MLS Play-in games revealed
http://usopencup.com/home/309966.html
Rapids visit Galaxy Apr. 7, D.C. vs. FC Dallas on Apr. 22, Sounders host RSL on
Apr. 28, Earthquakes host Red Bulls on Apr. 29
The Los Angeles Galaxy and Colorado Rapids will kick off the 2009 MLS Lamar Hunt
Open Cup Play-in tournament on April 7 at the Home Depot Center, the first of
four opening round matches for MLS qualifying. Red Bull New York, last year's
MLS Cup runners-up, will travel to Santa Clara, California to face the San Jose
Earthquakes on April 29 at Buck Shaw Stadium.

As reported earlier by Steven Goff in his Soccer Insider blog on the Washington
Post website, D.C. United will face FC Dallas in another MLS play-in game, which
has been set for April 22 at D.C. United, with the winner facing the San
Jose-New York winner. This would leave Real Salt Lake and the expansion Seattle
Sounders FC in the fourth play-in game, with the winner facing the Los
Angeles-Colorado victor. The Sounders will host RSL at the Starfire Sports
Complex in Tukwila, WA on April 28.

The six clubs with the most points at the end of the 2008 MLS regular season
(Columbus, Chicago, Houston, New England, Chivas USA, Kansas City),
automatically earn a spot in the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The remaining
U.S. based clubs (New York, D.C. United, Real Salt Lake, Colorado, Dallas, San
Jose, Los Angeles, and Seattle), will play elimination matches to determine who
will claim the remaining two MLS spots.

The LA Galaxy and Red Bull New York sent out the following press releases
concerning their play-in matches.

Courtesy New York Red Bulls:
SECAUCUS, NJ (February 23, 2009) – Red Bull New York announced today that it
will kick off its 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup campaign on April 29, when it
plays the San Jose Earthquakes at Buck Shaw Stadium at 10:30 PM ET (7:30 PM PT).
The match is a play-in game as part of the first stage of MLS U.S. Open Cup
qualifying. The winner of the game will face a to be determined MLS opponent
later this year for the right to compete in this year's Open Cup tournament. New
York is one of eight MLS teams battling for two spots in the full tournament
field.

Created in 1914, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the oldest soccer competition
in the United States. The single elimination tournament, which is similar to the
prestigious English FA Cup, is open to all amateur and professional teams
affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation.

Last year, the Red Bulls entered in the third round of the Open Cup after being
one of the top six teams to qualify for the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs. Their run
ended early, when they lost to United Soccer League Second Division side,
Crystal Palace Baltimore, 2-0, on July 1 in Annapolis, MD. New York has never
won the U.S. Open Cup, but reached the 2003 U.S. Open Cup Final before falling
to the Chicago Fire, 1-0.

Despite earning their first trip to the MLS Cup Final in 2008, the Red Bulls are
forced to go through MLS Open Cup qualifying since they were not one of the top
six playoff teams at the end of last year's regular season. The Red Bulls went
1-0-1 against San Jose last season, but have never played the Earthquakes in
Open Cup competition.

The 2008 MLS Cup Finalist Red Bulls begin the 2009 MLS season on March 19 at
Seattle against the expansion Seattle Sounders FC at Qwest Field. The game will
be telecast nationally on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes at 9 PM ET and locally
broadcast live on WADO 1280 AM in Spanish.

Courtesy Los Angeles Galaxy:
CARSON, Calif. (Friday, February 27, 2009) – The LA Galaxy's quest for the third
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title in club history will begin on Tuesday, April 7
when they host the Colorado Rapids in an Open Cup Play-In Game at The Home Depot
Center. The game will kick off at 8 p.m. and Galaxy season ticket holders will
be able to use their Bonus Game 2 ticket.

This will be the second straight season in which the Galaxy host Colorado in an
Open Cup Play-In Game. Last year, the Rapids claimed a 1-0 win, with the Rapids
scoring the game's only goal in the 82nd minute. The Galaxy, who won the Open
Cup in 2001 and 2005, first participated in an Open Cup Play-In Game in 2007,
when they defeated Columbus and New York to qualify for the Third Round of the
Open Cup, where they were defeated by the Richmond Kickers.

The two sides are now scheduled to meet three times in the month of April, with
the Galaxy also hosting the Rapids in league play on Saturday, April 4 and
traveling to Colorado on Saturday, April 25.

Individual tickets for the Galaxy's Open Cup Play-In Game and all regular season
home games are on sale now at www.lagalaxy.com or by calling 1-877-3GALAXY.

The LA Galaxy are now accepting deposits for the 2009 season, which kicks off at
12 p.m. on Sunday, March 22 when the club hosts D.C. United at The Home Depot
Center. A non-refundable deposit of 75% per seat secures your place for each
2009 Galaxy regular season game, plus great benefits including exclusive events
with the team, special season seat holder gifts, and much more. Call
1-877-3GALAXY or visit www.lagalaxy.com for more details or to purchase your
2009 Galaxy season seats.