Union to compete for U.S. Open Cup

As if its 30-game Major League Soccer schedule wasn't grueling enough, the Union will also compete for entrance into the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup competition.

The Union will begin its inaugural Open Cup run on the road in a play-in game against the New York Red Bulls.

Brian Tsao, the Red Bulls' manager of communications, told the Daily News that a date and time will be announced early next week, but that the teams will play "sometime in early April."

The annual competition is open to all teams under the auspices of the United States Soccer Federation. Amateur, semiprofessional and MLS teams all vie for a trophy that dates back to 1914, but the event has grown in popularity in recent years. Last year's winner was the then-MLS expansion darling Seattle Sounders.

Seeds are based on a team's 2009 regular-season record. The Union will enter as the No. 9-seeded team given its expansion status. The play-in winner will play New England in the semifinal round. Two teams from the play-in tournament will join six other MLS teams to eventually enter the overall tournament during the third round.

Past winners of the Open Cup include the Philadelphia German-Americans in 1936, and the Ukranian Nationals in 1960-61-63 and '66.

In other Union news, despite local station 6ABC and the Union yet to release its 2010 programming schedule, the Daily News has learned that half of the Union's 29 remaining MLS games will air on WPVI-TV.

Sources close to the situation said the holdup stems from decisions regarding which games will air locally. An announcement with dates and times is expected by early next week.

MLS TEAMS' OPEN CUP SCHEDULE

BRACKET 1

Play-in game:

Game A: Union at New York Red Bulls, TBA

Game B: New England at Union/N.Y. Red Bulls, TBA

At Kansas City, April 13 8:30 p.m.:

Game D: Colorado Rapids at Kansas City Wizards

BRACKET 2

At Santa Clara, Calif., April 14, 10 p.m.:

Game C: Real Salt Lake at San Jose Earthquakes

Game E: FC Dallas at DC United, TBA

FINALS/Winners qualify for Open Cup

Game F: Game B winner vs. Game D winner, TBA

Game G: Game C winner vs. Game E winner, TBA

NOTE:

Games A-E: To be completed by the end of April

Games F-G: To be completed by the end of May