FRISCO, Texas - FC Dallas will begin its quest for the 2006 U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, August 2 when the team visits the Charleston Battery of the United Soccer League's 1st Division at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina (6:30 p.m. CT). The Battery defeated the Portland Timbers 3-1 on Wednesday night to advance to the fourth round of the tournament.
FC Dallas is one of eight MLS teams that enter the tournament in the fourth round by virtue of having qualified for the 2005 MLS Cup Playoffs. Real Salt Lake, Columbus Crew, and Kansas City Wizards all advanced to the fourth round by winning their third round games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Chivas USA was upset by Dallas based Roma FC on penalty kicks after tying 0-0 through regulation and overtime.
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the oldest cup competition in United States soccer, dating back to 1914. All affiliated amateur and professional teams in the United States are eligible to participate. Dallas won the 1997 U.S. Open Cup and was the runner-up in 2005, falling 1-0 to the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Open Cup final last September.
The game against Charleston will cap a stretch of six games in 19 days for the Hoops, encompassing three different competitions:
July 15 - at Chicago Fire (MLS regular season)
July 19 - vs. Tigres (Rio Grande Plate 1st leg)
July 22 - at Real Salt Lake (MLS regular season)
July 26 - at Tigres in Monterrey, Mexico (Rio Grande Plate 2nd leg)
July 29 - vs. Colorado (also Club America v Everton) - (MLS regular season)
August 2 - at Charleston Battery (U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round)
The winners of the U.S. Open Cup fourth round games will play in the Quarterfinals on August 23, with a draw conducted by U.S. Soccer determining the matchups. The semifinals are scheduled for September 6th and the U.S. Open Cup Final set for September 27.
