For once, the Dynamo's Open Cup journey will include at least one stop at home.
On Wednesday night, U.S. Soccer announced pairings and potential hosts for the third round of the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and the Dynamo will host either Miami FC or the Tampa Bay Rowdies, both of the USSF Division-2 Pro League, on June 29. Details of the match will be announced when finalized.
Official U.S. Soccer announcement
The game will be the first hosted by the Dynamo in the single-elimination cup competition since 2006, when Houston hosted the Carolina Dynamo at Robertson Stadium and FC Dallas at Carl Lewis Track & Field Complex, winning both games en route to the semifinals. Last year, the Dynamo won two road games to reach the semifinals.
The Dynamo and other MLS teams (six teams qualified automatically based on last year's record, two played qualifying matches this year) enter in the tournament's third round, joining eight minor-league and amateur teams that have survived the first two rounds. For the third time in four years, the Dynamo have a nationally televised Thursday league game on the road during the same week as the Open Cup's third round. This year, Houston will face Toronto FC on Thursday, July 1, just two days after their first Open Cup game.
Tampa Bay and Miami will meet in a second-round game on Tuesday night at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Both teams advanced with wins in last night's opening round. Miami was forced to extra time before exploding for a 5-1 win over the Central Florida Kraze, a PDL side. Tampa Bay cruised to a 3-0 road win over Dallas-based amateur team Legends FC.
In its first season, Tampa Bay is coached by Paul Dalglish, a hero of the Dynamo's 2006 championship run and a member of both championship squads. Former reserve defender Erik Ustruck, who played for the Dynamo from 2007-09, joined the Rowdies in pre-season and played 90 minutes in their first-round win. The Rowdies' roster also includes midfielder Mozzi Gyorio, a former San Jacinto Junior College and Dynamo Academy player.
Miami's roster has a heavily Brazilian influence, and 21-year-old forward Paulo Araujo scored four goals in the final 10 minutes of Tuesday night's win. Other notable players include Houston product Chris Gbandi, former Dynamo forward Abe Thompson, former D.C. United star Christian Gomez, and several other former MLS players.
For the full second- and third-round schedules, please see below. More information is available at the tournament's unofficial website, TheCup.US.
2010 LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP SECOND ROUND SCHEDULE
<strong>No.</strong> |
<strong>Date</strong> |
<strong>Match</strong> |
<strong>Time</strong> |
<strong>Venue</strong> |
17 |
June 22 |
Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) |
7 p.m. ET |
Skyline Sports Complex; Harrisburg, Pa. |
18 |
June 22 |
Real Maryland FC Monarchs (USL-2) at Richmond Kickers (USL-2) |
7 p.m. ET |
University of Richmond Stadium; Richmond, Va. |
19 |
June 22 |
Carolina RailHawks (D2) at Charleston Battery (USL-2) |
7:30 p.m. ET |
Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C. |
20 |
June 22 |
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL-2) at Rochester Rhinos (D2) |
7:05 p.m. ET |
Marina Auto Stadium; Rochester, N.Y. |
21 |
June 22 |
AC St. Louis (D2) at NSC Minnesota Stars (D2) |
8 p.m. ET |
National Sports Center; Blaine, Minn. |
22 |
June 22 |
FC Tampa Bay Rowdies (D2) at Miami FC (D2) |
7:30 p.m. ET |
Lockhart Stadium; Fort Lauderdale, Fla. |
23 |
June 22 |
Arizona Sahuaros (USASA) at Austin Aztex (D2) |
8:30 p.m. ET |
House Park; Austin, Texas |
24 |
June 22 |
Portland Timbers (D2) at Kitsap Pumas (PDL) |
10 p.m. ET |
Bremerton Memorial Stadium; Bremerton, Wash. |
2010 LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP THIRD ROUND POSSIBLE MATCHES
<strong>No.</strong> |
<strong>Date</strong> |
<strong>Match</strong> |
<strong>Time</strong> |
<strong>Venue</strong> |
25 |
June 29 |
Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) at New York Red Bulls (MLS) |
8 p.m. ET |
Red Bull Arena; Harrison, N.J. |
<br> |
-or- |
New York Red Bulls (MLS) at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) |
7 p.m. ET |
Skyline Sports Complex; Harrisburg, Pa. |
26 |
June 29 |
Richmond Kickers (USL-2)/Real Maryland FC Monarchs (USL-2) Winner at D.C. United (MLS) |
7:30 p.m. ET |
George Mason Stadium; Fairfax, Va. |
27 |
June 29 |
Carolina RailHawks (D2)/Charleston Battery (USL-2) Winner at Chicago Fire (MLS) |
8:30 p.m. ET |
Toyota Park; Bridgeview, Ill. |
28 |
June 29 |
Rochester Rhinos (D2)/Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL-2) Winner at Columbus Crew (MLS) |
7:30 p.m. ET |
Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio |
29 |
June 29 |
Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) at NSC Minnesota Stars (D2) |
8 p.m. ET |
National Sports Center; Blaine, Minn. |
<br> |
-or- |
AC St. Louis (D2) at Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) |
10:30 p.m. ET |
The Home Depot Center; Carson, Calif. |
30 |
June 29 |
FC Tampa Bay Rowdies (D2)/Miami FC (D2) Winner at Houston Dynamo (MLS) |
8:30 p.m. ET |
Carl Lewis Track Stadium; Houston, Texas |
31 |
June 29 |
Austin Aztex (D2)/Arizona Sahuaros (USASA) Winner at Chivas USA (MLS) |
10:30 p.m. ET |
California State-Fullerton; Fullerton, Calif. |
32 |
June 29 |
Seattle Sounders (MLS) at Kitsap Pumas (PDL) |
10 p.m. ET |
Bremerton Memorial Stadium; Bremerton, Wash. |
<br> |
-or-<br>
June 30 |
Seattle Sounders (MLS) at Portland Timbers (D2) |
10 p.m. ET |
PGE Park; Portland, Ore. |
