NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION vs. RICHMOND KICKERS (USL2)
Tues., July 1, Veterans Stadium, New Britain, Ct., 7 p.m.
The defending U.S. Open Cup champions New England Revolution once again head to western New England for the first step in their defense of the Dewar Trophy, taking on the Richmond Kickers of the USL Second Division (third tier) in New Britain, Ct.
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
IN THE OPEN CUP: The Revolution won the first major honor in club history a year ago, winning the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 3-2 victory against FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park. ... It was the second time in club history they had played for the Dewar Trophy, falling 2-1 in extra time to the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2001. ... Those are the only two occasions in New England club history they've won more than one Open Cup in any year; on four occasions (1997, 2000, 2004 and 2005), they crashed out at the fisrt hurdle. ... The Revolution have three times been dumped out by lower-division opposition, last in 2004, when they lost in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw with the Rochester Raging Rhinos.
LAST YEAR: A year ago, the Revs held on to win the Open Cup for the first time ever. Pat Noonan (21) and Arturo Alvarez (30) traded goals before Taylor Twellman put New England ahead to stay. Wells Thompson (57) scored the third before Abe Thompson hit in the 64th minute, but FC Dallas could get no closer. ... In the semifinals, a 10-man Revolution defeated a nine-man Carolina RailHawks (USL1) 2-1 in extra time in New Britain, Conn. (Larentowicz 45+; Noonan 93 - Maher 6) ... The Revolution 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 in the 17th minute, before Matt Tanzini scored a wonder goal for the USL2 side with 12 minutes left. ... In the third round, the Revolution once again faced the Rochester Raging Rhinos (USL1), and again were given a scare before advancing 4-2 from their third-round tie (Ralston 19, 93+; Twellman 67, 90 - Diallo)
RICHMOND KICKERS
IN THE OPEN CUP: The Richmond Kickers have one of the most storied histories of any current club in the U.S. Open Cup - in fact, they were the last winner of the competition before the advent of Major League Soccer, winning in 1995, when they defeated the El Paso Patriots. ... A year ago, the Kickers reached the quarterfinal stage as a USL-2 team, defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0 in the third round before losing to Carolina RailHawks 1-0 ... Their run last year began with a 4-2 win against PDL Michigan Bucks in the first round, then followed with a 2-1 win against the Cleveland City Stars in the second. ... The Kickers have twice taken MLS scalps, both times as an A-League club, in 2000 vs. Colorado Rapids (3-0, second round) and in 2004 vs. D.C. United (2-1, third round). ...
THIS YEAR: The Kickers opened their 2008 Open Cup campaign with a 3-0 victory against the PDL Fredricksburg Gunners on July 10, with all three goals coming in the opening quarter of the match. Eliot Paschalis put the Kickers in front in the 11th minute, then Stanley Nyazamba doubled the lead in the 20th minute. David Bulow converted a penalty in the 24th minute to provide the final margin ... In the second round, the Kickers knocked off the Western Mass Pioneers 2-1, with Nyazamba scoring the game-winner six minutes from the end. Kelvin Jones put the Kickers in front in the 59th minute, only to see Jeff Deren level terms four minutes later.
FORM GUIDE: The Richmond Kickers sit in fourth place in the USL Second Division, with 20 points from 12 matches, eight behind the pace-setting Charlotte Eagles. ... David Bulow and Stanley Nyazamba lead the Kickers with three goals apiece, while Michael Burke ranks among the USL2 leaders with three assists.
