This will be the 91st installment of the US Open Cup tournament. US Soccer’s version of the famed English FA Cup as well as the 2nd oldest cup competition in the entire football world. Yet while the Thomas R. Dewer cup is celebrated since 1914. MLS has the pleasure of celebrating their current 10 years of existence in 2005. This means the involvement by the young US first division of a professional league.
The Rochester Rhinos are the only A-League/USL 1st Division side to play against two MLS clubs in the final match. Losing to DC United three nil in 1996, defeating the Colorado Rapids two nil in 1999, but let’s look at this paragraph for a minute. While we all know that there have been upsets here and there in the US Open Cup, that one particular upset in Columbus, Ohio at Crew Stadium will forever be etched in the minds of all US Soccer faithful as the Rochester Rhinos were the first lower division club to defeat an MLS club in the championship match.
But still this is a ten year celebration of Major League Soccer and we have to talk about the good points. There have been a lot of successes. As a MetroStars supporter my club has accomplished a lot in US Open Cup play. In their 8 seasons they have reached the Semi-Finals four times yet in 2003 they finally went to the championship match, but sadly losing to the Chicago Fire who has a strangle hold on the cup winning it three times. The Fire in 1998, 2000 & 2003 winning the cup with no hesitation, a strong defense and a smart attacking plan. But for the first time in four final matches, they lost the final match against the Kansas City Wizards in golden goal by an Igor Simutenkov goal and couldn’t repeat as champions.
There have been only two clubs in MLS that have won the US Soccer Double. The DC United in the inaugural year of 1996 & the Chicago Fire in their first season of MLS in 1998. There have been clubs that went to their first US Open Cup final who lost but won on their second attempt. The Columbus Crew lost in 1998 but won against the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2002. How about other quirky scenarios 1997 final defending champion DC United lost to the Dallas Burn/FC Dallas 96, the Los Angeles Galaxy defending champions in 2001 headed over to Columbus but lost to the Crew on one goal, and the Chicago Fire defending champs in 2003 losing in the golden goal against the Kansas City Wizards. The Chicago Fire lost MLS Cup 2000 but defeated the defunct Miami Fusion in the US Open Cup Final. Just like the LA Galaxy losing in golden goal to the San Jose Earthquakes in MLS Cup 2001 but defeating the New England Revolution in the US Open Cup and also these same two sides who played each other in the 2001 US Open Cup are in the 2002 MLS Cup Final. First time in the cup who have won. DC: 96, Dallas: 97, Chicago: 98, LA: 2001, KC: 2004. First time in the cup and lost. Columbus: 98, Colorado: 99, defunct Miami Fusion FC: 2000, New England: 2001, MetroStars: 2003. If you count all the clubs including the defunct Miami Fusion & Tampa Bay Mutiny (Real Salt Lake & CD Chivas-USA will begin play in 2005 doesn’t count in this topic), a total of ten out of the first 12 clubs in MLS have reached the final match.
Ten years of MLS intertwined with the current ten years involved with the US Open Cup. There is magic in the old Dewer cup up in Oneonta, New York. 2005 is going to be a big year in US Soccer besides the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers for the National Team. MLS is 10 years strong and sharing in the spot light is the US Open Cup tournament. Will we have repeat clubs in the final, or will the new blood come in and get a shot? Let the qualifying begin and June 15th starts the first round.
If you have a comments, feedback, ect., you can contact Daniel Feuerstein at daniel_feuerstein@hotmail.com
