Caught in Possession

Hope everyone is well on their way to a memorable holiday weekend. If you are kicking back at the beach, in the backyard or somewhere out of town, you're not alone. July has its share of compelling soccer moments ahead, with US Open Cup competition providing a nice, down-home contrast to the international vibe and SUM-generated hype of SuperLiga's second annual installment. You can bet good money that the tourney opener, Chivas Guadalajara's visit to RFK Stadium next Saturday, is eagerly anticipated in DC.

And it's worth noting that this is now less than a month away.

I am off to rural Virginia for a wedding -- hope to see you out at the Maryland Soccerplex on Tuesday, when DC United gets another chance to break the Chicago Fire's hex over them in knockout competitions.