The US Open Cup Produces the Biggest Upset Ever...

Ok, the above statement is a large, vague, overly assuming one. However, have you ever heard of an amateur side beating a top division pro team? Last night Roma FC, an amateur soccer team from Dallas, TX, beat Chivas USA, the MLS club, in penalties after a 0-0 draw through extra time. Yes, an amateur side beat a professional side from the top division of American soccer.

The US Open Cup website is saying this is akin to a #16 seed winning the NCAA spring basketball tournament. Maybe, but I think that is a stretch. The difference being that Roma FC was playing their heart out, they wanted any recognition possible out of this one. Chivas USA was playing the game out of obligation. They didn't want to get embarrassed and they didn't want any of their starters to get injured.

There isn't too much information out there about Roma FC. Their website is under construction, although they do have a really cool logo. The Dallas club is part of the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). USASA is the overall organization of adult soccer players. After that Roma FC is part of The North Texas Premier Soccer Association (NTPSA). If you'll look at their website you'll see this is a small budget organization. To me this looks like the Wednesday night league your Uncle Rico, with all his college buddies who were starters on their college team in 1988, plays in.

To me it is amazing that this group of amateur players could defeat a team of professionals. This is what the US Open Cup is all about. Let the best team win and move on, and let the side that doesn't take the competition seriously fall by the wayside. I hope Chivas USA are embarrassed over this loss.

In their next match Roma FC will have a chance to play against Landon Donovan and the other LA team, the Galaxy. Somehow, I don't think the Galaxy are going to let this one sneak up on them. They're having a tough time in MLS, even as defending champions, and won't want to miss out on another piece of hardware in their reach. If by some stroke of luck Roma FC does win their next match, they'll be in the Quarter-finals of the yearly tournament. Ohh yeah, the Gals have added incentive, they're the defending champs of the Open Cup.

If you don't know much about the Open Cup, check out their website linked above. It is a really cool knockout tournament that starts with a lot of amateur and low level pro clubs. PDL team participate in it with their college kids on summer break rosters. USL division 1 and 2 play in it. MLS joins in during the third and fourth round. To get a spot in the fourth round, you've got to make the previous year's playoffs. The four MLS clubs that didn't make the playoffs joined in the third round. Columbus, Kansas City and Salt Lake were all able to find their way into the fourth round by beating lower level opponents. However, no other MLS club played a club as low as Roma FC.

Check out the Open Cup's bracket. In the fourth round we have 11 MLS teams. There are two USL 1 clubs (Charleston and Rochester), One USL 2 club (Wilmington), one PDL club (Carolina), and one USASA club (Roma FC). I bet one of those lower clubs will make it into the quarter-finals. We'll have to wait until August 2nd to find out. If you live in one of the cities hosting the next round, make sure you get out to support the event.