Wednesday : Last night's 4th round match result...
latest scores, news and pics archives for the U.S. Open Cup at
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/usopen

The quality gap between the division two A-League and the 10 teams
in d-1 Major League Soccer is closer than most fans realize.
The latest example of the strength of the A-League occurred last
night when DC United lost to the Richmond Kickers 2-1. It was the
second time in club history United has lost to an A-League team in
U.S. Open Cup competition.

Unheralded forward McColm Cephas scored both Richmond goals
before 8,776 at University of Richmond Stadium in the round-of-
sixteen, the fourth round of this, the 91st U.S. Open Cup.
"Our midfield let everything through, and too many guys had the
day off," United coach Peter Nowak said. "As professionals, this
shouldn't happen."
The Kickers (10-7-3), fourth in the A-League's Eastern
Conference, will play host to the Chicago Fire on 04 August in the
quarterfinals.
United wasn't alone in losing as three MLS teams fell to A-
League clubs Tuesday. The Los Angeles Galaxy, THE best team in the
MLS this season, lost to the Minnesota Thunder 1-0; the MetroStars
lost to the Charleston (SC) Battery 1-0; and the New England
Revolution were eliminated by the Rochester Raging Rhinos in a
penalty kick shootout (3-1) after a 1-1 tie in regulation.
"If we play like that all the time, we can play with anybody in
MLS and the A-League," said Kickers midfielder Richie Williams, who
played six seasons (1996 to 2000 and 2002) with United. "We deserved
to win the game — we had the better run of play."
After thoroughly outplaying United from the opening whistle, the
Kickers finally struck in the 33rd minute on Cephas' first goal.
Cephas, a Liberian international, scored on a breakdown between
United central defender Mike Petke and goalkeeper Nick Rimando.
Cephas jostled with Petke for position in the box. With the ball
bouncing around, Petke and Cephas went left locked in a spin.
Rimando came off his line late as Cephas collected the loose ball
and chipped it into an open goal.
On Richmond's second goal, Rimando had very little time to react
on a quick-hitting counter on a cross by Joey Worthen that Cephas
banged in.
Nana Kuffour, who United signed to a developmental contract two
weeks ago, headed in a Freddy Adu corner kick in the 82nd minute to
cut the deficit to 2-1. Adu didn't start but entered the game at
halftime for fellow rookie Kevin Ara.