For players like Clint Mathis, Jason Kreis, Eddie Pope, Andy Williams, Orlando Perez, Ezra Hendrickson, Francisco Gomes & Ryan Suarez playing in the US Open Cup is nothing new to them. But for the clubs they play for, this is a new thing for them & their supporters. Mexican-Americans who support Chivas & the people of Salt Lake City who use to see the former Utah Blitzz get involved will now see Real Salt Lake & CD Chivas-USA start their play in the 2005 edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
Both sides will be placed in the 3rd round of the cup as Real Salt Lake awaits the winner and will travel to either Minnesota or Chicago to face the Fire Premier, while Chivas-USA will travel to the winner of either El Paso or Charlotte on Wednesday, July 13th which will be the day after the 3rd group match for the USA in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
As we have already learned in the first round the expansion USL 2nd Division side Cincinnati Kings learned a very hard lesson when you participate in the US Open Cup. You maybe above the Amateurs, but you got schooled by them as well. But don’t worry loyal Cincy supporters I believe after this little shake up your side will be back on track next season and your side will fair a lot better in the not so distant future. Good luck attempting to win the USL 2nd Division crown.
But as we have seen this season in MLS Chivas-USA has been down right awful. The arrogance of Mexican owner Jorge Vergara from Chivas of Guadalajara & Investor Antonio Cue believed that the style of Chivas in Mexico will succeed in the USA. Definitely that isn’t the case. Thomas Rongen has already been tossed out on his ear and now a new Dutchman leads the club in Westerhoff. But at least Ezra Hendrickson found success with the LA Galaxy when they won the 2001 US Open Cup
Real Salt Lake has been more down to earth and patient. Earning more wins than Chivas-USA with an all-star starting 11 including Jason Kreis who won the 1997 US Open Cup as a member of the Dallas Burn/FC Dallas 96. Eddie Pope with DC United in 1996& 1997. In 2003 he and Clint Mathis with the Metros went to the Final & Andy Williams was Mathis & Pope’s opponent with the Chicago Fire winning their 3rd Cup.
Both sides right now are at the bottom end of the Western Conference as well as the entire table of MLS, but as we all know and are all aware that a certain side may have a horrible regular season in the fight for the league cup. But when it comes to an FA Cup there is a sense of fight and strength that comes to a player knowing that their backs are against the wall and try to put the pressure on their opponent to knock them out and your side can move along to the next round and fight for another day.
This past season of the English Premier League Liverpool had a very bad season and finished fifth behind Champions Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United & Everton. But when it came to the European Champions League, they went into that final down three goals to nil at half against Italian club AC Milan and came roaring back with a three goal display of their own, forcing round of penalties to win the match and earned the right to be called Champions of Club Football in Europe.
Last season the Charleston Battery who had a horrid regular season in the A-League of USL made a big run at the US Open Cup. They defeated the Wilmington Hammerheads in the third round, then the MetroStars in the fourth round, the Rochester Rhinos in the Quarters. Sadly they lost to the Chicago Fire in the Semi-Finals by a goal during extra time. But that run in the US Open Cup probably made the supporters of the Charleston Battery feel better during such a bad time in the A-League last season.
The majority believe that those who dominate their league season should be able to dominate in the FA Cup as well. Nine times out of ten that is the case, but every once in a while that one-tenth of the time something strange happens when a club in any division of football in any country where you have someone who is near the relegation spot can have a successful season if they go as far as they can in their FA Cup tournaments or win the whole thing.
Upsets galore has already started with the Salinas Valley Samba. Right now the players on that Amateur side were actually touched by Cinderella’s fairy godmother. Their boots aren’t made by Adidas or Nike; it’s made out of glass. But whenever the clock does strike at midnight those glass boots will break.
All sides are equal till after ninety minutes or forced into extra time and or penalties the US Open Cup is just like any other FA Cup football tournament, filled with surprises. Make sure you side grabs as many pumpkins as possible if you want to be in the final. So far Salinas Valley has used two of them
