U.S. Open Cup 2012: MLS Teams Pay To Have Third Round Matches Moved

Apparently the 2012 U.S. Open Cup wasn't quite as different as we were led to believe. Following Tuesday's second round, it was revealed that both the Seattle Sounders and Real Salt Lake had essentially paid their third round opponents to move their games.

In both cases, the MLS teams' opponents had won a coin-flip that gave them the right to host their game. Most observers were under the impression that settled the venue. But after the Portland Timbers announced on Monday that they had moved a potential third-round game against the Wilmington Hammerheads, that apparently set the wheels in motion for the other changes.

As it now stands, the LA Galaxy and Colorado Rapids are the only two MLS teams that have to make lengthy road trips for their third round games. The Galaxy will have to cross the country to play the NASL's Carolina Railhawks, who may well draw 10,000 people to WakeMed Soccer Park. The Rapids head to Florida to play the NASL's Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Tuesday, May 29
7 pm ET: D.C. United at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO) -- Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Va.
7 pm ET: NE Revolution at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO) -- Skyline Sports Complex; Harrisburg, Pa.
7 pm ET: LA Galaxy at Carolina RailHawks (NASL) -- WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.
7:30 pm ET: Chicago Fire at Michigan Bucks (PDL) -- Ultimate Soccer; Pontiac, Mich.
7:30 pm ET: Colorado Rapids at Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) -- Al Lang Stadium; St. Petersburg, Fla.
7:30 pm ET: Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) at Columbus Crew -- Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio
7:30 pm ET: New York Red Bulls at Charleston Battery (USL PRO) -- Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.
7:30 pm ET: Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) at Philadelphia Union -- PPL Park; Chester, Pa.
8:30 pm ET: Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at FC Dallas -- FC Dallas Stadium; Frisco, Texas
8:30 pm ET: Houston Dynamo at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL) -- Heroes Stadium; San Antonio, Texas
8:30 pm ET: Orlando City (USL PRO) at Sporting KC -- LIVESTRONG Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.
9 pm ET: Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) at Real Salt Lake -- Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
10 pm ET: Chivas USA at Ventura County Fusion (PDL) -- Ventura College; Ventura, Calif.
10:30 pm ET: Ft. Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) at SJ Earthquakes -- Cagan Stadium; Stanford, Calif.