The U.S. Open Cup features more than a century of history, plus prize money and a berth in international competition. But for MLS coaches balancing the midweek competition with weekend league matches, there is no uniform approach.
Go all-out and risk wearing down the regulars? Blend experience and youth? Hand the keys to the reserves and youngsters?
D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls took divergent views of their round-of-32 match Tuesday night at Audi Field, and the visitors’ 3-0 victory reflected which side took it more seriously.
While the Red Bulls fielded a relatively strong lineup, United interim coach Chad Ashton’s choices fell somewhere between the aforementioned second and third options — even though the Red Bulls are D.