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US Open Cup Recap: More MLS Struggles

By on June 13, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Oh boy. Last night was a fun one in the 2013 US Open Cup. More MLS struggles and more questions as to how serious some teams are taking this tournament.

Let’s get down to the upsets first. We nearly had three of them.

The Upsets

Orlando City SC 1, Sporting KC 0

Orlando City SC pulled off one of the biggest upsets in this tournament’s history last night when they went to Kansas City and knocked off the defending Cup champions Sporting KC 1-0. Former Vancouver and D.C. United forward Long Tan had the game’s only goal, scored early in the match.

Orlando frustrated SKC on the night. OCSC was playing without its Sporting KC loan players, including Dom Dwyer, who has already broken the USL PRO single-season scoring record.

That didn’t matter in the end. Now Dwyer will be able to play in another USOC match for the Lions.

The loss for Sporting KC proved just how hard it is to win this tournament in back-to-back years.  Continue Reading →

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Potential Quarterfinal Pairings For 2013 USOC Released

By on June 5, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |

The 2013 US Open Cup could get more interesting as the rounds go. Today, the USSF released the potential quarterfinal pairings for the tournament.

Some tough pairings for some clubs like Portland or New York. Defending champions Sporting KC have to hit the road regardless if they beat Orlando next week. That is pretty rough for a defending champion.

The quarterfinals will take place on June 26.

QUARTERFINALS

New England Revolution (MLS)/New York Red Bulls (MLS) winner at D.C. United (MLS)
Maryland SoccerPlex; Boyds, Md.
Wednesday, June 26 at 7 p.m. ET

OR

New England Revolution (MLS)/New York Red Bulls (MLS) winner at Philadelphia Union (MLS) 
PPL Park; Chester, Pa.
Wednesday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. ET

 

Sporting Kansas City (MLS)/Orlando City SC (USL PRO) winner at Chicago Fire (MLS)
Toyota Park; Bridgeview, Ill.
Wednesday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. CT

OR

Sporting Kansas City (MLS)/Orlando City SC (USL PRO) winner at Columbus Crew (MLS)
Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio
Wednesday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. ET

 

Carolina RailHawks (NASL)/Chivas USA (MLS) winner at Real Salt Lake (MLS)
Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Wednesday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. MT

OR

Carolina RailHawks (NASL)/Chivas USA (MLS) winner at Charleston Battery (USL PRO)
Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.
Wednesday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. ET

 

Portland Timbers (MLS)/Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) winner at FC Dallas (MLS)
FC Dallas Stadium; Frisco, Texas
Wednesday, June 26 at 8:00 p.m. CT

OR

Portland Timbers (MLS)/Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) winner at Houston Dynamo (MLS)
BBVA Compass Stadium; Houston, Texas
Wednesday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. CT

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East Coast Biased In US Open Cup?

By on May 30, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |
It may be a couple years before we see this again in the US Open Cup. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

It may be a couple years before we see this again in the US Open Cup. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Take one look at the pairings from the last two nights in the 2013 edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. One thing you’ll notice right away was the four MLS sides from the Western Conference who had to travel to the east coast for their third round matches.

All four of them were defeated.

LA, Seattle, Colorado and San Jose had to travel over 1,500 miles from one coast to the other in the middle of the week for a US Open Cup third round match against a lower division side.

But at some point you have to wonder, is it really good for the US Open Cup, the country’s oldest soccer tournament to have some of its top clubs from MLS out so early due in part to the large travel involved?  Continue Reading →

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Fourth Round of the 2013 USOC Is Set

By on May 30, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |
Sporting KC fans celebrate moving on to the fourth round. (Photo by Mark Shaiken - WVHooligan staff photographer)

Sporting KC fans celebrate moving on to the fourth round. (Photo by Mark Shaiken – WVHooligan staff photographer)

After this week’s results, 12 MLS sides move through to the fourth round on June 12. Only four lower division teams left but the biggest one missing from MLS has to be three-time champions Seattle.

Defending champions Sporting KC are still in it as they host their USL-Pro affiliate Orlando. And the Texas Derby will be featured in the USOC as Houston travels to Dallas.

Chivas USA is the only MLS side on the road against a lower division team as well in the forth round.

Here are the eight fourth-round matchups: 

Chicago Fire vs. Columbus Crew, June 12; Toyota Park

New England Revolution vs. New York Red Bulls, June 12; Harvard University

D.C. United vs. Philadelphia Union, June 12; Maryland SoccerPlex

Sporting Kansas City vs. Orlando City (USL PRO), June 12; Sporting Park

FC Dallas vs. Houston Dynamo, June 12; FC Dallas Stadium

Carolina RailHawks (NASL) vs. Chivas USA, June 12; WakeMed Soccer Park

Real Salt Lake vs. Charleston Battery (USL PRO), June 12; Rio Tinto Stadium

Portland Timbers vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL), June 12; JELD-WEN Field

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Third Round Set For 2013 US Open Cup

By on May 22, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |

MLS teams now know who they’ll face in the third round of the 2013 US Open Cup.

Here is the complete list of third-round matchups, based on U.S. Soccer’s draw, with the home team listed first:

  • May 28: Richmond Kickers (USL PRO) vs. D.C. United (MLS), 7 pm ET
  • May 28: Philadelphia Union (MLS) vs. Ocean City Nor’easters (PDL), 7:30 pm ET
  • May 28: Orlando City SC (USL PRO) vs. Colorado Rapids (MLS), 7: 30 pm ET
  • May 28: Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) vs. FC Dallas (MLS), 7:30 pm ET
  • May 28: Charleston Battery (USL PRO) vs. San Jose Earthquakes (MLS), 7:30 pm ET
  • May 28: Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) vs. New England Revolution (MLS), 7:35 pm ET
  • May 28: Sporting Kansas City (MLS) vs. Des Moines Menace (PDL), 8:30 pm ET
  • May 28: Real Salt Lake (MLS) vs. Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL), 9:30 pm ET
  • May 28: LA Blues (USL PRO) vs. Chivas USA (MLS), 10:30 pm ET
  • May 29: Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) vs. Chicago Fire (MLS), 7 pm ET
  • May 29: Carolina RailHawks (NASL) vs. LA Galaxy (MLS), 7:15 pm ET
  • May 29: Columbus Crew (MLS) vs. Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO), 7:30 pm ET
  • May 29: New York Red Bulls (MLS) vs. Reading United AC (PDL), 7:30 pm ET
  • May 29: Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) vs. Seattle Sounders (MLS), 7:30 pm ET
  • May 29: Houston Dynamo (MLS) vs. FC Tucson (PDL), 8:30 pm ET
  • May 29: Portland Timbers (MLS) vs. Wilmington Hammerheads (USL PRO), 10:30 pm ET

Nine MLS teams on the road including Seattle and LA. Very interesting seeing teams like D.C. United and New England go against their USL-Pro affiliates as well.

Lastly, four PDL sides go through to the third round but no amateur sides like last year’s Cal FC.

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US Open Cup Third Round Draw Is Out

By on May 15, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Boy things look real interesting for the 16 MLS clubs in the 100th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Several clubs could open up on the road thanks to today’s draw for the third round pairings.

MLS could have 11 of its 16 clubs start out on the road should certain clubs win in the second round. Dallas, San Jose, Chivas and LA will be on the road no matter what.

Home teams are determined by a random selection process from among those clubs that have applied to host and whose venues meet the minimum tournament requirements.

Continue Reading →

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MLS on Loan: Its Dwyer’s USL

By on May 13, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |

I’m going to go ahead and say it, the loans from MLS to USL are working. For some they are working far better than we could have imagined. Case and point with Sporting KC loanee Dom Dwyer who scored again over the weekend for Orlando City.

The goal also came against some MLS players as Orlando was taking on the Seattle Sounders Reserves. It was his third consecutive game with more than one goal and his 10th on the season. Yeah, not bad. Eventually this will put Peter Vermes and Sporting KC in a situation where they may want to recall him early if he keeps this hot streak up.

The normal DCU loanees were a little light this week for Richmond as three of them were called up for their weekend encounter in Dallas. Casey Townsend started and went the full 90 against Dallas. Still hard to believe that those players loaned out by DC have scored almost as many goals as their MLS squad have this season – DCU loanees 4, DCU regulars 5. Ouch.  Continue Reading →

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MLS on Loan: Dwyer Continues Solid Form

By on May 6, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |

So far, Sporting KC’s Dom Dwyer has the USL-Pro league wrapped around his finger. He can literally do no wrong at the moment for Orlando City SC. Dwyer scored three more goals in a 7-2 route for Orlando over the weekend against  Antigua.

Dwyer is now the clear frontrunner for the USL PRO golden boot with eight goals in seven games played.

D.C. United’s Michael Seaton scored his first goal for Richmond over the weekend as well. The homegrown star and other loanees in Richmond are doing well so far. They’ve combined for four goals on the season, the same amount as their MLS squad. Ouch.

In the NASL, RSL loanee Enzo Martinez didn’t get the start for Carolina but he did bag a nice goal over Minnesota.

Here is how the rest of the loanees did this past week:

Continue Reading →

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MLS on Loan: Dwyer Leading The Way

By on April 29, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |

You want quality minutes for your young players? Well for several MLS clubs the loans to the USL-Pro sides are starting to pay off in a positive way.

Over the last week three players found the back of the net during their loan spells with one player doing it in multiple games. Sporting KC forward Dom Dwyer scored three goals this past week for Orlando City SC.

Dwyer is now atop the USL PRO’s golden boot race with five goals scored in six games played. I’d say that is a good thing. Continue Reading →

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MLS on Loan: Another Week In The Books

By on April 23, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Two more MLS players on loan found the back of the net this past weekend.

Sporting KC’s Yann Songo’o scored a goal in a 3-2 win for Orlando City SC over the LA Blues. Elsewhere, Philadelphia Union loanee Cristhian Hernandez scored a goal and grabbed an assist in a 2-1 win over the Colorado Rapids reserves.

Full rundown of the MLS-on-loan list below:

USL PRO:

Rochester Rhinos: 0-0 draw at Charlotte Eagles
D Bilal Duckett (NE) – Subsitute, played 23 minutes
F Matt Horth (NE) – Started, played 71 minutes
M Gabe Latigue (NE) – Started, played 67 minutes
D Tyler Polak (NE) – Started, played 90 minutes

Orlando City SC: 3-2 win vs. LA Blues
GK Jon Kempin (SKC) – Started, subbed out 90th minute
M Christian Duke (SKC) – Started, played 13 minutes
D Yann Songo’o (SKC) – Started, played 90 minutes, one goal
F Dom Dwyer (SKC) – Started, played 87 minutes

LA Blues: 3-2 loss at Orlando City SC
GK Patrick McLain (Chivas USA) – Did not play

Richmond Kickers : 4-1 win vs. Rochester Rhinos
D/M Taylor Kemp (DC) – Did not play
F Michael Seaton (DC) – Did not play
M Conor Shanosky (DC) – Started, played 90 minutes
F Casey Townsend (DC) – Did not play, remained with DC United
Brian Ownby (HOU) – Started, played 83 minutes

Rochester Rhinos: 4-1 loss at Richmond Kickers
D Bilal Duckett (NE) – Started, played 90 minutes
F Matt Horth (NE) – Unused substitute
M Gabe Latigue (NE) – Started, played 52 minutes
D Tyler Polak (NE) – Substitute, played 38 minutes

Harrisburg City Islanders: 2-1 win at Colorado Rapids Reserves
M Jimmy McLaughlin (PHI) – Started, played 87 minutes
M Greg Jordan (PHI) – Started, played 90 minutes, one goal
F Cristhian Hernandez (PHI) – Started, played 78 minutes, one goal, one assist
M Don Anding (PHI) – Started, played 90 minutes

LA Blues: 3-2 loss at VSI Tampa Bay FC
GK Patrick McLain (Chivas USA) – Did not play

NASL:

Atlanta Silverbacks: 4-3 win at Tamp Bay Rowdies
Kellen Gulley (Chicago Fire) – Did not play

Tampa Bay Rowdies: 4-3 loss at Atlanta Silverbacks
Alex Dixon (Houston) – Substitute, played 25 minutes

FC Edmonton: 2-0 loss at Minnesota United FC
Carlyle Mitchell (Vancouver) – Started, played 90 minutes

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