In the end, the Colorado Rapids ran away with the top spot, finishing with the only winning record among the four teams (6-3-1). The top two teams (based on points, or points-per-game if there is an uneven number of games played) in the league standings as of June 1 would punch their ticket to the competition. With the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion folding, the Rapids, Revolution, Wizards and DC United were set to battle for the remaining two spots. Six teams were automatically entered based on 2001 league results (Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, Dallas Burn, Los Angeles Galaxy, Metrostars, San Jose Earthquakes), leaving the final two entries to be determined by another “best team by a certain date” format. The Galaxy would have a 5-6 record (3-4 in shootouts) on June 1 and, as a result, would earn the final Open Cup berth and make the club’s tournament debut.Īll 12 MLS teams were entered into the tournament: Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, Dallas Burn, DC United, Kansas City Wizards, Los Angeles Galaxy, Metrostars, Miami Fusion, New England Revolution, San Jose Earthquakes, Tampa Bay Mutiny The final spot would go to the team with the highest point total in league play through June 1, or by the highest point-per-game average if the teams have not played an even number of games. The eighth and final spot would be awarded to one of the three losing teams (Kansas City, Miami, Los Angeles). Three more entries were determined by league games doubling as qualifiers with the Colorado Rapids winning a shootout with the Kansas City Wizards after a 1-1 draw (April 17), the Metrostars beating the Fusion 3-2 (May 15) and the Tampa Bay Mutiny needing to win a shootout against the Galaxy after a scoreless draw (May 15). There were four automatic qualifiers for the 1999 US Open Cup from MLS: Chicago Fire (1998 US Open Cup champion), Columbus Crew (1998 US Open Cup runner-up), Dallas Burn (1997 US Open Cup champion) and DC United (1996 US Open Cup champion). On May 2, Miami defeated Colorado 3-2 to clinch a spot in the tournament. This left the Rapids (the team that finished the lowest of the remaining teams) and the Fusion to play a “Win & You’re In” match for the final Open Cup entry. However, the New England Revolution declined entry and DC United and the Galaxy withdrew due to their participation in the 1998 Copa Merconorte. This left the Colorado Rapids, Kansas City Wizards, Metrostars, Los Angeles Galaxy, Tampa Bay Mutiny and the second expansion team Miami Fusion to play qualifying games, which were just regular season games doubling as qualifiers. The defending champion Dallas Burn joined the Columbus Crew, DC United, San Jose Clash and expansion team Chicago Fire were automatically entered into the 1998 US Open Cup by a blind draw. The Columbus Crew and Los Angeles Galaxy did not enter. The Colorado Rapids, Dallas Burn, defending champion DC United, Kansas City Wizards, Metrostars, New England Revolution, San Jose Clash and Tampa Bay Mutiny entered the 1997 US Open Cup. An unplanned fifth team was added when the Colorado Foxes (A-League) withdrew from the tournament ( read more about that here), only to be replaced by the Colorado Rapids in the Quarterfinals. However, Los Angeles Galaxy would drop out of the tournament citing fixture congestion and were replaced by eventual champion DC United. The Dallas Burn, Kansas City Wiz, Los Angeles Galaxy and Tampa Bay Mutiny were chosen by Major League Soccer as the participants in the 1996 US Open Cup. Here is a look back at past US Open Cup qualifying results for MLS: The games were very poorly attended and in 2012, the federation announced that going forward, every US-based professional team would take part in the US Open Cup. However, the way the teams have been chosen over the years had changed considerably over the years.Īfter doing away with the qualifying process from 2000-06, a pre-tournament competition was brought back from 2007-11. Major League Soccer has been the United States Soccer Federation’s (USSF) Division I league since its inception in 1996 and has taken part in the US Open Cup since that inaugural season. Michael Videira of the Chicago Fire battles for the ball against the Colorado Rapids in Wednesday’s US Open Cup qualifying match.
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