Revs tackle U.S. Open Cup Cinderella
MLSnet.com Staff
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION v CAROLINA RAILHAWKS
Tue., Sept. 4, Veterans Stadium, New Britain, Conn., 7 p.m. ET The Cinderella of the 2007 U.S. Open Cup faces MLS competition again when the expansion Carolina RailHawks (USL First Division) take on the New England Revolution. The RailHawks are the first team in a decade to reach the semis after starting in the very first round; the Revolution are looking to reach their second Open Cup final, first since 2001. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
2007 OPEN CUP: The Revolution advanced to the semifinals when they defeated the Harrisburg City Islanders 2-1 at Gillette Stadium in the quarters. Andy Dorman hit home with a third-minute volley and Taylor Twellman converted a Pat Noonan in the 17th minute to stake the Revs to an early lead. Matt Tanzini hit a spectacular long-range blast to pull the USL Second Division (third tier) to within a goal with 12 minutes left, but the Revolution held on. ... Here's Nicol's team: Matt Reis, Avery John, James Riley, Jay Heaps, Steve Ralston, Shalrie Joseph, Jeff Larentowicz, Wells Thompson (Marshall Leonard 46), Andy Dorman, Taylor Twellman (Adam Cristman 63), Pat Noonan. ... In the third round, the Revolution once again faced the Rochester Raging Rhinos (USL1) in the U.S. Open Cup, and again were given a scare before advancing 4-2 from their third-round tie. Steve Ralston scored in the 19th minute and Taylor Twellman in the 67th to seemingly send the Revs on their way, but Hamed Diallo scored twice in 10 minutes to pull the home side level. But Twellman scored in the final minute of regulation and Ralston added a penalty in stoppage time to send the Revs through to the fourth round. IN THE U.S. OPEN CUP: The Revolution have entered the competition eight times - and on three occasions have been dumped out at the first hurdle by lower-division competition. In 1997, the Revolution lost 4-3 away to A-League Long Island Roughriders, then a Chad Schomaker goal literally on full time gave Mid-Michigan Bucks a famous third-round victory in 2000. In 2004, they lost to the Rochester Raging Rhinos on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the fourth round. ... The Revolution reached the Open Cup final in 2001, falling to the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 in extra-time - a year before the same result would occur in the MLS Cup Final. Wolde Harris gave New England the lead on 30 minutes, but goals from Ezra Hendrickson (70) and Dan Califf (92) gave Los Angeles the trophy. The Revs began their run to the final with a 7-1 victory against PDL (fourth division) Mid-Michigan Bucks, then defeated Charleston Battery (A-League) 2-1, before knocking off Columbus Crew 2-1 in the quarterfinals and D.C. United 2-0 in the semifinals. ... This has been the first time since 2003 the Revolution have faced a team other than the Rochester Raging Rhinos or the Chicago Fire in the U.S. Open Cup. The last time the Revs faced a team lower than the second tier (A-League or USL First Division) was in 2001, the second of two consecutive years they faced the PDL Mid-Michigan Bucks. CAROLINA RAILHAWKS
IN THE OPEN CUP: This is the first participation ever in the tournament for the RailHawks, an expansion team this year. But they are the first team in a decade, since the San Francisco Bay Seals in 1997, to reach the semifinals after beginning the competition proper in the first round. 2007 OPEN CUP: In the first round, the RailHawks defeated amateur side RWB Adria of Chicago 4-1. Joey Worthen (5) gave Carolina a great start, then a double from Connally Edozien three minutes apart sealed the game. Caleb Norkus scored midway through the second half before Carlos Carrillo hit for a consolation goal for RWB Adria. ... The RailHawks were drawn against amateur competition in the second round as well, defeated Milwaukee's Bavarian SC 4-0. Edozian (37) again hit home, followed by a double from Anthony Maher on either side of halftime, before Marcio Leite finished off the rout. ... In the third round, Carolina pulled off one of the shocks of a competition full of shocks, defeating the Chicago Fire 1-0 at SAS Park in Cary, N.C. on July 15. McColm Cephas provided the game's only goal, in the 56th minute. ... Then in an all-USL quarterfinal, the RailHawks knocked off the USL-2 Richmond Kickers (who had defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy), as Edozien hit for his fourth goal of the competition in the 64th minute. FORM GUIDE: The RailHawks are tied for ninth place in their first season in the USL First Division with 29 points from 26 games, level with the Charleston Battery. They come into the Open Cup match off a 1-0 loss to the Portland Timbers in Cary on Saturday. Connally Edozien -- who played nine games for the Revolution in 2005 -- leads the RailHawks with seven goals; Kupono Low is next with six goals and a team-high four assists.
Tue., Sept. 4, Veterans Stadium, New Britain, Conn., 7 p.m. ET The Cinderella of the 2007 U.S. Open Cup faces MLS competition again when the expansion Carolina RailHawks (USL First Division) take on the New England Revolution. The RailHawks are the first team in a decade to reach the semis after starting in the very first round; the Revolution are looking to reach their second Open Cup final, first since 2001. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
2007 OPEN CUP: The Revolution advanced to the semifinals when they defeated the Harrisburg City Islanders 2-1 at Gillette Stadium in the quarters. Andy Dorman hit home with a third-minute volley and Taylor Twellman converted a Pat Noonan in the 17th minute to stake the Revs to an early lead. Matt Tanzini hit a spectacular long-range blast to pull the USL Second Division (third tier) to within a goal with 12 minutes left, but the Revolution held on. ... Here's Nicol's team: Matt Reis, Avery John, James Riley, Jay Heaps, Steve Ralston, Shalrie Joseph, Jeff Larentowicz, Wells Thompson (Marshall Leonard 46), Andy Dorman, Taylor Twellman (Adam Cristman 63), Pat Noonan. ... In the third round, the Revolution once again faced the Rochester Raging Rhinos (USL1) in the U.S. Open Cup, and again were given a scare before advancing 4-2 from their third-round tie. Steve Ralston scored in the 19th minute and Taylor Twellman in the 67th to seemingly send the Revs on their way, but Hamed Diallo scored twice in 10 minutes to pull the home side level. But Twellman scored in the final minute of regulation and Ralston added a penalty in stoppage time to send the Revs through to the fourth round. IN THE U.S. OPEN CUP: The Revolution have entered the competition eight times - and on three occasions have been dumped out at the first hurdle by lower-division competition. In 1997, the Revolution lost 4-3 away to A-League Long Island Roughriders, then a Chad Schomaker goal literally on full time gave Mid-Michigan Bucks a famous third-round victory in 2000. In 2004, they lost to the Rochester Raging Rhinos on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the fourth round. ... The Revolution reached the Open Cup final in 2001, falling to the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 in extra-time - a year before the same result would occur in the MLS Cup Final. Wolde Harris gave New England the lead on 30 minutes, but goals from Ezra Hendrickson (70) and Dan Califf (92) gave Los Angeles the trophy. The Revs began their run to the final with a 7-1 victory against PDL (fourth division) Mid-Michigan Bucks, then defeated Charleston Battery (A-League) 2-1, before knocking off Columbus Crew 2-1 in the quarterfinals and D.C. United 2-0 in the semifinals. ... This has been the first time since 2003 the Revolution have faced a team other than the Rochester Raging Rhinos or the Chicago Fire in the U.S. Open Cup. The last time the Revs faced a team lower than the second tier (A-League or USL First Division) was in 2001, the second of two consecutive years they faced the PDL Mid-Michigan Bucks. CAROLINA RAILHAWKS
IN THE OPEN CUP: This is the first participation ever in the tournament for the RailHawks, an expansion team this year. But they are the first team in a decade, since the San Francisco Bay Seals in 1997, to reach the semifinals after beginning the competition proper in the first round. 2007 OPEN CUP: In the first round, the RailHawks defeated amateur side RWB Adria of Chicago 4-1. Joey Worthen (5) gave Carolina a great start, then a double from Connally Edozien three minutes apart sealed the game. Caleb Norkus scored midway through the second half before Carlos Carrillo hit for a consolation goal for RWB Adria. ... The RailHawks were drawn against amateur competition in the second round as well, defeated Milwaukee's Bavarian SC 4-0. Edozian (37) again hit home, followed by a double from Anthony Maher on either side of halftime, before Marcio Leite finished off the rout. ... In the third round, Carolina pulled off one of the shocks of a competition full of shocks, defeating the Chicago Fire 1-0 at SAS Park in Cary, N.C. on July 15. McColm Cephas provided the game's only goal, in the 56th minute. ... Then in an all-USL quarterfinal, the RailHawks knocked off the USL-2 Richmond Kickers (who had defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy), as Edozien hit for his fourth goal of the competition in the 64th minute. FORM GUIDE: The RailHawks are tied for ninth place in their first season in the USL First Division with 29 points from 26 games, level with the Charleston Battery. They come into the Open Cup match off a 1-0 loss to the Portland Timbers in Cary on Saturday. Connally Edozien -- who played nine games for the Revolution in 2005 -- leads the RailHawks with seven goals; Kupono Low is next with six goals and a team-high four assists.
