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So this puts a Real damper on my plans for a extended Memorial Day weekend in Las Vegas, or I should say it could put a damper on my plans. But the reality of how important the US Open Cup is, as it is the easiest path to a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League, win 5 matches and you are in. There is also a matter of allocation money, as Garth Lagerwey mentioned on #OnFrame on Monday night, there is now an allocation money bonus for teams that wins the US Open Cup, and for players there is also prize money at stake. So while it may be a bit inconvenient to my travel plans, this is one of the Trophies that we want and should be a part of every MLS teams real agenda of #TrohpiesNotFriendlies as we look to fill our schedules with matches that matter.
Real Salt Lake learned their fate for the 3rd round of the US Open Cup:
Real Salt Lake (MLS) at Minnesota Stars FC (NASL): National Sports Center; Blaine, Minn.; 7:30 p.m. CT
OR
Des Moines Menace (PDL) at Real Salt Lake (MLS): Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah; 7 p.m. MT
So depending on who wins the May 22nd match between the Minnesota Stars FC and the Des Moines Menace, RSL could either find themselves playing host or having to travel to Minnesota, Hey didn't we lose to them in US Open Cup action several years ago? Ah yes it was a 6-4 loss back in 2005, when they were the Minnesota Thunder. So I guess we will be cheering for Des Moines or will I be cheering for an extra day in Vegas and watching RSL online?
Ticket Update from RSL:
IF RSL ends up hosting on 5/29 vs Des Moines, tickets will be $12 for general public and $6 for current PRIDE Season Ticket Holders ...
Once the Minn/Des Moines game is over, people can buy tix at RealSaltLake.com and STH can get their seats AND buy unlimited amount of seats at their preferred pricing ...
anyhow after the jump you can see the full press release from US Soccer:
OK, here is the full PR:
2012 LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP THIRD-ROUND POSSIBLE PAIRINGS ANNOUNCED
MLS Teams Enter Tournament on Tuesday, May 29; Second Round Kicks off Tuesday, May 22
CHICAGO (May 16, 2012) - U.S. Soccer has announced the third-round possible pairings and locations for the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Results from the second round of play next Tuesday, May 22, will determine the matchups for the third round taking place one week later on Tuesday, May 29.
The 99th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup includes a random selection process for determining home teams from the first round through the quarterfinals among clubs that have applied to host. The process, conducted by a coin flip, gives participating teams with venues meeting tournament standards an equal chance at hosting their possible opponent for these rounds.
The first round concluded on Tuesday, May 15, and all Division I, II and III professional clubs are participating in the tournament proper for the first time ever. The Division I field includes all 16 U.S.-based Major League Soccer teams, which is double the representation from the past five years and the first time since 2006 that all Division I teams are taking part.
2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule
THIRD ROUND - Tuesday, May 29
Houston Dynamo (MLS) at Laredo Heat (PDL): Texas A&M International University Soccer Complex; Laredo, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT
OR
Houston Dynamo (MLS) at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL): Heroes Stadium; San Antonio, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT
Chicago Fire (MLS) at Michigan Bucks (PDL): Ultimate Soccer; Pontiac, Mich.; 7:30 p.m. ET
OR
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO) at Chicago Fire (MLS): Toyota Park; Bridgeview, Ill.; 7:30 p.m. CT
K.C. Athletics (USASA)/Orlando City Soccer Club (USL PRO) Winner at Sporting Kansas City (MLS): LIVESTRONG Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.; 7:30 p.m. CT
D.C. United (MLS) at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO): Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Va.; 7 p.m. ET
OR
Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (USASA) at D.C. United (MLS): Maryland SoccerPlex Stadium; Boyds, Md.; 7:30 p.m. ET
Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO)/Chicago Fire PDL (PDL) Winner at Columbus Crew (MLS): Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio; 7:30 p.m. ET
Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO)/El Paso Patriots (PDL) Winner at FC Dallas (MLS): FC Dallas Stadium; Frisco, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT
Fresno Fuego (PDL)/Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) Winner at San Jose Earthquakes (MLS): Cagan Stadium, Stanford University; Stanford, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT
Brooklyn Italians (NPSL)/Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) Winner at Philadelphia Union (MLS): PPL Park; Chester, Pa.; 7:30 p.m. ET
Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) at New England Revolution (MLS): TBD; Time TBD
OR
New England Revolution (MLS) at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO): Hershey Park Stadium; Hershey, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET
Reading United AC (PDL) at New York Red Bulls (MLS): Red Bull Arena; Harrison, N.J.; 7 p.m. ET
OR
New York Red Bulls (MLS) at Charleston Battery (USL PRO): Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.; 7:30 p.m. ET
Chivas USA (MLS) vs. Ventura County Fusion (PDL); TBD; Time TBD
OR
Chivas USA (MLS) at Los Angeles Blues (USL PRO): Titan Stadium, Cal State Fullerton; Fullerton, Calif.; 7 p.m.
PSA Elite (USASA) at Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS): The Home Depot Center; Carson, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT
OR
LA Galaxy (MLS) at Carolina RailHawks (NASL): WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.; 7:07 p.m. ET
Colorado Rapids (MLS) at Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL): Al Lang Stadium; St. Petersburg, Fla.; Tuesday, May 29 at 7:30 p.m. ET
OR
Jacksonville United (NPSL) at Colorado Rapids (MLS): Dick's Sporting Goods Park; Commerce City, Colo.; 7 p.m. MT
Cal FC (USASA) at Portland Timbers (MLS): JELD-WEN Field; Portland, Ore.; 7:30 p.m. PT
OR
Portland Timbers (MLS) at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL PRO): Legion Sports Park; Wilmington, N.C.; 7 p.m. ET
Seattle Sounders (MLS) at Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL): Atlanta Silverbacks Park; Atlanta, Ga.; 7:30 p.m. ET
OR
Georgia Revolution (NPSL) at Seattle Sounders (MLS): Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Wash.; 7 p.m. PT
Real Salt Lake (MLS) at Minnesota Stars FC (NASL): National Sports Center; Blaine, Minn.; 7:30 p.m. CT
OR
Des Moines Menace (PDL) at Real Salt Lake (MLS): Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah; 7 p.m. MT
SECOND ROUND - Tuesday, May 22
Michigan Bucks (PDL) at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO): Chartiers Valley Stadium; Bridgeville, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET
Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO): Skyline Sports Complex; Harrisburg, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET
Cal FC (USASA) at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL PRO): Legion Sports Complex; Wilmington, N.C.; 7 p.m. ET
PSA Elite (USASA) at Carolina RailHawks (NASL): WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.; 7:07 p.m. ET
Fresno Fuego (PDL) at Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL): Lockhart Stadium; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET
K.C. Athletics (USASA) at Orlando City Soccer Club (USL PRO): Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET
Reading United AC (PDL) at Charleston Battery (USL PRO): Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.; 7:30 p.m. ET
Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) at Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO): Sahlen's Stadium; Rochester, N.Y.; 7:35 p.m. ET
Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) at Jacksonville United (NPSL): Patton Park; Jacksonville, Fla.; 7 p.m. ET
Richmond Kickers (USL PRO) at Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (USASA): Maryland SportsPlex Stadium; Boyds, Md.; 7:30 p.m. ET
Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) at Georgia Revolution (NPSL): RYSA Soccerplex; Conyers, Ga.; 7:30 p.m. ET
Laredo Heat (PDL) at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL): Blossom Athletic Center*; San Antonio, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT
Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) at Chicago Fire PDL (PDL): Toyota Park Practice Field; Bridgeview, Ill.; 6 p.m. CT
Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) at Des Moines Menace (PDL): Valley Stadium; Des Moines, Iowa; 7:30 p.m. CT
Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at El Paso Patriots (PDL): Patriots Stadium; El Paso, Texas; 8 p.m. MT
Ventura County Fusion (PDL) at Los Angeles Blues (USL PRO): Norco Community College*, Norco, Calif.; 4 p.m. PT*
* Note: Changed from original May 1 announcement.
FIRST-ROUND RESULTS - Tuesday, May 15
Jacksonville United (NPSL) 2, Orlando City U-23s (PDL) 1: Seminole Soccer Complex, Sanford, Fla.
Reading United AC (PDL) 2, N.Y. Greek Americans (USASA) 1 : Ray Buss Field, Fleetwood High School, Fleetwood, Pa.
Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) 2, FC Sonic (NPSL) 0: Whitehall High School Stadium, Whitehall, Pa.
Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (USASA) 3, Carolina Dynamo (PDL) 1: Maryland SoccerPlex, Boyds, Md.
Michigan Bucks (PDL) 6, Jersey Shore Boca (USASA) 0: Ultimate Soccer, Pontiac, Mich.
Georgia Revolution (NPSL) 1, Mississippi Brilla FC (PDL) 0 (OT): RYSA Soccerplex, Conyers, Ga.
Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) 3, GPS Portland Phoenix (PDL) 2: Memorial Field, Deering High School, Portland, Maine
Chicago Fire PDL (PDL) 1, Croatian Eagles (USASA) 0: Toyota Park Practice Field, Bridgeview, Ill.
Des Moines Menace (PDL) 3, Milwaukee Bavarians (NPSL) 1 (OT): Bavarian Soccer Park, Glendale, Wis.
Laredo Heat (PDL) 4, ASC New Stars (USASA) 2 (OT): Texas A&M International University, Laredo, Texas.
K.C. Athletics (USASA) 3, Real Colorado Foxes (PDL) 1: Colorado School of Mines Soccer Stadium, Golden, Colo.
El Paso Patriots (PDL) 3, NTX Rayados (USASA) 1: Patriots Stadium, El Paso, Texas.
Fresno Fuego (PDL) 2, Stanislaus United Turlock Express (US Club Soccer) 0: Academica Fields, Turlock, Calif.
PSA Elite (USASA) 3, Portland Timbers U-23s (PDL) 1: JELD-WEN Field, Portland, Ore.
Cal FC (USASA) 3, Kitsap Pumas (PDL) 1: Bremerton Memorial Stadium, Bremerton, Wash.
Ventura County Fusion (PDL) 6, Fullerton Rangers (NPSL) 2 (OT): Santa Ana Bowl, Santa Ana, Calif.
2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule (Per Round)
May 15: First Round
May 22: Second Round
May 29: Third Round
June 5: Fourth Round
June 26: Quarterfinals
July 10: Semifinals
Aug. 7 or 8: Final