2006 - Dallas Roma F.C. (USASA) 0:0 Chivas USA (MLS)
(Dallas advances on PKs, 4-2)

For all of you who ever wanted the #16 seed to win in the NCAA basketball tournament, we hope you are soccer fans!

Dallas Roma F.C., from the North Texas Premier Soccer Association, made history defeating Chivas USA of Major League Soccer on penalties, after playing to a 0-0 draw after extra time. Not only did they defeat their second straight professional opponent in the U.S. Open Cup, they became the first USASA club to eliminate a team from Major League Soccer in the U.S. Open Cup. Chivas was dealt a major blow when their leading scorer, Ante Razov, was sent off in the 57th minute for a reckless foul on Roma defender Todd Paulette. Soon after, Chivas head coach Bob Bradley sent in more of his regular starters, Jason Hernandez, Tim Regan and Juan Francisco Palencia.

The Roma defense, named USOpenCup.com’s Players of the Round for their win vs. Miami F.C., held firm yet again against the Chivas attack, holding the scoreless draw through 120 minutes, at times keeping all 11 players in their own end in extra time.

Roma had a few chances in the second half as well, most notably Dominic Schell hitting the crossbar after Mark Rowland’s shot was knocked away by Chivas goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

Chivas took the first spot kick in the penalty session, and Juan Francisco Palencia saw his attempt saved by Jessie Llamas. Roma’s Matt Clark and Mark Rowland converted the next kicks, as Sacha Kljestan for Chivas. Fortunes turned Roma’s way when Llamas came through again and saved Jesse Marsch’s kick, and Brad Flanagan scored for Roma to make it 3-1. After Claudio Suarez made it 3-2, Dominic Schell stepped up and put Roma in the history books. Previously, the closest a USASA side has come to defeating an MLS club was in 2000, when Florida’s Uruguay S.C. fell to the Tampa Bay Mutiny 1-0 in extra time.

 

1997 - Chicago Stingers (D3 Pro) 2:1 Colorado Rapids (MLS)
1997 - San Francisco Bay Seals (D3 Pro) 2:1 Kansas City Wizards (MLS)

The Professional Era of the Open Cup was still young, and Rochester caused a stir in ’96 with their amazing run to the final.

The San Francisco Bay Seals and Chicago Stingers were determined to top that, and top it they did.

Each team made their way to the third round, no small feat in itself. Both clubs defeated A-League sides in the second round, and now stepped up to face the daunting challenge of Major League Soccer. The Seals were first, taking on the Kansas City Wizards on July 24.

As if being the underdog wasn’t motivation enough, Seals forward Marquis White had something to prove of his own. White was dropped in 1996 by the New England Revolution, and he was eager to prove that he could play at the highest level. White didn’t waste any time, scoring in the very first minute of the game, taking a pass from Chris Davini and racing past the Wizards defenders and goalkeeper Chris Snitko for the goal. On the other end, the Seals defense kept the Kansas City forwards stifled and frustrated, but the Wizards eventually equalized in the 39th minute with a Frank Klopas goal.

Marquis White then stepped up a second time, taking another Davini pass home for the game-winning goal in the 55th minute, setting off celebrations at Negoesco Fiield once the final whistle blew. "I knew I could play, and this proves it" said an ecstatic White after the game. The Seals, as a team, also proved they could play, defeating the San Jose Clash in the quarterfinals to move on to the semifinals, eventually losing a close game to D.C. United 2-1.

Six days later, the Chicago Stingers took their turn at giant killing, knocking off the Colorado Rapids 2-1 in front of 4,730 fans at Chicago’s Forest View Park. Misfortune started early for Colorado, as the Rapids goalkeeper Paul Grafer was sent off after 17 minutes. The Stingers then took control, as Matt Hamnett and Chris Jahr scores goals before and after halftime to take a lead they would never surrender. Chris Henderson pulled one back for Colorado, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the upstart Stingers. Chicago were eventually overwhelmed by the Dallas Burn in the next round, 4-1, but the Seals and Stingers proved that the Open Cup would never be an easy walk for any MLS team.

Other upsets in the Third Round

1997 - Long Island Rough Riders (A-League) 4:1 New England Revolution (MLS)

1998 - Nashville Metros (A-League) 3:1 Kansas City Wizards (MLS)
1999 - Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-League) 1:0 Chicago Fire (MLS)

1999 - Staten Island Vipers (A-League) 3:2 MetroStars (MLS)

1999 - Charleston Battery (A-League) 4:3 D.C. United (MLS)

2003 - Fresno Fuego (PDL) 5:2 El Paso Patriots (A-League)
2003 - Wilmington Hammerheads (PSL) 2:1 Atlanta Silverbacks (A-League)
2006 - Wilmington Hammerheads (USL-2) 2:1 Atlanta Silverbacks (USL-1)
2007 - Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) 1:0 DC United (MLS)
2007 - Richmond Kickers (USL-2) 1:0 Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
2007 - Carolina RailHawks (USL-1) 1:0 Chicago Fire (MLS)
2007 - Charleston Battery (USL-1) 1:0 (aet) Houston Dynamo (MLS)
2007 - Seattle Sounders (USL-1) 3:1 Chivas USA (MLS)
2008 - Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2) 2:0 New York Red Bulls (MLS)
2008 - Seattle Sounders (USL-1) 2:0 Chivas USA (MLS)