US Open Cup: Looking Ahead

If you've not been paying attention to this season's US Open Cup, then it is undoubtedly your loss, as there have been plenty of upsets and compelling games games on the way to the upcoming quarterfinals. So far we've seen the likes of the Des Moines Menace upset the NASL's Minnesota United, San Jose lose away to Charleston of the USL, Real Salt Lake taken to extra time at home by both Charleston and the NASL's Atlanta Silverbacks, and the Carolina RailHawks unofficially crowned as champions of Los Angeles after beating the Galaxy and Chivas USA. Domestic cups around the world tend to throw such massive upsets our way, and the pattern is certainly repeating itself here stateside. 

With already so much to digest from the preceding rounds of the US Open Cup, the quarterfinal draw looks set to give us even more to consider when the competition resumes on June 26th. 

Chicago v. Orlando City

If Orlando City's victory at Kansas City in the last round wasn't already impressive enough, consider this: Orlando City were playing without four crucial players on loan from Kansas City, not least of which leading scorer Dom Dwyer. Regardless, even with their options rather limited due to the absence of these loanees, Orlando City scored early through Long Tan and held on admirably against one of MLS' most dangerous sides.

Chicago found themselves having to wait a day (due to incliment weather) to finally play their round of 16 tie with Columbus, but eventually won at home thanks to goals from Mike Magee and Patrick Nyarko. The Fire's league campaign hasn't been what was otherwise expected, but a cup run would be a nice distraction.

Though Orlando City has the misfortune of playing higher league competition once again on the road, it would be unwise to underestimate their chances. Regardless of the difference in leagues, Orlando City will likely be coming into this one with the better recent form, and their squad selection won't be so hamstrung as it was against Kansas City.

DC United v. New England

There is no other way to put this: DC United's season has been an unmitigated disaster. Goals have been hard to come by, goals have likewise been leaked, and performances have been inept and abject. Despite these undeniable facts, we are somehow talking about DC United being some ninety minutes away from the semifinals. If Wigan were able to win the FA Cup this season while also being relegated, then surely DC fans will hope that something similar can happen here, even as the rest of the Eastern Conference disappears off into the distance.

New England, on the other hand, look to be rounding into a form that could see them sneak into the playoffs before it's all said and done, and Diego Fagundez seems to be evolving with every passing week. While winning MLS Cup would be a huge, if not unreasonable, demand for Jay Heaps' side, a US Open Cup triumph is hardly to be ruled out.

Yes, DC United's 3-1 win against Philadelphia in the last round was as good as it was surprising, we can't forget that DC also had to just get by against Richmond by way of penalties after 120 scoreless minutes before that. One could say that their performance against Philadelphia might be a stepping stone, but this season's body of work says it was little more than an aberration. Look for New England to beat their longtime rival on the road and move one step closer to a significant trophy.

RSL v. Carolina

That Real Salt Lake has made it to this stage of the competition is hardly a shock; the way that they've made it here, however, deviates greatly from the script. Though Real Salt Lake have had the apparent good fortune of playing the NASL's Atlanta Silverbacks and the USL's Charleston Battery at home, things have hardly gone smoothly against lower league competition, with extra time being needed in both instances to distance themselves from their inspired challengers.

Carolina, contrastingly, has had to play two MLS teams in the run-up to this one, but they've hardly looked out of their depth in defeating a weakened LA Galaxy side 2-0 and the ever-floundering Chivas USA 3-1 (AET). Given Carolina's place in the NASL table, such performances should hardly come as a surprise.

Whatever lessons Real Salt Lake has learned against both Atlanta and Charleston will surely be called upon again when Carolina comes to town. Indeed, considering how the RailHawks have fared against MLS foes and how Real Salt Lake has hardly breezed through to the quarterfinals against theoretically weaker competition, a Carolina win would only be so much of an upset. Austin da Luz and Ty Shipalane are more than capable of causing the home side 90 minutes worth of headaches. 

FC Dallas v. Portland

One needs to take but a quick glance at the MLS Western Conference table to see that this is easily the glamour tie of the round, and accordingly, neither had too tough of a time in making it to this stage. FC Dallas  made a highly anticipated Texas derby into something of a farce as they brushed Houston aside 3-0, while Portland went up early against Tampa Bay thanks to Michael Nanchoff's exquisite volley, weathered a bit of a storm, and eventually sealed up a 2-0 win at home.

Fatefully, Portland will be hosting FC Dallas in a vital league game this weekend, so we'll at least have a bit of a preview of what to expect when they meet again after a short interval in Frisco. Regardless of what happens this weekend between two of the pacesetters in the West, the margins for their cup tie will likely be very narrow indeed. With both playing so very well, even as Portland deals with injuries in the back, one might as well resort to flipping a coin in projecting a winner. It should be a good one worth tuning into.