The 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 95th edition of the USSF's annual national soccer championship, running from June through early September.

2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Tournament details
CountryUnited States
Final positions
ChampionsD.C. United
(2nd title)
Runner-upCharleston Battery
2009–10 CONCACAF Champions LeagueD.C. United
Tournament statistics
Top goal scorer(s)Sébastien Le Toux
(5 goals)
← 2007
2009 →

D.C. United won the final 2–1 over the Charleston Battery on September 3 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., on a pair of goals from Brazilians Luciano Emilio and Fred. It was United's second Open Cup title.

The Battery were the first USL club in the final since the Rochester Rhinos won the cup in 1999.

The Cup schedule was shortened in 2008, ending in September 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, New York Red Bulls). 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.

Matchdays edit

Date Round Notes
June 10 First 32 USL and USASA clubs enter
June 24 Second
July 1 Third 8 MLS clubs enter
July 8 Quarterfinals
Aug. 12 Semifinals
September 3 Final

Participating teams edit

The tournament consists of 40 teams, according to the following distribution:

Classification Number of Teams
Major League Soccer 8
United Soccer Leagues First Division 8
United Soccer Leagues Second Division 8
Amateur 16*

*Includes 8 USL Premier Development League teams and 8 USASA regional qualifiers

Qualified Clubs edit

Tier 1: Major League Soccer (MLS) edit

Tiers 2 – 4: United Soccer Leagues (USL) edit

Tier 5: United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) edit

Open Cup bracket edit

Second Round winners advance to play one of 8 MLS clubs in 16-team knockout tournament
Home teams listed on top of bracket

First round
June 10
Second round
June 24
      
USL-2   Western Mass Pioneers 2
USASA   Boston Olympiakos 0
USL-2   Western Mass Pioneers 1
USL-2   Richmond Kickers 2
USL-2   Richmond Kickers 3
PDL   Fredericksburg Gunners 0
First round
June 10
Second round
June 24
      
USL-2   Harrisburg City Islanders 5
PDL   Yakima Reds 1
USL-2   Harrisburg City Islanders 2 (1)
USL-2   Crystal Palace Baltimore (p) 2 (3)
PDL   Los Angeles Legends 1
USL-2   Crystal Palace Baltimore 2
First round
June 10
Second round
June 24
      
USL-1   Rochester Rhinos (aet) 2
USASA   RWB Adria 1
USL-1   Rochester Rhinos 3
USL-2   Pittsburgh Riverhounds 0
USASA   A.A.C. Eagles 0
USL-2   Pittsburgh Riverhounds 4
First round
June 10
Second round
June 24
      
USL-1   Minnesota Thunder 4
PDL   St. Louis Lions 1
USL-1   Minnesota Thunder 0
USL-2   Cleveland City Stars (aet) 2
PDL   Michigan Bucks 1
USL-2   Cleveland City Stars 2
First round
June 10
Second round
June 24
      
USL-1   Miami FC 4
PDL   Bradenton Academics 2
USL-1   Miami FC 1
USL-1   Atlanta Silverbacks 0
PDL   Austin Aztex U23 2 (4)
USL-1   Atlanta Silverbacks (p) 2 (5)
First round
June 10
Second round
June 24
      
USL-1   Charleston Battery 3
USASA   New Stars 0
USL-1   Charleston Battery 2
USL-2   Charlotte Eagles 1
USL-2   Charlotte Eagles 5
USASA   Clearwater Galactics 2
First round
June 10
Second round
June 24
      
USASA   Arizona Sahuaros 0
USL-1   Seattle Sounders (aet) 1
USL-1   Seattle Sounders 6
USASA   Hollywood United 0
USL-1   Portland Timbers 2
USASA   Hollywood United 3
First round
June 10/13
Second round
June 24
      
USL-1   Carolina RailHawks 1
PDL   Brooklyn Knights 0
USL-1   Carolina RailHawks 1
USL-2   Real Maryland Monarchs 0
USL-2   Real Maryland Monarchs (aet) 3
USASA   New York Pancyprian-Freedoms 2
Third round
July 1
Quarterfinals
July 8
Semifinals
August 12
Final
September 3
            
MLS   D.C. United 2
USL-1   Rochester Rhinos 0
MLS D.C. United (aet) 2
MLS Chicago Fire 1
MLS   Chicago Fire 4
USL-2   Cleveland City Stars 1
MLS D.C. United 3
MLS New England Revolution 1
MLS   New England Revolution 3
USL-2   Richmond Kickers 0
MLS New England Revolution (p) 1 (5)
USL-2 Crystal Palace Baltimore 1 (3)
USL-2   Crystal Palace Baltimore 2
MLS   New York Red Bulls 0
MLS D.C. United 2
USL-1 Charleston Battery 1
MLS   FC Dallas 2
USL-1   Miami FC 1
MLS FC Dallas 1
USL-1 Charleston Battery 3
USL-1   Charleston Battery (p) 1 (4)
MLS   Houston Dynamo 1 (3)
USL-1 Charleston Battery (p) 1 (4)
USL-1 Seattle Sounders 1 (3)
USL-1   Seattle Sounders 2
MLS   Chivas USA 0
USL-1 Seattle Sounders (p) 0 (6)
MLS Kansas City Wizards 0 (5)
USL-1   Carolina RailHawks 2
MLS   Kansas City Wizards (aet) 4

Schedule edit

Note: Scorelines use the standard U.S. convention of placing the home team on the right-hand side of box scores.

First round edit

June 10, 2008   Clearwater Galactics (USASA) 2–5   Charlotte Eagles (USL-2) Charlotte, North Carolina
7:00 ET Cormona   42'
Diaz   48'
Garcia   61'
Restrepo   82'
Report (Charlotte)
Report (USL)
Ssejjemba   34'   76'
Swinehart   54' (pen.),   66'
Herrara   73'
Stadium: Charlotte Christian School
Referee: Daniel Burak
June 10, 2008   Boston Olympiakos (USASA) 0–2   Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2) Ludlow, Massachusetts
7:30 ET Walker   36' Report (Western Mass) Neil Krause   32'   45'
Augustine   35'
Deren   66'
Stadium: Lusitano Stadium
Referee: Giany Barbat
June 10, 2008   Adria (USASA) 1–2   Rochester Rhinos (USL-1) Rochester, New York
7:30 ET Mesanovic   65'
Dugena   78'
Morad   86'
Report (Rochester)
Report (USL)
Menyongar   55'
Fitzpatrick   72' (pen.)   116'
Diallo   96'
Stadium: PAETEC Park
Attendance: 1,152
Referee: Chris Penso
June 10, 2008   New Stars (USASA) 0–3   Charleston Battery (USL-1) Charleston, South Carolina
7:30 ET Report (Charleston)
Report (USL)
Spicer   23'   30'   43'
Alonso   55'
Stadium: Blackbaud Stadium
Referee: Alan Schechtman
June 10, 2008   St. Louis Lions (PDL) 1–4   Minnesota Thunder (USL-1) Blaine, Minnesota
8:00 ET Gelvin   45'
Merrick   45'
Heinemann   70'   79'
Report (Minnesota) Tarley   44'   80'
Sánchez   57'
Paye   89'
Stadium: National Sports Center
Attendance: 483
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
June 10, 2008   Bradenton Academics (PDL) 2–4   Miami FC (USL-1) Miami, Florida
8:00 ET Boggs  
Ampaipitakwong   36'
Ibegha   41'
Gutierrez   49' (o.g.)
McFarland   56'
Report (USL) Cameron   25'
Cauê   48'
John   49'
Nunes   58'   78'
Afonso   59'   90+'
Cristiano   69'
Stadium: Tropical Park Stadium
Referee: Reggie Rutty
June 10, 2008   Atlanta Silverbacks (USL-1) 2 – 2 (aet)
(5–4 p)
  Austin Aztex U23 (PDL) Round Rock, Texas
8:30 ET Bolton   23'
Bobo   38'
Kandji   81'
Mahaffey   99'
Hayes   113' (pen.)
Report (Austin)
Report (USL)
Lewis   40'
Watson   45+'   75'
Guadarrama   101'
Vega   105'
Gallardo   113'
Vicens   116'
Stadium: Dragon Stadium
Referee: Andrew Gage
Penalties
Bolton  
Camp  
Kandji  
McLaughlin  
Hayes  
  da Luz
  Papandrea
  Guadarrama
  Watson
  Alcala
June 10, 2008   Hollywood United F.C. (USASA) 3–2   Portland Timbers (USL-1) Portland, Oregon
10:00 ET Dunseth   26'
Taylor   45+' (pen.),   58' (pen.)
Droze   50'
Alexander   90'
Report (Portland)
Report (USL)
Brown   32'   45'
Little   36'
Oka   51'   90'
Thompson   65'
Guante   73'
Stadium: PGE Park
Attendance: 3,089
Referee: Andres Pfefferkorn
June 13, 2008   NY Pancyprian-Freedoms (USASA) 2 – 3 (aet)   Real Maryland Monarchs (USL-2) Boyds, Maryland
8:00 ET Dos Santos   22'
Damiani   60'   69'
Halkidis   82'   83'  
Reeves   119'
Report (USL) Hassen   56'
Bissohong   69'
Perez   85'
Chantal   117'
Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Referee: Bryan Roslund

Second round edit

June 24, 2008   Cleveland City Stars (USL-2) 2 – 0 (aet)   Minnesota Thunder (USL-1) Blaine, Minnesota
7:00 ET Williams   76'
Franks   104'   119' (pen.)
Stovall   105'
Report (Cleveland)
Report (Minnesota)
Gibson   76'
Kallman   107'
Platter   118'
Stadium: National Sports Center
Referee: Jorge Oconitrillo
June 24, 2008   Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2) 2 – 2 (aet)
(3–1 p)
  Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
7:05 ET King   10'   31'
Brooks   55'
Medd (coach)   56'
Mark   60'
Robson   73'
Harkin   102'
Mbuta   105'
Report (Harrisburg) Calvano   24'
Marples   35'
Ombiji   63'
Pope   118'
Hoshide   120' (pen.)
Stadium: Skyline Sports Complex
Attendance: 1,100+
Referee: Tim Snyder
Penalties
Lookingland  
Kante  
Lewis  
Healey  
Teixeira  
  Hoshide
  Devlin
  Wiesner
  Clay
June 24, 2008   Richmond Kickers (USL-2) 2–1   Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2) Ludlow, Massachusetts
7:30 ET Nyazamba   48'   84'
Jones   59'
Bennett   62'
Harding   90'
Viray   90'
Report (Richmond)
Report (Western Mass)
Petrarca   40'
Glaeser   60'   90'
Deren   63'
Lima   81'
Molinari   89'   90'
Augustine   90'
Stadium: Lusitano Stadium
Referee: Niko Bratsis
June 24, 2008   Real Maryland Monarchs (USL-2) 0–1   Carolina RailHawks (USL-1) Cary, North Carolina
7:30 ET Basso   17'
Ramirez   74'
Report (Carolina) Segovia   45'
Low   72'   90+' (pen.)
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Referee: Mark Kadlecik
June 24, 2008   Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL-2) 0–3   Rochester Rhinos (USL-1) Rochester, New York
7:30 ET Report (Pittsburgh)
Report (Rochester)
Menyongar   26'
Roberto   40'
Salles   61'   64'
Charles   66'
Guppy   70'
Kreamalmeyer   75'
Vallow   87'
Stadium: PAETEC Park
Attendance: 3,526
Referee: Jeffrey Mellen
June 24, 2008   Atlanta Silverbacks (USL-1) 0–1   Miami FC (USL-1) Miami, Florida
8:00 ET Buete   67' Report (Atlanta)
Report (Miami)
Afonso   40'
Saunders   53'
Inacio   54'
Ramirez   69'
Cameron   83'
Stadium: Tropical Park Stadium
Referee: Roni Canales
June 24, 2008   Hollywood United F.C. (USASA) 0–6   Seattle Sounders (USL-1) Tukwila, Washington
11:00 ET Barragan   2'
Pinto   56'
Dunseth   57'
Report (Seattle) Scott   3'
Gardner   15'   16'
Le Toux   22'   38'   60'   63'
Treschuk   50'
Besagno   80'
Stadium: Starfire Sports Complex
Referee: Kevin O'Daniel

Third round edit

July 1, 2008   Houston Dynamo (MLS) 1 – 1 (aet)
(3–4 p)
  Charleston Battery (USL-1) Charleston, South Carolina
7:30 ET S. Wondolowski   89' Report (Houston)
Report (Charleston)
Reda   31' Stadium: Blackbaud Stadium
Attendance: 3,103
Referee: Joe Caroccio (Florida)
Penalties
Holden  
C. Wondolowski  
Cameron  
Hayden  
Caraccio  
  Alonso
  Armstrong
  Spicer
  Velten
July 1, 2008   New York Red Bulls (MLS) 0–2   Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2) Annapolis, Maryland
7:30 ET Magee   26'   90+2' Report (New York)
Report (Baltimore)
Marshall   18'
Mark   21'
Harkin   26'
Brooks   30'   75'
Kante   30'   34'
Mbuta   44'
Stadium: Lawrence E. Knight Stadium
Attendance: 1,654
Referee: Andrew Chapin (Virginia)
July 1, 2008   Kansas City Wizards (MLS) 4 – 2 (aet)   Carolina RailHawks (USL-1) Cary, North Carolina
7:30 ET Trujillo   68'   94'
López   82' (pen.)
Morsink   104'
López   111'
Pore   117'   119'
Report (Kansas City)
Report (Carolina)
Fusilier   43'
Watson   58'
Solle   89'   108'
Dombrowski   120'
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 3,116
Referee: Niko Bratsis (Massachusetts)
July 1, 2008   Rochester Rhinos (USL-1) 0–2   D.C. United (MLS) Boyds, Maryland
7:30 ET Bonseu   79'
Fitzpatrick   84'
Salles   90'
Report (Rochester)
Report (D.C.)
Burch   78'   85' Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 2,752
Referee: Mark Kadlecik (North Carolina)
July 1, 2008   Cleveland City Stars (USL-2) 1–4   Chicago Fire (MLS) Bridgeview, Illinois
8:30 ET McClung   61'
Stewart   78'
Report Banner   13'   73'
Carr   23'
Barrett   26'
Mármol   57'
Stadium: Toyota Park
Attendance: 6,678
Referee: Hidajet Tica (Iowa)
July 1, 2008   Miami FC (USL-1) 1–2   FC Dallas (MLS) Frisco, Texas
8:30 ET Afonso   7'
Nunes   36'
de Mata   88'
Report (Miami)
Report (Dallas)
Thompson   45+3'   90+2'
Moor   84'
Stadium: Pizza Hut Park
Attendance: 6,559
Referee: Jasen Anno (Texas)
July 1, 2008   Chivas USA (MLS) 0–2   Seattle Sounders (USL-1) Tukwila, Washington
10:00 ET Kljestan   69' Report (Chivas)
Report (Seattle)
Graham   43'
Schmid   64'
Le Toux   80'
O'Brien   81'
Stadium: Starfire Sports Complex
Attendance: 2,997
Referee: Yader Reyes (California)

Quarterfinals edit

July 8, 2008   Chicago Fire (MLS) 1 – 2 (aet)   D.C. United (MLS) Boyds, Maryland
7:30 ET Woolard   36'
Soumaré   48'
Pause   78'
Thorrington   81'
Blanco   108'
Report (Chicago)
Report (D.C.)
Doe   52'   77'
Moreno   89'
Namoff   99'
Fred   107'
Burch   108'
Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 4,118
Referee: Shane Moody (Florida)
July 8, 2008   Charleston Battery (USL-1) 3–1   FC Dallas (MLS) Frisco, Texas
8:30 ET Alavanja   28'
Fuller   43'
King   77'
Patterson   91+'
Report (Charleston)
Report (Dallas)
Cooper   94+' Stadium: Pizza Hut Park
Attendance: 5,911
Referee: Doug Wolff (Missouri)
July 8, 2008   Kansas City Wizards (MLS) 0 – 0 (aet)
(5–6 p)
  Seattle Sounders (USL-1) Seattle, Washington
10:00 ET Report (Seattle) Stadium: Qwest Field
Attendance: 4,674
Referee: Jeremy Vehar (New Mexico)
Penalties
Pore  
Conrad  
McMahen  
Espinoza  
Zavagnin  
Harrington  
Wahl  
  Jackson
  Le Toux
  Treschuk
  Sakuda
  O'Brien
  Kanté
  Scott

Semifinals edit

August 12, 2008   New England Revolution (MLS) 1–3   D.C. United (MLS) Washington, D.C.
7:30 ET Germanese   34'
Iqwe   38'
Thompson   54'   71'
Report (New England)
Report (D.C.)
Emilio   4'   81'
Quaranta   48'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 6,797
Referee: Jorge Gonzalez (New York)
August 12, 2008   Seattle Sounders (USL-1) 1–1
(3–4 p)
  Charleston Battery (USL-1) Charleston, South Carolina
7:30 ET Alonso   20' (o.g.)
Scott   43'
Graham   63'
Forrest   97'
Report (Seattle) Patterson   32'
Fuller   58'
Stadium: Blackbaud Stadium
Attendance: 3,798
Referee: Oscar Ortiz (Florida)
Penalties
Jackson  
Le Toux  
Sakuda  
C. O'Brien  
Forrest  
  Armstrong
  Alonso
 Richardson
  Velten
  Akwari

Final edit

  Charleston Battery (USL-1)1–2  D.C. United (MLS)
Fuller   10'
Nylen   33'
Alonso   62'
Report (D.C.)
Report (Charleston)
Emilio   4'
Martínez   35'
Simms   46'
Fred   50'
RFK Stadium
Washington, D.C.
Attendance: 8,212
Referee: Mark Geiger (New Jersey)
 
 
 
 
 
Charleston Battery
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
D.C. United
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
2008 Champion
 
D.C. United
2nd title

Top scorers edit

Position Player Club Goals
1 Sébastien Le Toux Seattle Sounders 5
2 Darren Spicer Charleston Battery 4
Alex Afonso Miami FC 4
4 Emilio D.C. United 3

External links edit

References edit