The Lamar Hunt Pioneer Cup is a Major League Soccer series between FC Dallas and the Columbus Crew. Named after the late Lamar Hunt, one of the league's major investors and a key supporter of American soccer, the series is contested between the two teams still owned by the Hunt Sports Group. (Sporting Kansas City was sold before the Pioneer Cup began.) The Pioneer Cup is the second event in American soccer named after Lamar Hunt, whose name is also given to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
The first two editions of the Pioneer Cup were single preseason matches. The inaugural edition was played on March 11, 2007 at Pizza Hut Park, with Columbus defeating Dallas 3–0. Proceeds from the game went to the charity Dallas SCORES. The second edition of the cup was played on March 20, 2010 at Pizza Hut Park, with Dallas defeating Columbus 2–1 in heavy snow.
In 2011, the Pioneer Cup was changed to a two-game, aggregate-goal series played during the regular season. The first leg was played at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, OH on April 1, 2011. The Crew took advantage of FC Dallas going one man down in the 33rd minute to win 2–0. The second, and deciding leg was played at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, TX on July 2, 2011, with the Hoops winning 2–0. Tied 2–2 on aggregate, FC Dallas retained the Pioneer Cup with the tie being broken by all-time head to head goals.
Read more about Lamar Hunt Pioneer Cup: Winners, Match Results
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