What is going on here with the US Open Cup? We knew it can get wild &
crazy results but no one ever thought it would go completely crazy like
this. Everyone expected defending Cup Champion Chicago Fire to win but never
to hang on to a one goal to nil victory against the 1995 champion Richmond
Kickers.

And how about those Charleston Battery. After winning the A-League title
last year they are having a horrendous season, last in the A-League Eastern
Conference with a record of three victories, four draws & fourteen defeats
for a total of thirteen points, scoring sixteen and allowing thirty-two. All
of a sudden they have turned it on during US Open Cup play. Defeating PSL
Champion Wilmington Hammerheads two goals to Nil in the 3rd Round. Defeating
the Metros in the 4th Round again by a score of one goal to nil. And now
upsetting the 1999 champion Rochester Raging Rhinos one goal to nil. The
Battery will play in their first Semi-Final match against defending champion
Chicago Fire in Naperville, Illinois. This will be a big test for the
Battery on August 25th.

The last time the Kansas City Wizards reached the Semi-Finals of the US Open
Cup was two years ago against eventual champions Columbus Crew in Golden
Goal three goals to two. The emergence of scoring threat Davy Arnaud & Josh
Wolff has made the Wizards a very dangerous club this season.

The Earthquakes are accustomed to winning league cups two of the last three
years. But reaching the Semi-finals of the US Open Cup is uncharted
territory. Reaching the Quarterfinals five times and losing all five
including three against the Galaxy (lost in the round of penalties in 2001).
But this time the Quakes would head for Minnesota and it was a knock down,
toe-to-toe fight. Early goals by Melvin Tarley & Brian Ching would equalize
the score at one a piece towards the half. Landon Donovan will put the
Quakes up a goal in the 64th minute till Dustin Branan Equalizes in the
77th. No one would score in the Golden Goal session so it's on to the round
of penalties. On the 2nd round of penalties a costly error by Jay Alberts
sending his shot high over the crossbar and it signaled the end of a great
run in US Open Cup play by the Minnesota Thunder as the Earthquakes win the
penalty shootout five to four. They may have defeated one California side in
the 4th round, but just couldn't get the double against San Jose.

So defending Champion Chicago Fire will host the only A-League entrant
Charleston Battery in one Semi-Final match while the San Jose Earthquakes
reaching the Semis for the first time will face the Kansas City Wizards in
the 2nd Semi-Final Match. This is so exciting. I can't wait, how about you?