With a 3-1 win over the Richmond Kickers on Wednesday night, Columbus Crew SC advanced to the Round of 16 in the U.S. Open Cup. After today’s draw Crew SC is set to play Orlando City SC at the Citrus Bowl at 7:30 p.m. on June 30.
The tournament bracket is fixed for the remainder of the competition, unless two ownership-affiliate teams are drawn to face each other in the Semifinals. In that case matches would be re-drawn. Based on today’s draw, Crew SC would visit either the Chicago Fire or Charlotte Independence in the Quarterfinals.
But first, Crew SC has to get past Kaká and company.
The Black & Gold have played the Lions twice already this season, winning the first one 3-0 in Columbus, and drawing the second meeting 2-2 at the Citrus Bowl. With the competitive edge apparent in those two matches, both teams have talked about a potential rivalry brewing in this young series.
The first chippy match took place April 18, when OCSC’s Rafael Ramos was ejected for a tackle on Waylon Francis. Crew SC took full advantage of being a man up, as Federico Higuaín, Justin Meram and Ethan Finlay combined for three goals.
When the two Eastern Conference foes met again on May 30, Pedro Robeiro was the Lions’ hero, finishing a low-driven shot in the 89th minute to bring the match even at two. Orlando City’s first goal was the result of Kaká’s fourth penalty goal of the season, after Crew SC defender Michael Parkhurst was ejected for a handball on the goal line. The Black & Gold were required to play a man down for more than 74 minutes, but thanks to Tony Tchani’s sixth-minute header and Kei Kamara’s 10th goal of the season they earned a point on the road.
“It’s a difficult place to come [play]. It’s really loud and their whipping in balls. I got four guys on me on every cross it seemed like,” Crew SC goalkeeper Steve Clark said after the match. “They make it difficult on teams that come here. They’re a solid team.”
Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter echoed Clark’s reaction.
“It was tense,” Berhalter said. “The fans, bless their hearts, they were great. They’re going at it, we’re going at it, refs are going at it, players are going at it. It was quite an atmosphere.”
Crew SC will have to go at it once again in the Open Cup’s Round of 16. The Black & Gold hold a 21-14-2 overall record in the tournament, going 6-7-1 on the road. In 2002, Crew SC was crowned the U.S. Open Cup Champion, when the Black & Gold topped the LA Galaxy 1-0 on October 24 in Columbus.
