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(06-01-2017 06:27 AM)RealDeal Wrote:  I agree. The lower division teams upset upper division teams in these open tournaments occasionally. I have no idea how strong a team Columbus will throw out there but I know from watching the English and German finals last weekend they take these open tournaments very seriously, not sure if MLS feels the same about it. Soccer's a funny game and if one misplayed ball ends up in the back of the net it puts a lot of pressure on the upper division team.

We historically don't take the Open Cup very seriously. You will likely see us throw out out B-Squad, which is generally good enough to beat lower level competition, but has failed before. This will be your super bowl, and i expect an upset...because that is how my sport fandom works. It will just make FCC fans even more obnoxious.

As to your question... The Open Cup is not taken anywhere near as seriously as cup games in Europe. There are a couple USL/NASL upsets over MLS teams every year mainly due to some MLS sides throwing out weak teams, but since the MLS started play in 96 only one non MLS team has actually won the competition and that was in 1999. There is not a lot of money or prestige in the Open Cup so they are generally not the most exciting games until you get to the semi finals where the remaining teams throw out strong squads.