Miami FC to play FC Dallas in U.S. Open Cup third round

Published on June 27, 2008 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release


Miami, June 27, 2008 - Miami FC will face MLS' FC Dallas in the 3rd Round of the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday, July 1 at Pizza Hut Park (8:30 p.m. ET). This is the farthest that Miami FC has ever advanced into the tournament having defeated league rivals Atlanta Silverbacks 1-0 on June 24 in the 2nd Round game held at Tropical Park. In the first round, the Blues won 4-2 against PDL‘s Bradenton Academics.

Miami FC has never played an official game against an MLS side before and will be looking to work some magic and get a tough win on the road. Working in favor of Miami FC is the defense which has played a remarkable stretch of games only allowing 3 goals in the last 9 matches played. The Blues defenders led by the attacking left-back Walter Ramirez, have helped the team maintain a current 9-game unbeaten streak.

Last Tuesday, Alex Afonso, USL-1's points (16 points) and scoring (7 goals) leader, scored the game-winning goal by smashing the ball into the back of the net with a tremendous shot from outside the box, which left Atlanta Silverbacks' keeper without any hope. A "golazo" in every sense of the word, the lonely goal of the match was all that Miami FC needed, as its defenders and goalkeeper Josh Saunders once again had a solid performance and guaranteed the shutout.

FC Dallas on the other hand has had quite an up and down season. Schellas Hyndman is the new head coach after taking over a team that was not playing up to expectations. FC Dallas is led by forward Kenny Cooper, who is 4th in MLS in goals scored with 7.

FC Dallas will also be looking to add another U.S. Open Cup trophy to their collection after winning the tournament in 1997. Last year and in 2005 they were runners-up and they are eager to turn their season around after stumbling as of late. They are currently tied for 5th place in the Western Conference on 16 points from 14 games played.

The Blues will be looking to continue their historic run deep into the tournament after downing the Silverbacks in a hard-fought game that was exciting until the final whistle. If Miami FC wins they would have a chance to face another MLS opponent in the Houston Dynamo, the reigning MLS champion, at home at Tropical Park.

The winner of the FC Dallas versus Miami FC game will advance to the Quarterfinal to face the winner of the 3rd Round match between the Charleston Battery (USL 1) and Houston Dynamo (MLS), which will be played also on July 1 at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina. Should Miami FC advance, it will host Houston or play away against Charleston on Tuesday, July 8.

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the U.S. Soccer Federation's National Championship which dates back to 1914, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. It is the oldest annual team tournament in U.S. sports history and among the oldest soccer tournaments of its type in the world. In 1999, the competition was renamed to honor long-time soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt.

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