2009 US Open Cup Has New Bracket Format – Pairings will be announced by tomorrow
US Open Cup.com has explained that US Soccer has created a new bracket format for 2009.
From US Open Cup: Last year, U.S. Soccer changed the way that the U.S. Open Cup bracket was created. The teams were separated into groups of four, based on their location, but in the effort of making the competition as level as possible, each group was required to have an equal number of professional and amateur clubs. The idea was well-intentioned, but when there wasn’t room in a particular team’s region, they were forced to be shipped out to another region, thus, forcing the team to embark on a considerable journey. This year, U.S. Soccer has done away with the rule that forces the number of pro and amateur clubs in each four-team group to be equal.
Please GO HERE to read the rest of the story and US Open Cup’s predictions of pairings.
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Sad to say, but I think the three upper Midwestern USASA/PDL qualifiers have to like their chances to draw the Thunder under this new arrangement.
I think Miami FC, Cleveland City and Minnesota could be poster children for why their should be a qualifying tournament for USL-1 and USL-2 club the way their is for MLS and PDL clubs.
If we are not going to let every MLS team into the Open Cup, letting every USL team in particularly those that could be road kill for semi pro and amateur sides doesn’t make much sense.
In the case of Miami FC they have previously specialized in losing to USASA qualifiers, so Lynch’s Fc from Jacksonville the likely Blues opponents should like their chances.
The way Red Bull and FC Dallas are playing it is good for the tournament that they are not participating. I sense we may have wished the same thing happened with some of the USL-1 squads who seem to be struggling just to field a competitive team for league matches.
This is something the USSF needs to think about for 2010. Let more PDL and USASA teams in and knock off 4 to 6 teams between USL-1 and USL-2 before the tournament begins.
Thank you IMS for this post.
I saw the AZ Sahuaros lose, well actually draw but needed a win, last weekend and was lamenting not even the possibility of an Open match in the Valley.
It took the Sounders an ET goal to get by AZ last year. Think the 105 degrees at kickoff(7pm) was a home field advantage?