U.S. Soccer has announced the third-round possible pairings and locations for the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. D.C. United will face the winner of Richmond Kickers-Aegean Hawks FC on Tuesday, May 29.
The Hawks will host Richmond at the Maryland SoccerPlex on Tuesday, May 22 (7:30 p.m. ET) for the right to face D.C. United. Should the Hawks advance, United would play host at the Maryland SoccerPlex. If Richmond defeats the amateur side, then United would travel south to face the Kickers in its home, Richmond City Stadium.
D.C. United has won the U.S. Open Cup twice in its 17-year history. In 1996, D.C. United pulled off the first ‘double’ in League history, winning both MLS Cup and the U.S. Open Cup. The Black-and-REd beat the second division Rochester Raging Rhinos 3-0 in the 1996 Open Cup final, on the strength of goals from Eddie Pope, Jaime Moreno and Raul Diaz Arce. In 2008, United captured its second Open Cup title when it beat the second division Charleston Battery 2-1, with goals from Fred and Luciano Emilio.
The 99th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup includes a random selection process for determining home teams from the first round through the quarterfinals among clubs that have applied to host. The process, conducted by a coin flip, gives participating teams with venues meeting tournament standards an equal chance at hosting their possible opponent for these rounds.
The first round concluded on Tuesday, May 15, and all Division I, II and III professional clubs are participating in the tournament proper for the first time ever. The Division I field includes all 16 U.S.-based Major League Soccer teams, which is double the representation from the past five years and the first time since 2006 that all Division I teams are taking part.
