including two all-MLS clashes, one featuring the defending champion Chicago Fire -- with the remaining match in the round set for the following day.
The Earthquakes will learn their quarterfinal opponent when the Los Angeles Galaxy travel to face the Minnesota Thunder at the Metrodome in Minneapolis (7 p.m. CT). For the 2001 U.S. Open Cup champions, it's the second time in three years they've faced the Thunder in their opening USOC match, winning 4-0 on their way to the 2002 Open Cup final.
The Dallas Burn, who eased to a 2-0 victory against the A-League Virginia Beach Mariners in the third round, now face MLS opposition at home in the Colorado Rapids in the fourth round (7 p.m. CT), a rematch of a 2002 quarterfinal won on a golden goal by the Burn. The 1997 Open Cup winners had to play in the third round as one of two teams who didn't reach the MLS Cup Playoffs last year.
The winner of that match will face the winner between the Kansas City Wizards and Atlanta Silverbacks, who play Tuesday (7:45 p.m. ET) in Clarkston, Ga. The Wizards are trying to get past the first hurdle for just the third time in eight Open Cup appearances.
For the second year running, the New England Revolution will play host to the Rochester Raging Rhinos in the fourth round, the Revs claiming a 2-1 victory at Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow, Mass. last year, where this year's match will again be played (7:30 p.m. ET). The Raging Rhinos have claimed their share of highly-prized MLS skins in their Open Cup history, while the Revs will again be looking to avoid an early trip-up by lower division opposition, as happened in their first two Open Cup appearances.
The winner of that contest will face the winner of the round-of-16 tie that sees the MetroStars travel to Blackbaud Stadium to face the Charleston Battery (7:30 p.m. ET), a rematch of a previous giant-killing exploit, the Battery claiming a 4-1 victory in a 2001 Open Cup second-round match between the clubs.
The other all-MLS matchup will pit the 2003 Open Cup champion Fire against the Columbus Crew in Ohio (7:30 p.m. ET). The Fire won their third Open Cup last year with a 1-0 victory against the MetroStars, but now face a tricky trip to Crew Stadium to face one of the only two teams to have defeated the club in Open Cup play. The Crew survived a nervy third-round match against the A-League Syracuse Salty Dogs, winning 2-1 on a late penalty.
The winner of that tie will face the winner of the D.C. United-Richmond Kickers game, the only fourth-round contest to be played on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET). The game features winners of back-to-back Open Cup titles -- the Kickers winning in 1995 while still a part of the USISL, United in 1996 in the inaugural MLS season -- and both squads featured current Kickers midfielder Richie Williams.
The quarterfinals are set for the Wednesday following the All-Star break, with all four games to be played on Aug. 4.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
