MLS entered the competition in Round 4, and proved to be far and away the superior sides, going 10-1-4 (3-1 in shootouts) in their games against lower competition. Only the New York Cosmos (winning 4-3 in PKs after a 2-2 draw) and the Charlotte Independence (1-0 win) advanced from the lower tiers.
While MLS has the better record, many of the teams had to work for it, as six of those games went into extra time or a shootout, while another extra-time game had a plot line so unbelievable Hollywood could never have come up with anything like it.
Here is a brief recap of each Third Round game with links to the full match report (Check back as more will be added).
UPDATE: The Round of 16 draw was conducted by the US Soccer Federation on Thursday morning.
Philadelphia keeper John McCarthy went from near-goat to hero against his former team. After a couple of poor decisions to come out of the box nearly cost his team goals, he redeemed himself in the shootout, making three saves to see the Union through to Round 5. FULL MATCH REPORT »
Lloyd Sam and Ronald Zubar struck early for the Red Bulls, and Sean Davis iced the game with 20 minutes to play. Atlanta only managed one shot on goal all night, as a full-strength New York side guaranteed advancement. FULL MATCH REPORT »
Pittsburgh’s Rob Vincent equalized Facundo Coria’s opener in a closely played game that needed bonus time to decide. Kofi Opare netted the game-winner just into extra time, while the Riverhounds were unable to attack successfully. FULL MATCH REPORT »
Kwadwo Poku scored a pair of goals to put NYCFC up 2-0 in the second half, but a goal from Leo Fernandes and a stunning 90th minute equalizer by Lucky Mkosana sent the game into extra time. After NYCFC failed to capitalize on a penalty kick in the 98th minute the game went to penalty kicks where the Cosmos rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the final two rounds to win it 4-3. FULL MATCH REPORT »
It took Quincy Amarikwa’s deflection four minutes from the end of extra time for the Fire to break through against a game Louisville City squad. Both teams had chances and were evenly matched throughout, until a road-weary Louisville team lost their legs, allowing Chicago take control in the last ten minutes. FULL MATCH REPORT »
In the only Round 4 match featuring a pair of US Open Cup champions, Adam Bedell notched two goals to help the Crew win their first road game of the season. Ethan Finley notched the game-winner around Bedell’s brace, while Fred Owusu Sekyere temporarily restored Richmond onto level terms.FULL MATCH REPORT »
In Orlando City’s Open Cup debut as a Major League Soccer franchise, Carlos Rivas became the first player in the Modern Era to score three penalty kicks to give his team a 4-2 lead in extra time. That lead wouldn’t last long as the Battery tied the game up on a pair of Justin Portillo goals. Orlando would prevail in a dramatic shootout 8-7 as Charleston would exit the tournament for the second year in a row at the hands of an Orlando City team. FULL MATCH REPORT SOON »
While most MLS team were able to take tight matches, the Charlotte Independence, an expansion team, was able to strike a blow for the USL. Jorge Herrera scored a wonder goal ten minutes after halftime, and fended off the Revolution the rest of the way to become the only USL team to advance to Round 5. FULL MATCH REPORT »
The first Battle of I-70 proved to live up to its name, as the only goal was scored in the 70th minute. Graham Zusi was able to head home a Benny Feilhaber cross to fend off a Saint Louis side that matched up pretty well with their top-division neighbors. FULL MATCH REPORT »
FC Dallas was able to shrug off their league form and roll over Oklahoma City on Tuesday night. Micheal Barrios and David Texeira both notched braces by the 51st minute, allowing the Hoops to cruise to a Fifth Round berth. FULL MATCH REPORT »
Rookies Dominique Badji and Joseph Greenspan scored for the Rapids, while Dillon Serna tacked on an insurance brace. Josh Phillips was shown a straight red in the 62nd minute, which led to Serna’s first goal while his replacement was waiting to be subbed in.FULL MATCH REPORT »
Leonel Miranda opened the scoring for Houston, but the Aztex remained dangerous throughout. The Dynamo were unable to breathe easy until Ricardo Clark scored two minutes into 2nd half stoppage time, securing Round 5 placement. FULL MATCH REPORT »
Joao Plata and Javier Morales were the heroes in the desert, Morales clinching the game for Real midway through the second half. Sam Garza struck in first half stoppage time, putting RSL on their heels, but Sounders 2 weren’t able to find the goal again. FULL MATCH REPORT »
While this game will be remembered for Clint Dempsey tearing up the card book in protest of Daniel Radford’s refereeing, there was still a game to be played, with Portland unable to close out a nine-man Sounders side in regulation. Rodney Wallace managed to score ten minutes into extra time, with Maximiliano Urruti tallying after the Sounders were dropped to seven men. FULL MATCH REPORT »
After struggling in the knockout stage at the 2014 World Cup, Chris Wondolowski came through in spades for San Jose, nullifying goals by the Republic’s Rodrigo Lopez and Emrah Klimenta. The shootout went to eight rounds, as Shaun Francis shot true while Sacramento’s James Kiffe shot above the bar. FULL MATCH REPORT »
PSA Elite struck early, but it only served to wake up the defending MLS Cup winners. Robbie Keane had a hat trick (his first three tournament goals of his career), as the Galaxy scored six straight to roll to the Fifth Round. FULL MATCH REPORT »