EDITORS NOTE: We've bumped this to the top because the competition is now underway. Across the USA 16 teams of men will compete in a 94 year old American sporting tradition. Some will compete for pride in the possibility of being the David that slays Goliath. Others will compete looking forward to international glory. All will compete to win.

Head over to USOpenCup.com for complete coverage

Looking ahead to tonight's 2008 US Open Cup Third Round and next week's Quarterfinals we pose this question to you: Is this year the US Open Cup finally became interesting? It seems like US Soccer has done everything right this year from the awarding of a CONCACAF Champions League spot to the winner to the way the pairings have been set for this Round of 16. Even MLS has gotten into the act with a special US Open Cup section. Additionally for the first time ever they have a comprehensive scoreboard.

As always the place for comprehensive audio, video, scores live updates/live blogging and news on the US Open Cup is USOpenCup.com As for the draw itself, you almost could not ask for a better set of matches. And short of the Open Cup going to a random draw this is the best thing we can ask for from US Soccer.


Let's review the storylines.

Match 1

Red Bull New York at Crystal Palace Baltimore (Matchtracker)

Here we have a serious underdog team in the form of Palace which plays their football in the 3rd tier of American footy. We also have a team that is supported by a fair amount of DC United supporters facing their much hated rival north on I-95, Red Bull New York. Then there is the added layer of one club being owned by an organization with a club in the Austrian 1st division, Red Bull Salzburg against a club associated with an English Championship side, Crystal Palace.

Match 2

Richmond Kickers at New England Revolution (Audio) (Matchtracker)

Just as the above match, New England faces a side supported by fans of their rival, DC United. In this case the Kickers who play in the 2nd tier of American footy, will play the role of David vs Goliath as New England seems to be unstoppable this year. For its part New England will look to repeat its only success in its history, winning the 2007 US Open Cup. Should be a fun match to watch. Should New England advance in this match and New York advance in the first match then it would be a semi-final showdown between the two MLS Eastern Conference rivals.


Match 3

Cleveland City Stars at Chicago Fire (Video) (Matchtracker)

On the face of it this match doesn't seem to excite. However one has to remember that Columbus Crew fans, typically hate Chicago and in a showing of "Ohio pride" may back Cleveland City for no other reason than they'd like to see the four time US Open Cup Champion fall in the 3rd Round to a team which plays in the 3rd tier of the sport in this country. Not to mention, some Crew supporters are from the area around Cleveland. One of our readers also pointed out that Cleveland's only real high profile player is a former Fire player, Floyd Franks, who also scored both of the Stars' previous goals in US Open Cup play. And lastly there should be a nice contingent of Cleveland City supporters at Toyota Park as several busses are headed there. If you want to go and live in or near Cleveland, then Get On The Bus.


Match 4

Rochester Rhinos at DC United (Audio) (Matchtracker)

Very interesting. These two sides have met twice before in the US Open Cup. Both times DC United defeated Rochester with the exact same scoreline 3-0. Additionally both sides have won the US Open Cup exactly one time and both would like to repeat. DC United won it in 1996, Rochester three years later in 1999. It doesn't hurt that player/coach Steve Guppy will be on the touchline coaching Rochester against his former MLS team. Additionally assuming that DC United advances and assuming Chicago handily defeats Cleveland then DC United's bugaboo, the Chicago Fire would await them in the Semi-finals.


Match 5

Miami FC at FC Dallas (Video) (Matchtracker)

On the face ofhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif it, not too compelling however with Miami's dreams of near-term MLS expansion all but gone, this will be the greatest chance for them to prove they can hang with "the big boys" in America's top flight. FC Dallas will see Miami as little more than a bump in the road to take on what they would hope is their "Texas Derby" rival to the South, Houston Dynamo.


Match 6

Houston Dynamo at Charleston Battery (Video) (Matchtracker)

These two sides seem to play each other a lot. Usually in preseason at the Carolina Challenge Cup. But this time it is for real. Not only that but the game is a rematch of the 2007 third round fixture that the Battery won 1-0 in overtime. Dynamo, no strangers at Blackbaud Stadium will likely defeat their opponent however as we have seen in years past, upsets have occurred so don't count out Charleston. They pulled the upset last year after all. Assuming the Dynamo and FC Dallas advance then a USOC semi-final rematch of last Thursday's ESPN Prime Time Texas Derby awaits.


Match 7

Kansas City Wizards at Carolina Railhawks (Video) (Matchtracker)

Ok, who are we trying to fool? If there was one match that does not fit the hype of the others it is this one. If any of you know any interesting storylines involving these two sides, feel free to email us.

EDIT: And one of you did just that! Thanks Jarrett!

"The best storyline I can come up with is that we knocked off Chicago last year in our first ever US Open Cup match against an MLS team and then took New England to extra time in the semifinals. With KC playing 3 games in six days, I expect to see lots of reserves from KC. I was really hoping to see Michael Harrington, who grew up playing youth and college soccer here in the Triangle and has played many games at the youth, PDL, and collegiate level on our stadium field at WakeMed Soccer Park.

This game looks really ripe for an upset tonight. Of course, if you don't think beating KC is an upset for Carolina, I might agree with you on that one! :)"


Match 8

CD Chivas USA at Seattle Sounders (Video) (Matchtracker)

This might be the juiciest of the matches in the third round. In the 2007 USOC the two sides met in the third round. Seattle defeated Chivas by a score of 3-1 in one of the better upsets of the tourney that year. Seattle then went all the way to the Semi Finals defeating the Colorado Rapids 5-0 before falling 2-1 to FC Dallas in the semi-finals. The Sounders will be in MLS next year and a good showing in the US Open Cup this year might do well to secure certain player's position on the MLS roster. The fact that these two clubs are meeting in the US Open Cup for the 2nd consecutive year means that they may bring that rivalry with them into the Western Conference of MLS in 2009. Unlike the 2007 game, this one will not be played in Qwest Field but at a much smaller venue. Advantage: Seattle. However should Chivas advance it would mark their highest achievement in the Open Cup thus far.