With the offseason news that D.C. United sold a controlling share of Loudoun United to Attain Sports and Entertainment, an added benefit was the opportunity to compete in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Last month the USL Championship side learned their opponent and today they learned the date, hosting North Carolina FC on Wednesday, April 5 at 7pm in the second round of the tournament. This will not be the only USOC game in the area, as the NISA’s Maryland Bobcats FC host the USL League Two side Ocean City Nor’Easters at the Maryland Soccerplex.
For Loudoun, the game is on an off-week of sorts for the team, between home games with Colorado Springs on April 1 and Birmingham Legion FC on April 15; NCFC does not have that luxury, hosting Lexington on April 1 and hosting Charlotte Independence in a April 8 derby.
Most MLS teams (including D.C. United) are set to enter the tournament in the third round, with games set to be held on April 25 and 26, though the chances of D.C. and Loudoun playing one another are virtually null, with the sides being unable to play each other unless they were appear in the Final.
In a preview of the matchup, Loudoun plays at NCFC in a preseason match on Saturday before opening their season on March 11 when they play at Memphis 901 FC.
Why is this? I thought teams were supposed to be grouped geographically in the Open Cup.
Horribly late to this, but there is still an affiliation that could be made by D.C. loaning down to Loudoun (which I’m awaiting information on their plans for), even if the bulk of the team is pro signed.
[…] Loudoun United hosts North Carolina in first US Open Cup match April 5 (The District Press)The match date for Loudoun United FC’s first game in the US Open Cup has been announced. Looks like tickets go on sale next Tuesday. […]