2008 U.S. Open Cup

The 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 95th edition of the USSF's annual national soccer championship, running from June through early September.

2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Tournament details
CountryUnited States
Final positions
ChampionsD.C. United
(2nd title)
Runner-upCharleston Battery
2009–10 CONCACAF Champions LeagueD.C. United
Tournament statistics
Top goal scorer(s)Sébastien Le Toux
(5 goals)
← 2007
2009 →

D.C. United won the final 2–1 over the Charleston Battery on September 3 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., on a pair of goals from Brazilians Luciano Emilio and Fred. It was United's second Open Cup title.

The Battery were the first USL club in the final since the Rochester Rhinos won the cup in 1999.

The Cup schedule was shortened in 2008, ending in September instead of October, so as to avoid interfering with Major League Soccer's end-of-season playoff drive in the fall and the new CONCACAF Champions League.[1]

The 13 US-based MLS clubs participated, although only 8 competed in the main tournament (Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls). Qualifying was similar to the 2007 tournament, with the top 3 teams from each conference in 2007 qualifying automatically, and the other 7 playing off during the early part of the 2008 season for the remaining 2 spots.

United Soccer Leagues had a separate qualifying plan for each tier. The 8 US-based USL-1 teams qualified automatically (Puerto Rico has its own federation, thus the Puerto Rico Islanders are not eligible to participate in the Open Cup). 8 of the 9 US-based USL-2 teams qualified. The defending USL-2 playoff champions, the Harrisburg City Islanders, and the 2007 regular-season champion Richmond Kickers qualified automatically. The remaining 7 teams played off for 6 spots, based on early regular season results. The PDL used selected early regular-season games for qualification. The top two teams in the Eastern and Central conferences, and the top teams in the Mid-South, Southeast, Northwest, and Southwest divisions qualified.

The tournament was rounded out by 8 amateur USASA clubs (Adria, Arizona Sahuaros, Boston Olympiakos, Clearwater Galactics, Eagles, Hollywood United, New Stars, New York Pancyprian-Freedoms). USASA qualifying began in the fall of 2007. Clubs from the NPSL enter the Cup through USASA qualifying.

Matchdays

DateRoundNotes
June 10First32 USL and USASA clubs enter
June 24Second
July 1Third8 MLS clubs enter
July 8Quarterfinals
Aug. 12Semifinals
September 3Final

Participating teams

The tournament consists of 40 teams, according to the following distribution:

ClassificationNumber of Teams
Major League Soccer8
United Soccer Leagues First Division8
United Soccer Leagues Second Division8
Amateur16*

*Includes 8 USL Premier Development League teams and 8 USASA regional qualifiers

Qualified Clubs

Tier 1: Major League Soccer (MLS)

Tiers 2 – 4: United Soccer Leagues (USL)

Tier 5: United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA)

Open Cup bracket

Second Round winners advance to play one of 8 MLS clubs in 16-team knockout tournament
Home teams listed on top of bracket

First round
June 10
Second round
June 24
      
USL-2 Western Mass Pioneers2
USASA Boston Olympiakos0
USL-2 Western Mass Pioneers1
USL-2 Richmond Kickers2
USL-2 Richmond Kickers3
PDL Fredericksburg Gunners0
First round
June 10
Second round
June 24
      
USL-2 Harrisburg City Islanders5
PDL Yakima Reds1
USL-2 Harrisburg City Islanders2 (1)
USL-2 Crystal Palace Baltimore (p)2 (3)
PDL Los Angeles Legends1
USL-2 Crystal Palace Baltimore2
First round
June 10
Second round
June 24
      
USL-1 Rochester Rhinos (aet)2
USASA RWB Adria1
USL-1 Rochester Rhinos3
USL-2 Pittsburgh Riverhounds0
USASA A.A.C. Eagles0
USL-2 Pittsburgh Riverhounds4
First round
June 10
Second round
June 24
      
USL-1 Minnesota Thunder4
PDL St. Louis Lions1
USL-1 Minnesota Thunder0
USL-2 Cleveland City Stars (aet)2
PDL Michigan Bucks1
USL-2 Cleveland City Stars2
First round
June 10
Second round
June 24
      
USL-1 Miami FC4
PDL Bradenton Academics2
USL-1 Miami FC1
USL-1 Atlanta Silverbacks0
PDL Austin Aztex U232 (4)
USL-1 Atlanta Silverbacks (p)2 (5)
First round
June 10
Second round
June 24
      
USL-1 Charleston Battery3
USASA New Stars0
USL-1 Charleston Battery2
USL-2 Charlotte Eagles1
USL-2 Charlotte Eagles5
USASA Clearwater Galactics2
First round
June 10
Second round
June 24
      
USASA Arizona Sahuaros0
USL-1 Seattle Sounders (aet)1
USL-1 Seattle Sounders6
USASA Hollywood United0
USL-1 Portland Timbers2
USASA Hollywood United3
First round
June 10/13
Second round
June 24
      
USL-1 Carolina RailHawks1
PDL Brooklyn Knights0
USL-1 Carolina RailHawks1
USL-2 Real Maryland Monarchs0
USL-2 Real Maryland Monarchs (aet)3
USASA New York Pancyprian-Freedoms2
Third round
July 1
Quarterfinals
July 8
Semifinals
August 12
Final
September 3
            
MLS D.C. United2
USL-1 Rochester Rhinos0
MLS D.C. United (aet)2
MLSChicago Fire1
MLS Chicago Fire4
USL-2 Cleveland City Stars1
MLSD.C. United3
MLSNew England Revolution1
MLS New England Revolution3
USL-2 Richmond Kickers0
MLS New England Revolution (p)1 (5)
USL-2Crystal Palace Baltimore1 (3)
USL-2 Crystal Palace Baltimore2
MLS New York Red Bulls0
MLSD.C. United2
USL-1Charleston Battery1
MLS FC Dallas2
USL-1 Miami FC1
MLSFC Dallas1
USL-1Charleston Battery3
USL-1 Charleston Battery (p)1 (4)
MLS Houston Dynamo1 (3)
USL-1 Charleston Battery (p)1 (4)
USL-1Seattle Sounders1 (3)
USL-1 Seattle Sounders2
MLS Chivas USA0
USL-1 Seattle Sounders (p)0 (6)
MLSKansas City Wizards0 (5)
USL-1 Carolina RailHawks2
MLS Kansas City Wizards (aet)4

Schedule

Note: Scorelines use the standard U.S. convention of placing the home team on the right-hand side of box scores.

First round

Clearwater Galactics (USASA) v Charlotte Eagles (USL-2)
June 10, 2008 Clearwater Galactics (USASA) 2–5 Charlotte Eagles (USL-2) Charlotte, North Carolina
7:00 ETCormona 42'
Diaz 48'
Garcia  61'
Restrepo  82'
Report (Charlotte)
Report (USL)
Ssejjemba 34' 76'
Swinehart 54' (pen.), 66'
Herrara 73'
Stadium: Charlotte Christian School
Referee: Daniel Burak
Boston Olympiakos (USASA) v Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2)
June 10, 2008 Boston Olympiakos (USASA) 0–2 Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2) Ludlow, Massachusetts
7:30 ETWalker  36'Report (Western Mass)Neil Krause 32'  45'
Augustine  35'
Deren 66'
Stadium: Lusitano Stadium
Referee: Giany Barbat
Adria (USASA) v Rochester Rhinos (USL-1)
June 10, 2008 Adria (USASA) 1–2 Rochester Rhinos (USL-1) Rochester, New York
7:30 ETMesanovic  65'
Dugena  78'
Morad 86'
Report (Rochester)
Report (USL)
Menyongar  55'
Fitzpatrick 72' (pen.)  116'
Diallo 96'
Stadium: PAETEC Park
Attendance: 1,152
Referee: Chris Penso
New Stars (USASA) v Charleston Battery (USL-1)
June 10, 2008 New Stars (USASA) 0–3 Charleston Battery (USL-1) Charleston, South Carolina
7:30 ETReport (Charleston)
Report (USL)
Spicer 23' 30' 43'
Alonso  55'
Stadium: Blackbaud Stadium
Referee: Alan Schechtman
St. Louis Lions (PDL) v Minnesota Thunder (USL-1)
June 10, 2008 St. Louis Lions (PDL) 1–4 Minnesota Thunder (USL-1) Blaine, Minnesota
8:00 ETGelvin  45'
Merrick  45'
Heinemann  70' 79'
Report (Minnesota)Tarley 44' 80'
Sánchez 57'
Paye 89'
Stadium: National Sports Center
Attendance: 483
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Bradenton Academics (PDL) v Miami FC (USL-1)
June 10, 2008 Bradenton Academics (PDL) 2–4 Miami FC (USL-1) Miami, Florida
8:00 ETBoggs
Ampaipitakwong  36'
Ibegha  41'
Gutierrez 49' (o.g.)
McFarland  56'
Report (USL)Cameron 25'
Cauê  48'
John  49'
Nunes 58'  78'
Afonso 59' 90+'
Cristiano  69'
Stadium: Tropical Park Stadium
Referee: Reggie Rutty
Atlanta Silverbacks (USL-1) v Austin Aztex U23 (PDL)
June 10, 2008 Atlanta Silverbacks (USL-1) 2 – 2 (aet)
(5–4 p)
Austin Aztex U23 (PDL) Round Rock, Texas
8:30 ETBolton  23'
Bobo  38'
Kandji 81'
Mahaffey  99'
Hayes 113' (pen.)
Report (Austin)
Report (USL)
Lewis  40'
Watson 45+'  75'
Guadarrama 101'
Vega  105'
Gallardo  113'
Vicens  116'
Stadium: Dragon Stadium
Referee: Andrew Gage
Penalties
Bolton
Camp
Kandji
McLaughlin
Hayes
da Luz
Papandrea
Guadarrama
Watson
Alcala
Hollywood United F.C. (USASA) v Portland Timbers (USL-1)
June 10, 2008 Hollywood United F.C. (USASA) 3–2 Portland Timbers (USL-1) Portland, Oregon
10:00 ETDunseth  26'
Taylor 45+' (pen.), 58' (pen.)
Droze  50'
Alexander 90'
Report (Portland)
Report (USL)
Brown 32'  45'
Little  36'
Oka 51'  90'
Thompson  65'
Guante  73'
Stadium: PGE Park
Attendance: 3,089
Referee: Andres Pfefferkorn
NY Pancyprian-Freedoms (USASA) v Real Maryland Monarchs (USL-2)
June 13, 2008 NY Pancyprian-Freedoms (USASA) 2 – 3 (aet) Real Maryland Monarchs (USL-2) Boyds, Maryland
8:00 ETDos Santos 22'
Damiani  60' 69'
Halkidis  82'  83' 
Reeves  119'
Report (USL)Hassen 56'
Bissohong  69'
Perez 85'
Chantal 117'
Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Referee: Bryan Roslund

Second round

Richmond Kickers (USL-2) v Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2)
June 24, 2008 Richmond Kickers (USL-2) 2–1 Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2) Ludlow, Massachusetts
7:30 ETNyazamba  48' 84'
Jones 59'
Bennett  62'
Harding  90'
Viray  90'
Report (Richmond)
Report (Western Mass)
Petrarca  40'
Glaeser  60'   90'
Deren 63'
Lima  81'
Molinari  89'   90'
Augustine  90'
Stadium: Lusitano Stadium
Referee: Niko Bratsis
Hollywood United F.C. (USASA) v Seattle Sounders (USL-1)
June 24, 2008 Hollywood United F.C. (USASA) 0–6 Seattle Sounders (USL-1) Tukwila, Washington
11:00 ETBarragan  2'
Pinto  56'
Dunseth  57'
Report (Seattle)Scott 3'
Gardner 15'  16'
Le Toux 22' 38' 60' 63'
Treschuk  50'
Besagno  80'
Stadium: Starfire Sports Complex
Referee: Kevin O'Daniel

Third round

New York Red Bulls (MLS) v Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2)
July 1, 2008 New York Red Bulls (MLS) 0–2 Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2) Annapolis, Maryland
7:30 ETMagee  26'   90+2'Report (New York)
Report (Baltimore)
Marshall 18'
Mark  21'
Harkin  26'
Brooks  30' 75'
Kante  30'   34'
Mbuta  44'
Stadium: Lawrence E. Knight Stadium
Attendance: 1,654
Referee: Andrew Chapin (Virginia)
Kansas City Wizards (MLS) v Carolina RailHawks (USL-1)
July 1, 2008 Kansas City Wizards (MLS) 4 – 2 (aet) Carolina RailHawks (USL-1) Cary, North Carolina
7:30 ETTrujillo 68' 94'
López 82' (pen.)
Morsink  104'
López  111'
Pore  117' 119'
Report (Kansas City)
Report (Carolina)
Fusilier 43'
Watson 58'
Solle  89'   108'
Dombrowski  120'
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 3,116
Referee: Niko Bratsis (Massachusetts)
Rochester Rhinos (USL-1) v D.C. United (MLS)
July 1, 2008 Rochester Rhinos (USL-1) 0–2 D.C. United (MLS) Boyds, Maryland
7:30 ETBonseu  79'
Fitzpatrick  84'
Salles  90'
Report (Rochester)
Report (D.C.)
Burch 78' 85'Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 2,752
Referee: Mark Kadlecik (North Carolina)
Cleveland City Stars (USL-2) v Chicago Fire (MLS)
July 1, 2008 Cleveland City Stars (USL-2) 1–4 Chicago Fire (MLS) Bridgeview, Illinois
8:30 ETMcClung 61'
Stewart  78'
ReportBanner 13' 73'
Carr 23'
Barrett 26'
Mármol  57'
Stadium: Toyota Park
Attendance: 6,678
Referee: Hidajet Tica (Iowa)
Miami FC (USL-1) v FC Dallas (MLS)
July 1, 2008 Miami FC (USL-1) 1–2 FC Dallas (MLS) Frisco, Texas
8:30 ETAfonso 7'
Nunes  36'
de Mata  88'
Report (Miami)
Report (Dallas)
Thompson 45+3' 90+2'
Moor  84'
Stadium: Pizza Hut Park
Attendance: 6,559
Referee: Jasen Anno (Texas)
Chivas USA (MLS) v Seattle Sounders (USL-1)
July 1, 2008 Chivas USA (MLS) 0–2 Seattle Sounders (USL-1) Tukwila, Washington
10:00 ETKljestan  69'Report (Chivas)
Report (Seattle)
Graham 43'
Schmid  64'
Le Toux 80'
O'Brien  81'
Stadium: Starfire Sports Complex
Attendance: 2,997
Referee: Yader Reyes (California)

Quarterfinals

Chicago Fire (MLS) v D.C. United (MLS)
July 8, 2008 Chicago Fire (MLS) 1 – 2 (aet) D.C. United (MLS) Boyds, Maryland
7:30 ETWoolard 36'
Soumaré  48'
Pause  78'
Thorrington  81'
Blanco  108'
Report (Chicago)
Report (D.C.)
Doe  52' 77'
Moreno  89'
Namoff 99'
Fred  107'
Burch  108'
Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 4,118
Referee: Shane Moody (Florida)
Charleston Battery (USL-1) v FC Dallas (MLS)
July 8, 2008 Charleston Battery (USL-1) 3–1 FC Dallas (MLS) Frisco, Texas
8:30 ETAlavanja 28'
Fuller 43'
King  77'
Patterson 91+'
Report (Charleston)
Report (Dallas)
Cooper 94+'Stadium: Pizza Hut Park
Attendance: 5,911
Referee: Doug Wolff (Missouri)

Semifinals

New England Revolution (MLS) v D.C. United (MLS)
August 12, 2008 New England Revolution (MLS) 1–3 D.C. United (MLS) Washington, D.C.
7:30 ETGermanese 34'
Iqwe  38'
Thompson  54'   71'
Report (New England)
Report (D.C.)
Emilio 4' 81'
Quaranta 48'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 6,797
Referee: Jorge Gonzalez (New York)

Final

Charleston Battery (USL-1)1–2 D.C. United (MLS)
Fuller 10'
Nylen  33'
Alonso  62'
Report (D.C.)
Report (Charleston)
Emilio 4'
Martínez  35'
Simms  46'
Fred 50'
RFK Stadium
Washington, D.C.
Attendance: 8,212
Referee: Mark Geiger (New Jersey)
Charleston Battery
D.C. United
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
2008 Champion
D.C. United
2nd title

Top scorers

PositionPlayerClubGoals
1Sébastien Le TouxSeattle Sounders5
2Darren SpicerCharleston Battery4
Alex AfonsoMiami FC4
4EmilioD.C. United3

External links

References