Carolina RailHawks host New England Revolution in U.S. Open Cup play

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

CARY, N.C.The Carolina RailHawks will represent the North American Soccer League (NASL) when they host Major League Soccer’s (MLS) New England Revolution in fourth round play of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at WakeMed Soccer Park on Wednesday.

Carolina advanced to the fourth round after defeating the Charlotte Independence 5-0 in extra time on June 1.

“We take the competition very seriously – maybe more seriously than others,” RailHawks head coach Colin Clarke said.

“We want to get as far as we can and we want to play against the big boys. We want to do ourselves proud.”

In earning that third-round victory, the RailHawks broke the record for the most goals scored by a single team in extra time in the Open Cup-MLS era.

Finishing in seventh place in the NASL Spring season standings (4W-3D-4L) following a 4-1 defeat to season champion Indy Eleven last weekend, the Railhawks intend to present the MLS side with a formidable challenge.

The RailHawks have defeated six MLS teams in their Open Cup history, most recently and notably, the Los Angeles Galaxy – a match-up they won three years in a row.

The Chicago Fire and Chivas USA also sit on Carolina’s list of MLS past triumphs.

For the Revolution, the game against Carolina marks its first game in this year’s Open Cup, as MLS teams enter tournament play in the fourth round.

New England currently sits in eighth place in the MLS table (3W-7D-4L) with a recent 2-1 win over the Seattle Sounders on May 28.

Playing in their second all-time match against the Revolution, and first since their inaugural season in 2007, the RailHawks seek to avenge a 2-1 extra-time loss to that year’s eventual Open Cup champion.