US Open Cup Final: FC Dallas v New England Revolution

In some ways, the US Open Cup is like finding a $20 bill that you had forgotten about stuffed in your pants pocket. It is easy to forget that the oldest competition in the United States even exists until game days roll around and you come across the odd article or two. Such is the case again this year as a tournament that really should get more exposure comes to an end with its traditional lack of fanfare.

Wednesday evening we will see FC Dallas take on the New England Revolution in the US Open Cup Final at Pizza Hut Park. This has the potential to be a good contest, at least if you are to believe that both clubs are hungry for a trophy. It has been ten years since FC Dallas won their first and only US Open Cup. Since that time they have captured nothing else. New England has never won the competition nor have they ever won a trophy despite consistently being one of the better clubs in MLS.

In fact, the people who might know the most about winning a domestic competition won’t even be playing tonight. New England manager Steve Nichol won the FA Cup three times while playing for Liverpool. FC Dallas boss Steve Morrow captured the FA Cup with Arsenal back in 1993.

The fact that the game is being played on their home turf would seem to favor FC Dallas, but this is a FC Dallas side that is winless in its past four games. Frisco is where New England lost the last two MLS Cup Finals. It is also the same field where the Revs defeated FC Dallas back in April. New England has won both encounters against FC Dallas this season.

Revs midfielder Shalrie Joseph is out after being sent off in the semifinals. The warm and cuddly Carlos Ruiz will be playing for FC Dallas. Will New England finally come through in a final or will FC Dallas lift a trophy for the first time in a decade? I’m going with the home side 2-1. Your thoughts and predictions?

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Category: MLS, World Football