91st U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals News -
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/usopen -

RICHMOND , VA – The Richmond Kickers will welcome the Chicago Fire of
Major League Soccer on Wednesday, August 4th at the University of
Richmond Stadium at 7:00 p.m. in this year's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Quarterfinal match. The first 2,000 fans through the gate will
receive a photo frame magnet courtesy of Kraft Foods.

The winner of this single-elimination match will advance to the semi-
finals on Wednesday, August 25th, facing the winner of the Rochester
Raging Rhinos/Charleston Battery Quarterfinal match, one step closer
to having their name added to the Dewar Trophy. Should the Kickers
defeat the Fire, coupled with a Charleston victory over Rochester ,
Richmond will host the Battery in the Semi-Final round at the
University of Richmond Stadium on August 25th.

"We welcome MLS opponents and recognize that it is very rare for
lightning to strike twice," says Richmond Kickers head coach Leigh
Cowlishaw. "However, as our team has shown throughout the season, the
Kickers will also perform to their potential."

The Fire and Kickers will be squaring off for the first time when
they meet in Wednesday's quarterfinals. While they might not match
the Fire's success in the tournament, the Kickers will be looking for
multiple titles of their own after winning the 1995 U.S. Open Cup
crown. The Fire have dominated since entering the U.S. Open Cup in
1998, collecting three titles (1998, 2000, 2003) and a 16-3-1 record,
making them the most successful MLS team in the history of the
tournament and the only top-flight squad to lift the Dewar Cup trophy
on multiple occasions. The Fire's three championships mark the latest
of the eight U.S. Open Cup titles brought back by teams based in the
Windy City in the 90 years of the competition.

Richmond dismissed the Cape Cod Crusaders (PDL) in the Third Round of
the tournament followed by a stunning 2-1 win over D.C. United (MLS)
in the Fourth Round. The Kickers join three A-League teams (
Rochester , Charleston , Minnesota ) and four Major League Soccer
teams in the Quarterfinal round, marking the first time four teams
from the United Soccer Leagues have qualified for the Open Cup
quarterfinals since the inception of Major League Soccer in 1996.
Unable to qualify for the Open Cup tournament in 2003, last week's
victory is the farthest the Kickers have advanced since 2001 when
they were defeated by D.C. United 2-1 at RFK Stadium in the
quarterfinals. The Kickers won the Open Cup Championship in 1995.

Players To Watch

Kickers: 2003 Kickers leading scorer Kevin Jeffrey has tallied four
goals in the past three matches, including two goals in last
weekend's match in Atlanta . A three-way tie for this year's Kickers
leading goal scorer exists between three former VCU standouts
including Jeffrey and rookies Matthew Delicate and McColm Cephas,
each with seven goals. Overall, Cephas has earned nine goals,
including two in the Kickers victory over D.C. United in the Fourth
Round of the Open Cup.



Fire: The offensive Jamaican connection, Damani Ralph and Andy
Williams continue to dominate on the field, as Ralph leads the Fire
in goals (8) and points (18). A member of the Jamaican National team
since 1997, Williams has recorded eight goals in 65 appearances with
the "Reggae Boyz." Considered the nation's premier defensive
midfielder, U.S. National team standout Chris Armas is in his seventh
season with the Fire. He has tallied one goal and five assists for
seven points this season.