Sixteen teams faced off in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Recap Wednesday night (and, unexpectedly, Thursday morning), and they did not disappoint. By the end of the night, half of the teams were eliminated and the quarterfinal round was set. The MLS was well represented with 12 teams in the fourth round, but only half of them survived on a night filled with upsets and crazy comebacks.
Western Conference Recap
The Western Conference teams were definitely the most dramatic of the night. Three of the four advanced, with two games being decided in extra time.
FC Dallas 3 Houston Dynamo 0 (HIGHLIGHTS)
Until FC Dallas' goal in the 38th minute, both teams were struggling to get anything going offensively, but Dallas finally put Houston away in the second half. Kenny Cooper scored twice on Michel services and Zach Loyd scored the third goal to secure the victory. With the win, Dallas advances to host their quarterfinal game on June 26 against the Portland Timbers.
Carolina RailHawks 3 Chivas USA 1
Carolina got on the board first with a goal from Tiyiselani Shipalane in the 13th minute, but Walter Vilchez tied the game in the 57th minute. The 1-1 score would hold through full time, despite a near miss by Chivas in stoppage time. The RailHawks scored twice in the first few minutes of overtime to advance and avenge their loss in the fourth round last year, while the struggling Chivas side was eliminated.
Real Salt Lake 5 Charleston Battery 2 (HIGHLIGHTS)
In arguably the craziest game of the night, RSL dispatched their USL PRO opponent in extra time. Within 18 minutes, Charleston was surprisingly on top 2-0. Charleston remained on top until the 66th minute, when rookie Devon Sandoval scored the first goal for Salt Lake. Joao Plata follwed up with a goal off a penalty kick in the 79th minute, forcing overtime. It was all Salt Lake in overtime, with Sandoval netting his second goal of the game and two more scores following to end the valiant effort by Charleston. The victory set up a date with Carolina in the quarterfinals on June 26.
Portland Timbers 2 Tampa Bay Rowdies 0 (HIGHLIGHTS)
Portland overwhelmed Tampa Bay and cruised to a 2-0 victory to advance to their first USOC quarterfinal in franchise history. Michael Nanchoff put Portland on the board quick with his goal in the ninth minute. Jack Jewsbury converted Nanchoff's free kick in the 55th minute to put the home side up 2-0 and Tampa Bay never responded.
Eastern Conference Recap
Three MLS matchups, the night's biggest upset, and a delay in action highlighted the evening for the Eastern Conference sides, as four of the seven teams advanced to the quarterfinals.
DC United 3 Philadelphia Union 1 (HIGHLIGHTS)
Dwayne De Rosario scored a hat trick to help DC get past Philadelphia, meaning that United now has more Open Cup wins than MLS wins. Scoring phenom Jack McInerney pulled Philadelphia within one in the 59th minute, but De Rosario quickly responded to put the game away for United and send them to the quarterfinals.
New England Revolution 4 New York Red Bulls 2 (HIGHLIGHTS)
In another matchup of MLS teams, a surging New England side cruised past New York at Harvard to move on to the quarterfinals. Kelyn Rowe got the scoring started within 5 minutes to put New England up 1. Fabian Espindola evened the score towards the end of the first half, but Rowe quickly responded to make it 2-1 going into halftime. New England opened second half scoring to increase their lead. Jonathan Steele scored in the 61st minute to pull the Red Bulls within one, but a late score by the Revs sealed their fate and sent them to the next round.
Orlando City FC 1 Sporting KC 0
In the most shocking game of the night, the defending champs were knocked out by their affilate team. Long Tan scored the game's only goal in the second minute and Kansas City never responded and never really put anything together, sending Orlando City to the quarterfinals.
Chicago Fire 2 Columbus Crew 1
After inclement weater postponed the game until Thursday morning, the third all-MLS matchup finally got underway. Columbus struck first courtesty of a Konrad Warzycha goal, but Chicago recovered and scored the next two. Mike Magee scored their first goal and almost had a second to take the lead, but the shot was wide. After Chicago goalkeeper Sean Johnson saved a Columbus shot on goal, Patrick Nyarko's header in the 78th minute, giving Chicago the win and a spot in the quarterfinals, where they will face Orlando City.
Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Quarterfinal Schedule
FC Dallas vs. Portland Timbers, June 26; FC Dallas Stadium
DC United vs. New England Revolution, June 26; Maryland SoccerPlex
Chicago Fire vs. Orlando City FC (USL PRO), June 26; Toyota Park
Real Salt Lake vs. Carolina RailHawks (NASL), June 26; Rio Tinto Stadium
