The Fourth Round of the 2014 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup came to a close on Wednesday and after a rough start for the tournament’s top division, Major League Soccer rebounded on the third and fourth matchdays. The first two days saw MLS lose three of the first five games to lower division opponents, however, in the remaining 11 games, they went 10-1-0 as the tournament enters the Fifth Round next week.

Round 5 will feature 12 MLS clubs, 3 teams from the NASL and the Rochester Rhinos are the lone USL PRO representative and therefore, will receive the tournament’s $15,000 prize money as the Third Division team to advance the furthest in the competition. Also, after the dust settled on Round 4, the last three amateur teams were all eliminated and based on the Open Cup’s tiebreaker procedure, the Laredo Heat will find themselves $15,000 richer on the strength of being the only one of the trio to defeat a team two divisions above them (Ft. Lauderdale Strikers)

Here is a look at all 16 games from the last week with links to each match report:

June 18: Arizona United (USL Pro) 1:2 Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)



Looking to complete the local sweep, Arizona United came out energetic against their latest LA opponent, matching them blow for blow early on. The home side capitalized in 37th minute when Kadeem Dacres received a corner kick and sent the ball to Matt Kassel, who shot low and true for a 1-0 lead. Going into the locker room down seemed to awaken the Galaxy, who took control in the second half. Lightning struck twice in the form of LA striker Gyasi Zardes’ head. First, Robbie Rogers sent in a cross that Zardes nailed in to equalize, then Stefan Ishizaki set another ball for Gyasi to take the lead just two minutes later. Arizona seemed stunned for a while, but substitutions brought new life to United in the last 20 minutes. They had numerous chances in the last six minutes of time, yet they were unable to capitalize to keep their Cup dreams alive. Los Angeles will travel to play the Carolina RailHawks in the next round. MATCH REPORT [+]

MATCH REPLAY: LA GALAXY AT ARIZONA UNITED



June 18: Chicago Fire (MLS) 2:1 Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL Pro)



The rain proved to be the true winner of this match, with the start delayed almost two hours, then ended the game at the 49-minute mark. Once the game started, the Fire dictated control early and often. The home side controlled possession early, and Quincy Amarikwa sent a corner perfectly to Grant Ward to gain the lead in the 22nd minute. Chicago would continue to hold set, and doubled their lead at the 40-minute mark. Mike Magee caught a cross from Jeff Larentowicz to score, but only a minute later, the Hounds would retaliate through an Andrew Marshall bomb. Right before the second half was to begin, storms struck again, this time delaying the match for more than an hour. Once the game resumed, Chicago continued to hold the advantage for the next four minutes, before the referee determined the pitch was too soaked to play on. The Fire host the Columbus Crew in the next round. MATCH REPORT [+]

June 18: Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) 5:0 PSA Elite (USASA)



Returning to cozy Starfire Soccer Complex for the first time in two years obviously gave the Sounders a feeling of home, as they controlled the match from start to finish. Seattle squandered early efforts until Brad Evans was able to knock home a penalty in the 22nd minute and they kept their foot on the gas pedal. Elite fought back bravely, but the few chances they could manage were either knocked off target for goal kicks, or sent harmlessly to Sounders keeper Marcus Hahnemann. His PSA counterpart, Round 3 Player of the Round Earl Edwards, Jr., was under siege all evening, and was harmless to stop Zach Scott’s 40th minute bruiser off a corner kick. Kenny Cooper scored a pair of goals, including a bicycle kick off a deflection in the 56th minute. Then finally, Sean Okoli finished off the onslaught in the 85th minute. Seattle will once again host at Starfire for the next round, with the San Jose Earthquakes coming to the Northwest. MATCH REPORT [+]

MATCH REPLAY: PSA ELITE AT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC



June 18: Sporting Kansas City (MLS) 2:0 Minnesota United (NASL)



After both squads had lackluster Cup outings last year, this was a surprisingly even battle through most of the game. The first half was marked mainly by Sporting playing ball control to make their chances, and Minnesota content to use quick counters, though neither were able to break the scoreless tie. United were dealt a huge blow in the 50th minute as defender Cristiano Dias took down Kansas City’s Dom Dwyer and earned a straight red card. The visitors maintained a valiant defensive effort, but were only able to hold out until Soony Saad unleashed a bomb that found the back of the net. Minnesota tried to mount a comeback while preventing Kansas City breakaways, but Alex Martinez put the game out of reach after cutting through the defense in the 87th minute. Sporting will host the Portland Timbers on June 24. MATCH REPORT [+]

MATCH REPLAY: MINNESOTA UNITED AT SPORTING KC



June 18: Richmond Kickers (USL Pro) 2:3 New England Revolution (MLS)



New England were determined to avoid being Richmond’s latest upset victim, and took it to the hosts early. The Revs were awarded an early corner, and Steve Neumann set up Stephen McCarthy perfectly to grab a 1-0 lead in the 8th minute. George Davis IV was able to equalize in the 24th minute but Neumann once again restored the visitor’s lead a little over 10 minutes later. Patrick Mullins than doubled the Revolution lead off a badly mishandled William Yomby clearance four minutes later, leaving the Kickers stunned. They made wholesale changes at the half, and once the subs caught their sealegs, Richmond went on the attack. Pressing the play was Matthew Delicate who finally broke the Revs defensive shell at the 74-minute mark. The Kickers continued pressing for an equalizer, and had many chances in the last six minutes, but wound up squandering them all. The Revs will return home on June 25, where they will host the Rochester Rhinos at Brown University in Providence. MATCH REPORT [+]

MATCH REPLAY: NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION AT RICHMOND KICKERS



June 17: Portland Timbers (MLS) 3:0 Orlando City U23s (PDL)



If there was any question whether Portland forgot their upset against Cal FC two years ago, they answered it quickly by controlling Orlando City’s U23 squad for the whole 90 minutes. Gaston Fernandez struck twice in the first half for the Timbers, netting a goal in the 11th minute thanks to a Maximiliano Urruti pass, and then scored on a penalty at in the 35th minute. The Junior Lions were never able to muster much of an attack, only managing one shot on goal. Portland then put it away thanks to Urruti, who sent a great pass to rookie sub Taylor Peay, netting the goal in the 68th minute. Portland will travel to Sporting Kansas City for a Round 5 matchup next week. MATCH REPORT [+]

HIGHLIGHTS: ORLANDO CITY U23s AT PORTLAND TIMBERS



Colorado Rapids (MLS) 5:2 Orlando City SC (USL Pro)



Much like the USA match against Ghana, Colorado was provided the perfect opportunity for revenge. The Rapids were knocked out of the Cup 3-1 in Orlando last year, and were hungry for revenge at home. The game started off as more of the same though, as Lions striker Adama Mbengue broke through in the 22nd minute, but the Rapids had a trick up their sleeve to counter this, and unleashed the Deshorn Brown show on Orlando. The forward showered a hat trick on the Lions, scoring in the 35th, 47th and 54th minutes to become the first Rapids player to ever score a hat trick in Open Cup play (not to mention the first Jamaican in the Modern Pro Era). Nick LaBrocca and Dillon Powers added a goal each to put the game out of reach. The Rapids will host the NASL’s Atlanta Silverbakcs in Round 5 next week. MATCH REPORT [+]

FC Dallas (MLS) 2:0 San Antonio Scorpions (NASL)



San Antonio came to Dallas with dreams of 2012 in their heads, when they knocked off another Texan MLS side, the Houston Dynamo. The Hoops were just as determined to avoid that fate, and both sides battled evenly for the first two thirds of the game until Dallas midfielder Fabian Castillo broke through in the 74th minute. Before the Scorpions were able to mount a counterattack, Andres Escobar struck seven minutes later, ending any upset hopes. Dallas will host the aforementioned Dynamo in the Fifth Round on June 24. MATCH REPORT [+]

Columbus Crew (MLS) 2:1 (AET) Indy Eleven (NASL)



One red card is usually enough to derail a team’s chance at victory but two? Columbus didn’t even flinch. Having scored in the 4th minute courtesy of Bernardo Anor, it was only a half hour later when forward Adam Bedell drew a straight red. Indy striker Blake Smith equalized with his tournament-leading fourth goal in the 62nd minute, however the Crew soon realized how anemic the Eleven’s attack was outside their star. They were able to isolate Smith and keep him from the ball, holding level to force extra time. Even when Columbus midfielder Daniel Paladini was sent off in the 110th minute, it took them only three minutes to crack the Hoosier defense and draw a penalty. Jairo Arrieta struck true, and the Crew held on to an improbable extra time win. Columbus will visit Chicago to play the Fire for next round. MATCH REPORT [+]

MATCH REPLAY: INDY ELEVEN AT COLUMBUS CREW



Rochester Rhinos (USL Pro) 1:0 DC United (MLS)



Reigning Open Cup champions DC United were facing an uphill battle against the Rochester Rhinos. First, Colin Rolfe scored in the 27th minute, and then defender Steve Birnbaum collected two yellows only 15 minutes into the second half. Then the weather started hampering any efforts to defend the Cup. A delay was called shortly after Birnbaum’s ejection, then once play resumed, it was stopped just ten minutes later. Finally, after two hours with only ten minutes of action, the match resumed again, but United were unable to get into any flow to get a chance to level the score. Rochester has once again knocked off a defending champion, beating Chicago Fire by the same 1:0 scoreline in 1999. The Rhinos will now meet the New England Revolution June 25 in Providence. MATCH REPORT [+]

MATCH REPLAY: DC UNITED AT ROCHESTER RHINOS



Philadelphia Union (MLS) 3:1 (AET) Harrisburg City Islanders (USL Pro)



The Philadelphia Union beat its affiliate USL PRO team, the Harrisburg City Islanders, in extra time on the strength of an extra time brace from Andrew Wenger. Harrisburg had scored first, a 38th minute rebound captured by Jason Pelletier, but Harrisburg held on until Maurice Edu tied it in the 89th minute to send the match into extra time. Wenger took over from there, scoring in the 110th and 117th minute to rescue the Union from an upset. The Union will play host to the NASL’s New York Cosmos June 24. MATCH REPORT [+]

MATCH REPLAY: HARRISBURG CITY ISLANDERS AT PHILADELPHIA UNION



June 14: New York Cosmos (NASL) 3:0 New York Red Bulls (MLS)



Eager to reclaim the prestige of their namesake, the New York Cosmos won convincingly in their first-ever meeting with the New York Red Bulls, 3-0. It has begun as an instant rivalry among the fans but when it came to the play on the field, it was one-way traffic as the Cosmos made quick work of their local counterparts, out-shooting the MLS side 21-3. Mads Stokkelien scored a pair of goals, one in each half, and Alessandro Noselli’s header in the 78th minute put the nail in the coffin for the Red Bulls who have gone 11 Open Cup appearances without winning multiple games. The Cosmos will either face the Philadelphia Union or Harrisburg City Islanders next round. MATCH REPORT [+]

HIGHLIGHTS: NEW YORK COSMOS 3:0 NEW YORK RED BULLS



June 14: Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) 2:1 Real Salt Lake (MLS)

For a team that has been competing in the US Open Cup on and off since 1995, the Atlanta Silverbacks have not felt a lot of success over the years. They have only won more than 2 games in a tournament once (2007) and have never upset a MLS team in five tries (0-4-1, 0-1 PKs) They finally broke through on Saturday, upsetting last year’s Open Cup runner-up Real Salt Lake, 2-1. Robbie Findley gave RSL an early lead after capitalizing on a misplayed capitalized on a misplayed backpass by Atlanta’s Derby Carrillo, who was forced into the starting lineup through injury. However, Atlanta’s Junior Burgos and Kwadwo Poku would help give the home team the lead. Poku sent an excellent pass to Burgos, who slotted away past RSL’s Jeff Attinella. The Silverbacks were going toe-to-toe with RSL until Poku scored a late goal to give Atlanta to win. The Silverbacks move forward with some key pieces who have enjoyed recent success in the Open Cup. Poku, one could say, got the attention of the Atlanta scouts when he scored four Open Cup goals playing for the Georgia Revolution of the NPSL last year. With the win, manager Eric Wynalda builds on his coaching resume with his second career MLS upset as a manager, having been in charge of the Cal FC amateur team who traveled up to Portland and upset the Timbers in 2012. MATCH REPORT [+]

HIGHLIGHTS: ATLANTA SILVERBACKS 2:1 REAL SALT LAKE



June 14: Carolina RailHawks (NASL) 1:1 (3:2 PKs) Chivas USA (MLS)

Carolina’s Zach Schilawski (29th min.) and Chivas USA’s Ryan Finley (40th min.) traded first half goals, but after a scoreless second half and two periods of extra time, a spot in Round 5 had to be decided from the penalty spot. Despite falling behind 2-1 in the tiebreaker, the RailHawks rallied and emerged victorious 3-2 after eight rounds of spot kicks. Rookie goalkeeper Scott Goodwin came up big with 11 saves and 3 stops in the shootout to beat out veteran keeper Dan Kennedy. After Kennedy had his attempt saved, Zack Schilawski leveled the shootout at 2-2, but two players from each team failed their spot kick attempt to put the contest into a winner-take-all scenario. Marco Delgado of Chivas USA led off the 7th round by having his shot saved and Daniel Jackson responded with a goal to give send the RailHawks to Round 5 after eliminating their fifth MLS team in club history. Next up, Carolina will either host the LA Galaxy for the third year in a row, or host Arizona United. MATCH REPORT [+]

HIGHLIGHTS: CAROLINA RAILHAWKS 1:1 (3:2 PKs) CHIVAS USA



June 11: Houston Dynamo (MLS) 1:0 Laredo Heat (PDL)

The Dynamo were able to steal a win away from the PDL’s Laredo Heat on an Alexander Lopez goal in the 38th minute. Laredo did not help themselves by going a man down two minutes after the goal, as Mattieu Braem earned his second yellow card. However, early in the second half, Houston goalkeeper Tyler Deric brought the game to 10v10 by receiving a red card for holding the ball outside of the penalty area. Fortunately the goalie’s mistake did not cost them the lead, as the MLS side held the Heat at bay for the rest of the match. MATCH REPORT [+]

POST-GAME INTERVIEWS



June 11: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) 2:1 Sacramento Republic (USL PRO)

Sacramento’s Justin Braun put his USL-PRO expansion side on his back to give the lower division side the lead three minutes before halftime, yet San Jose grabbed a penalty chance to equalize, and Khari Stevenson shot true. San Jose then grabbed a hold of some Seattle luck, as former Sounders striker Cordell Cato put the Earthquakes ahead at 15 minutes to time. Sacramento put themselves further under the gun late, as Chad Bartlome put his team down by picking up a second yellow. The Republic couldn’t recover, setting up their MLS counterparts to either host the USASA’s PSA Elite, or travel to take on the Sounders. MATCH REPORT [+]

2014 US Open Cup Fifth Round Potential Pairings

New York Cosmos (NASL) at Philadelphia Union (MLS)

PPL Park; Chester, PA – June 24, 7 p.m. ET

———————————————————

FC Dallas (MLS) at Houston Dynamo (MLS)

BBVA Compass Stadium; Houston, TX – June 24, 8:30 p.m. ET

———————————————————

LA Galaxy (MLS) at Carolina RailHawks (NASL)

WakeMed Soccer Park Field 2; Cary, NC – June 24, 7:30 p.m. ET

———————————————————

San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) at Seattle Sounders (MLS)

Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, WA – June 24, 10 p.m. ET

———————————————————

Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) at Colorado Rapids (MLS)

Dick’s Sporting Goods Park; Commerce City, CO – June 24, 9 p.m. ET

———————————————————

Portland Timbers (MLS) at Sporting Kansas City (MLS)

Sporting Park; Kansas City, KS – June 24, 8:30 p.m. ET

———————————————————

Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) at New England Revolution (MLS)

Stevenson Field (Brown Univ.); Providence, RI – June 25, 7:30 p.m. ET

———————————————————

Columbus Crew (MLS) at Chicago Fire (MLS)

Toyota Park; Bridgeview, IL – June 25, 8:30 p.m. ET