US Open Cup: A Record Crowd on a Memorable Night

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Win for Dynamo Restores MLS Pride

July 2

After the disaster of June 30th, when MLS clubs lost four out of six US Open Cup ties, last night’s games restored some pride for the big leaguers. Shortly before a record crowd witnessed Sounders beat Portland 2-1, the Houston Dynamo defeated the Austin Aztex (USL-1) 2-0, but not without some hard work in the Texas derby.

Despite controlling possession for much of the game, the Dynamo couldn’t get on the board until the 71st minute, when Corey Ashe pounced on a rebound given up from a free kick. The Aztex kept the game competitive until the 90th minute though, when Dominic Oduro gave the Dynamo the insurance goal they needed.

Houston will face the Charleston Battery (USL-1) for the third consecutive year, and they’ll be looking for revenge as the South Carolina side have eliminated them the last two years.

In Portland 16,382 packed into PGE Park and saw a pulsating derby as the Timbers sought to fight back from an early deficit. The crowd was the largest ever for a single US Open Cup game in the modern era, other than finals.

The quarter finals on July 7 line up as follows:
D.C. United v Harrisburg City Islanders (at Maryland Soccerplex)
Rochester Rhinos v Wilmington Hammerheads
Charleston Battery v Houston Dynamo
Seattle Sounders v Kansas City Wizards

Sounders would play the winners of the Charleston v Houston tie at home on July 21 if successful.