RICHMOND, VA – (Wednesday, April 11, 2018) – U.S. Soccer announced on Wednesday the potential pairings and host scenarios for the Second Round of the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. 22 teams from the United Soccer League (USL) will enter the tournament May 16 to play against Open Division winners (Local Qualifiers, PDL and NPSL) from the First Round of games scheduled May 8-9 across the United States.
The Richmond Kickers are set to face the winner of the Reading United AC and Christos FC match that will take place May 9 at Don Thomas Stadium in Reading, PA. If Reading United AC wins, the Kickers will travel to Reading, PA or if Christos FC claims the victory, the Kickers will host Christos FC at City Stadium. Either match will take place Wednesday, May 16. Last season, the Kickers were upset in the Second Round of the tournament, as Christos FC took a 1-0 victory at City Stadium.
Winners of the 1995 tournament, Richmond has a long-standing history of the tournament. The Kickers made history with their remarkable run to the semifinals in 2011. Becoming the first lower division team to defeat back-to-back MLS teams on the road, the Kickers ejected the Columbus Crew in the third round before handing Sporting Kansas City their first-ever loss at Sporting Park in the quarterfinals. Advancing to the semifinals for the second time in franchise history, the Kickers narrowly missed the Championship berth, conceding a 2:1 loss to the Chicago Fire last August.
The Kickers claimed the U.S. Open Cup title the first year of the Professional Era in 1995 and have since made it to the quarterfinal round five times (1995, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2011) and the semifinal round twice (1995, 2011), ousting five Major League Soccer teams along the way, including Colorado Rapids in 2000, D.C. United in 2004, LA Galaxy in 2007 and Columbus Crew and Sporting Kansas City in 2011.
