The Los Angeles Galaxy, the 2001 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Champions, will meet the winner of the third round match between the Minnesota Thunder (A-League) and the Boulder Rapids Reserve (Premier Development League) in a fourth-round match on Wednesday, July 20.
"We are looking forward to once again competing in the U.S. Open Cup," said Galaxy President and General Manager Doug Hamilton. "This tournament is one of the oldest single-elimination club competitions in the world and something that this club has always taken great pride in being a part of."
The Thunder and the Rapids Reserve will play for the right to face the Galaxy on Wednesday, June 30 at 7 pm (CT) at James Griffin Stadium in St. Paul, Minnesota, home of the Thunder. Should the Thunder win the third-round match, they will host the Galaxy at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis in the fourth round. However, if the Rapids Reserve win, they will meet the Galaxy at Harder Stadium on the campus of UC-Santa Barbara.
The Los Angeles Galaxy advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup for the fourth-straight year in 2003 after an emphatic 5-1 victory over the A-League's Seattle Sounders. However, a 3-2 loss to the Chicago Fire at the semifinal stage derailed their title hopes.
In 2002, the Los Angeles Galaxy qualified for the finals only to drop a 1-0 decision at the hands of the Columbus Crew just four days after the Galaxy had captured their first MLS Cup championship. In 2001, the Los Angeles Galaxy won their lone Open Cup championship, thanks to a 2-1 defeat of the New England Revolution, a dramatic extra time goal from Danny Califf giving them the title.
During the 2000 Open Cup, the Galaxy also made it to the semifinals, again running in to the Chicago Fire, but coming up on the short end of a 2-1 score.
Los Angeles Galaxy -- All-time Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup History
1999 - quarterfinalists
2000 - semifinalists
2001 - champions
2002 - finalists
2003 - semifinalists
Dating back to 1914, the U.S. Open Cup is the oldest soccer cup competition in the United States and among the oldest in the world. Open to affiliated amateur and professional teams in the United States, the annual U.S. Open Cup is a 90-year-old, single-elimination tournament based upon similar competitions played across the world concurrent with domestic league action.
The Los Angeles Galaxy are pleased to announce that the match against the MetroStars on Wednesday, June 23 will be the next chance this season for fans to purchase a Los Angeles Times Galaxy Family Pack. For as a little as $52, a family of four gets four match tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and a Los Angeles Times newspaper. To take advantage of this offer, please call the Galaxy ticket office toll-free at 1-877-3GALAXY.
