Some of Major League Soccer’s biggest and most intense rivalries are set to play out in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals this Wednesday. All U.S. Open Cup action will be streamed live on U.S. Soccer’s YouTube page.
Another edition of the heated Texas Derby between in-state rivals Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas is set with the matchup arguably the most important between the clubs since the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs. Stakes are high for both clubs as Houston is in search of its first Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title, while Dallas – owned by Clark Hunt – hasn’t won the tournament since 1997 with runner-up finishes in 2005 and 2007. Although Houston will claim home field advantage, it will have its hands full with newly named MLS All-Star Mauro Diaz and speedster Fabian Castillo, who have been for the current Supporters’ Shield leaders (12-6-4, 40 points).
Two Western Conference heavyweights are set to clash again, as five-time MLS Cup winners LA Galaxy host Cascadia club Seattle Sounders FC. Memories will be fresh as they recently met in MLS action on July 9 with LA besting Seattle 1-0 behind a Robbie Keane goal at CenturyLink Field. After losing at home, Seattle will be out for a revenge in a tournament that the club has excelled in, winning the title four times (2009, 2010, 2011, 2014) - tied with Chicago Fire for most by an MLS club. Wednesday’s bout will be a tough task for Seattle though as LA boasts an impressive 196-70-58 MLS record at home.
On the East Coast, two I-95 rivals square off as the New England Revolution host the Philadelphia Union at Jordan Field. The familiar foes have met a total of 17 times in MLS regular season action since 2010, with Philadelphia grabbing more wins with an 8-5-4 record. In a much-improved year that sees the club second in the Eastern Conference standings, the Union will look to make up for the heartbreaking penalty shootout loss suffered in the Open Cup final last year to Sporting Kansas City. Meanwhile, the Revs, who sit just above the red line in sixth-place in the Eastern Conference, are looking for its first Open Cup title since 2007.
The Chicago Fire – four-time U.S. Open Cup champions – will host the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the North American Soccer League in the only inter-league matchup of the quarterfinals.
Wednesday, July 20
- 7:30 p.m. ET – New England Revolution vs. Philadelphia Union
- 8:30 p.m. ET – Chicago Fire vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- 8:30 p.m. ET – Houston Dynamo vs. FC Dallas
- 10:30 p.m. ET – LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders FC
