Twenty US-based Major League Soccer clubs entered the Fourth Round of the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and by the time the dust settled, three teams from the United Soccer League joined 13 from the country’s top division in the Round of 16.
On Tuesday, June 5, the headline was clearly the defending USL champion Louisville City FC upsetting the New England Revolution. On Wednesday, Nashville SC dominated the Colorado Rapids and to close out the night, the Sacramento Republic stunned the four-time champion Seattle Sounders.
Elsewhere, the regional approach to the tournament continued to bring rivalry matchups to the tournament. The Chicago Fire met the Columbus Crew for what fans hope won’t be the last time, and they continued their unbeaten record against their Ohio rivals with a dramatic win in a penalty kick shootout. The New York Red Bulls kept their rivals New York City FC winless in tournament play with a 4-0 beat down. Another tense battle between Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake saw the defending champions win on the road to keep their hopes of a rare repeat alive.
The three remaining Open Division teams all crashed out with Orlando City shutting out Miami United FC (NPSL), the Houston Dynamo (MLS) overwhelmed the NTX Rayados (USASA), 5-0, while FC Golden State Force (PDL) scored a goal but was knocked off by the Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS), 3-1.
The eight Round of 16 games are scattered over four different dates. The schedule and match details have been released and the potential matchups for the Quarterfinals are also available. (You can find them here).
Click below for links to our coverage and scroll down for a brief recap and links to the full match report for every game.
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Coming off a nightmare in league play that saw them lose veterans Haris Medunjanin and Alejandro Bedoya to red cards in the 18th minute in Atlanta, the Philadelphia Union feasted on bottom of the table USL competition Tuesday night in a 5-0 win in front of 3,565 fans in Chester, Pa.The Union got things started early when Jack Elliott scored off a corner kick from Medunjanin, who will serve his (at least) one game suspension for Friday’s league match. David Accam doubled the lead in the 27th minute after stepping up to take a penalty kick called on Kickers goalkeeper Trevor Spangenberg for taking down Cory Burke in the box. The goal was the sixth in Open Cup play for Accam and his first in all competitions for the Union. Anthony Fontana, an 18-year-old making his Open Cup debut, made it 3-0 on an unassisted flick from a tight angle and Marcus Epps tacked one more on with a lovely curling shot off an assist from Burke in first half stoppage time.Jay Simpson made it 5-0 shortly after coming off the bench for Burke in the 49th minute. The goal was the second in Open Cup play for Simpson, whose only goal in league play came in his second game for the Union in March 2017. The Kickers made a late push to get on the board, but hit woodwork one one chance and forced John McCarthy into his only save of the night on the other. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT |
The defending USL Cup champions claimed the club’s first upset of an MLS squad in a 3-2 win over New England Revolution on Tuesday night. Louisville fell behind early on a fifth minute goal from Revs’ rookie Mark Segbers but leveled the score six minutes later when Brian Ownby set up Oscar Jimenez.New England regained the lead on an own goal in the 26th minute, but Cameron Lancaster put the home side back on level ground before halftime with a 37th minute strike from outside the 18. Brian Ownby then capped off the upset with a 62nd minute stunner that delighted the partisan crowd of 5,000-plus at Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium at the University of Louisville.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT |
In front of a 3,000 plus crowd at the Soccerplex in Boyds, Maryland it was D.C. United advancing to the Fifth Round of the 2018 US Open Cup for the fourth straight year on PKs after finishing 1-1 after extra time.D.C. United dominated possession in the first half and in the 25th minute Ian Harkes, the homegrown player and son of US Soccer legend John Harkes, gave DC United a 1-0 lead when the ball bounced to him after Assad hit the post to put the ball in the back of the net.Dane Kelly nearly doubled the lead in the 47th minute but NCFC keeper Alex Tambakis came up with a huge save. In the 83rd minute, Marios Lomis got to a loose ball and buried the shot for the equalizer to tie the match 1-1. Lomis’ goal was his third straight in this year’s competition.
Scoreless in extra time, United keeper David Ousted made a crucial save in the penalty shootout on Kyle Bekker’s penalty in the second round and after both teams missed a kick in the Fourth Round, D.C. sealed it in the fifth when Bruno Miranda converted to secure D.C.’s place in the Round of 16. |
Richard Sanchez of the Chicago Fire won the goalkeeper battle, propelling his team to the Round of 16 after 11 shootout rounds. In fact, the deciding round of the penalty kick shootout round were between the two opposing goalkeepers: Sanchez and the Crew’s Logan Ketterer, who was making his professional debut. Wednesday night’s first game was perhaps its most exciting, and not just because of the shootout. First-half goals by Columbus’s Cristian Martinez and Chicago’s Nemanja Nikolic sent the game to extra time, where Nikolic scored again what looked to be the winner in the 109th minute. The Crew struck back five minutes later behind Adam Jahn, leading to the epic penalty kick tilt where only three players (Crew goalkeeper Logan Ketterer and defender Hector Jimenez for the Crew, and Nikolic for the Fire) missed their spot kicks. If it was indeed the last US Open Cup game for the Crew in Columbus, it was at least a memorable one.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT |
New York City remain winless in Open Cup play after another 4-0 drubbing at the hands of the rival New York Red Bulls. The Red Bulls jumped ahead early behind Vincent Bezecourt’s 2nd-minute strike and never looked back, although it took a minor miracle and a goalline clearance to keep David Villa off the board late in the first half. Aaron Long doubled the lead seven minutes into the second half, and Daniel Royer salted the wounds with goals in the 87th and 89th minutes.New York City has accomplished a lot in coach Patrick Vieira’s tenure. But with rumors swirling around his exit, it appears Open Cup success won’t be one of them. Meanwhile, the Red Bulls will move on to take on the Philadelphia Union in the Round of 16.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT |
As the only amateur side to actually host an MLS team, there was a little more hope than usual for a Cal FC moment. Those hopes were dashed, however, after a Stefano Pinho goal in the 37th minute, and then extinguished when Dillon Powers put in Orlando’s second goal eight minutes into the second frame. PC concluded the damage with a strike to make it 3-0 in the 62nd minute.Orlando City will enter the Round of 16 as the lone remaining Florida team when they travel to DC United.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT |
Atlanta United showed no mercy to their former USL affiliate, routing the Charleston Battery 3-0 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia. Andrew Carleton scored his first goal with Atlanta and the first goal of the game in the 14th minute, doing so against the side he played for last year. A Skylar Thomas foul brought Atlanta to the spot, where Ezequiel Barco buried the penalty to make it 2-0 just after the halftime break. Romario Williams, leading scorer for Charleston last year, sealed the deal for Atlanta in the 64th minute.Atlanta will move on to host the Chicago Fire in the ROund of 16.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT |
FC Cincinnati’s run to the semifinals last year was one of the more magical in recent Open Cup history. Lightning would not strike twice, however, as Minnesota United advanced 3-1 on penalties after a 0-0 120-minute draw. While last year’s scoreless draw between Cincinnati and Chicago was thrilling, involving multiple saves by then-Cincinnati goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt, this was one was far cagier and wanting for chances. And while Cincinnati largely controlled possession, Minnesota had the better of the few chances that arose, forcing Cincinnati goalkeeper Spencer Richey into four saves.However, it was Minnesota goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth who would be the hero, saving two penalties, including Nazmi Albadawi’s last kick of the shootout. Minnesota moves on to Houston in the Round of 16, and Cincinnati will get their chance at revenge in next year’s MLS regular season.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT |
It’s not often that a USL team makes an MLS team, especially one bringing a first-choice lineup, look like an amateur team. But after 90 minutes, the Colorado Rapids let in two goals and couldn’t even muster a shot on Nashville’s goal. The Rapids did turn a shot on their own goal, which is where Nashville’s first goal came from in the 39th minute by way of Michael Azira. Nashville SC clinched the club’s first win over an MLS side in their first try when Ropapa Mensah slammed home a 79th minute tally.Colorado’s record against Division 2 teams falls to 6-8-0, while Nashville will move on to Louisville in the Round of 16.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT |
While the scoreline says 5-0 to the Houston Dynamo, this was not a typical MLS vs. amateur match. It took the Houston Dynamo 55 minutes to break down Eduardo Cortes, who put up nine saves, and the NTX Rayados. From then on, the floodgates opened, with Memo Rodriguez and Aldo Quintanilla managing a brace each and Matias Zaldivar scoring Houston’s 4th late in the match. But the Rayados showed life before then, especially in the first half when Mohamed Sesay forced Chris Seitz into a couple of saves in the 23rd and 27th minute.The Dynamo move on to host Minnesota United in the Round of 16.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT |
San Antonio FC remains winless against MLS competition as they dropped a narrow 1-0 decision at home to FC Dallas. Dallas’s goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer was forced into a few critical saves in the first half, particularly as the half wound down. Maurer parried away a tricky Owayne Omar Gordon effort just before the halftime whistle. Another San Antonio attack midway through the first half needed a goalline clearance. Shortly after the break, Tesho Akindele provided the game’s only goal and Dallas never looked back.FC Dallas moves on to the Round of 16, where they’ll hope to unseat the defending Open Cup champions, Sporting Kansas City.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT |
Sporting Kansas City already has qualification for next year’s CONCACAF Champions’ League wrapped up by virtue of winning last year’s Open Cup. On Wednesday, however, they played as if their spot in the league was on the line, as they won convincingly over Real Salt Lake in Utah. After a strong first ten minutes by the home side, RSL had trouble getting much going in the game, directing just two shots on target. Johnny Russell broke through for the visitors in the 47th minute and Kharlton Belmar made it 2-0 and iced the game in the 74th minute.Sporting Kansas City moves on to the Round of 16, where they’ll welcome FC Dallas to Children’s Mercy Park.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT |
LAFC cruised in this battle of teams that didn’t exist a year ago, although it took 53 minutes for the home side to finally break through the Fresno defenses. Diego Rossi touched home Dejan Jakovic’s effort to open the scoring, and Latif Blessing slotted home the second just three minutes later to put the game out of reach. Fresno’s lone chance could have altered the game, but Agstin Cazarez missed an open net in the 48th minute.LAFC moves on in their maiden Open Cup voyage to take on the Sacramento Republic.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT |
FC Golden State Force arguably had the best showing of all the fourth-round amateur sides, scoring a goal and remaining just a goal behind until the 85th minute. It looked like the Galaxy would run away with this early, with Bradford Jamieson scoring in just the 15th minute and Ariel Lassiter scoring a spectacular scissor-kick goal in the 37th to double the lead. But the Force were unfazed, pulling one back just after halftime behind Pedro Fonseca. However, Lassiter’s second tally iced the game in the 85th minute.The Galaxy move on to take on the Portland Timbers in the Round of 16, while FC Golden State will enjoy the bonus for advancing the farthest of all amateur teams while taking out the most pro teams.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT |
Despite playing in the same league, the San Jose Earthquakes weren’t much match for the Portland Timbers on Wednesday night. Jeremy Ebobisse opened the scoring for the Timbers in the 28th minute, and Portland never looked back. The Earthquakes registered just one shot on target, which did not include a missed sitter by Quincy Amarikwa in the second half. Dairon Asprilla doubled the hosts’ advantage in the 66th minute to put the Quakes away.With league form tanking, the Quakes sent largely a first-choice lineup. But it wasn’t enough to overcome the Timbers’ reserve-heavy lineup, who now move on to host the Galaxy in the Round of 16.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT |
The Seattle Sounders have had a lot of success in the Open Cup in their history. But they didn’t show it on Wednesday night as they fell 2-1 in extra time to the Sacramento Republic. Sacramento dominated most of the game, going ahead on a 55th minute strike by Cameron Iwasa. They continued to pepper Sounders goalkeeper Bryan Meredith with shots until Harry Shipp found a fluke equalizer in stoppage time. But Sacramento continued on their way, netting a goal by way of Jure Matjasic in the 115th minute.Sacramento moves on to Los Angeles, where they’ll face Los Angeles Football Club in the Round of 16.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT |