The 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 99th edition of the U.S. Open Cup, the annual national soccer championship of the United States. It ran from May to August and was organized by the United States Soccer Federation. Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer entered the competition as the three-time defending champions and appeared in their fourth consecutive U.S. Open Cup Final, losing to Sporting Kansas City on August 8, 2012.
For the 2012 tournament, U.S. Soccer increased the main tournament from a 40-club tournament, to a 64-club tournament. All Major League Soccer clubs based in the U.S. received automatic berths. This made the U.S. Open Cup very similar to other domestic knock-out competitions where all top-tier clubs earn automatic berths.
The farthest advancing NASL teams were the Minnesota Stars FC, Carolina RailHawks, and San Antonio Scorpions (all beat 1 MLS team), while the farthest advancing USL Pro teams were the Charlotte Eagles, Dayton Dutch Lions, and the Harrisburg City Islanders, who beat 2 MLS sides. All three USL Pro teams advanced a round past their division two NASL counterparts. The farthest advancing USL PDL team was the Michigan Bucks, who advanced to the 4th round after beating an MLS club. An amateur club, Cal FC of the USASA, won 1–0 away to MLS's Portland Timbers in a third round upset.
The winner, Sporting Kansas City, received a cash prize of $100,000 and also qualified for the 2013–14 CONCACAF Champions League (placed in Pot B).
Qualification
For the first time, all 32 professional teams from the first 3 tiers of American Soccer will be participating. Additionally, 32 teams will also qualify from the USL Premier Development League, National Premier Soccer League, United States Adult Soccer Association, and US Club Soccer.Format, Composition and Schedule Finalized for 99th Edition of Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Enter in first round Enter in second round Enter in third round NPSL/USASA/USCS 6 teams/9 teams/1 team USL PDL16 teams NASL/USL Pro All teams (6)/(10) MLS All teams (16)National Premier Soccer League Brooklyn Italians Fullerton Rangers Georgia Revolution Jacksonville United† Milwaukee Bavarians FC Sonic Lehigh Valley
United States Adult Soccer Association Aegean HawksNY Greek American Atlas, Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks emerge from USASA Region I ASC New Stars Cal FC Croatian Eagles Greek American Atlas Jersey Shore Boca KC AthleticsKC Athletics qualify; AAC Eagles, Croatian Eagles play Sunday in a "Win & You're In" match NTX Rayados PSA Elite
United States Club Soccer Stanislaus United Turlock Express* Carolina Dynamo Chicago Fire Premier Des Moines Menace El Paso Patriots Fresno Fuego‡ Kitsap Pumas† Laredo Heat Long Island Rough Riders Michigan Bucks Mississippi Brilla Orlando City U-23 Portland Phoenix Portland Timbers U23's Reading United Real Colorado Foxes Ventura County FusionNASL Atlanta Silverbacks Carolina RailHawks‡ Fort Lauderdale Strikers Minnesota Stars† San Antonio Scorpions Tampa Bay Rowdies
USL-Pro Charleston Battery Charlotte Eagles Dayton Dutch Lions Harrisburg City Islanders$ Los Angeles Blues Orlando City†‡ Pittsburgh Riverhounds Richmond Kickers Rochester Rhinos Wilmington Hammerheads Chicago Fire Chivas USA Colorado Rapids Columbus Crew FC Dallas D.C. United Houston Dynamo Los Angeles Galaxy†‡ New England Revolution New York Red Bulls Philadelphia Union Portland Timbers Real Salt Lake San Jose Earthquakes Seattle Sounders FC Sporting Kansas City † League Champions in 2011 ‡ League Premiers in 2011 * Stanislaus United Turlock Express defeated the Bay Area Ambassadors of the NPSL in a play-in game on April 28 to qualify for the first round.
Brackets Home team is listed first, winners are in bold.
Schedule Note: Scorelines use the standard U.S. convention of placing the home team on the right-hand side of box scores.
First round 32 Teams from USL PDL, NPSL, and USASA begin competition.2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Pairings Announced for First and Second Rounds OPEN CUP: Coin flip falls as choices did (7 May 2012). ESPN.
Second round 16 teams from NASL and USL Pro enter.
Third round 16 teams from MLS enter.UPDATED: US Open Cup Third Round Pairings Unveiled: 11 MLS clubs could travel for Round 3; 2 PDL clubs with shot to host from USSoccer.com.USL PRO, NASL Sides Provide Offensive Pop During Second Round of 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Fourth round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Final
Top scorers Statistics current through the Cup Final. RankScorerClubGoals1 Brian ShriverCarolina RailHawks52 Danny BarreraCal FC4 Osvaldo AlonsoSeattle Sounders FC4 Frankie LópezVentura County Fusion45 Artur AghasyanCal FC3 Nate ThorntonCharlotte Eagles3 Aly HassanFort Lauderdale Strikers3 Brian OmbijiHarrisburg City Islanders3 Sainey TourayHarrisburg City Islanders3 Freddy AduPhiladelphia Union3 Sammy OchoaSeattle Sounders FC3
References
External links The Cup.us – Full Coverage of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup