The third round of the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup wrapped up Wednesday night with matches in Austin, Texas, and Portland, Ore. While Tuesday night had seen four of six MLS teams tossed from the tournament with losses to lower division teams, Wednesday saw balance restored in the form of victories for the Seattle Sounders and Houston Dynamo.

In a Texas derby, the Houston Dynamo (MLS) defeated the Austin Aztex (USL-1) 2-0, but not without some hard work. Despite controlling possession for much of the game, the Dynamo couldn't get on the board until the 71st minute, when Corey Ashe pounced on a rebound given up from a free kick. The Aztex stayed tight however, keeping the game within one until Dominic Oduro gave the Dynamo the insurance goal they needed in the 90th minute to advance into the quarterfinals. They'll face the Charleston Battery (USL-1) for the third consecutive year, and they'll be looking for revenge as the South Carolina side has sent them packing the last two years.

In Portland, Ore., the Portland Timbers (USL-1) hosted the Seattle Sounders (MLS) in a packed PGE Park in one of the most anticipated matchups of the tournament. While the Sounders are an MLS club this year, their history as a former USL-1 club and a rival of the Timbers drew 16,382 people to watch the match, making it the highest attended non-doubleheader, non-final U.S. Open Cup game in the modern era. The Sounders were out of the gates fast as Roger Levesque put a diving header into the net only 48 seconds into the match. Keeping the pressure on, Seattle built on their lead with a Steven King blast in the 27th minute. Portland succeeded in getting one back just before the half, but despite more than a few chances couldn't beat former U.S. Men's National Team goalkeeper Kasey Keller in the second half. Seattle will advance to face the Kansas City Wizards in the quarterfinal round.

In the quarterfinal round, four USL teams remain as well as four MLS sides, but the Wilmington Hammerheads (USL-2) and Rochester Rhinos (USL-1) tilt ensures a USL team will make it into the semifinals for the third year in row. Two USL-2 teams are still alive but will face a tough challenge as they play the next round as the away team, while D.C. United is still defending their title after a hard-fought victory Tuesday night against the Ocean City Barons (PDL).

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Third Round Results

Date Matchup Result  Venue
June 30 Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) at New England Revolution (MLS) 2-1  Willowbrook Park; New Britain, Conn.
June 30 Ocean City Barons (PDL) at D.C. United (MLS) 0-2 Maryland Soccerplex; Boyds, Md.
June 30 Chicago Fire (MLS) at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL-2) 0-1 Legion Stadium; Wilmington, N.C.
June 30 Chivas USA (MLS) at Charleston Battery (USL-1) 1-3 Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.
June 30 Columbus Crew (MLS) at Rochester Rhinos (USL-1) 1-1, (3-5 PKs) Rochester Rhinos Stadium; Rochester, N.Y.
June 30 Kansas City Wizards (MLS) at Minnesota Thunder (USL-1) 3-3, (4-2 PKs) National Sports Center; Blaine, Minn.
July 1 Houston Dynamo (MLS) at Austin Aztex (USL-1) 2-0 Nelson Field; Austin, Texas
July 1 Seattle Sounders (MLS) at Portland Timbers (USL-1) 2-1 PGE Park; Portland, Ore.

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal Pairings

Date Matchup Time Venue
July 7 Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) at D.C. United (MLS) 7:30 p.m. ET Maryland Soccerplex; Boyds, Md.
July 7 Wilmington Hammerheads (USL-2) at Rochester Rhinos (USL-1) 7 p.m. ET Rochester Rhinos Stadium; Rochester, N.Y.
July 7 Houston Dynamo (MLS) at Charleston Battery (USL-1) 7:30 p.m. ET Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.
July 7 Kansas City Wizards (MLS) at Seattle Sounders (MLS) 7 p.m. PT Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Wash.

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Possible Semifinal Pairings

Date Possible Matchup Time Venue
July 21 Rochester Rhinos (USL-1) / Wilmington Hammerheads (USL-2) at D.C. United (MLS) 7:30 p.m. ET Maryland Soccerplex; Boyds, Md.
July 21 Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) at Rochester Rhinos (USL-1) 7 p.m. ET Rochester Rhinos Stadium; Rochester, N.Y.
July 21 Wilmington Hammerheads (USL-2) at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) 7:05 p.m. ET Skyline Sports Complex; Harrisburg, Pa.
July 21 Charleston Battery (USL-1) / Houston Dynamo (MLS) at Seattle Sounders (MLS) 7 p.m. PT Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Wash.
July 21 Kansas City Wizards (MLS) at Charleston Battery (USL-1) 7:30 p.m. ET Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.
July 22 Houston Dynamo (MLS) at Kansas City Wizards (MLS) 7:30 p.m. CT Shawnee Mission North H.S.; Overland Park, Kan.

2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule 
July 7            Quarterfinals        Round 3 winners
July 21/22    Semifinals            Quarterfinal winners
Sept. 2        Final                    Semifinal winners

- ussoccer.com -