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U.S. Open Cup Chicago Sockers of PDL stun MLS-best Wizards in biggest of three upsets.ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (Wednesday, June 14, 2000) -- The Kansas City Wizards might have the best record in Major League Soccer, but they are out of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, named after their team's owner-operator, after losing in penalty kicks to the Chicago Sockers of the Division IV Premier Development League before 3,140 at Forest View Park Stadium. The Sockers will face Chicago’s MLS entry, the Fire, in the third round, which will be played July 25. The Sockers, along with the PDLs' Mid Michigan Bucks, who upset the New England Revolution, became the first two amateur teams to beat MLS clubs in formal competition. Three of 12 MLS teams -- the Wizards, Revolution and Colorado Rapids -- were eliminated in their first Open Cup games. Though the Wizards held a 23-8 advantage in shots, it was Chicago which used a 7-6 edge in the eight-rounds of penalty kicks to advance to the third round. It was Chicago’s first-ever match against an MLS opponent. The key play for the Sockers came in the 38th minute when Wizards midfielder Chris Brown hit a header off of a corner kick from nine yards that went past goalkeeper Adam Throop, but was cleared off the goal line by Chicago midfielder Eric Wilson. The Wizards continued their winless streak in the Open Cup, losing for the third straight year in their first game. The Wizards started only three regular starters -- Peter Vermes, Nick Garcia and Kerry Zavagnin - but brought on three more as substitutes -- Chris Klein, Chris Henderson and Preki. Henderson had a breakaway snuffed by Throop in the 68th minute. In the 105th minute -- sudden death overtime -- Klein had a breakaway thwarted. Then Throop made a spectacular save on Preki. The Sockers defeated the amateur Milwaukee Bavarians in the first round. Wizards head coach Bob Gansler played for the Bavarians while growing up and then became player\coach for eight years. All four of his sons also played there, including Peter, who is currently on the team. Dating back to 1914, the 87-year-old U.S. Open Cup is the oldest cup competition in United States soccer and is among the oldest in the world. It is open to all affiliated amateur and professional teams in the United States. Chicago Sockers (PDL) 0, Kansas City Wizards (MLS) 0
Lineups: Chicago - Adam Throop, Chuck Codd (John Collins 80), Alvin Hudson, David Lara, Matt Bobo, Jason Acres
(Jason Baker 60), Eric Wilson, Tim Regan, Lee Paul (Hamid Mehreioskouei 61), Joe Carver, Rodrigo Costa.
Kansas City - Bo Oshoniyi, Nick Garcia, Uche Okafor, Peter Vermes, Brian Johnson (Chris Klein 46),
Kerry Zavagnin, Vicente Figueroa (Preki 78), Chris Brown, Francisco Gomez, Gary Glasgow, Alex Bunbury
(Chris Henderson 67).
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