U.S. Soccer has announced the fourth-round possible pairings and locations for the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Results from the third round of play next Tuesday, May 29, and Wednesday, May 30, will determine the matchups for the fourth round taking place one week later on Tuesday, June 5.
The Colorado Rapids will face the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the third round on May 29 at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Fla. (5:30 pm MT). Per today's announcement, the winner of the Rapids-Rowdies match will travel to face the winner of the Sporting KC and Orlando City Soccer Club (USL-Pro) game on Tuesday, June 5. Sporting hosts Orlando City on May 29 at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.
According to U.S. Soccer, the 99th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup includes a random selection process for determining home teams from the first round through the quarterfinals among clubs that have applied to host. The process, conducted by a coin flip, gives participating teams with venues meeting tournament standards an equal chance at hosting their possible opponent for these rounds.
The Rapids, who applied to host the Open Cup games at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, lost the coin flip to Tampa, and also to both Sporting KC and Orlando.
Colorado has played 16 of their 19 U.S. Open Cup matches away from home since entering the competition in 1996, as well as 8 of the 9 Open Cup qualifying matches.
Should the Rapids defeat Tampa and then either Sporting KC or Orlando, Colorado could still host a Quarterfinal match, if the coin flips in their favor.
