ASN: Regional Rivalries Add Intrigue to U.S. Open Cup

A brand new format has reinvigorated the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, even when the information is not excellent for New York Metropolis FC or the numerous golf equipment from the North American Soccer League.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
June 18, 2015
8:00 PM

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THE 2015 LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP has featured terrific drama and a few very spectacular storylines to date. In the event you’re not following the match, fairly frankly, you’re lacking out.

The early rounds have continued with the regional format and that has invigorated some native rivalries. There have been some intense video games and a few very attention-grabbing outcomes.

Listed here are some ideas on the primary 4 rounds and what to anticipate because the fifth spherical (Spherical of 16) will get underway on June 30.

NASL groups are struggling

If North American Soccer League officers hoped to make a press release on this version of the Open Cup, nicely, they cannot be in an excellent temper proper now.

Within the third spherical, which was held on Could 27, third division USL groups worn out second-division NASL squads. Actually, the USL went an ideal 7-0 in opposition to the NASL and on Tuesday night time NASL’s Atlanta Silverbacks fell to the New York Purple Bulls 3-0.

The one saving grace? The New York Cosmos’ slender shootout victory over New York Metropolis FC on Wednesday night time.

USL’s sweep is especially attention-grabbing provided that USL has utilized to the U.S. Soccer Federation for second division standing. Whereas there may be two second divisions in the USA, USL appears keen to make use of this match, and its affiliation with Main League Soccer, to realize a stronger foothold on the American soccer panorama and an ideal report in opposition to the present second division NASL offers the league a lift of momentum.

The East River Derby

Billed because the East River Derby, the Cosmos’ matchup in opposition to New York Metropolis FC was fairly a spectacle. Cosmos followers have had a chip on their shoulders for fairly a while and plenty of of them are very outspoken of their disapproval of MLS and its insurance policies. In the meantime, NYCFC followers confirmed up in nice numbers on the Cosmos’ house on Lengthy Island to voice assist for his or her crew.

The outcome was a wildly entertaining recreation that featured end-to-end motion. NYCFC roared out to a 2-0 lead on two targets from Ghanaian ahead Kwadwo Poku—who has emerged as one of many extra thrilling gamers in MLS. His first purpose was a bicycle. His second ought to have been referred to as offside however he did nicely to complete it.

The Cosmos discovered a method to battle again and equalized late and power additional time. NYCFC missed an opportunity to win after lacking a penalty within the first stanza of additional time. Within the shootout, Cosmos keeper Jimmy Maurer got here up with a collection of massive saves for an unbelievable victory.

Cosmos followers have been fast to have a good time the victory as a vindication that their membership is on their method to turning into a large membership in the USA regardless of not taking part in in MLS. Standard knowledge, nonetheless, means that this win merely helped the NASL keep away from a disastrous 0-9 report in opposition to MLS and USL opponents.

Celebrating the truth that the one success the NASL had on this match got here when its greatest crew was in a position to defeat a struggling, less-than-full power MLS growth crew solely by the slimmest of margins, at house, appears about as acceptable as celebrating a D- on a report card

MLS groups stepping it up

MLS groups have lengthy been criticized for not taking the match critically. The U.S. Open Cup is greater than a century previous and is a reputable cup competitors. However MLS groups have typically used the match as an opportunity to play reserve gamers. In a single notably embarrassing second in 2011, New York Purple Bulls head coach Hans Backe didn’t even journey with the crew for an Open Cup matchup in opposition to Chicago. As an alternative he had his assistants coach the sport and despatched reserve crew gamers.

This yr appears to be an enormous departure for all MLS groups. Lots of the league’s prime stars all performed and the Purple Bulls took a pointy flip from their group’s historical past within the match and performed a full power squad in its 3-0 win over Atlanta.

Did MLS Commissioner Don Garber ship a memo round? Maybe. On Tuesday 9 MLS groups superior to the fifth spherical. Seattle was the one MLS crew to lose on Tuesday nevertheless it misplaced to MLS rival Portland.

MLS groups delivered Wednesday as nicely: Orlando, Los Angeles, Columbus, D.C. United, and Houston all superior. Solely New England and New York Metropolis crashed out.

Fourteen of the 16 remaining groups are in MLS. The Cosmos and the Charlotte Independence of the USL are the one two decrease division groups remaining.

Spherical of 16 Draw

The U.S. Open Spherical of 16 draw occurred on Thursday morning and as soon as once more, the regional pots have been used to find out the matchups. The marquee matchup would be the New York Derby that includes the Purple Bulls and the Cosmos at Purple Bull Area.

Here is a take a look at the quarterfinal matchups (house crew listed first).

EAST 

New York Purple Bulls – New York CosmosPhiladelphia Union – DC United

SOUTH

Chicago Fireplace – Charlotte IndependenceOrlando Metropolis – Columbus Crew

CENTRAL

Sporting Kansas Metropolis – FC DallasHouston Dynamo – Colorado Rapids

WEST

Actual Salt Lake – Portland TimbersSan Jose Earthquakes – Los Angeles Galaxy