Aztex to Rekindle Rivalry Versus Laredo Heat in U.S. Open Cup
May 14, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Austin Aztex News Release
AUSTIN, Texas (Thursday, May 14, 2015) - The Austin Aztex will host the Laredo Heat in the Second Round of the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, May 20 at House Park. The matchup was finalized after Laredo advanced to the Second Round by defeating the NTX Rayados in a sudden-death penalty kick shootout Wednesday evening in Laredo.
U.S. Soccer Federation announced Thursday that the winner of the Austin/Laredo matchup will advance to face the reigning NASL champion San Antonio Scorpions in the Third Round of the tournament on Wednesday, May 27. If the Aztex defeat the Heat, they will travel to Toyota Field in San Antonio to face the Scorpions. If the Heat upset the Aztex, then the Scorpions will travel to Laredo for the third round tilt.
The May 20th match reignites a strong rivalry held between the Aztex and the Heat when Austin competed in the USL PDL's Mid South Division from 2012 through 2014. The two squads finished in the top two spots of the division each year, advancing to the conference championships. This will be the first time, however, that the two squads will meet in the U.S. Open Cup.
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, recognized as U.S. Soccer's National Club Championship, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The tournament has crowned a champion for 101 consecutive years dating from 1914. In 1999, the competition was renamed to honor American soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt.
Seattle Sounders FC are the defending U.S. Open Cup champion, having won a fourth tournament title (following triumphs in 2009, 2010 and 2011) after a 3-1 overtime, road victory against the Philadelphia Union on Sept. 16, 2014.
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