The 1998 U.S. Open Cup ran from June through October, 1998, open to all soccer teams in the United States.

1998 U.S. Open Cup
Tournament details
CountryUnited States
Final positions
ChampionsChicago Fire
(1st title)
Runner-upColumbus Crew
Tournament statistics
Top goal scorer(s)Jason Acres
(4 goals)
← 1997
1999 →

The first-year Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire won the Cup with a 2–1 overtime victory over the Columbus Crew at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.

In the early rounds of the tournament, only one MLS team lost to a minor-league side, when the A-League's Nashville Metros beat the Kansas City Wizards 3–1.

Open Cup Bracket

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Home teams listed on top of bracket

Second Round Third Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
               
A-L Hershey Wildcats 2
PDL Chicago Stingers 3
PDL Chicago Stingers 1
MLS Chicago Fire S.C. 3
 
 
MLS Chicago Fire (ASDET, PSO) 1 (4)
MLS San Jose Clash 1 (3)
A-L El Paso Patriots 9
PDL Arizona Sahuaros 1
A-L El Paso Patriots 0
MLS San Jose Clash 2
 
 
MLS Chicago Fire S.C. 3
MLS Dallas Burn 2
 
 
MLS Dallas Burn 4
A-L Orange County Zodiac 0
A-L Orange County Zodiac 2
PDL Austin Lone Stars 1
MLS Dallas Burn 5
A-L Nashville Metros 1
A-L Nashville Metros 7
PDL Delaware Wizards 1
A-L Nashville Metros 3
MLS Kansas City Wizards 1
 
 
MLS Chicago Fire S.C. (ASDET) 2
MLS Columbus Crew 1
 
 
MLS Miami Fusion 3
PDL Orlando Nighthawks 0
A-L Milwaukee Rampage 1
PDL Orlando Nighthawks 2
MLS Columbus Crew 3
MLS Miami Fusion 0
PDL Western Mass Pioneers 1
A-L Rochester Rhinos 3
A-L Rochester Rhinos 1
MLS Columbus Crew (ASDET) 2
 
 
MLS Columbus Crew 1
MLS MetroStars 0
 
 
MLS MetroStars (ASDET) 1
A-L Hampton Roads Mariners 0
A-L Hampton Roads Mariners (aet, PSO) 0 (3)
PDL Central Jersey Riptide 0 (2)
MLS MetroStars 4
MLS Tampa Bay Mutiny 0
 
 
MLS Tampa Bay Mutiny (ASDET, PSO) 2 (5)
PDL Worcester Wildfire 2 (4)
A-L Worcester Wildfire 2
PDL Charlotte Eagles 0

First round

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Eight D3 Pro, four PDL, and four USASA teams start.

June 9, 1998 San Nicholas S.C. (USASA Region IV) 1-2 Austin Lone Stars (USISL D3-Pro) House Park
Austin, Texas
  • Preciado   5'
  • Lopez   55'
  • Gabriel Hernandez   57'
  • May   58'
  • Oscar Hernandez   72'
  • Oscar Hernandez   85'
(Report)
Attendance: 824
June 11, 1998 S.A.C. Wisla (USASA Region II) 0-8 Chicago Stingers (USISL D3-Pro) Forest View Park
Arlington Heights, Illinois
(Report)
  • Jason Acres   ???',   ???',   ???' (pen.)
  •   ???'
  •   ???'
  •   ???'
  •   ???'
  •   ???'
June 12, 1998 Los Lobos (USASA Region III) 3-4 Charlotte Eagles (USISL D3-Pro) Davidson College
Davidson, North Carolina
  • Richard Verge   52'
  • Shane Schwab   74'
  • Richard Archambeau   79'
(Report)
  • Jamie Wellington   ???',   ???',   59'
  • Jon Payne   52'
June 16, 1998 Jackson Chargers (USISL PDSL) 1–2 Orlando Nighthawks (USISL D3-Pro) Frank E. Lough Stadium
Orlando, Florida
Jeremy Shortt   21' (Report)
  • Rod Levy   75'
  • Brian Person   87' (own goal)
  • David Mackey   89'
Attendance: 150
June 21, 1998 Western Massachusetts Pioneers (USISL D3-Pro) 2-0 (forfeit) New York Greek American Atlas (USASA Region I)
(Report)
Note: New York Greek American Atlas was forced to forfeit the match (originally a 1-0) win due to the use of six players who had not obtained international clearance.

Second round

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Eight A-League enter.

June 23, 1998 Chicago Stingers (USISL D3-Pro) 3-2 (a.e.t.) Hershey Wildcats (USISL A-League) Hersheypark Stadium
Hershey, Pennsylvania
  • Lovelace Ackah   32'
  • Matt Hamnett   37'
  • Lovelace Ackah   58'
  • Chris Jahr   63'
  • Jimmy Harkness   74'
  • Jason Acres   99'
(Report)
Referee: Nate Clement
June 24, 1998 Delaware Wizards (USISL D3-Pro) 1–7 Nashville Metros (USISL A-League) HCA Columbia Soccer Stadium
Nashville, Tennessee
Tarik Walker   68' (Report)
Attendance: 469

Third round

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Eight MLS enter.

Quarterfinals

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Columbus Crew (MLS)3–0Miami Fusion (MLS)
Jeff Cunningham 12'
Brian McBride 36', 44'
(Report)
Attendance: 3,757
Referee: Sandra Hunt (USA)


Chicago Fire (MLS)1–1 (AET)
4-3 PSO
San Jose Clash (MLS)
Lubos Kubik 55' (Report) Jeff Baicher 65'
Attendance: 3,812
Referee: Kevin Terry (USA)

Nashville Metros (A-League)1–5Dallas Burn (MLS)
John Jones 87' (Report) Dante Washington 9', 53'
Mickey Trotman 48'
Temoc Suarez 78'
Richard Farrer 81'
Attendance: 3,812
Referee: Gerry Corrie (USA)

Semifinals

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Chicago Fire (MLS)3–2Dallas Burn (MLS)
Ante Razov 11'
Roman Kosecki 56'
Lubos Kubik 74'
(Report) Mickey Trotman 23'
Leonel Álvarez 83' (pen)
Attendance: 6,514
Referee: Rich Grady (USA)

Columbus Crew (MLS)1–0MetroStars (MLS)
Ricardo Iribarren 5' (Report)
Attendance: 6,514
Referee: Tim Weyland (USA)

Final

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Chicago Fire2–1 (a.e.t.)Columbus Crew
Podbrożny   45' (pen.)
Klopas   99'
Report John   53'
Attendance: 18,615
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chicago Fire
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Columbus Crew


Top scorers

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Position Player Club Goals
1 Jason Acres Chicago Stingers 4
2 Kirk Wilson El Paso Patriots 3
Brian McBride Columbus Crew 3
Joe Carver Chicago Stingers 3
James Wellington Charlotte Eagles 3

See also

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