The Third Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is one of the higher profile rounds of the tournament. When lower division teams find themselves one win away from a data with a Major League Soccer team, that ramps up the drama. There are 12 games in the Third Round and one of them will take place on Tuesday, May 22, and the remaining 11 on Wednesday.
The day after the Third Round is completed, on Thursday, May 24, the US Soccer Federation will hold a live draw to determine the draw for the Fourth Round. The draw is scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. EST and will be streamed live on Facebook.
Click below for links of our coverage and scroll down for a preview and live video links for each game.
#USOC2018 coverage:
* 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup schedule, results
* 2018 US Open Cup statistical leaders
News
* USSF allows NY Cosmos B, Miami FC 2, Jacksonville Armada into 2018 US Open Cup
* El Farolito, 1993 US Open Cup champions, disqualified from 2018 tournament
* Why is it against the rules to change leagues during the US Open Cup?
* FC Cincinnati at Gettler Stadium: “Like Metallica playing a small venue”
2018 Meet the Underdogs series
* Christos FC
* FC Denver
* FC Kendall
* Kendall Wanderers
* La Maquina FC
* Los Angeles Wolves FC
* NTX Rayados
* Red Force FC
* Rochester River Dogz
* Santa Ana Winds
* Sporting AZ FC
Qualifying
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying results
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Win & You’re In review
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Round 2 review
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Round 1 review
* Things you should know about the Third Round of the US Open Cup (Modern Era)
* Notable upsets in the Third Round of the US Open Cup (Modern Era)
* Support TheCup.us: Special “TheCup.us” Del Rey City jerseys available for purchase
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LIVE VIDEO (USSoccer.com) FULL MATCH REPORT |
LIVE VIDEO (USSoccer.com) |
The Battery are one of the hottest teams in American professional soccer right now, currently on an eight-match unbeaten run. The Battery, who were US Open Cup runners-up in 2008, defeated South Georgia Tormenta FC 1-0 last Wednesday. Patrick Okonkwo scored midway through the first half to give the Battery the eventual 1-0 win. The Battery have a rich history in the tournament aside from the 2008 runner-up performance. They are tied with D.C. United (the team that beat them in that 2008 Final) with 32 wins, which is tied for the fifth-most in the Modern Era. They boast an impressive 26-6-5 (2-3 PKs) record at home. The Battery have an impressive record against amateur teams as well, with a 14-1-1 (0-1 PKs) mark. If they want to add to that record, they will have to do it without attacking midfielder Nico Rittmeyer who was sent off in the 63rd minute of last week’s match against Tormenta FC.They will take on the defending NPSL champion Elm City Express. The Express made their way to the Third Round of the Open Cup after Shaquille Saunchez scored two goals in the final 10 minutes of the game to give Elm City a 2-0 win over the Seacoast United Phantoms (PDL). In Round 1, they traveled to historic Ludlow, Mass. and defeated the Western Mass Pioneers (PDL), 2-1. With a pair of wins in this tournament, the Express are the first Connecticut-based club (New Haven, Conn.) in the Modern Era to win multiple games in a single tournament. |
LIVE VIDEO (USSoccer.com) |
Defending USL Champion Louisville City FC cruised to a 5-0 win over the Long Island Rough Riders in the Second Round and will face fellow USL side, Saint Louis FC. City are currently one point behind first place FC Cincinnati (with a game in hand) in the USL Eastern Conference standings. This is just the club’s third trip to the tournament after launching in 2015. Their best finish is when they reached the Fourth Round in their inaugural season, falling 1-0 in extra time to the Chicago Fire (MLS).Saint Louis edged out a 2-0 win over Duluth FC (NPSL) to advance to Round 3. Saint Louis FC will need to muster some magic as the Missouri soccer club has only one win against Louisville City in eight matches across all competitions. The last and only win came in Saint Louis FC’s final game of the 2015 USL season. They re-enter tournament play sitting middle of the table in the USL standings with a record of 3-2-5.Saint Louis has had similar success in the tournament since they launched the club in 2015. Both Louisville (3-3-1, 1-0 PKs) and Saint Louis (4-3-1, 1-0 PKs) have similar records with Saint Louis benefiting from some favorable draws and upsets. They have won four games in the competition but all four were against amateur sides and the lone pro team they eliminated was Minnesota United FC (NASL) in 2015 by way of penalty kicks. |
LIVE VIDEO (USSoccer.com) |
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds quelled its demons and emerged 2-1 victors over Erie Commodores FC in Second Round action last Wednesday. Pittsburgh advanced to the Third Round for the first time in three years as a result of the win. Thomas Vancaeyezeele and Kevin Kerr scored a goal apiece inside the first half hour of the match to give the Riverhounds a two-goal advantage. Cameron Philpot got one back in the final minute of the first half for Erie, but Pittsburgh stifled the NPSL side’s attack in the second half to see out the win.The Riverhounds have struggled in the tournament over the last couple decades. Their signature Cup run was back in 2001 when they beat the Colorado Rapids (MLS) and the El Paso Patriots (A-League) and earned a date with the defending MLS Cup and US Open Cup champion Chicago Fire on the road. The Riverhounds took them to extra time but it was the Fire who scored the golden goal.Pittsburgh will have a big challenge ahead of them if this is going to be the year that they have that magical Cup run. They will host FC Cincinnati who is currently sitting at the top of the Eastern Conference standings with a 6-2-2 record. The Riverhounds are not far behind as they league’s only remaining undefeated team. However, they have more draws than wins (4-0-5) which puts them in fourth place.FC Cincinnati, who won advanced five times and reached the Semifinals of the US Open Cup last year by only scoring four goals has experienced an offensive revival in the early part of the USL season. They have 20 goals scored in the first 10 games and have the third-best offense in the USL. Last year, in just their second year of existence, they eliminated two MLS teams (Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire) before blanking the NASL’s Miami FC in the Quarterfinals. They broke the Modern Era record for team shutout streak with 584 minutes of scoreless soccer. Their goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt used that performance to earn himself a contract with MLS power Atlanta United FC. That streak and the Cup run would end in the Semifinals when they fell to the New York Red Bulls in extra time in front of the second-biggest crowd to ever watch a US Open Cup game (33,250).They kicked off the 2018 tournament by scoring as many goals (four) in the opening game than they did the first five games of last year’s tournament. They defeated Detroit City FC 4-1 in extra time thanks to a hat trick from Emery Welshman. The two teams went into extra time tied at 1-1 but FC Cincinnati, playing at the University of Cincinnati’s soccer field — far smaller than the usual Nippert Stadium. This time, the game will be played Pittsburgh’s soccer-specific stadium near downtown. |
LIVE VIDEO (USSoccer.com) |
Trevor Spangenberg was a wall between the sticks for the Richmond Kickers, posting eight saves and stopping two penalty shots in a 4-3 penalty kick win (after a 1-1 draw) over Reading United AC (PDL). With the win, Richmond reached the Third Round of the Open Cup eight of the last nine years.After playing level through 90 minutes thanks to goals by Richmond’s Koby Osei-Wusu and Reading’s Khori Bennett, the match went to extra time. However, neither side could find a breakthrough despite the extra 30 minutes of action, though Richmond’s Oscar Umar was sent off for an on-field altercation while play was stopped for a foul. In the shootout, Spangenberg came up big to push two efforts wide of the goal to assure victory for Richmond. It was a welcome result against one of the best PDL teams. Last year, the Kickers were one-and-done for just the third time in club history when they narrowly lost to Christos FC (USASA).As a result of the win, Richmond will play host to Penn FC at City Stadium.Penn FC, the team formerly known as the Harrisburg City Islanders, have one of the strongest Open Cup resumes in the USL. They have eliminated five MLS teams in their history. Only three lower division teams in the country (Rochester Rhinos, Charleston Battery, North Carolina FC) have more MLS upsets than them.To reach the Third Round, they scored three goals in the final 12 minutes to eliminate FC Motown of the NPSL. After falling behind 1-0 on a goal by Dilly Duka, Penn FC received goals from Miguel Jaime, Prince Boffo and Pedro Galvao to avoid the upset
Both teams are tied in the league standings in the bottom half of the USL table. Richmond (3-4-1) and Penn FC (2-3-4) both have 10 points. Both teams have won two of their last three games in league play. |
LIVE VIDEO (USSoccer.com) |
Jacksonville Armada FC became one of the first two NPSL teams besides Chattanooga FC to beat a professional side in Open Cup play with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL). Though Jacksonville is a professional team, one of few in the NPSL, their win marked just the fourth victory over a professional team in Open Cup competition for the league that started in 2003.The breakthrough came in the second half for Jacksonville. JC Banks got on the end of a thru ball by Josh Castellanos on the left side of the box before slotting it home near-post for the only tally of the match. Jacksonville had to begin the tournament in a Preliminary Round because they, along with fellow professional NPSL teams Miami FC 2 and New York Cosmos B, were late additions to the tournament. Combined with wins over The Villages SC (PDL) and SIMA Aguilas (PDL), the Armada have won three games in a single tournament for the first time in club history.Traveling up to Jacksonville will be Miami United FC which will be a rematch of last year’s Second Round where the Armada were victorious 2-1 in Miami. This marks the first time that United have reached the Third Round.They reached the Third Round by defeating amateur side FC Kendall, followed by a 3-1 win over Miami FC 2. This is the third US Open Cup appearance for the NPSL side. The first two attempts saw them defeat South Florida-based amateur sides, followed by losses to pro teams.Miami are led by star forward David Ochoa who leads the tournament with five goals. Ochoa started out with a hat trick against FC Kendall and followed that up with a pair of goals against Miami FC 2. |
LIVE VIDEO (USSoccer.com) |
Two southern sides will meet on Wednesday night at Vanderbilt Soccer Stadium when the United Soccer League’s (USL) Nashville SC host Premier Development League (PDL) side Mississippi Brilla in the Third Round of the 2018 US Open Cup.Much like the city of Nashville itself, Nashville SC currently find themselves on quite the upward trajectory. The team, which was founded in 2016, are playing in their first season in the USL as well as their first Open Cup. The team’s majority owner, John Ingram, has also confirmed that the announced MLS expansion franchise in Nashville will, in fact, be Nashville SC. On the field, the team has been somewhat inconsistent as they currently find themselves in 10th place in the USL’ Eastern Conference standings with 12 points from their first eight games. Ghana-born Ropapa Mensah currently leads the line for Nashville with three goals this season while Tucker Hume was the hero with both goals in the team’s Round 2 win over local rivals Inter Nashville.Meanwhile, amateur side Mississippi Brilla are also enjoying 2018. They traveled to New Orleans in Round 1 and came away with a penalty shootout victory over the New Orleans Jesters of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) before scoring a shocking 1-0 upset over the USL’s Indy Eleven in Round 2. It was the first time that a Mississippi-based club has reach the Third Round. Brilla defender Koray Eastering got on the end of teammate Oliver Brock’s 81st minute free kick and the home side held on in front almost 1,000 fans to defeat the pros from Indianapolis. Brilla have carried the momentum into their PDL campaign. They took down Memphis City FC 2-0 on Saturday night behind goals from Ali Brador and Rich Bryan. |
LIVE VIDEO (USSoccer.com) |
Perennial Open Cup attendee NTX Rayados advanced to the Third Round for the first time since 2014. They advanced by “cupsetting” the USL’s OKC Energy FC 5-2 in extra-time, although the matchup was ripe for an upset as the latter was in the midst of a nine-match losing streak. Christian Okeke scored a pair of goals for the Rayados and earned TheCup.us Player of the Round honors as the North Texas Premier Soccer Association side defeated their first-ever pro team.Their next opponent, FC Wichita, is coming into this matchup after dispatching the Tulsa Roughnecks 4-3 in the Second Round. FC Wichita are making their third straight appearance in the tournament and have taken a new step each year. In 2016, they were one-and-done against the Des Moines Menace (PDL), then last year, they won their first US Open Cup game by defeating Azteca FC (USASA) before losing an extra time battle against Saint Louis FC (USL). This year, they won two games, including their first pro team upset. The win over Tulsa helped FC Wichita join an exclusive club. Along with the Jacksonville Armada, they join Chattanooga FC as the only NPSL clubs to ever upset a pro team since the league was founded in 2003.As the only Third Round matchup consisting of amateur sides, it guarantees that an open division side will advance to the Fourth Round where they will be poised to play a Major League Soccer squad. |
LIVE VIDEO (USSoccer.com) |
San Antonio FC will host fellow USL foe Colorado Springs in the Third Round of the US Open Cup at Toyota Field. Both sides earned victories over amateur sides in the previous round; San Antonio blanked the Midland-Odessa Sockers 4-0 while the Switchbacks squeaked by FC Denver with a late penalty, 3-2.The two squads have met four times prior, all in league play, with the Switchbacks having the slightest of edges in the series with 2 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss. These clubs have yet to play each other in 2018 and are both coming off disappointing league matches. Colorado Springs are limping into this match after losing, 1-0, to the OKC Energy who were in the midst of a nine-match losing streak. Similarly, San Antonio will look to bounce back after giving up two home points to the Tulsa Roughnecks, who currently sit at the bottom of the USL Western Conference. |
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The PDL powerhouse, FC Golden State Force, will host the traveling Las Vegas Lights (USL). Golden State Force have sprung onto the scene since their founding in 2015, quickly becoming one of the most dominant amateur sides in the country. After reaching the Second Round of the Cup in their first appearance in the Cup, the Southern California side have now gone one step further, reaching the Third Round for the first time in the club’s history. In Round 1, they easily disposed of UPSL side, LA Wolves, by a score of 3-1 before going on the road to earn a huge upset victory over USL side, Orange County SC, by a score of 4-2. They currently sit atop the PDL Southwest Division standings with a 3-0 record as they have yet to lose or even concede a goal in league play.Their opponent is USL expansion side, Las Vegas Lights FC. They won their inaugural Open Cup match in Round 2 by a score of 4-2 over FC Tucson of the PDL. The Lights were led by a two goal performance by Sammy Ochoa. Las Vegas currently sits in 12th place in the USL Western Conference standings having picked up just two wins in League play all season. In their most recent match this past weekend, they lost 2-0 to the USL defending regular season champions, Real Monarchs. Las Vegas will look to advance to Round 4 by traveling away to Whittier, Calif. in Round 3. |
LIVE VIDEO (USSoccer.com) |
This matchup pits one of the 2018 US Open Cup’s best Cinderella stories, Sporting AZ FC, up against USL expansion side, Fresno FC. The UPSL side from Arizona is one of just two remaining clubs to get in through the US Open Cup’s open division qualifying tournament last fall. Arizona is coming off of a thrilling penalty shootout upset win of local USL side, Phoenix Rising. They were led on that night by seven saves from goalkeeper Andrew Weber, who received strong consideration for TheCup.us Player of the Round honors. Sporting Arizona currently sits atop the UPSL Southwest Conference standings with a record of 4-1-1. In their most recent match this past weekend, they earned a draw against their own reserve side, Sporting Arizona II.Their opponents, Fresno FC, will make the trip down to Arizona following a weekend off in which they played a friendly. The Foxes won their inaugural Open Cup match with a 2-0 extra time victory over NPSL side Orange County FC last week. Fresno currently sits in 11th place in the USL Western Conference standings as they haven’t won in League play since a 2-1 victory back in March against Oklahoma City Energy. The Foxes can look to a good Open Cup run to get them back on track in the league. |
LIVE VIDEO (USSoccer.com) |
This rivalry match is a repeat of last year’s Third Round of the US Open Cup when Sacramento Republic toppled Reno by a score of 2-0 at home. However, this time the rematch will take place in Reno. The home side, Reno 1868, reached the Third Round of the Cup for a second consecutive year with a 7-3 thumping of the PDL’s Portland Timbers U-23s. Reno currently sits in 10th place of the USL Western Conference standings following a 1-1 draw this past weekend with the Oklahoma City Energy.Sacramento Republic will be looking to inflict some revenge on their rivals as just two weekends ago they held a 2-0 lead at home against Reno only to see it all melt away, losing in the end 3-2. The Republic currently sits in third place of the USL Western Conference standings coming off of a huge 3-1 road victory over Phoenix Rising. The Republic are looking to match their impressive Cup run from a year ago when they upset Real Salt Lake in the Fourth Round of the Open Cup at home. They began this year’s Cup with a 3-1 victory over San Francisco City FC of the PDL. |