U.S. Open Cup: Columbus Crew Fall To Richmond Kickers, All Other MLS Teams Advance

It seems like every year there's at least one upset in the early rounds of the U.S. Open Cup. This year, the unlucky MLS team was the Columbus Crew, who fell to the USL-Pro's Richmond Kickers 2-1 in the third round on Monday. It was the second time in the Kickers' history that they had beaten a MLS team. They also beat the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.

On Tuesday, the Kickers jumped out to the early lead on a 20th minute goal from Nozomi Hiroyama. The Crew found the equalizer in the 37th minute off a strike from Cole Grossman, but the Kickers retook the lead on Matt Delicate's 85th minute header. 

Robert Warzycha, who led the Crew to the Open Cup finals last year, was no doubt questioning some of his lineup choices after the loss. Robbie Rogers was the only regular starter to log substantial minutes and seven players had not started a MLS game this season.

The Kickers will now travel to Sporting Kansas City for their quarterfinal match.

Sporting Kansas City 3, Chicago Fire PDL 0: Using a lineup with several regular MLS starters, Sporting got a 3rd minute goal from Teal Bunbury and then pulled away with a couple second half strikes a minute apart. Milos Stojcek and Kei Kamara scored SKC's other goals. Goalkeeper Erik Kronberg was forced to make just one save.

FC Dallas 3, Orldando City 2: The Toros received quite a scare, falling behind early and allowing an equalizer in stoppage time before finding the game-winner in the 94th minute to advance to the quarterfinals. Milton Rodriguez scored the winner, his second goal of the match, which came about a minute after Orlando City tied the score on Yordany Alvarez's. FC Dallas will now play Real Salt Lake in the quarterfinals.

Real Salt Lake 2, Wilmington Hammerhead 0: Tony Beltran and Jean Alexandre scored first-half goals and RSL cruised to victory in front of an astonishing crowd of 7,620 people. In addition to Beltran and Alexandre, RSL used several regulars including Nat Borchers, Kyle Beckerman, Andy Williams, Will Johnson and Collen Warner.

Chicago Fire 1, Rochester Rhinos 0: Diego Chaves scored a 37th minute goal and the Fire held off the Rhinos to win on the road.

New York Red Bulls 2, FC New York 1: The Red Bulls got second-half goals from rookies Corey Hertzog and John Rooney to overcome a 56th minute goal from FC New York's Owen Morrison to advance to play the Fire in the quarterfinals.

Seattle Sounders 2, Kitsap Pumas 1: Mike Fucito scored a pair of goals and the Sounders withstood a late charge from the Pumas, who got a goal from former MLS No. 1 overall draft pick Nikolas Besagno.

Los Angeles Galaxy 2, LA Blues 1: Cesar Rivera gave the Blues the lead in the 62nd minute, but the Galaxy got the equalizer from Omar Gonzalez and the winner from Mike Magee six minutes later to advance to play the Sounders in the quarterfinals.