The 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup ran from June through September 2008. The Cup schedule was shortened in 2008, ending in August instead of October, so as to avoid interfering with Major League Soccer's end-of-season playoff drive in the fall and the new CONCACAF Champions League.[1] The 13 US-based MLS clubs participated, although only 8 competed in the main tournament (Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards, New England Revolution, Red Bull New York). Qualifying was similar to the 2007 tournament, with the top 3 teams from each conference in 2007 qualifying automatically, and the other 7 playing off during the early part of the 2008 season for the remaining 2 spots. United Soccer Leagues had a separate qualifying plan for each tier. The 8 US-based USL-1 teams qualified automatically (Puerto Rico has its own federation, thus the Puerto Rico Islanders are not eligible to participate in the Open Cup). 8 of the 9 US-based USL-2 teams qualified. The defending USL-2 playoff champions, the Harrisburg City Islanders, and the 2007 regular-season champion Richmond Kickers qualified automatically. The remaining 7 teams played off for 6 spots, based on early regular season results. The PDL used selected early regular-season games for qualification. The top two teams in the Eastern and Central conferences, and the top teams in the Mid-South, Southeast, Northwest, and Southwest divisions qualified. The tournament was rounded out by 8 amateur USASA clubs (Adria, Arizona Sahuaros, Boston Olympiakos, Clearwater Galactics, Eagles, Hollywood United, New Stars, New York Pancyprian-Freedoms). USASA qualifying began in the fall of 2007. Clubs from the NPSL enter the Cup through USASA qualifying. The Charleston Battery were the first USL club in the final since the Rochester Rhinos won the cup in 1999. D.C. United won the final 2-1 on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at RFK Stadium on a pair of goals from Brazilians Luciano Emilio and Fred. [edit] Matchdays | Date | Round | Notes | | June 10 | First | 32 USL and USASA clubs enter | | June 24 | Second | | | July 1 | Third | 8 MLS clubs enter, each plays a winner from second round | | July 8 | Quarterfinals | | | Aug. 12 | Semifinals | | | Sept. 3 | Final | | [edit] Qualified Clubs [edit] Major League Soccer (MLS) [edit] United Soccer Leagues (USL) - First Division (USL-1)
| - Second Division (USL-2)
| - Premier Development League (PDL)
| [edit] United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) [edit] Open Cup bracket Second Round winners advance to play one of 8 MLS clubs in 16-team knockout tournament
Home teams listed on top of bracket
[edit] First round
[edit] Second round
[edit] Third round
[edit] Quarterfinals
[edit] Semifinals
[edit] References |
