Portland Timbers learn potential fourth-round schedule for U.S. Open Cup

PORTLAND, Ore. – U.S. Soccer today announced the possible pairings, dates and times for the fourth round of the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Portland Timbers will either play host to Orlando City U23s (Premier Development League) at Providence Park on Tuesday, June 17, at 7:30 p.m. (PT), or travel to face the Charleston Battery (USL PRO) on Wednesday, June 18, at 4:30 p.m. (PT). 

The Timbers will take on the winner of the third-round match between Charleston and Orlando City U23s that takes place Wednesday, May 28, at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston.

A potential home match against Orlando City U23s would be included as part of Timbers full-season ticket packages as Exhibition B, with additional ticket details to follow should Portland play host to a fourth-round matchup.

All 16 U.S.-based clubs from Major League Soccer, including the Timbers, enter the 2014 U.S. Open Cup – the 101st edition of the tournament – in the fourth round. 

In 2014, the U.S. Open Cup features 80 teams, the largest field in the tournament’s modern era (1995-present). The U.S. Open Cup, recognized as U.S. Soccer's National Club Championship, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. Founded in 1914, the U.S. Open Cup will be conducted on a single-elimination, one-game-knockout basis utilizing a tiered-bracket format.

The winner of the U.S. Open Cup earns a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League, receives $250,000 and will have its name engraved on the historic Dewar Challenge Trophy, one of the oldest nationally contested trophies in American team sports.

Last year, the Timbers made their deepest run in the tournament in their history reaching the semifinal round.