U.S. Open Cup: MLS Previews

Colorado Rapids at Richmond Kickers (June 14 – 7 p.m. (ET) – University of Richmond City Stadium) The Richmond Kickers are an A-League team that like most others is made up of many former MLS players, including former Rapids Scott Cannon and Josh McKay. Those players will certainly be out to prove that they still belong at the top. The entire back line of the Kickers is made up of players who played in MLS. Richmond’s rookie head coach Leigh Cowlishaw won the U.S. Open Cup championship as a player with the Kickers in 1995, one year before the start of MLS. Cowlishaw, who currently has the Kickers in second place in the Atlantic Division at 7-4, said that defense is his team’s strength as they play a counterattacking style. “I’m sure any top player in the A-league feels he should be playing in MLS,” Cowlishaw said. “The standard of play is a lot higher than people realize and Rochester showed it last year. It was no fluke.” The players are confident and are out to prove something. The Rapids, who lost to the Rhinos in the 1999 final at Crew Stadium in Columbus, are fully aware of the perils of this match. A big crowd is expected. Kansas City Wizards at Chicago Sockers (June 14 – 7 p.m. (ET) – Forest View Park Stadium “The Hive”) The Chicago Sockers will be playing against an MLS team for the first time when they take on the Wizards. The defending PDL champions will be the true home team in Wednesday’s doubleheader at “The Hive.” The team was formerly known as the Chicago Stingers but has no ties to the old Chicago Sting. The Stingers won the D3 championship in 1998 and received a bid to join the A-League. But since a stadium was not yet ready for the A-League stage, the Stingers were put on hiatus and the name of the youth soccer team was adopted: Sockers FC. The Sockers have had a different starting lineup every game. Players to watch are forward Joe Carver, a fast player with a good shot, and midfielder Michael Richardson, an indoor star with the NPSL’s Milwaukee Wave who has trained with the hicago Fire in the past. Columbus Crew at Cape Cod Crusaders (June 14, 7:30 p.m. (ET) – Dennis Yarmouth H.S., Alan R. Carlsen Field) Cape Cod Head Coach Paul Turner has been quoted as saying this is the biggest week in the history of the Crusaders. Turner is a native of London, England, and has seen first hand in the English FA Cup the damage that can be caused by smaller teams in cup competitions. In fact, Turner’s brother just recently played for a non-league side in Wembley Stadium. With seven players under the age of 25, Cape Cod is a young team. Fans from 50 miles away have purchased from 50 to 100 tickets. Many MLS fans remember Miami defender Francis Okaroh making the jump from Cape Cod to play for the New England Revolution in 1996, the first of five successful MLS seasons for the veteran defender. New Jersey Stallions at Miami Fusion (June 14 – 7:30 p.m. (ET) – Lockhart Stadium) When the MetroStars are done with their morning and afternoon training sessions, the New Jersey Stallions, a D3 Pro League team, take over the Kean University training grounds at night. According to General Manager Rich Gentile, the team has a heavy European and South American influx. One of its biggest success stories is 25-year-old forward Julio Cesar dos Santos, who came to the Stallions from Brazil. He is currently the top scorer at the D3 level. The team boasts a number of MLS connections including goalkeeper Kevin East, a 1996 Columbus Crew draft choice, and John Rusek, who were both recently called up to the MetroStars. The team is currently in first place in the Northern Conference at 5-2-0. “Our players are excited. They like the draw,” Gentile said. “From all the MLS teams, we probably match up best with Miami. The Fusion has had high and low points to their season. Hopefully we can catch them at a low point.” It’s the first official game against an MLS team for the Stallions, although a month ago New Jersey lost, 4-2, in a scrimmage against a MetroStars team which was playing with its full squad. Uruguay SC at Tampa Bay Mutiny (June 14 – 7:30 p.m. (ET) – University of South Florida Soccer Stadium) Uruguay SC is a three-year-old amateur team made up of players with professional experience. The team was formed three years ago and current New England Head Coach Fernando Clavijo played for the club for two years and still serves as a team advisor. Clavijo says that Uruguay SC will give Tampa Bay a run for their money. According to Jerry Schiavo who acts as the owner, general manager and coach of Uruguay SC, the team is composed of a good balance of youth and experience. Schiavo’s squad has won the Florida version of the Copa Latina 2000. The team is ready to break out of the amateur ranks and join the next level. Countries represented on the team are Colombia, Spain, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Brazil, Jamaica, Chile and Haiti. Schiavo, who used to play semi-pro in Uruguay, says the game is not out of reach for the white-and-blue South Floridian team. “The best thing is that it’s an excellent group,” Schiavo said. “And they are growing a lot. An excellent group of players playing a long time together.” A couple of bus loads of fans are planning to attend the game, the first time a Floridian amateur team has come out of Region 3 to represent the state. D.C. United at Charleston Battery (June 14 – 7:30 p.m. (ET) – Blackbaud Stadium) Defending MLS Cup champions D.C. United return to last year’s scene of its disappointing U.S. Open Cup exit. The A-League’s Charleston Battery came from behind to win a 4-3 third-round thriller in extra time. It was a game which contained all the drama that the U.S. Open Cup is all about. The Battery advanced all the way to the semifinal stage after ousting United. Left-sided midfielder Ivailo Ilarionov, who scored the final two goals in last year’s victory for the Battery, is expected to return from injury. Thomas Rongen and United will be hoping that striker Velko Iotov won’t be this year’s nightmare. Iotov, a Bulgarian World Cup player who has played the last four seasons with Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina, is recovering from an ankle injury. Striker Paul Conway was the Battery’s leading scorer last year and is coming off a hat-trick over the weekend. Former Dallas Burn midfielder, Temoc Suarez, is a fan favorite who has recently come off the bench. On May 1, the Tampa Bay Mutiny beat the Battery 2-1 at Blackbaud Stadium on two goals by MLS leading goal scorer Mamadou Diallo. Mid Michigan Bucks at New England Revolution (June 14 – 7:30 p.m. (ET) – Foxboro Stadium) The PDL’s Mid Michigan Bucks make a trip to Foxboro Stadium on Wednesday. The Bucks have been part of the PDL since 1996 and have made the playoffs in each season. Last year, the Bucks’ Open Cup run ended in a close 2-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Mutiny in front of franchise-record crowd. This year’s team, which is comprised of some of the top current college players with a few pros sprinkled in, currently sits in first place in the Great Lakes Division at 6-1. Joe Malachino is the Bucks’ player-coach. One standout player is top scorer Boniventure Maruti, a big and strong Kenyan forward with good speed in his first year with the Bucks. One thing Bucks owner Jim Duggan points out is that last year the team had played 17 games before the Tampa Bay Open Cup game, but this time around they have just nine games under their belt. “The whole match scares me to death,” Duggan said. “Last year was different. We played in the dog days of summer, Tampa was struggling, we were at home and we were right with them.” MetroStars at Wilmington Hammerheads (June 14, 8 p.m. (ET) – Legion Sports Complex) Due to inclement weather in New Jersey, the MetroStars will not travel to Wilmington until early Wednesday morning. The club had planned a late-afternoon flight on Tuesday. According to Hammerheads General Manager Chris Libert, the game against the MetroStars, the first-ever match against an MLS team, is the biggest competitive sports event to take over Wilmington, North Carolina. Wilmington expects an overflow crowd of more than 5,000 at Legion Stadium, which recently underwent a $3 million renovation that included the installation of new turf as well as other amenities. Also a 13-member professional dance team was started this year. The team lost its goalkeeper and top three scorers from last year but has rebuilt a squad that is 3-1-1 this year. Wilmington’s strengths are on defense and a sound and very tenacious midfield. “We consider ourselves an A-League operation,” Libert said. “We don’t have player salaries like an A-League team, but we have a full-time staff and a nice stadium.” Tennessee Rhythm at Dallas Burn (June 14 – 8:30 p.m. (ET) – Cotton Bowl) The Dallas Burn will receive a visit from one of its affiliates, the A-League’s Tennessee Rhythm. According to Tennessee Head Coach Brett Mosen, the Rhythm is a young side with two players with significant A-League experience. The young players will especially be looking to impress as they hope for a future call-up from the Burn. Mosen said the team has had its ups and downs at 5-5 this season. “It should be exciting for the Dallas Burn,” Mosen said. “We’re taking it to them because we have nothing to lose. The pressure is on them.” The Rhythm was formerly known as the Nashville Metros in past years. The Metros beat the Kansas City Wizards in Nashville in the 1998 U.S. Open Cup before eventually losing to the Burn in Dallas. “With our defensive record we can’t sit back and wait things to come at us,” Mosen said. “We played against the Rapids and lost 6-2 in an exhibition last month. So we’re aware of what the next level is capable of. Any mistake and you’re punished.” Texas Rattlers at Chicago Fire (June 14 – 9 p.m. (ET) – Forest View Park Stadium “The Hive”) In the second game of the U.S. Open Cup doubleheader at “The Hive” in Chicago, the Texas Rattlers of the D3 Pro League will take on the MLS’ Chicago Fire, winners of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 1998. The Rattlers have not enjoyed much playing time together, having played just three D3 league games thus far this season, with three other games rained out. Many countries are represented on the Rattlers including Mexico, Ghana, Holland, Wales and Argentina. The D3 franchise, in its first season as the Rattlers, was one of the five founding members of the United Soccer League and since 1986, it has survived several ownership changes and name alterations. One player Fire fans should look out for is Luis Zuazua, a quick forward with a nose for goal. Midfielder Daniel Dapaah is also an aggressive dribbler who should contribute to the drama and entertainment on Wednesday. San Jose Earthquakes at Stanislaus United (June 14 – 10 p.m. (ET) – Central Catholic Stadium) The San Jose Earthquakes drew its D3 Pro League affiliate from Modesto, California, Stanislaus United in the second round of the U.S. Open Cup. The teams have met just once before (in a scrimmage in 1997). Former Earthquake, Gabe Eastman, plays for United after recently being released when Dan Calichman and Mike Burns were acquired by San Jose in a May 30 trade. The player to look out for on Stanislaus is Syrian forward Fadi Afash. Stanislaus General Manager Gary Mack believes United can beat the Earthquakes’ back line with their speed and a three-forward alignment. Forward Eddie Martinez is “the fastest thing on two legs” according to Mack. Seattle Sounders at Los Angeles Galaxy (June 14 – 10:30 p.m. (ET) – Cal State Fullerton) Los Angeles, the West’s No. 1 seed, has struggled recently. Seattle, A-League champions in 1995 and 1996, will use its veteran players, several of which have MLS experience, to play a possession game. Seattle’s defense has been solid this season with two former MLS goalkeepers splitting time in the nets. Goalkeeper Bill May trained with the Galaxy last year and defender Craig Waibel was a Rapids call-up in April. This will be the first-ever meeting between the Sounders and Galaxy. On the Sounders, former MLS Darren Sawatzky (New England, Colorado and Dallas), a versatile player who has split time between midfield and forward positions, has good speed and a solid shot. He is currently tied for fifth in A-League scoring. Last year, the Sounders lost to the Colorado Rapids 1-0 in Open Cup play.