CARY, N.C. – The Carolina RailHawks have eliminated three opponents so far in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play, including two Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs – Chivas USA and the LA Galaxy.
Along with the Atlanta Silverbacks, the RailHawks are the lone remaining representatives of the North American Soccer League (NASL) in the Open Cup entering the quarterfinals.
Both teams will face more MLS opposition and Triangle-area soccer fans can take it all in when the RailHawks kick off against FC Dallas at WakeMed Soccer Park at 7:30 p.m on Wednesday.
Carolina puts its 23-game unbeaten streak (NASL and Open Cup matches) at home on the line when they take on their Texas visitors in the two teams’ first-ever meeting.
The RailHawks’ achievement in competing against and defeating higher-level competition is impressive and becoming more the norm than the exception as they have now reached the Cup quarterfinal round of play for the second consecutive year.
It was an exciting 1-0 victory over the four-time MLS champion Los Angeles Galaxy after extra time on June 24 that put them in a familiar spot in the tournament again this season.
A win over Dallas would put Carolina in position to host a semifinal Cup match on Aug. 12 or 13 against MLS’ Philadelphia Union who came up as 2-0 winners over the New England Revolution on Tuesday.
In only their third year in Open Cup tournament play, the RailHawks along with other NASL teams have outscored their opposition 84 to 60 in 45 total games while posting a 24-3-18 overall record to go along with 13 shutouts.