Wednesday, August 8, 2007
TAMPA, FL – The Seattle Sounders made history Tuesday night in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in a dominant performance that saw the USL First Division side hand the Colorado Rapids the worst defeat in the history of the tournament for any Major League Soccer team against any opposition as they fell 5-0. Also moving onto the semifinals were USL-1 Carolina RailHawks and MLS’ FC Dallas.
Games available for free viewing On Demand at www.USLlive.com
The historic victory gave USL two semifinalists for only the second time in the history of the tournament as the Carolina RailHawks escaped a close fought affair at home against the defending USL Second Division champion Richmond Kickers with a 1-0 decision that saw the home side need two goal line clearances by field players.
The Charleston Battery were nearly the second team from USL to move on with their game needing overtime to decide a victory, but the hosts were unable to sweep the two Texas MLS clubs as they fell 2-1 to Dallas after knocking off the defending MLS champion Houston Dynamo in the last round. Dallas needed penalty kicks after a 3-3 draw against the Battery in last year’s tournament to advance.
The Battery and the Rochester Rhinos were the last USL duo to reach the semifinals of the US Open Cup in the same year, accomplishing the feat in 1999 when the Rhinos went on to capture the title.
Richmond’s loss leaves the Harrisburg City Islanders, set to meet the New England Revolution in Gillette Stadium Wednesday, as the lone USL Second Division club remaining. The 1997 San Francisco Bay Seals are the only previous US third division level club to advance to the semifinals in the history of the tournament during the MLS era. Harrisburg upset DC United of MLS in the previous round 1-0.
The RailHawks and Sounders became the fifth and sixth teams in USL history to reach the semifinal round of the tournament in the MLS era beginning in 1996. It is the seventh and eighth occurrence, respectively, as Charleston and Rochester have both advanced this far twice previously.
US Open Cup Quarterfinals Match Recaps
Richmond Kickers 0 :: 1 Carolina RailHawks
The host RailHawks ended an eight-game winless run (0-6-2) Friday against California, but registered what may be the biggest win of the year to date with a narrow 1-0 victory over the defending USL Second Division champion Richmond Kickers. Several fantastic stops from goalkeeper Chris McClellan and a pair of goal line clearances by Chris Carrieri and Frankie Sanfilippo kept the expansion Carolina club alive in the US Open Cup as Jonny Steele, Joel Bailey and goal scorer Connally Edozien strung together a surprising run up the middle of the field in the 64th minute that caught the Kickers off guard for the winner.
Full Match Report [+]
FC Dallas 2 :: OT :: 1 Charleston Battery
A little more than a year ago it took FC Dallas penalty kicks to get past the Charleston Battery in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup after a 3-3 draw. This year, the Hoops made it a little easier on themselves -- but not by much, needing extra time to advance to the semifinal round in a 2-1 victory Tuesday night at Blackbaud Stadium. Arturo Alvarez scored the game-winner in the 96th minute, beating Battery ’keeper Dusty Hudock to the near post.
Full Match Report [+]
Colorado Rapids 0 :: 5 Seattle Sounders
The Seattle Sounders defeated the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer Tuesday night in the quarterfinal round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup by a score a 5-0. The Sounders advanced with early goals by defenders Taylor Graham, and Zach Scott, followed by an own goal by the Rapids. Seattle added second-half goals by Josh Gardner and Sebastien Le Toux. It is the second consecutive victory over an MLS club for Seattle, who knocked out Chivas USA 3-1 in the previous round.
Full Match Report [+]
Harrisburg City Islanders 1 :: 2 New England Revolution
Behind first half goals from Andy Dorman and Taylor Twellman, the New England Revolution advanced to the semifinals of the 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the first time since 2001. Matt Tanzini scored late on a free kick to cut the lead in half for Harrisburg. The Revs earned a 2-1 victory over the Harrisburg City Islanders of the United Soccer Leagues Second Division on Wednesday night at Gillette Stadium.
Full Match Report [+]
US Open Cup MLS All-Time Largest Margins of Defeat
Four Goal Margin
vs All opposition
2004: Kansas City 4 :: 0 Dallas
2000: Chicago 5 :: 1 Dallas
1998: MetroStars 4 :: 0 Tampa Bay
Three Goal Margin
vs USL opposition
2005: Minnesota (USL-1) 4 :: 1 Colorado
2003: Wilmington (USL-2) 4 :: 1 Dallas
2000: Richmond (USL-1) 3 :: 0 Colorado
1996: Rochester (USL-1) 3 :: 0 Colorado
vs MLS opposition
2004: Dallas 3 :: 0 Colorado
2002: Los Angeles 4 :: 1 Dallas
2000: MetroStars 3 :: 0 Tampa Bay
1998: Columbus 3 :: 0 Miami
US Open Cup Quarterfinal Scoring Summaries
Tuesday, August 7
Richmond Kickers 0 :: 1 Carolina RailHawks
CAR: Connally Edozien (Jonny Steele) 65
FC Dallas 2 :: OT :: 1 Charleston Battery
CHA: Stephen Armstrong 17
DAL: Clarence Goodson (Dax McCarty) 22
DAL: Arturo Alvarez (Bobby Rhine) 95
Colorado Rapids 0 :: 5 Seattle Sounders
SEA: Taylor Graham (Josh Gardner) 23
SEA: Zach Scott (Leighton O’Brien) 25
SEA: Own goal 41
SEA: Josh Gardner (Sebastien Le Toux) 56
SEA: Sebastien Le Toux 68
Wednesday, August 8
Harrisburg City Islanders 1 :: 2 New England Revolution
NE: Andy Dorman (Shalrie Joseph) 4
NE: Taylor Twellman (Pat Noonan) 17
HAR: Matt Tanzini 78
