Two MLS sides out of 2010 US Open Cup, Seattle Sounders and D.C. United tests tonight

The third round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup kicked off last night around the United States, with six out of the eight round-of-16 games completed. This was the first round of the historic competition’s 2010 edition where MLS teams entered the fray, as the first two rounds whittled 32 Amateur and lower-division professional teams down to eight. Each of those was paired against an MLS team, and last night, two of those supposedly higher-level professional teams were sent packing.

Harrisburg City Islanders 1:0 (OT) New York Red Bulls
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania was the sight for the first major upset of the third round as the hometown City Islanders from the second division of the USL took out the visiting New York Red Bulls of MLS. The two sides battled evenly for a full 117 minutes before substitute Dominic Oppong picked up a loose rebound in the box and blasted home the game winner. Harrisburg will attempt to keep their improbable run in the tournament alive on July 6th when they will pay a visit to the winner of tonight’s D.C. United - Richmond Kickers matchup.

Charleston Battery 0:0 (3:0 PKs) Chicago Fire
Last night’s win by Harrisburg was not the only upset, as another USL-2 side, Charleston Battery, knocked out another respected MLS side in the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park, Chicago’s home field. Both teams failed to find the back of the net in regulation or extra time, leaving the contest to be decided by penalty kicks. Brian McBride, Krzysztof Krol and Wilman Conde all failed to convert the home side’s first three penalties, handing the Battery and easy 3-0 shootout win and punching their tickets to the quarterfinals.

Columbus Crew 2:1 Rochester Rhinos
The Columbus Crew earned the right to host the upstart Battery in the quarterfinals after they took advantage of an 84th minute red card given to Rochester Rhinos defender Felix Motagalvan by breaking a 1-1 tie in stoppage time on a goal from Steven Lenhart. In the process of advancing, the Crew took revenge from Rochester who knocked them out of last year’s tournament in a similar game in which the Crew also finished the game with ten men.

LA Galaxy 2:0 AC St. Louis
In Carson California, AC St. Louis proved tough for the Galaxy to breakdown as they played rock-solid defense holding the heavy favorites to only one shot on net in the first half. St. Louis’ backline held strong all the way to the 69th minute when Chris Klein broke the deadlock with his first goal of the year. Substitute Juninho then put any St. Louis hopes of comeback to rest when his shot from twenty yards out found the back of the net. The Galaxy await the result of tonight’s Seattle – Portland matchup to find out where they will play their quarter final.

Houston Dynamo 1:0 Miami FC
Like many of their fellow MLS sides, the Houston Dynamo were given quite a scare by a supposedly lesser opponent in Miami FC. The visitors from south Florida created the better of the opportunities in the first half and would have very easily had themselves a lead at the break if it had not been for some top class goalkeeping by Houston’s Tally Hall. The Dynamo turned up the pressure in the second half and controlled most of the play before breaking the deadlock with a well-deserved breakthrough in the 80th minute when Lovel Palmer slotted home the game winner. Houston will host Chivas USA on July 6th with a ticket to the semifinals on the line.

Chivas USA 1:0 Austin Aztex
Chivas earned that trip to visit Houston winning their first game in eight tries across all competitions by eliminating USL-2 side Austin Aztex. Jesus Padilla found the back of the net for the Goats in the 12th minute with what proved to be the decisive goal as the game ended 1-0. Chivas USA will attempt to go farther in the competition than they have ever been when they travel to Houston on July 6th for their quarterfinal.

The final two games of Round 3 take place tonight on opposite coasts of this enormous soccer land, with quarterfinal berths on the line.

Out west, defending champion Seattle sounders take on soon-to-be MLS debutant Portland Timbers in a regional rivalry that may already be one of the biggest rivalries in soccer anywhere in the United States.

In the east, defending finalists and two-time Cup winners D.C. United rekindle their mid-Atlantic Open Cup rivalry with USL Division 2 side Richmond Kickers. That match will take place at George Mason University, a change for D.C. United, who have used Germantown, Maryland’s SoccerPlex for early round Cup games in recent years. Kick off is 7:30 PM.