six slots in the prestigious tournament. The Real Maryland Monarchs, Western Mass Pioneers, Cleveland City Stars, Charlotte Eagles and Crystal Palace Baltimore have secured five of them, leaving the winless Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Wilmington Hammerheads battling for the final berth as well as their first victory of the campaign.
On the strength of two draws in their six previous matches, Pittsburgh currently holds the edge over Wilmington, who has only one draw in four games. Both will need to find their results on the road in their final game to go through. Wilmington, needing a victory and a Pittsburgh draw/loss, visits Real Maryland, who is 2-3-0 and coming off an impressive 3-2 victory over previously unbeaten Cleveland. The Riverhounds, who were idle last week, will be at 2-1-2 Cleveland, who is coming off their first regular season loss in 14 games. On the road, Wilmington has yet to score this season and Pittsburgh has the only point between the two, posting a 1-1 draw at Western Mass.
Qualifying in the PDL is notoriously difficult, usually requiring teams to finish their four qualification matches with a perfect record. Some teams occasionally advance to the tournament with a draw on their record.
Three groups are very close to determining their participants for the tournament.
The Southwest’s berth will be earned by San Jose Frogs or the Los Angeles Legends with the outcome of LA’s match at home against San Fernando Valley Friday night being the decider. San Jose finished 3-0-1 and the Legends (2-0-1) will need a win by two goals to advance via the Goal Difference tiebreaker.
The Mid South’s berth is slightly more complicated, but a head-to-head showdown between the two current leaders Laredo and Austin (both 2-0-1) Friday night will like drive the outcome. A win by either the Aztex or Heat will eliminate the other, leaving Mississippi (1-0-1) in a scoring challenge in addition to earning victories. The Brilla, who visit Houston Saturday and DFW Sunday, currently trail Austin by four and Laredo by one in Goal Difference would have to make up the gap in their two road contests to move atop the table. A draw in Laredo Friday would bust the door wide open for Mississippi.
The Southeast is down to the simplest of scenarios as the current leader Central Florida Kraze (3-0-0) visit the Bradenton Academics (2-0-1) in a head-to-head showdown Monday for the final berth.
The other three groups are much murkier.
In the Northwest, the BYU Cougars (2-0-0), Yakima Reds (1-0-1), Ogden Outlaws (1-0-1) and Tacoma Tide (1-1-0) are still alive for the group’s berth.
The entire Central group is mathematically still alive for its two berths with most teams having two games left to play, and the Eastern group has 10 of its 16 teams still vying for its two spots in the tournament.
Follow the Qualifying Updates throughout the weekend [+]
