FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2014
Media Contact | Ryan Young, 931.980.4424
FRESNO FUEGO COMPETE IN 2nd ROUND OF LAMAR HUNT US OPEN CUP WEDNESDAY
The Fresno Fuego automatically qualified for the 101st edition of the US Open Cup
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Fuego will be competing in the second round of the seven-round Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament against the Orange County Blues (USL PRO) on May 14th at Chukchansi Park with first kick scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
Complimentary general admission passes are available for the match and can be downloaded from www.FresnoFuego.com. Fans can also purchase CRU Club tickets for only $10 or book a suite by calling Adam Gleich at 559.320.2525.
The U.S. Open Cup is a single-elimination tournament including 80 participating teams ranging from amateur status to Major League Soccer. Teams will compete in the seven-round tournament through October 1st and the winning team will receive a $250,000 prize. The runner-up team will receive $60,000, and the team from each lower division (USL PDL, USL PRO, NASL) that advances the furthest will receive $15,000. The winning team also has their name engraved on the base of the original Dewar Cup, which has been permanently retired and remains at U.S. Soccer House in Chicago.
The U.S. Open Cup dates back to 1914 and is the oldest cup competition in United States soccer and among the oldest in the world. The tournament is open to all affiliated amateur and professional teams in the United States. The Cup routinely allows some of the most skilled amateur teams a chance at competing against top-flight professional teams.
The U.S. Open Cup was renamed in 1999 as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup to honor the long-time soccer supporter, Lamar Hunt, who passed away in 2006. Hunt was one of the sport’s first major ownership figures and is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
If the Fresno Fuego defeat the OC Blues on Wednesday, May 14, they will advance to the third round on May 28th and travel to play either Sacramento Republic (USL PRO) in Sacramento or Ventura County Fusion (USL PDL) in Ventura.
The Fuego has competed in the US Open Cup tournament throughout their inception back in 2003. The Fuego’s best finish was their inaugural year when they advanced to the fourth round, losing to the LA Galaxy at the Home Depot Center.
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