Bratislav Ristic

The big lead this morning is Bratislav Ristic has reportedly been cut by the Chicago Fire. As one source came in, they continued to pour in to the point it's nearly impossible the 31 year-old Serbian is still a member of the team. The Fire have not sent out anything official but that announcement will likely come out some time this week if not today.

There was only one scenario where the Real Colorado Foxes could fail to make the USL's Premier Development League playoffs, the team would have to lose to Thunder Bay and Des Moines would have to sweep its final two matches.

The one scenario played out in all its painful details over the weekend.

There was only one scenario where the Real Colorado Foxes could fail to make the USL's Premier Development League playoffs, the team would have to lose to Thunder Bay and Des Moines would have to sweep its final two matches.

The one scenario played out in all its painful details over the weekend.

The Real Colorado Foxes made their point and ensured a playoff spot Friday night in a game that featured six cautions and left the home team with 10 men.

Reflective of a late-season showdown between the top two teams in the Heartland Division of the Premier Development League's Central Conference, the teams had far more bookings that goal scorers.

The Real Colorado Foxes made their point and ensured a playoff spot Friday night in a game that featured six cautions and left the home team with 10 men.

Reflective of a late-season showdown between the top two teams in the Heartland Division of the Premier Development League's Central Conference, the teams had far more bookings that goal scorers.

Winning 11 out of 14 games hasn't been enough to give the Real Colorado Foxes control of the team's playoff destiny.

Instead of running away with the division, the Highlands Ranch-based side faces a two-game tie with its closest competitor and the possibility that this weekend could leave the team in first, or sitting out of the playoffs in third.

Tomorrow night at LiveSTRONG Sporting Park KC will continue another quest for silverware, in the US Open Cup proper. The Cup is entering it's third round this Tuesday, and all 8 MLS teams that qualified for the tournament are entering at this stage. Kansas City's opponents, the Chicago Fire PDL came into the tournament in round 1.

Photo by Nick Turchiaro/ISIphotos.com

By CALEB SONNELAND

The road to Major League Soccer is never an easy one, and Lamar Neagle will be the first person to say the same thing — from personal experience.

From juggling multiple jobs on top of playing with the Sounders just to make ends meet to snapping Real Salt Lake's two-year unbeaten run at home with an MLS Goal of the Week and currently starting for the Sounders, the Federal Way, Wash.

The Chicago Fire Premier team defeated the Iowa Menace 1-0 last night in the 1st Round of the U.S. Open Cup. Chris Estridge provided the heroics when he went on a long run in the 87th minute and scored an unassisted goal. The only way to follow the game was through the Twitter accounts of the Des Moines Menace (little explanation on Des Moines Menace vs.

This week's early injury report includes an upgrade to Josip Mikulic's status. The defender returned to full training yesterday while Marko Maric resumed light running on the side. Steven Kinney and Mike Banner worked on the side as well but did not train.

CHICAGO FIRE -- OUT: MF Mike Banner (L Achilles tendinitis); DF Steven Kinney (R Achilles tendinitis); DOUBTFUL: MF Marko Maric (L deltoid ligament sprain); PROBABLE: DF Josip Mikulic (L clavicle fracture)

USOC

The Chicago Fire PDL advanced to the second round of the USOC by defeating the Des Moines Menace 1-0 last night.

The Real Colorado Foxes will find out on June 14 who the team will face in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup.

The Foxes, off to a 4-0 start, earned a spot in the nation's oldest soccer tournament when the Des Moines Menace suffered a surprise 2-1 loss to the Kansas City Brass on May 25.

The Foxes will find out the team's opponent and whether the team, in just its third season of existence, will get to host an Open Cup match.

Kansas City's US Open Cup qualifier on Wednesday, May 25th against the New England Revolution now has a location. The game will be at the Blue Valley District Athletic Complex. KC has played at BVDAC multiple times over their history, going 4-1 at the location, including 2-0 in KC's 2004 run to the US Open Cup.

Not only does Sporting KC have a game day today, but so does the KC Athletics. Today at Rockhurst University the Athletics host the Iowa Menace at 2pm. The Iowa Menace used to go by the Des Moines Menace Reserves, and have a roster that includes former PDL MVP, Tomas Boltnar. On the other side, the Athletics roster features 3 former SKC Wizards on the team, Ryan Barber, Brian Roberts, and Ryan Raybould.