PORTLAND
, Ore.
– U.S. Soccer announced today that the Portland Timbers will face Hollywood United of the U.S. Adult Soccer Association (USASA) in the first round of the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on June 10 at PGE Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Tickets are $10 and will be available starting Friday at 10 a.m. through the PGE Park box office, area Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (503) 224-4400.
Timbers’ season-ticket holders should contact the Timbers ticket office at (503) 553-5555 to purchase their tickets. Only for the first-round U.S. Open Cup match, the Timbers are offering a special VIP ticket for $29 that includes entrance into a suite plus food and beverages. A discounted $8 ticket is available for groups of 15 or more by contacting the Timbers ticket office.
All 32 lower-division clubs in the tournament from the USASA, USL Premier Development League, USL Second Division and USL First Division were paired according to a blind draw.
Eight Major League Soccer teams will enter the tournament in the third round and will be paired based upon geographical consideration. The 16 first-round winners face off in the second round slated for June 24. The winner of the tournament will earn a berth into the CONCACAF 2009-10 Champions League.
The Timbers are 3-4-0 in U.S. Open Cup play and have reached as far as the fourth round of the tournament, facing MLS teams in both 2004 and 2005. Last season, the Timbers defeated the Bakersfield Brigade of the PDL in the first round before suffering a second-round loss to the Seattle Sounders.
Hollywood United qualified for the 2008 U.S. Open Cup with victories over the Santa Cruz Breakers, San Diego United and Banat Arsenal to earn the first of two tournament berths from the USASA’s Region IV. Hollywood United recently won the 2008 Galaxy Classico hosted by Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy. Started by Australian actor Anthony Lapaglia, Hollywood United is known for its charity events and often features celebrities and former professional players on its teams. On Nov. 4, 2007, Hollywood United faced the Galaxy in a fundraiser match for the victims of the Southern California wildfires.
U.S.
Open Cup Round 1 pairings:
Brooklyn Knights (PDL) at Carolina RailHawks (USL-1)
NY Pancyprian Freedom (USASA) at Real Maryland Monarchs (USL-2)
Fredericksburg Gunners (PDL) at Richmond Kickers (USL-2)
Boston Olympiakos (USASA) at Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL-2) at AAC Eagles (USASA)
Cleveland City Stars (USL-2) at Michigan Bucks (PDL)
St. Louis Lions (PDL) at Minnesota Thunder (USL-1)
RWB Adria (USASA) at Rochester Rhinos (USL-1)
Atlanta Silverbacks (USL-1) at Austin Aztex (PDL)
ASC New Stars (USASA) at Charleston Battery (USL-1)
Clearwater Galactics (USASA) at Charlotte Eagles (USL-2)
Bradenton Academics (PDL) at Miami FC Blues (USL-1)
Seattle Sounders (USL-1) at Arizona Sahuaros (USASA)
Yakima Reds (PDL) at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2)
Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2) at Los Angeles Legends (PDL)
Hollywood United (USASA) at Portland Timbers (USL-1)
ABOUT U.S. OPEN CUP
The U.S. Open Cup, which is recognized as U.S. Soccer’s national championship, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The tournament has crowned a champion for 94 consecutive years dating back to 1914. The U.S. Open Cup is a single-elimination tournament. For more information, visit
www.usopencup.com
.
