It was a night of knockout soccer that saw three games go to extra time, two games go to penalty kicks, and one famous Mexican lose his temper and get sent off. By the time the smoke cleared, the glass slipper still fit for two USL First Division clubs, who had advanced to the U.S. Open Cup semifinals.
Why isn't this competition on TV again?
The Charleston Battery obliterated FC Dallas, 3-1, at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, TX, scoring before an after an hour-long lightning delay in the first half and shutting down all but one meaningless strike in the 93rd minute. Meanwhile, the Seattle Sounders fought the Kansas City Wizards to a 0-0 draw and advanced 6-5 on penalties, thanks in part to a 12-save performance by Sounders goalkeeper Chris Eylander, who also saved two PKs to help Seattle advance.
Meanwhile, USL Second Division club Crystal Palace Baltimore pushed the defending Open Cup champion New England Revolution to penalties, but lost the shootout, 5-3. In Boyds, MD, Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Mark Burch were shown red cards in extra time, while Bryan Namoff scored the winner in the 99th minute to push D.C. United past the Chicago Fire, 2-1.
D.C. United and the Chicago Fire meet tonight in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals, one month after their testy match in Toyota Park in which three red cards were given and Luciano Emilio got a surprise goal in stoppage time to lift 9-man D.C. to a 2-1 win.
If you want to watch this rematch, though, you'll have to go to the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds and buy a ticket. By all accounts, this match will not air on TV or online. Neither will tonight's New England Revolution v. Crystal Palace Baltimore match, providing further proof that the U.S. Open Cup -- a competition in which the winner receives a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League, no less -- is truly the most disrespected competition in American soccer.
The other two quarterfinal matches at least have online video feeds. FC Dallas v. Charleston Battery will be shown on MLSLive at 8:30 PM ET, while Seattle fans log on to USLLive get a free glimpse of their future MLS club's home when the USL-1 Seattle Sounders face the Kansas City Wizards at Qwest Field at 10:00 PM ET. Let's hope the groundskeepers actually try to cover up the gridiron lines this year.
Crystal Palace supporters still suffering from the loss of that Premier League promotion playoff last May might be taking a little solace in their American counterparts today.
Indeed, the club was founded in 2006, 101 years after Crystal Palace FC was founded in London, and it serves as a player development wing for the Coca-Cola Championship club. Clearly, player development is going pretty well there, though as Ives Galarcep notes, too many Red Bulls just didn't come to play last night.
Two other USL clubs pulled off upsets, as USL-1 leaders the Charleston Battery defeated MLS Cup holders the Houston Dynamo on penalty kicks, while the Seattle Sounders topped Chivas USA, 2-0. Other USL clubs didn't get away so easily. The Kansas City Wizards came back from a 2-0 deficit to topple the Carolina Railhawks, 4-2, in extra time, and FC Dallas scored a 2-1 comeback win against Miami FC. D.C. United, the Chicago Fire and the New England Revolution also cruised to victory over USL clubs.
The 3rd round of the U.S. Open Cup kicks off tomorrow, and if you're looking for the MLS clubs that are taking this tournament seriously this year, just look for which clubs are playing at home.
Unlike England's FA Cup, where the home team is determined by random draw, MLS and USL clubs place bids with the U.S. Soccer Federation to host games, and the highest bidder plays at home. If you look at the schedule for tomorrow's games, you'll notice that the New England Revolution, the Chicago Fire, D.C. United and FC Dallas are all playing at home.
By contrast, the Houston Dynamo travel to South Carolina to face USL-1 leaders the Charleston Battery, and the New York Red Bulls head to Maryland to face USL-2 side Crystal Palace Baltimore. Perhaps Houston and New York aren't quite as interested in the CONCACAF Champions League bid that comes with winning the Open Cup.
D.C. United, however, suddenly seems much more interested in the Open Cup than they were last year.
However, McBride can't sign a contract with a specific MLS club. He has to sign with the league itself, who then allocates him to a specific club -- and the club at the top of the allocation list is Toronto FC.
So the best striker in American soccer history comes home and finds that MLS rules will force him to play for the lone Canadian club.
Seriously, does that seem right to you? Why does McBride have to go through all this red tape just to sign with his chosen MLS club? Rules like this are why so many people view MLS as less than major league. Free agents should be allowed to sign with the club they choose, not the club the league assigns to them. This is just one more thing that really needs to be fixed in the next collective bargaining agreement.
You know where McBride should really be today? Santander. The U.S. men's national team takes on Spain today, and with Landon Donovan still begging out with a lack of balls sore groin, the U.S. needs all the help up front it can get.
Chicago Fire 2 - DC United 0 We're sure the whole untied/United headline business has been used before, but we're equally fed up with the various ways the Fire can burn, torch, or scorch opposing teams in the headlines. Regardless, the Chicago Fire ran circles around the United defense, putting on an offensive display that gave them several lethal chances. Justin Mapp and Cuahtemoc Blanco scored for Chicago, with Blanco's curling strike sure to set the bar for the Goal of the Week. A physical match that saw plenty of rough challenges on both side of the ball overshadowed DC's struggling offense. United only managed 2 shots on goal but drew 3 yellow cards for reckless play.
Chicago hosts Houston Dynamo at home next Saturday while DC United travels out west for a match with CD Chivas USA.
We should probably get back on this preview horse before the season gets too far out of hand to be doing the prognosticating. Due to our inexorable link to Section 8 Chicago, the decision was made to give the Fire fans a first look over at their own site. With the exclusive running its course, its time to add the clip to our library of capsules. Enjoy.
FanHaus note: San Jose and Red Bull New York should be coming out before their first game's this week ... as long as we adequately recover from the Toyota Park opener.
As a a shameless supporter of all things Chicago Fire, we have to borrow our bully pulpit for a second and spread the word about the latest bit of shenanigans going on in our MLS world right now. Wilman Conde, newly minted Colombian defender, urban legend, and possessor of one of the finest soccer mullet's in recent memory has apparently fallen out of harmony with his club. It seems that since his former coach, Juan Carlos Osorio (at right), left him in the dust for the New York manager's position, Conde has been pining for his maestro, stopping at nothing to be reunited with his former coach. In a note sent to the Chicago Tribune's Luis Arroyave, Conde noted:
As I said before, the Chicago Fire is a great institution but my interests and desires are no longer with this team. I thank the fans and the Chicago Fire for their understanding in this matter as I wish not to hurt anybody nor to continue with the team and not to perform at my best as a professional. It is a difficult situation but it is my desire to pursue my career with the New York Red Bulls starting this season. Thank you in advance for your understanding. Wilman Conde
We can see the notes passed in study hall from Osorio now. "Dear Wilman, if you want to weasel out of your contract check this box." More on the story as it develops, but we find it hard for the Fire to hold onto an unhappy player while we find it even harder to believe that no one has mentioned collusion or tampering once in this entire discussion.
Christmas came a little late for Red Bull New York's Juan Carlos Osorio at this year's MLS Draft. Although he resigned as head coach of the Chicago Fire for "family reasons," he certainly left his mark on the supporters. With a name that will live in infamy among Fire fans, Osorio entered Friday's draft with that chapter of his career firmly in his past ... or so he thought. Able to grab a few moments of his time, we were able to get his thoughts on the matter.
If you happen to be a RBNY fan interested in Claudio Reyna's job security, just push play. For those wishing to cut to the chase, skip to around :40.
As for the content of this year's Section 8 Xmas card ... (or thereabouts)
It's the most wonderful time of the year
Let's all be thankful this holiday That at least we aren't the Revs. Unless, of course, you are.
subcampeon eterno
Pleasant holiday wishes from Section 8 Chicago and all Chicago Fire fans.
Rumor has it that LA Galaxy GM Alexi Lalas also received a copy this weekend and howled with delight.
It may be a while until the true winners and losers of this year's MLS SuperDraft are sorted out, but the consensus in Baltimore tonight was that the Chicago Fire had an excellent showing. With top-rated striker Patrick Nyarko falling to the club at the number 7 pick and U-23 keeper Dominic Cervi taken with the 12th, the Fire had taken care of much of their shopping in the first round. With highly-ranked midfielder Peter Lowry still available in the 2nd round (26th overall), new manager Denis Hamlett is quite pleased with today's events, and we were able to have a few words with him on his way out.
For those interested in the contract status of current keeper, Matt "Slim" Pickens, jump to the 4:05 for Hamlett's comments on the situation. We tried to press for more detail but were deftly avoided.
It was a night of knockout soccer that saw three games go to extra time, two games go to penalty kicks, and one famous Mexican lose his temper and get sent off. By the time the smoke cleared, the glass slipper still fit for two USL First Division clubs, who had advanced to the U.S. Open Cup semifinals. 
D.C. United and the Chicago Fire meet tonight in the 
Crystal Palace supporters still suffering from the loss of that Premier League promotion playoff last May might be taking a little solace in their American counterparts today.
The 3rd round of the 
Here's some irony for you: Brian McBride announced last week that he was
Chicago Fire 2 - DC United 0
As a a shameless supporter of all things Chicago Fire, we have to borrow our bully pulpit for a second and spread the word about the latest bit of shenanigans going on in our MLS world right now. Wilman Conde, newly minted Colombian defender, urban legend, and possessor of one of the finest soccer mullet's in recent memory has apparently fallen out of harmony with his club. It seems that since his former coach, Juan Carlos Osorio (at right), left him in the dust for the New York manager's position, Conde has been pining for his maestro, stopping at nothing to be reunited with his former coach. In a note sent to the 
