• Fight mars Seattle Sounders win at San Jose Earthquakes
• Charlotte Eagles lose in last minute at Chivas USA
• Sporting KC beat Dayton Dutch comfortably
• Philadelphia Union thwart Harrisburg comeback
In the end the quarter finals of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup didn't throw up any surprises, but there were a few tense, not to mention testy moments, before the results were determined - and in Seattle and San Jose's case, after the final whistle.
Going into the round of eight, the most intriguing tie on paper looked to be the all-MLS clash, as Cup specialists Seattle Sounders faced a rare Open Cup away trip, to a San Jose Earthquakes side whose MLS-topping form this season has had something of the feel of an epic cup run itself. The Earthquakes fans have endured and celebrated a lot of twists and turns and last ditch heroics from unlikely sources (Alan Gordon, anyone?) and came into this game having beaten RSL at Rio Tinto on Saturday night to go top of the Supporters Shield standings. Meanwhile Seattle arrived on the back of demoralizing defeats to local rivals Portland, and MLS newcomers Montreal, and with only their formidable cup pedigree to console them.
They also came into the game on the back of two red cards and unseemly climaxes to games against Sporting KC and Portland - and there were more ugly scenes at the end of this game. The Sounders won the game thanks to Cordell Cato scoring his first ever Sounders goal in the 18th minute, but the frantic last ten minutes and aftermath of the game are what set the tone for how the match will be remembered. First there was another late show from Alan Gordon, though rather than a goal it was a sending off for what appeared to be a headbutt. Then with the game won, despite the late introduction of Steven Lenhart and Chris Wondolowski for the Quakes, Eddie Johnson appeared to make his way to the San Jose bench and celebrate in front of them, before allegedly punching San Jose's Jed Zayner. The video below (around 54m mark) is hardly conclusive, despite the somewhat partisan San Jose commentary, but it does seem to demonstrate some behavior that politicians like to describe as "regrettable".
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Johnson may face disciplinary action - what's clear though is that Seattle have snarled their way through an unhappy June that has seen them drop several points in league play. Despite all distractions though, they're in the semi-finals of the cup and will be at home for that game. A fourth consecutive Open Cup title remains on the cards after what might have been their most difficult match-up in this year's competition.
Charlotte Eagles gave Chivas USA an almighty scare, by equalizing in the penultimate minute of regulation time, through Mauricio Salles, only for Jose Correa to break their hearts deep into stoppage time. Speaking to media after the game, including ESPN's Scott French, Correa seemed to suggest he didn't know much about the goal:
I was arriving at that ball with not a lot of strength, and [Angel] pushed me from the back with a lot of strength...The next thing I know, he yells, 'Goal!' and then I turn around. Practically, the whole strength on that goal was from him. He pushed me.
Chivas will be mighty relieved to have negotiated another tie, though once again they left it late to do so. They'd had a torrid opening half as the Eagles harried them from the opening whistle, with the visitors even coming close to opening the scoring - but as the half, then the game, wore on, the Goat's neat possession game began to wear down the Eagles. That said when Salles equalized, most Chivas fans must have been expecting extra time, rather than a repeat of the last minute win they'd conjured against the same opponents in the 2005 Cup. If Chivas are to progress further they'll need to break another pattern - they now travel to a Seattle team unbeaten in 20 US Open Cup games.
Harrisburg City Islanders may be Philadelphia Union's affiliates, but had no intention of giving the Union an easy ride. The sides met just two weeks ago in a scrimmage game that had been arranged before the Cup brought them together. Harrisburg won that game 3-2 and it proved to be the final straw for Philadelphia's management - it was coach Peter Nowak's last game in charge. Could the Islanders repeat that result and perhaps replicate their extra time heroics against New England and New York in the previous rounds? Not quite - but they gave the Union a scare. With a strong Philadelphia side leading 3-0 at half-time, after a 6th minute Adu penalty had settled the nerves, the home team seemed to think they'd done enough. New England (beaten on penalties after leading 3-0 at half-time in extra time in the 3rd round) could have told them that's a dangerous assumption against Harrisburg, and the Islanders came back with goals in the 52nd and 54th minute, to threaten an upset. But yet another penalty handed the initiative back to the MLS side and an 81st minute Gomez chip finished the job. Another strong Cup run from Harrisburg, but Philadelphia's interim coach John Hackworth now has a home semi-final against Sporting KC to look forward to.
Sporting KC never had the same sort of scare to deal with as Philadelphia had had, as they were comfortable winners against Dayton Dutch Lions. As in the Philadelphia game, the MLS side took an early lead - a 5th minute goal by CJ Sapong. And though they didn't add to the lead until the hour, with a goal by Graham Zusi, that goal seemed to break Dayton's resistance and Sapong was able to add another a few minutes later to seal a comfortable win. It wasn't a full strength SKC tram by any means, but as it turned out, the first team regulars present were enough to do the damage, with Saad also doing his starting claims no harm with an assist on the final goal. Sporting KC will now travel to Philadelphia Union in the second semi-final.
Dayton, for their part, depart the cup after a valiant effort and with memories of beating Columbus Crew in the 3rd round and Michigan Bucks (conquerors of Chicago) in the 4th. Back to the league for them now, where they've at least picked up a place since the last round, moving off the bottom.
In fact, all 3 USL Pro teams who had represented a record turnout for that league in the quarter finals, will now be "enjoying" the freedom to concentrate on their league form, which needs their attention in all three cases. Relatively speaking Dayton are actually the most improved, having leapfrogged Antigua Barracudas out of last place - but Harrisburg's resilience and Charlotte's neat play in the Cup, has temporarily stalled in the league as both have lost touch with the leaders. But despite the realities of their league position all three have stood toe to toe with MLS sides and beaten them in this competition and more than a few top tier coaches will be relieved to see the back of them for another year.
Following the games, we spoke to some of our regular fan reps and bloggers following the winning teams, about last night's events and their team's chances in the semi-finals. Their reactions are below.
Seattle Sounders v Chivas USA
Sam Chesneau, Gorilla FC, Seattle:
I think it's a good result to go away on one day's rest and play a reserve team and get the win. It makes some of the substitutions make some sense as well. If anything the result was a wake up call to the regular starters, as I think changes are on the way with the transfer window opening.
Regarding the trouble that occurred, firstly I think the standard of reffing in the US Open Cup in general, is terrible, so it wasn't surprising that with San Jose pressing in the last ten minutes, and both sides having terrible decisions going against them, that the ref lost control of the game. It also doesn't surprise me that Eddie was at the heart of it. I was surprised he wasn't the one to be carded against Portland on Sunday - not because he deserved it - but because he's the first to defend his team mates when there's provocation. He's a proud player, and an obvious target for opposing players and fans.
Looking ahead, I'm glad the Chivas game is at Starfire, where we're unbeaten in Open Cup play. It'll be great to see James Riley returning with Chivas - he's family here, with all he did for the community. Chivas are an improving side, Seattle will be coming off short rest again, and as I say it'll likely be a changed side by then, but I still think we'll get through.
Alicia Ratterree, The Goat Parade, Chivas USA:
Chivas USA advanced to the semifinal round in the U.S. Open Cup with a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Charlotte Eagles. Young Colombian forward Jose Correa got his first action in the tournament after being sidelined by a hamstring injury in recent weeks, and his second half performance made the difference, as he scored both goals in the win. After Chivas took the lead midway through the second half, Charlotte appeared as though they were taking the match to extra time when Mauricio Salles scored in the 89th minute. But Correa headed a free kick in the 94th minute to end the match in regular time and give Chivas another late victory in the tournament.
The semifinal round will certainly be interesting, and there are several storylines. Chivas and Seattle met in the semifinal round in 2010, and Chivas will want to get the better of the Sounders this time around. Seattle are three-time champions, however, so Chivas have a tough task ahead of them. And the Goats will go from being the favorite to the underdog. It will be interesting to see how they deal with the change in position.
Philadelphia Union vs Sporting Kansas City
Corey Furlan, Sons of Ben, Philadelphia:
Any time you can score 5 goals it's not a bad thing. No disrespect to the USL Pro team, but you could tell that Harrisburg were outclassed last night. It looked like we were caught on our heels at the start of the second half, but going back to the DC game, the players are more consistent and relaxed, so when Hoppenot came on it was the spark for regaining control.
Looking at our front line - nine goals in two games, you can't complain about that. We beat Sporting 4-0 at the weekend in a complete team effort top to bottom. Macmath made a timely save, and we got some breaks we haven't been getting, but mainly the attackers took their chances and it was a great result. This side is not the second worse side in the Eastern Conference, whatever the standings say. I think Hackworth will take them through to at least the end of the season - it's his job to lose at this point.
I think the semi will be a lot closer though - I think it'll be 2-1 final to the Union. Probably be Seattle in the final but would be a storyline and a half to see Danny Califf come back to PPL Park to compete for a trophy.
Andy Edwards, Talkin' Touches, Sporting KC:
Sporting Kansas City advanced to the semifinals of the 2012 US Open Cup by doing exactly what you have to do against a lower division side: score an early goal (five minutes into the game, in this case), take the initiative of attacking and limit opportunities. There was to be no repeat of the 2011 quarterfinals debacle for Sporting. CJ Sapong scored twice, and Graham Zusi scored the crown jewel of the night, a second half curler from near the left corner of the box, far post, top corner.
Thanks to the victory, SKC players and coaches get exactly what they said they wanted prior to the game: a return trip to PPL Park and a rematch with the Philadelphia Union, who embarrassed Sporting on Saturday, 4-0. This time around, it won't be 4-0 to Philly. Read More
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