Professional teams from the United Soccer Leagues (USL) join the party in Round 2 of the 103rd edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. There are 20 games on the schedule today with the 21st game (Jersey Express at NY Pancyprian Freedoms) moved to Thursday, May 19. The winners will advance to Round 3 where the nine US-based clubs from the North American Soccer League (NASL) will join the competition on June 1.
Below, you will find links to our coverage on TheCup.us, as well as previews from all 20 games, including video and audio links where available. You can get all the latest updates from every game through Twitter, using the hashtag #USOC2016. Use that same hashtag on Instagram to share your US Open Cup-related photos.
#USOC2016 coverage:
* 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup schedule, results (video/audio links)
* 2016 US Open Cup bracket (TheCup.us)
* 2016 Meet the Underdogs series
* USSF’s new US Open Cup qualifying tournament has challenges to address after year one
* Things you should know about the Second Round of the US Open Cup
* Ventura County Fusion disqualified for using ineligible player; LA Wolves advance
* MLS-owned USL teams no longer eligible for 2016 US Open Cup, confirms USSF
* One is enough: NPSL champion New York Cosmos B withdraws from 2016 US Open Cup
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Second Round Schedule
Indy Eleven (NPSL) at FC Cincinnati (USL) – 7 p.m.
Charlotte Independence (USL) at Charlotte Eagles (USL) – 7 p.m.
Aromas Cafe FC (USASA) at Richmond Kickers (USL) – 7 p.m.
Miami Fusion FC (USASA) at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL) – 7 p.m.
Detroit City FC (NPSL) at Louisville City FC (USL) – 7 p.m.
Southie FC (USASA) at Rochester Rhinos (USL) – 7 p.m.
Lansdowne Bhoys FC (USASA) at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL) – 7 p.m.
Harrisburg City Islanders (USL) at West Chester United (USASA) – 7:30 p.m.
The Villages SC (PDL) at Charleston Battery (USL) – 7:30 p.m.
Reading United AC (PDL) at Chattanooga FC (NPSL) – 7:30 p.m.
AFC Cleveland (NPSL) at Saint Louis FC (USL) – 8 p.m.
Corinthians of San Antonio (NPSL) at San Antonio FC (USL) 8 p.m.
Oklahoma City Energy (USL) at Mississippi Brilla (PDL) – 8 p.m.
Tulsa Roughnecks (USL) at Des Moines Menace (PDL) – 8:30 p.m.
Harpo’s FC (USSSA) at Colorado Springs Switchbacks (USL) – 9 p.m.
Sacramento Gold (NPSL) at La Maquina (USASA) – 9 p.m.
Orange County Blues (USL) at Los Angeles Wolves – 10 p.m.
CD Aguiluchos USA (NPSL) at Sacramento Republic (USL) – 10:30 p.m.
Seattle Sounders U23s (PDL) at Kitsap Pumas (PDL) – 10:30 p.m.
Arizona United (USL) at FC Tucson (PDL) – 10:30 p.m.
MAY 19: Jersey Express (PDL) at NY Pancyprian Freedoms (USASA) – 7:30 p.m.
PREVIEWS
Indy
Eleven (NPSL) at FC Cincinnati (USL)
Nippert Stadium; Cincinnati, OH – 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: AUDIO (below)
Winner plays at Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) on June 1
LIVE AUDIO: Indy Eleven NPSL vs. FC Cincinnati
The rebranded Indy Eleven NPSL, which reached the national NPSL semifinal in 2015, faces a tough first round matchup against USL upstart FC Cincinnati, a team that is counting on its unexpected home support for an edge.
The visitors are a new team under the Indy Eleven umbrella, but the club was founded in 2012 as the Indiana Fire of the NPSL. Still competing in the NPSL’s Midwest Conference, the Eleven retained their head of operations Mark Webber and their head coach John Simmonds and six of their players. The team qualified for the tournament by taking the Midwest Division of the NPSL in 2015 under the Fire logo. Most of the players are enrolled at Indiana universities, including Indiana University, Butler, IUPUI, Purdue, and University of Indianaopolis. Players to watch include the ‘keeper Cody Schweitzer and defender Jeff McClure, a modern, athletic fullback who is known for his passing incisive passing out of the back and marauding runs up the wings. Vincent Mitchell, a Chicago Fire 4th round Superdraft pick, marshals the midfield with vision and unexpected runs into the seams of opposing defenses. Still, the team had played just one friendly before their first-round victory over the Cincinnati Dutch Lions at home on a 17th minute Mitchell goal.
FC (“Futbol Club”) Cincinnati are the surprise team of the USL in 2016, having broken the USL home attendance record twice just nine games into their inaugural season. The team host games at the University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium, named after a football player who died after a cleat wound in a game against Miami of Ohio in 1924 was infected by germs left on the field after a pre-game chicken race. USMNT legend John Harkes coaches the team, and players with ties to MLS fill the roster, including Austin Berry, winner of the MLS 2012 Rookie MVP award, and Jamaican international Omar Cummings, both local products. In midfield, Corben Bone, formerly of the Chicago Fire, and Jimmy McLaughlin, a Philadelphia Union product. McLaughlin, who shone while on loan to the Harrisburg Islanders of the USL, snagged USL Team of the Week honors for the second time this year after his exploits last week against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Sean Okoli, a former New England and Seattle player, leads the team with three goals.
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Charlotte Independence (USL) at Charlotte Eagles (PDL)
Charlotte Christian School; Charlotte, NC – 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: NONE
Winner plays at Carolina RailHawks (NASL) on June 1
LIVE VIDEO: CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE AT CHARLOTTE EAGLES
The Charlotte Eagles have a long history in both US Soccer and the US Open Cup, and will be playing it’s 24th Open Cup match on Wednesday. Charlotte, which is competing for the first time as an amateur team, won its first round match-up against Myrtle Beach Mutiny, 3-2 after extra time.
Charlotte was founded in 1993 as part of the USISL, and it made its first Open Cup appearance in 1998. Over the years, the Eagles have spent time in the USL D-3 Pro League, the USL A-League, and then the USL (under its various names) before joining the amateur-level PDL in 2015. When the Eagles dropped to the PDL, the Charlotte Independence replaced them in the USL. They had an impressive debut in the US Open Cup last year, as they won three games including the only regulation win by a lower division team over a Major League Soccer side. They defeated the New England Revolution 1-0 at Harvard University.
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Aromas Cafe FC (USASA) at Richmond Kickers (USL)
Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, VA – 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: NONE
Winner plays at Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) on June 1
One of the most successful lower-division Open Cup entrants take the field on Wednesday looking to improve upon two straight Fourth Round exits. The Richmond Kickers, which won the Open Cup in 1995 as an amateur club, are the last lower division team to reach the Semifinals, when they fell to the Chicago Fire in 2011.
The Kickers will hope to use the Open Cup to jump-start a season that sees them mid-table in the USL Eastern Conference. Currently, Richmond sports a 4-3-2 record, which is good for 7th in the 14-team conference.
Aromas Cafe, the Charlottesville, Va. amateur club are looking to make a name for themselves in their first ever entry, the same way the Kickers did in 1995. Although the path ahead of them is much tougher. They will start with a trip to Richmond, Va.
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Miami Fusion FC (NPSL) at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL)
Legion Stadium; Wilmington, NC – 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: NONE
Winner plays at Miami FC (NASL) on June 1
The Wilmington Hammerheads will hope to avoid another early exit from the US Open Cup when it takes on Miami Fusion FC on Wednesday. Wilmington has been knocked out in the Second Round in the previous two years, and the Hammerheads have not made a run in the tournament since advancing to the Quarterfinals in 2009.
Wilmington is currently 9th out of 14 teams in the USL Eastern Conference, sporting a 2-3-3 record. Wilmington has a stingy defense, but suffers from a lack of offense. Through eight games, Wilmington has only scored seven goals, but has only given up seven as well.
Miami Fusion are making their first US Open Cup run after kicking off with a 4-1 extra time win over Boca Raton FC which saw them score three goals in the overtime period.
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Detroit City FC (NPSL) at Louisville City FC (USL)
Owsley B. Frazier Stadium, Louisville, KY – 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: NONE
Winner plays at Indy Eleven (NASL) on June 1
This Midwestern battle presents an intriguing matchup between two teams who could certainly be considered “in form” right now.
Detroit City FC defeated local rivals Michigan Bucks 4-3 via a penalty shootout in last week’s first round, which earned them their first ever appearance in the second round of the tournament. They’ve since seen that momentum carry over into the start of their National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) season. After last week’s Open Cup win, Detroit went out and took four of a possible six points in their season’s opening weekend; a 2-2 draw with Michigan Stars FC and a 4-2 win over Dayton Dynamo. There’s good news off the field as well. Later this week, Detroit will play for the first time in the newly renovated, historic Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck, Michigan; a stadium that has been around since President Franklin Delano Roosevelt opened it during his second presidential election campaign back in 1936.
The home team in this one has also started its season off on the right foot. Nine games into their United Soccer League (USL) season, Louisville City FC sits atop the Eastern Conference with six wins, two draws, one loss, and a league-best goal differential of eight. Seven of their 17 goals so far this season have come courtesy of Chandler Hoffman. If the name sounds familiar, Hoffman was a standout college player at UCLA who was drafted 13th overall by the Philadelphia Union back in the 2012 Major League Soccer (MLS) Superdraft™. He bounced around MLS for several seasons before ultimately signing with Louisville this past December.
The winner of this one won’t have to travel very far as a trip to Indianapolis to take on the North American Soccer League’s (NASL) Indy Eleven in the third round on Wednesday, June 1.
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Southie FC (USASA) at Rochester Rhinos (USL)
Rhinos Stadium, Rochester, NY – 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: NONE
Lansdowne Bhoys/Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Rochester
OR Southie FC at Pittsburgh OR Lansdowne at Southie FC on June 1
Boston’s Southie FC didn’t miss a beat in their 2-0 win over Seacoast United Phantoms. Roy Sandeman scored once in each half to give his side the win in Round 1, picking up right where they left off in qualifying. Southie won their first round qualifier against Battery Park Gunners, despite both teams going down to 10 men on a double red in the 20th minute of the game. Their next qualifier was much more comfortable as they defeated GPS Omens by a score of 4-0, with UMASS-Amherst product Chris Stoker supplying the assist on three of the four goals.
The Rhinos of Rochester are off to a decent start in USL play. They’ve won four of their first seven to go along with two draws and a loss to open the season, good enough for sixth place right now in the USL’s Eastern Conference. Leading the line for Rochester with three goals in the first seven matches is Christian Volesky. Volesky was named the MVP of the 2015 MLS Combine and got drafted by the Portland Timbers with the 32nd pick in the 2015 MLS Superdraft, but was unable to secure a deal with the top flight side. Several months later he signed with the Rhinos and went on to lead the team with eight goals last season.
Should Southie FC win, they will have to await the result of Lansdowne Bhoys/Pittsburgh Riverhounds to find out where they will play in the third round. If Rochester wins, they will be the host no matter the outcome.
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Lansdowne Bhoys (USASA) at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL)
Highmark Stadium; Pittsburgh, PA – 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: NONE
Lansdowne Bhoys/Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Rochester
OR Southie FC at Pittsburgh OR Lansdowne at Southie FC on June 1
Given the ambition of the Lansdowne Bhoys to reach the USL, this matchup will be interesting as a litmus test against a league stalwart. For the Riverhounds, the match represents an opportunity to press restart on a discouraging start and the possibility to find redemption through an Open Cup run.
In their inaugural USOC game, the Lansdowne Bhoys pulled a first-round upset, downing the PDL’s Long Island Rough Riders by a score of 2-1 in extra time after Ciaran McGuigan recovered to score on the rebound after his penalty attempt was saved by the Riders’s keeper. With the victory, the Irish-American club joined a short list of New York Cosmopolitan League clubs to win Open Cup matches in the modern era (Pancyprian Freedoms 2011 & 2016, Greek American SC 2014). Lansdowne’s standout Jamaican winger Ovan Oakley also struck for the Yonkers outfit. The Bhoys rose from the CSL Third Division in 1998 to winning the elite title two years running, and on top of the seven former PDL players on the roster, stars Daryl Kavanagh and Sean Kelly have important pro experience in Ireland.
Still, USL’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds seem like the overwhelming favorite over the USASA club. The amateurs will be challenged playing away against pros, but Pittsburgh has had its own challenges in early 2016, starting with the loss of standout striker Rob Vincent to DC United in February. For the third time in the past four seasons, the Hounds are off to a winless start in seven games, and they have lost three straight at Highmark Stadium while allowing opponents a 15 to 11 shot advantage. Many fans will have seen video of the ugly kick in the back by former defenseman Romeo Clarke on Karl Ouimette of NY Red Bulls II, for which he later apologized before being dismissed by management.
On the positive side for the Riverhounds, forward Corey Herzog has shown motivation, taking 15 shots and placing 8 of those on goal. Willie Hunt leads the defense in minutes played (617) and German-born captain Kevin Kerr, who participated in Scottish U-21 camps, has been a solid presence in the midfield. Costa Rican GK Mauricio Vargas made his USL debut in last weekend’s away loss to FC Cincinnati and looks likely to see action against the Bhoys. The Riverhounds will be looking to recapture some of the magic that led them to a fourth round appearance last year, when they lost in a heatbreaking extra-time finish to DC United.
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Harrisburg City Islanders (USL) at West Chester United (USASA)
West Chester United Soccer Club; West Chester, PA – 7:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: NONE
Winner plays at Reading United AC / Chattanooga FC winner on June 1
LIVE VIDEO: HARRISBURG AT WEST CHESTER UNITED
After four years of falling just short, West Chester United qualified for its first US Open Cup by notching a pair of wins over Philadelphia-area teams Junior Lone Star and Salone FC in the open division qualifying tournament. In the first round, West Chester, which plays in the United Soccer League of Pennsylvania, advanced past Fredericksburg FC 8-7 in penalty kicks after finishing 1-1 at the end of regulation in the First Round.
United, which can boast of multiple Eastern PA Open Cup trophies and a USASA National Open Cup trophy, is now looking to add beating a professional team to its list of accomplishments.
Harrisburg is one of the biggest giant killers among the USL teams. They have advanced far enough to play against a MLS team 10 times and they have eliminted their top division opponent five of those times. This will be the 10th time they have qualified for the tournament and they have only lost the opening game one time, and five of those times they won two or more games.
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The Villages SC (PDL) at Charleston Battery (USL)
MUSC Health Stadium; Charleston, SC – 7:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: VIDEO
Winner plays at Jacksonville Armada (NASL) on June 1
LIVE VIDEO: THE VILLAGES SC AT CHARLESTON BATTERY
Another PDL-USL matchup will feature The Villages SC against the Charleston Battery. The Villages made a positive impression in their first-round match but face a stiff challenge from an in-form Battery playing at home in the second round.
The Villages SC, formerly Ocala Stampede, are in their fourth straight US Open Cup tournament. In 2015 they bowed out to Chattanooga FC of the NPSL. This year, they turned the tables at home on another NPSL side, Kraze United (formerly Orlando City U-23s) after a seesaw match that saw an outstanding bicycle kick goal by the visitors nullified by an offside call. The Villages SC packed their defensive end after the 60th minute, using their technical ability and lightning fast counterattacking to keep the Kraze off balance. Finally, they struck in the 92nd minute when midfield maestro Roberto De Lima found Pedro Ivo Dias streaking towards goal for the winner. The Buffalo will likely resort to a defensive posture early in the match against the Battery and count on De Lima and winger Vitor Alvarenga to unlock the home side on the counter.
The Battery were part of the USL uprising of 2015, playing their part in a league-wide Round 3 rout of NASL sides by taking down the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers at home by a 3-2 scoreline. They nearly got to the Fifth Round, going down to Orlando City SC after a thrilling come-from-behind 4-4 tie with the visitors was decided 8-7 on penalties in Orlando’s favor. They stand 5-2-3 in USL play this season on six goals by Montreal Impact loanee Romario Williams of Jamaica. Midfield duo Justin Portillo and former Cuban international Maikel Chang have played key offensive roles behind Williams and his strike partner Ricky Garbanzo. Shawn Ferguson anchors the Charleston defense, which ranked #2 in the USL last season, earning Ferguson a place on the All-USL squad and an invitation to the Houston Dynamo post-season camp. Coming off a strong start to the season and a solid run in the 2015 USOC, it’s hard to imagine the Battery settling for anything less than a resounding victory over the Buffalo on Wednesday.
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Reading United AC (PDL) at Chattanooga FC (NPSL)
Finley Stadium; Chattanooga, TN – 7:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: VIDEO
Winner hosts winner of Harrisburg City Islanders / West Chester United on June 1
LIVE VIDEO: READING UNITED AC AT CHATTANOOGA FC
Reading and Chattanooga will square off in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the chance to take on the winner of Harrisburg City Islanders (USL) and West Chester United (USASA).
Reading, an affiliate club of the Philadelphia Union, qualified for eight straight Open Cups – a record for amatuer teams – by finishing with 27 points in the PDL. This year, the club is off to a 1-0-0 start with Sunday’s 1-0 win against Lehigh Valley United Sonic.
Kori Bennett notched the game’s only goal.
Chattanooga, beneficiary of a first round bye, qualified by winning the Southeast Conference title. The NPSL club also finished 2015 as the national runner-up. Last year, Chattanooga upset the Wilmington Hammerheads on the way to a third-round loss to NASL side Atlanta Silverbacks. It was the second time the NPSL side reached the third round in as many years.
This season, Chattanooga has already got one win under its belt – a 1-0 decision Sunday against Birmingham Hammers in Alabama.
The teams will avoid an NASL side in the third round, making for what could be an easy path for either club to play an MLS squad. The only thing standing in their way will be the winner of the Harrisburg City Islanders and West Chester United.
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AFC Cleveland (NPSL) at Saint Louis FC (USL)
World Wide Technology Soccer Park; Fenton, MO – 8 p.m.
BROADCAST: AUDIO
Winner will host Minnesota United FC (NASL) on June 1
Another game featuring an established NPSL side against a new USL team pits AFC Cleveland against St. Louis FC.
AFC Cleveland have qualified for the tournament twice, but were not able to participate on their first invitation in 2013 due to a lack of player availability. This time they qualified for the tournament after reaching the final of the NPSL’s Midwest Region in 2015. The club, whose name stands for “A Fan’s Club,” is celebrating their fifth year of competition and returns two veterans who were present at the creation, forward Vinny Bell and midfielder Tom Beck. Bell can play as a target man but is also good with his feet. Third-year player Antonio Manfut is a slight midfielder who also plays for the Syracuse Silver Knights of the MASL and the Futsal USMNT. Captain Admir Suljevic came out of Cleveland State and is in his second year with the club in the playmaker role.
St. Louis made its mark on the Open Cup in 2015 with a victory over Des Moines Menace of the PDL and the NASL’s Minnesota United (in penalty kicks) before falling to Sporting KC on a narrow 1-0 decision. Anchoring their defense is goalkeeper Ryan Thompson , a Jamaican international who with Shamrock Rovers was also the first of his countrymen to play in the Champions League. Big Ten 2013 Defender of the Year and US U18, U20, and U23 National teamer AJ Cochrane, a defender and local product, will help protect Thompson’s goal. Schillo Tshuma, a Zimbabwean midfielder who was selected by the Portland Timbers in 2014, will show off his blue collar athleticism, while Salvadoran international Irvin Herrera leading the strike force.
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Corinthians FC of San Antonio (NPSL) at San Antonio FC (USL)
Toyota Field; San Antonio, TX – 8 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: NONE
If Corinthians wins … will play at Tulsa / Des Moines winner
If San Antonio wins … will play at Des Moines OR home vs. Tulsa
The Corinthians FC San Antonio and San Antonio FC can make the Alamo-derby one to remember.
The All-San Antonio cup tie will give one team the chance to play against the Des Moines Menace or Tulsa Roughnecks June 1.
San Antonio is not a new face in the tournament, but San Antonio FC is. The city was the home to the San Antonio Scorpions for four years until earlier this year, when an expansion effort tried to bring MLS to the city. San Antonio Scorpions dissolved, and in the remains, San Antonio FC was born.
The USL side currently sits 10th in Western Conference (2-3-3, nine points). Its latest game featured a 1-1 draw against Oklahoma City Energy FC.
Corinthians FCSA is off to a rocky start in its third season of existence. The NPSL side got the qualified for the second round after a forfeit from NTX Rayados in the first round, but has not won a league game in the two already played.
Its last time out, Corinthians lost to Liverpool Warriors in a South Central matchup.
This is the first Open Cup for Corinthians.
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Oklahoma City Energy (USL) at Mississippi Brilla (PDL)
Traceway Park; Clinton, MS – 8 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: VIDEO
Winner plays at Rayo OKC (NASL) on June 1
LIVE VIDEO: OKC ENERGY AT MISSISSIPPI BRILLA
Just three years after being founded, Oklahoma Energy has stacked an impressive resume in the Open Cup.
Mississippi Brilla, on the other hand, will be looking to eradicate a set of one-and-done appearances in the tournament.
The Energy FC (USL) will be looking to continue building on a positive start in the Open Cup. The team fell after extra time in 2014 to Arizona United in the third round, but made 2015 special by earning a spot to play FC Dallas in Dallas with wins over in the second and third rounds.
Oklahoma City (1-1-4, four points) is currently in 14th place in the Western Conference standings.
Mississippi Brilla participated in the 2009 and 2012 Open Cups, with mixed results. The team was bounced in the first round of both tournaments.
Last season, Brilla finished first in the Mid-South division of the PDL to qualify for the 2016 edition of the cup.
To start this season, Mississippi took down Peachtree City – member of the PDL’s South Atlantic division – in cross division action Saturday, 2-1.
Winner of Wednesday’s match will meet up with NASL-newcomers Rayo OKC June 1 in Oklahoma City.
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Tulsa Roughnecks (USL) at Des Moines Menace (PDL)
Valley Stadium; West Des Moines, IA – 8:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: VIDEO
If Des Moines wins … they will host Corinthians FC / San Antonio FC winner
LIVE VIDEO: TULSA ROUGHNECKS AT DES MOINES MENACE
The Des Moines Menace is through to the next round.
The Menace used a late, breakaway goal from Leigh Veidman to secure the victory and move on to host the Tulsa Roughnecks Wednesday at Valley Stadium.
“It’s exciting for the club,” said Veidman. “We’re excited to get to play a pro team at home.”
Wichita opened the scoring in the 46th minute, after a miscue in the penalty area gave the hosts a free tap-in. Carlos Contreras was left wide open on the back post to knock home a cross from the right side of the goal area.
Mark Heath Preston knotted the game up in the 57th minute on a breakaway attempt from a quick throw-in. Working down the left flank, Heath Preston cut in and was one-on-one with Hamersky. The forward powered his shot to the near post and put the Menace on level terms once again.
Veidman capped off Des Moines’s comeback to give the Menace the opportunity to host a U.S. Open Cup game for the seventh straight season.
The England native worked behind the Wichita defense in the 85th minute and slotted home the breakaway goal, just one minute after the Menace had multiple opportunities to find a winner.
Steven Hamersky kept out two shots and watched as a Heath Preston-header clipped the crossbar.
“I think it shows a lot of character, going down a goal and coming back for the win,” Veidman said. “We were creating chances, and it was a just a case of being patient and composed when the opportunity came. This gives us a sense of momentum going into next week, and I’m just happy for the team.”
Des Moines now has the Tulsa Roughnecks on deck at home. This season, Tulsa sits 13th out of 15 teams in the USL Western Conference.
This will be the first time in 11 years the Menace has hosted a professional team in the Open Cup — 2005-Charleston Battery, a 3-2 win — and first time at Valley Stadium.
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Harpo’s FC (USSSA) at Colorado Springs Switchbacks (USL)
Switchbacks Stadium; Colorado Springs, CO – 9 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: NONE
Winner plays at FC Tucson / Arizona United winner on June 1
Boulder’s Harpo’s FC lost to Switchbacks FC 2–1 in the Open Cup a year ago, and both teams have improved significantly since then.
The Harpo’s player pool is big enough to field five quality teams. The top roster has been enriched with more ex-pros and young amateurs who are good enough for the pro ranks. A deja vu run to lose again in penalty kicks in the Premier Arena Soccer League national championship game in March seems to have intensified the team’s Open Cup push for 2016.
The Switchbacks player pool didn’t change much during the off-season, but all the new faces are huge improvements over the 2015 bench-warmers. Plus, the inaugural team improved throughout the season and has continued to look strong at the start of 2016. Like a year ago, the Open Cup game gives head coach Steve Trittschuh a chance to test players. With a game in Arizona on Saturday following a 1–0 victory last Friday, Trittschuh is managing the workload with depth. Last year, Marty Maybin got his first start in the Open Cup game against Harpo’s, and he scored two first-half goals. This year he’s leading the USL squad in scoring with four goals and one assist.
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Sacramento Gold (NPSL) at La Maquina (USASA)
Westminster HS; Westminster, CA – 9 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: NONE
Winner hosts Orange County Blues / LA Blues winner on June 1
One of the surprises of the First Round of this year’s Open Cup was USASA side La Maquina’s victory over the more experienced Portland Timbers U-23 side.
The Southern Californian side scored at the bookends of the match to knock out one of the typically strong Premier Development League sides in the Timbers. Their opponents are Sacramento Gold FC, who are coming off their first-ever win in the competition.
Sacramento features a high-octane attack that has produced 21 goals in seven matches, led by star forward Manolo Pina, who helped knock out the Burlingame Dragons with a goal and an assist in a 3-1 First Round victory.
Also featuring for the Gold is former San Jose Earthquakes draft pick Chimdum Mez, an athletic forward who scored the third goal against the Dragons.
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Orange County Blues (USL) at Los Angeles Wolves (USASA)
Benning HS; Wilmington, CA – 10 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: NONE
Winner will play at Sacramento Gold / La Maquina winner on June 1
Riding a three-game losing streak heading into this year’s competition, the Orange County Blues are looking for their first win in Open Cup play since a 5-1 victory over the Ventura County Fusion in 2013, back when they were known as the “Los Angeles Blues.”
Typically a middling USL team, the Blues are off to a 3-3-2 start the year after finishing in first place in the league’s Western Conference.
Orange County has bolstered its lineup with the preseason acquisition of former Sacramento Republic FC stallwart Ivan Mirkovic.
Standing in Mirkovic’s and the Blues’ way is first-time qualifier L.A. Wolves FC, who lost in the First Round 2-1 to Ventura County Fusion.
However, the Wolves advanced after a protest found that the Fusion had fielded a cup-tied player, giving L.A. the right to host fellow Southern Californian side Orange County.
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CD Aguiluchos USA (NPSL) at Sacramento Republic (USL)
Bonney Field; Sacramento, CA – 10:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: AUDIO
Winner plays at Sounders U23s / Kitsap Pumas winner on June 1
For the second straight year, Sacramento Republic FC open their Open Cup campaign against a Bay Area-based NPSL team, this time against CD Aguiluchos USA.
Though the Republic are undefeated at home in the tournament, putting up a whopping 19 goals in four games, the offense has come to somewhat of a halt in USL play this season as they have scored just six goals in eight games en route to a 4-3-1 record.
Of those six goals, two have been scored by loanee Tommy Thompson, who won’t be available for Sacramento as he’ll be on the San Jose Earthquakes’ Open Cup roster.
In the way of the Republic are CD Aguiluchos USA, who are coming off of a 3-0 win at San Francisco City FC.
Aguiluchos are led by Afghanistan international Ahmad Hatifi, a trialist for the Republic in the 2015 preseason.
Sacramento has never lost to a fourth division team in its Open Cup history.
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Seattle Sounders U23s (PDL) at Kitsap Pumas (PDL)
Silverdale Stadium; Bremerton, WA – 10:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: NONE
Winner will host CD Aguiluchos USA / Sacramento Republic winner on June 1
This all-Washington fixture features two teams who actually play in the same division in league play. Seattle Sounders U23s and Kitsap Pumas are both members of the Northwest Division in the Premier Development League’s (PDL) Western Conference and will actually face off later this month in the first of three regular season meetings.
The Sounders’ youngsters found themselves deadlocked at one goal apiece with Outbreak FC in the first round, but managed to score twice in the final five minutes of extra time to seal the deal and move on. Second half substitute Ash Apollon assisted on the go ahead goal in extra time before adding the team’s third of the night himself to finish it off just minutes before the final whistle. The U23s have yet to begin league play, with their first PDL match coming up on Sunday, May 22nd and will be eager to build some momentum against a league opponent.
Kitsap Pumas, on the other hand, have already played two league matches and have only managed to earn one point so far. They lost their season opener on the road against Victoria Highlanders FC and then played to a scoreless draw in their second match, this time against Lane United FC. Pumas will have also played a third league game by the time you read this, so they’ll at least have a few competitive matches under their belt by the time this one kicks off. Despite the slow start, Pumas shouldn’t be hurting too much for confidence; they won the Northwest Division title in 2014 and 2015. Keep an eye on all-name candidate Buba Jammeh, a Gambian defender who played the full 180 minutes in Pumas’ first two league games.
The winner of this one will either travel to Sacramento Republic in Round 3 or host CD Aguiluchos.
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Arizona United (USL) at FC Tucson (PDL)
Kino North Stadium; Tucson, AZ – 10:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: VIDEO
Winner hosts Harpo’s / Colorado Springs winner on June 1
LIVE VIDEO: ARIZONA UNITED AT FC TUCSON
This all-Arizona matchup features one team struggling to find its form while another is off to a hot start in league play.
Phoenix-based Arizona United FC have taken just eight points from their first seven USL matches and currently find themselves in 11th place in the Western Conference standings. That’s probably not what the club was hoping for when they pulled off a major coup and signed former MLS coach Frank Yallop to lead their team this season. Yallop is a two time MLS Coach of the Year winner and ranks fifth all-time in wins, but he still seems to have his work cut out for him and will be looking to turn things around with an Open Cup run.
FC Tucson won’t be too sympathetic though. Tucson went on a deep run of their own in 2013 when they beat another USL Pro side (Phoenix FC) in Round 1 that year before upsetting the NASL’s San Antonio Scorpions in a penalty shootout (2-2, 4-3 on PKs) in Round 2 before eventually falling to MLS’ Houston Dynamo in Round 3. They’re hungry for another run this season as they just dispatched of amateur side San Nicholas 3-0 in Round 1 last week. Head coach Rick Schantz is trying to help his team maintain its focus though and isn’t looking at United’s weak league record as a sign of hope.
“I’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” head coach Rick Schantz said. “It’s not going to be easy, they’re not going to come down here and overlook us. They had the same thing happen to them last year where they overlooked a team, so I expect coach Yallop to have them totally fired up.”
If Tucson is going to pull off another upset, they’ll need striker Minh Vu, a former local high school standout, to continue his hot streak; he scored two of his team’s three goals in Round 1 last week,
The winner of this one will host the winner of Harpo’s FC and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in Round 3 next week on Wednesday, June 1.
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Jersey Express (PDL) at NY Pancyprian Freedoms (USASA)
Thursday, May 19 – 7:30 p.m. ET
Belson Stadium (St. John’s Univ.); Jamaica, NY
BROADCAST: TBA
Winner will play at New York Cosmos (NASL) on June 1