3. U.S. OPEN CUP: An All-MLS affair
- by Soccer America , Aug 23, 2006
LOS ANGELES-COLORADO
-- The Galaxy won the title in 2005 and reached the final in three of the last five years.
-- The Rapids have defeated Los Angeles, 1-0, in all three 2006 MLS meetings.
-- Colorado hasn't advanced past the Open Cup quarterfinals since finishing second in 1999.
HOUSTON-FC DALLAS
-- T&T World Cup goalie Shaka Hislop will make first start of FCD tonight.
-- In its 10 seasons in San Jose, the Dynamo advanced as far as the semifinals only once.
-- The match will be played at the University of Houston's Carl Lewis track complex because of work at Robertson Stadium.
D.C. UNITED-NEW YORK
-- New York is one of three original MLS teams (along with New England and Colorado) to have never won an MLS or Open Cup title.
-- D.C. United and the Red Bulls played to a 0-0 tie last week in MLS action at Giants Stadium in their first meeting since Bruce Arena took over as Red Bull coach.
-- Slumping D.C. United is winless in its last four MLS games.
CHICAGO-NEW ENGLAND
-- The Fire beat the Revs, 1-0, in an important Eastern Conference match on Sunday.
-- Chicago defeated New England, 3-1, in last year's quarterfinals, their only previous Open Cup meeting.
-- Chicago has won the most U.S. Open Cup titles -- three -- since MLS was launched in 1996.
