
USOC Match Day: Third Round- Fresno FC at Sporting AZ FC
May 23, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Fresno FC News Release
Good morning, everyone
Fresno FC will continue its run in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup this evening, when the Foxes visit Sporting Arizona FC, of the United Premier Soccer League, in a third-round matchup at John Riggs Stadium at Mesa Community College.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT. The match will not be televised locally, but will be live-streamed here via USSoccer.com.
MATCH DAY INFORMATION
LAMAR HUNT US OPEN CUP: THIRD ROUND
FRESNO FC at SPORTING AZ FC
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
John Riggs Stadium, Mesa, AZ
7:30 p.m. PT
TV/Radio: None
Stream: USSoccer.com
Social Media: Follow @FFCFoxes on Twitter for match updates and follow along using the hashtags #SAZvFRS and #USOC2018
SUSPENSIONS:
NONE
ABOUT SPORTING ARIZONA FC
Sporting Arizona FC are lone survivors from the all-amateur United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) in the USOC. Their shootout win in the Second Round over USL's Phoenix Rising was one of the most impressive upsets of the 24-game schedule. Sporting AZ is currently on a five-match win streak stretching from the UPSL Spring Season and last week's victory against Phoenix Rising FC in penalty kicks. The side features former MLS goalkeeper Andrew Weber, who most recently played with Portland Timbers in 2014. Weber, 34, was a former player of current Fresno FC General Manager Frank Yallop during the latter's time as head coach of the San Jose Earthquakes. Weber made two appearances from 2009-11. Sporting AZ FC is coached by former English Premier League goalkeeper Aidan Davison, who joined the club in 2017 and promptly led them to the Arizona Conference title in the 2017 UPSL Spring Season and the team's first 2018 US Open Cup appearance since 2010.
USOC FOURTH ROUND INFORMATION & DRAW
The winner between Fresno FC and Sporting AZ FC will advance to the USOC Fourth Round against an opponent to be determined on the morning of Thursday, May 24. The Fourth Round Draw will take place at 8 a.m. PT and be live streamed on USSoccer.com and via Facebook Live (@OfficialOpenCup).
Twelve third-round winners will advance to next week's fourth round. Twenty (20) MLS teams will enter the US Open Cup in the fourth round.
ABOUT THE USOC FIELD
94 teams will participate in the 2018 edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Among the sides in the 105th installment of the competition are reigning champions Sporting Kansas City and 19 other Major League Soccer outfits. There are 22 teams from the officially recognized Division II United Soccer League (USL), including Charleston Battery, who, in 2008, became the last non-MLS team to reach the Final. Among the brigade of amateur combatants, Christos FC of Baltimore are back for a second straight time and hoping to match their run to the Fourth Round at #USOC2017, where they earned the chance to play D.C. United of Major League Soccer.
USOC AWARDS & PRIZE MONEY
The prize money to be distributed for the competition ending Sept. 2018 includes the following:
U.S. Open Cup Champion $300,000.00
U.S. Open Cup Finalist $100,000.00
Division II team* that advances the furthest $25,000.00
Open Division team* that advances the furthest $25,000.00
Additionally, the U.S. Open Cup champion will be awarded a championship trophy for its trophy case and have its team name added to the Dewar Challenge Trophy, competed for annually since 1912 and symbolic of the U.S. Open Cup champion since 1914. The Open Cup champion also earns a place in the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League, which runs from mid-February to early May. The players from the winning team and the runners-up will be presented with Open Cup medals. U.S. Soccer may also elect to award players from the winning team with championship t-shirts which are to be worn during the trophy presentation.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 23, 2018
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- LouCity Advances to U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round with Disciplined Win against Saint Louis FC - Louisville City FC
- Penn FC's Comeback Stopped Late at Richmond - Penn FC
- Orange & Blue advance to the fourth round of U.S. Open Cup - FC Cincinnati
- Hounds Fall to FC Cincinnati in the Open Cup - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Wild's Late Goal Powers Battery Past Elm City Express - Charleston Battery
- Kickers Knock out Penn FC, Advance to Fourth Round of U.S. Open Cup - Richmond Kickers
- STLFC Falls 1-0 Away to Louisville in US Open Cup - Saint Louis FC
- Watch Champions League Final and Penn FC's Road Match at Mr.G's - Penn FC
- Fresh Game Themes Highlight July with North Carolina Football Club - North Carolina FC
- USL, Select Announce Arrival of Official Ball for 2019 Season - USL
- Opportunity for Game against MLS Team Awaits Nashville SC - Nashville SC
- USOC Match Day: Third Round- Fresno FC at Sporting AZ FC - Fresno FC
- Lights FC Aims to Keep U.S. Open Cup Run Going in California - Las Vegas Lights FC
- USL Discipline Report - Week 11 - USL
- T2 Prevail over FC St. Pauli in International Friendly at Providence Park - Portland Timbers 2
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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