2005 U.S. Open Cup Format Released
Published on February 3, 2005 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Richmond Kickers News Release
RICHMOND, VA â (Thursday, February 3, 2005) â U.S. Soccer Federation announced today the 2005 U.S. Open Cup format, which will incorporate 42 teams â 26 professional and 16 amateur, the highest number of teams participating since the inception of Major League Soccer (MLS) in 1996. This year's tournament will kick off in June.
In 2005, all USL First Division teams (U.S. based) will automatically qualify for the U.S. Open Cup. Four USL First Division teams will enter the tournament in each of two consecutive rounds. Based on 2004 regular season results, Charleston, Minnesota, Seattle and Virginia Beach will enter in the Second Round of the tournament on June 29th while Atlanta, Portland, Richmond and Rochester will receive byes to the Third Round, joining four MLS teams and eight Round Two winners on July 13th.
Dating back to 1914, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a single-elimination tournament the oldest cup competition in United States soccer and is among the oldest in the world. Open to all affiliated amateur and professional teams in the United States, it is the domestic cup competition that gives any affiliated team in the United States a chance at winning the title of "United States Club Champions." The team that advances the furthest from each level except MLS earns a $10,000 cash prize. The runner-up takes home $50,000, while the champion collects $100,000. The winner also will have the team's name engraved on the historic Dewar Cup, the oldest trophy in American team sports that is housed in the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, NY.
The Kickers were crowned the U.S. Open Cup Champions in 1995 (prior to the inception of Major League Soccer).
2005 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule
Qualifying Concludes May 30 Qualifying completed Memorial Day weekend
Pairings Announcement June 1
Qualifying Round June 8 2 PDL vs. 2 USASA Regional Qualifiers
First Round June 15 2 Qualifying Round Winners, 6 PDL
6 USASA Regional Qualifiers, 2 USL Second Division
Second Round June 29 First Round winners vs. 4 USL Second Division 4 USL First Division
Third Round July 13 Second Round winners vs. 4 USL First Division, 4 MLS
Fourth Round Aug. 3 Third Round winners vs. 8 MLS
Quarterfinals Aug. 24 Fourth Round winners
Semifinals Sept. 14 Quarterfinal winners
Final Sept. 28 Semifinal winners
Composition of participating teams:
12 Major League Soccer
8 United Soccer Leagues First Division
6 United Soccer Leagues Second Division
16 Amateur (8 USL Premier Development League, 8 USASA regional qualifiers)
Total Number of Teams: 42
Total Number of Games: 41
2005 U.S. OPEN CUP QUALIFYING BREAKDOWN
MLS â 12 Teams
For the third consecutive year, every MLS team will enter the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, including the expansion teams Real Salt Lake and CD Chivas USA. Eight MLS teams will enter the fourth round of this year's tournament based on their 2004 regular season finish in the MLS standings. The remaining four MLS teams will enter the Open Cup in the third round.
Third Round Teams: Chicago Fire, CD Chivas USA, FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake
Fourth Round Teams: Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, Kansas City Wizards, Los Angeles Galaxy, MetroStars, New England Revolution, San Jose Earthquakes
USL First Division â 8 Teams
All eight U.S. based teams in the USL First Division will participate in the tournament. Teams will enter the tournament based on 2004 regular season league results,
Second Round Teams: Charleston Battery, Minnesota Thunder, Seattle Sounders, Virginia Beach Mariners
Third Round Teams: Atlanta Silverbacks, Portland Timbers, Richmond Kickers, Rochester Raging Rhinos
USL Second Division â 6 Teams (qualifying through May 30)
Six of the nine teams will participate in the tournament. The top six teams, based on point percentage from games played through May 29, qualify for the tournament. The top four teams enter in the Second Round with the bottom two qualifiers entering in the First Round.
Eligible Teams: Charlotte Eagles, Cincinnati, Harrisburg City Islanders, Long Island Rough Riders, New Hampshire Phantoms, Northern Virginia Royals, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Western Mass Pioneers, Wilmington Hammerheads
Premier Development League â 8 Teams (qualifying through May 30)
Eight teams will participate from the PDL. The top two teams from each conference based on the results of four pre-designated league games will advance to the tournament. Two of the four second-place group finishers will be drawn to play in the Qualifying Round against two USASA regional qualifiers. The remaining six will enter in the First Round.
USL Tiebreakers:
a) Head-to-head record based on total points in Open Cup qualifiers
b) Total wins in the Open Cup qualifying games
c) Goal difference (PDL: +/- 3 goals maximum for each Open Cup qualifier)
d) Goals scored (PDL: +/- 3 goals maximum for each Open Cup qualifier)
e) Lottery conducted by USL
U.S. Adult Soccer Association Regional Qualifiers â 8 Teams (qualifying through May 30) Eight representatives from the U.S. Adult Soccer Association will also qualify for the 2005 U.S. Open Cup. Two teams qualify from each of the USASA's four regions (I, II, III & IV), where qualifying tournaments will be staged on a statewide and then regional basis. Six of the qualifying teams will enter the tournament in the first round. Two second-place regional qualifiers will be geographically paired to second-place qualifiers from the PDL and will play in the qualifying round.
USL First Division Stories from February 3, 2005
- 2005 U.S. Open Cup Format Released - Richmond Kickers
- 2005 US Open Cup Format Unveiled - USL-1
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