Open Cup Final Set
The final of the US Open Cup is set, with D.C. United playing host to Seattle Sounders FC. There was no coverage of the semi-final game between D.C. United and Rochester. Luckily the blog arm of D.C. United (Behind the Badge) was able to provide us with highlights. Wait, what's that? There is absolutely no video what so ever of this US Open Cup semi-final? You have got to be kidding me. I can understand that live online video would have been a stretch, but it is inexcusable that there are absolutely no video coverage of the semi-final. A guy using a crappy DV camera would have been sufficient, just to let me see some highlights. It is just odd that D.C. United was able to do it for other Open Cup games before the semi-final. The fact that there is absolutely no video in this day in age is just hard to buy.
Fortunately the other semi-final game between Seattle and Houston was covered live on the Sounders website. I caught most of the second half and of course the extra time. Houston was up 1-0 at halftime and were basically packing the back content on holding on to the 1-0 scoreline. However, once the Sounders tied it up late in the second half, Seattle just took control of the game. In extra time they got the goal to go ahead, and that was really it for Houston. Seattle advances to the final.
The game will played in DC at RFK stadium, who won the bidding process. That has not sat well with the Seattle Sounders FC Adrian Hanauer, who felt that the Sounders could have raised the profile of the tournament and their bid was no different from D.C. United's bid. Of course, one would have to ignore the fact that Seattle's bid included playing on a Tuesday at 1:00. Yeah, Seattle fans may be dedicated, but I would be shocked if they had 30,000 people routing for the Sounders during that time slot. Plus, you have to consider the viewing audience. The game will be shown on FSC, and if the US Soccer Federation wants to generate a TV audience it does not include accepting Seattle's bid. D.C. United GM Keven Payne responded with this statement:
"I appreciate that Seattle's fans are great. Our fans have been great for 14 seasons. It's really unseemly for Seattle to suddenly show up in MLS and everything should be handed to them. Their crowds are wonderful, we had a great time out there in Seattle [last month], but our crowds are pretty good too and we expect this year we will get far more people in the building than we did last year [8,200]. Last year we played a USL team in the final and, the way our team was going in general at that point, our fans were disappointed and disillusioned. That's not the case this year. We are going to promote the game very aggressively."Ouch, since when does Kevin Payne read Bigsoccer? Do we have our first real GM squabble on our hands? Maybe, but Kevin Payne is absolutely right. Seattle can't just show up to the party 14 years late and demand that USSF hand them the final. Point is, D.C. United put together the better bid and they were awarded the final. It may be unfair that D.C. has played this entire tournament at home, but that is the way the system is. There is no way that the Seattle could generate near the attention with a mid-week mid-day game. Plus with tickets going as cheap as $12 for the final, I think D.C. may improve upon their small 8,212 last year.
Gold Cup
The Gold Cup has also reached the final, with the United States and Mexico facing off in a rematch of the 2007 Gold Cup. Let's face it, CONCACAF wanted this final. The groups were basically set up for a US-Mexico final. It will be an entertaining match, no question, but why does it have to be on the horrible field turf at Giants Stadium. Why not hold it in Chicago or in Philadelphia? Field turf just does not play like regular grass, no matter how new or fancy it is. It is good in some situations and for other sports, but can we please keep this out of professional and international soccer as much as possible?
The US played the first semi-final game against Honduras. For about 90% of the game, the US was the dominant team. Sure, Troy Perkins and the defense had to come up with a couple of big plays, but there was never really a time in the game when it looked like the US was going to lose the lead or the game. Clarence Goodsen put the US up 1-0 off a powerful header just before half-time. It was the most crucial part of the game, because it sunk Hounduras, who would have probably been thrilled to go into halftime scoreless. The second half was pretty much all US, with several opportunities for the US to double their lead. The nail in coffin finally came in the 90th minute, when Brian Ching did a beautiful job holding off the Hondurian defender. He back heeled it to Holden who found Cooper wide open for the easy goal.
Who impressed? Well, despite the early gripes about Kyle Beckemen and Kenny Cooper, they have really improved. However, both still have a very long way to go if they ever want to be considered for the national team. Perkins came up big on a couple of plays including one in the first half, and I think may have earned some consideration for the #2 spot over Guzan. Stuart Holden has played exceptional throughout this tournament, and has most certainly played himself on to the team, as well as Robbie Rogers. Brian Ching will of course be on the team, and is the only regular US player on this Gold Cup roster. Santino Quaranta is a player that I think has played well, but Bob Bradley has, for some reason, decided to bench. I would love to see him start against Mexico, but I am not counting on it.
The Mexico vs. Costa Rica game was a pretty slow game, going scoreless until Mexico went up 1-0 in the 88th minute. It appeared to be the game winner. In fact, according to Juan Arango, who has done the Omni-Spot telecasts of the Gold Cup, the reporters and several of the fans had vacated the field thinking it was all over. That was until Costa Rica tied up to send it in to extra-time and eventually penalty kicks. In the penalty kicks, the Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa came up huge to make the only save of the shootout. That was enough as Mexico advance to the final.
Who will win the final? Honestly, the US are the favorites.Yes they are playing a B/C team, but they are playing with supreme confidence especially after the Honduras game. Mexico again will try to shake the playing inside the US against the US hex. I don't see that happening, considering they played an extra thirty minutes and the short turnaround to the final.
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