SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake will continue its quest for the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, when it will host the USL Pro Charleston Battery in the fourth-round of the tournament at 7:30 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium.
The winner of Wednesday’s game will host the winner of the fourth-round match between Chivas USA and the second-division Carolina RailHawks in the Open Cup Quarterfinals on June 26.
Wednesday’s match is included in the Real Salt Lake 2013 season ticket package as “Bonus Game B.” RSL “PRIDE” Season Ticket Holders can purchase additional seats to the match for $15. Tickets to the general public are currently on sale and can be purchased at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office, online at www.RealSaltLake.com/Tickets or over the phone at 801-727-2700. Visit www.RealSaltLake.com/Tickets for more details on the special pricing for Wednesday’s game.
RSL beat the second-division Atlanta Silverbacks 3-2 after extra time in the Open Cup third-round at Rio Tinto Stadium on May 28 to advance to Wednesday’s fourth-round contest against Charleston. The Claret-and-Cobalt jumped out to an early lead in that game, going ahead in the third minute through MF Kyle Beckerman. The Utah side controlled the remainder of the match but couldn’t quite see things out, with Atlanta equalizing in the 87th minute to take the game into extra time. RSL responded well in the first period of overtime, scoring twice in a three-minute stretch in the first period of added time before allowing a late consolation goal to win 3-2.
The Claret-and-Cobalt enters Wednesday’s match unbeaten in its last five games across all competitions. The Utah side won its last match, getting a pair of late goals from FW Olmes Garcia to defeat the LA Galaxy 3-1 at Rio Tinto Stadium last Saturday. Since the start of May, RSL has the most points in MLS (16) and has scored the most goals in the league (17).
The Battery beat the San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 at home on May 28 to advance to Wednesday’s fourth-round contest. Charleston has a very strong history in the Open Cup, finishing as runners-up in 2008, advancing to the Semifinals in 1999 and 2004 and reaching the Quarterfinals in 2007, 2009 and 2010.
The winner of the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will be granted a berth in the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League. Real Salt Lake competed in the 2010-11 and the 2012-13 editions of the CCL, becoming the first – and still only – MLS club to reach the final in 2011. Participation in MLS Cup 2013 and claiming the MLS Supporters’ Shield as the regular season points leader would provide alternate routes for qualification into the 2014-15 CCL.
Now in its 100th year of competition, the Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup is an annual, single-elimination competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The tournament’s fourth-round will be held on June 12, followed by the Quarterfinals on June 26, the Semifinals on Aug. 7 or 21 and the Final on Oct. 1 or 2.
Along with a berth into the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League, the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup winner will receive a $250,000 cash prize from U.S. Soccer. The runner-up will collect $60,000 and the team that advances the furthest from each lower division league will win $15,000.
For more information on the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, including a full list of all third-round matchups and possible fourth-round pairings, visit www.USsoccer.com or www.TheCup.us.
RSL’s first team will have a long layoff following Wednesday’s game, not returning to action until Saturday, June 22, when it will host Seattle Sounders FC in MLS action at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Claret-and-Cobalt Reserves will play this Saturday, traveling to Arizona to take on USL Pro side Phoenix FC at 8:30 p.m. MT at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. in MLS Reserve League action.
How to Follow Real Salt Lake v. Charleston Battery
- Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah
- English Radio: ESPN700 AM (Pregame begins at 6:00 p.m. MT)
- Spanish Radio: La Gran D 102.3 FM & Juan 1600 AM
- Online: The @RealSaltLake Twitter Feed will provide live match updates
Click here to download the PDF version of the MLS Game Guide for Wednesday’s RSL-CHR matchup
RSL Open Cup History
Real Salt Lake is 6-8-0 all-time in Open Cup action, scoring 24 goals and conceding 29 in its 14 games in the tournament. The Claret-and-Cobalt is 3-2-0 against lower division teams in the Open Cup after the May 28 win over Atlanta.
RSL’s best Open Cup finishes came in 2006 and 2011, advancing to Quarterfinals in both years before being bounced by MLS Western Conference rivals the Colorado Rapids 2-0 at Rice-Eccles Stadium in 2006 and losing to FC Dallas 2-0 at Pizza Hut Park in 2011.
