Seven NASL Clubs Face MLS Competition in Fourth Round of U.S. Open Cup
Seven clubs from the NASL are set to face MLS competition in the Fourth Round of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup following the conclusion of the 2016 NASL Spring Season. The New York Cosmos face New York City FC in a rematch from last year as NASL Spring Season Championship side Indy Eleven travel to take on the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park.
Soccer News: The North American Soccer League (NASL) Spring Season concluded on Sunday night, but for seven clubs, this week doesn’t come with any rest. Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup action picks back up on Wednesday night with the fourth round of the competition taking place in stadiums across the country.
Each of the seven remaining NASL clubs will face off against Major League Soccer (MLS) opposition, which enters the fray after watching other leagues duke it out in the opening rounds. Of the seven matchups, three will be hosted by NASL sides – Jacksonville Armada FC, Carolina RailHawks, and Minnesota United.
With the arrival of the Cup’s fourth round comes another edition of the East River Derby, which last year saw the New York Cosmos outlast New York City FC in penalties. Jacksonville Armada FC takes on Orlando City SC, a side that Tony Meola’s men defeated in preseason play, while Minnesota United welcomes Sporting Kansas City to the Twin Cities in a rematch of the 2014 fourth round.
Here is a full breakdown of each matchup:
Columbus Crew vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies
7 p.m. ET | Wednesday, June 15
Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium | Columbus, Ohio
After defeating FC Cincinnati in the previous round, the Tampa Bay Rowdies take to the road where they will square off against the Columbus Crew, last year’s runner-up in MLS. The Rowdies have picked up steam over the last few weeks, finishing the Spring Season on a three-game unbeaten streak. Georgi Hristov scored the game-winner in the third round, and the club’s big Spring signing, Joe Cole, has been crucial since his arrival, most recently supplying the assist in the Rowdies’ 1-1 draw.
Columbus, which is off to a slow start after last year’s fairytale season, has improved in recent weeks. The Crew has lost just once in its last five games, currently sitting in ninth place in the ten-team Eastern Conference. Norwegian forward Ola Kamara leads the team with four goals scored.
Jacksonville Armada FC vs. Orlando City SC
7 p.m. ET | Wednesday, June 15
Southern Oak Stadium | Jacksonville, Fla.
Jacksonville enters its contest against Orlando City SC on a three-game league unbeaten streak. To move on to the fourth round of the Cup, the Armada FC defeated the Charleston Battery, 2-1, in extra time. Patrick Otte and Alhassane Keita scored the goals. Pascal Millien and Mechack Jérôme return to the Armada FC after featuring in Copa Ameríca with Haiti. The Armada FC also has several connections to Orlando City, with both Jérôme and Bryan Burke featuring for the club when it was in USL.
Orlando City currently sits in seventh place in the Eastern Conference and also enters the game on a three-game unbeaten streak in league play. Canadian international Cyle Larin has been the danger man for the Lions with seven goals so far. The Orlando City roster also features veteran Brazilian international Kaká.
New York City FC vs. New York Cosmos
7:30 p.m. ET | Wednesday, June 15
Jack Coffey Field | Bronx, N.Y.
The East River Derby heads to the Bronx for the first time in a rematch of last year’s fourth round. The Cosmos, who fell just short of the Spring Season title last weekend, defeated NYCFC in a penalty shootout at Shuart Stadium. The Cosmos have been led this year by Venezuelan star Juan Arango, who has tallied four goals and three assists.
NYCFC has had an up-and-down campaign so far and currently sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Under the direction of Patrick Vieira, NYCFC is looking for its first win in Open Cup play. David Villa has been the side’s key player with 10 goals on the season.
Carolina RailHawks vs. New England Revolution
7:30 p.m. ET | Wednesday, June 15
WakeMed Soccer Park | Cary, N.C.
The Carolina RailHawks used an attacking punch in extra time against 10-man Charlotte Independence to advance in the Cup. Carolina found the net five times in the 30-minute interval, but the RailHawks haven’t been as productive in league play, scoring just twice in six games. Nazmi Albadawi will pull the strings in midfield, while Jon Orlando could be the RailHawks’ X-factor against the New England Revolution.
New England heads to WakeMed Soccer Park sitting in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, but on the heels of a win in its last game. Lee Nguyen has been the Revolution’s offensive spark, leading the team in goals (four) and assists (five). New England was unable to advance from the fourth round in 2015, losing to the RailHawks’ last opponent, the Independence.
D.C. United vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers
7:30 p.m. ET | Wednesday, June 15
Maryland SoccerPlex | Boyds, Md.
The Fort Lauderdale Strikers have been one of the hottest teams in the NASL, only recently seeing a six-game overall unbeaten streak come to an end. Fort Lauderdale has gotten a string of strong performances from goalkeeper Diego Restrepo, who saved three penalty kicks in the club’s third-round win over the Richmond Kickers. Fort Lauderdale will also be buoyed by the return of the club’s captain, Jean Alexandre, who links back up with the side after featuring for Haiti at Copa Ameríca. Veteran Maicon Santos, who scored four goals in the Spring Season, Canadian international Nana Attakora, and Trinidad and Tobago international Julius James have all played for D.C. United in the past.
D.C. United is a three-time winner of the Cup, most recently doing so in 2013. D.C. United enters the fourth-round matchup with three losses in its last five games – all of them of the shutout variety. D.C.’s attack could receive a boost in the game with Costa Rican international Alvaro Saborio returning to the side after the Ticos failed to advance at Copa Ameríca.
Minnesota United vs. Sporting Kansas City
8 p.m. ET | Wednesday, June 15
NSC Stadium | Blaine, Minn.
Minnesota United and Sporting Kansas City played in the Cup against each other in 2014 with Sporting KC winning, 2-0. This time, however, the Loons will get to host. After a tough stretch in which Minnesota lost three league games in a row, the Loons had a morale-boosting 3-1 victory over Miami FC to wrap up the Spring Season. Christian Ramirez and Stefano Pinho, who have scored three and five goals, respectively, have been constant threats. Additionally, Kevin Venegas continues to be a focal point of the attack from his fullback position. In fact, he scored in Minnesota’s 2-0 win over USL side Saint Louis FC, who they needed to scoot by to advance to the fourth round.
Sporting KC is the tournament’s defending champion after knocking off the Philadelphia Union in last year’s final in a lengthy penalty shootout. Sporting enters the game sitting in eighth place in the Western Conference. Dom Dwyer has scored six goals in MLS play, while one-time NASL loanee Saad Abdul-Salaam, who played in San Antonio, has notched four assists in 2016. Sporting KC is winless in its last three contests heading into Wednesday night.
Chicago Fire vs. Indy Eleven
8:30 p.m. ET | Wednesday, June 15
Toyota Park | Chicago, Ill.
After celebrating their epic NASL Spring Season Championship, Indy Eleven has to turn its attention back to the field. The Eleven are unbeaten in their last 11 games, including a 2-1 win over Louisville City FC in the previous round. Eamon Zayed has played a major role, netting a hat trick in his last game to bring his league-leading goal total to six. Justin Braun and Omar Gordon have also been key cogs in the attack, while Nemanja Vukovic has been one of the best attacking fullbacks in the NASL this year.
The Chicago Fire has had its struggles this season in league play, currently sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with two wins in 12 games. The Fire, though, have a great history in the Cup, winning the competition four times as well as reaching the semifinals in 2015. Kennedy Igboananike has been a bright spot, scoring four times this year.
Source/Photo Credit: North American Soccer League
