2017 US Open Cup Round 3 preview: 13 winners will earn dates with MLS teams (video links)

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Winner will host Chicago Fire (MLS) in Round 4

UPDATE: Saint Louis FC capitalize on Michigan Bucks mistakes, hold on for 2-1 win

Former US international Preki will lead Saint Louis FC into a rare indoor US Open Cup match against the PDL’s Michigan Bucks on Tuesday, the first game on the Third Round schedule. Normally, a pro team playing a game against an amateur side, even on the road, wouldn’t be something to worry too much about but the Bucks are without question the best amateur team of the Modern Era (1995-present). Their laundry list of accomplishments is long but the two biggest numbers are most amateur wins (15) and most pro team upsets (10).

After holding off AFC Ann Arbor (NPSL) 1-0 in Round 1, the Bucks added to their Open Cup resume in the last round with a 1-0 home win over the NASL’s Indy Eleven. University of Michigan product Francis Atuahene scored the lone goal and the defense kept a clean sheet in front of their home fans at the Ultimate Soccer Arenas, the site of Tuesday’s match with Saint Louis FC. The regulation-sized field is part of a larger indoor facility in Pontiac, Mich., just north of Detroit. In the 104-year history of the US Open Cup, there has only been 10 games played indoors, and nine of them have been hosted by the Bucks at “the USA”.

The most impressive accomplishment by the Bucks is they are the only amateur club in the Modern Era to have defeated multiple Major League Soccer teams (2000 at New England Revolution, 2012 home vs. Chicago Fire). The winner of Tuesday’s game will host the Chicago Fire in Round 4, which would set up a rematch for the Bucks if they are able to prevail.

For Saint Louis FC, this is just the club’s third appearance in the US Open Cup. They are 3-0-0 against amateur teams, including their last match against FC Wichita where they came from behind to win 4-3 in extra time. If they win, a date with the Fire would be their second meeting with MLS opposition in team history. In their inaugural season in 2015, they dropped a close 1-0 match on that road against Sporting Kansas City.

After winning their league opener against K-W United, the defending PDL champions had what some might call a hangover game against the Dayton Dutch Lions, losing 2-1 on the road a few days after upsetting the Indy Eleven. However, they bounced back in their most recent league game, thrashing the West Virginia Chaos 6-2. Andre Landell had two goal and an assist and Atuahene added two goals in the rout.

On the other side, Saint Louis drew 1-1 in their most recent USL match against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. They are currently tied for 7th place in the Eastern Conference with a 3-3-3 record. Jose Angulo, who received strong consideration for TheCup.us Player of the Round for the Second Round, leads the team in scoring with four goals.

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Winner will play at New England Revolution in Round 4

The Rochester Rhinos often play the role of David against the Goliath of MLS teams due to their 1999 title run, but the Rhinos are usually the Goliath against amateur sides in the earlier rounds of the US Open Cup.

Rochester will put its 16-0-0 all-time record against amateur sides to the test this Wednesday when they host GPS Omens (Mass.) of the Bay State Soccer League. The Rhinos entered the competition this year in the Second Round and defeated their opponent, FC Motown of New Jersey, 3-0 at home.

GPS Omens have already played twice in the 2017 edition of the Open Cup, both on the road. Omens defeated PDL side GPS Portland Phoenix 2-0 in the First Round and outlasted Boston City FC of the NPSL 2-1 in the Second Round.

Now GPS Omens travel outside of New England for the first time in this competition and face a professional team in a competitive fixture for the first time in their history. A trip to face the New England Revolution in the Fourth Round looms large on the horizon but neither team can afford to look past Wednesday night’s contest.

The Rhinos have used the Open Cup campaign and some rest, both planned and unplanned, to generate positive momentum after a rocky start to the season. Rochester’s away game in Saint Louis was postponed due to flooding last month and the team then had two of the next three weekend’s without league matches.

Rochester earned just five points from its first four games of the USL season before an 18-day layoff. The Rhinos are undefeated since a devastating blowout on the road in Charleston on April 14, including a 1-0 win over Tampa Bay Rowdies in Rochester in midweek USL action. Wednesday night’s cup match will be the fourth competitive game the Rhinos play in the month of May but the fourth within 14 days.

GPS Omens on the other hand, may be used to the ebb and flow of sporadic and congested scheduling. The amateur side from Boston, that US Soccer described as White Collar Underdogs, has difficulty fitting team training into the busy routines of their players.

The side whose players spend their days in law offices and board rooms, is sitting comfortably near the top of the BSSL table. GPS Omens is in second place but with games in hand and an impressive 24 goals scored over four league games.

The Boston-area club started its cup run with a qualification win over fellow BSSL side Southie FC last fall. Rochester Rhinos defeated Southie heavily in the 2016 US Open Cup and GPS Omens beat them 4-2 on the road in September in qualification. Omens then traveled to Connecticut to brush aside Newtown Pride FC and qualify for the 2017 tournament proper.

History suggests one way Wednesday’s contest will go but as the saying goes, soccer matches aren’t played on paper. GPS Omens will look to make history as the first amateur team to defeat the Rhinos while Rochester will aim for a performance that could carry some drive over into league play.

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Winner will play at Atlanta United (MLS) in Round 4

One of the youngest clubs in American soccer will host one the oldest in this Third Round matchup, a rematch from last year. Both clubs advanced to the Third Round by winning games away from home to NPSL competition. The Armada eliminated Miami United FC 2-1 and Charleston knocked out the Atlanta Silverbacks by the same score line. Jacksonville rallied from an early deficit behind goals from Aaron Pitchkolan and a penalty kick by Jack Blake. Charleston struck twice in the first half with goals from Forrest Lasso and Jeffrey Otoo, before the Silverbacks made it interesting with a 73rd minute penalty scored by Alex Nyarko Harley.

Charleston is celebrating their 25th anniversary season in style, currently in first place in USL’s Eastern Conference with 23 points from 11 games. The Battery are 7-1-3 and had won three of their last five before dropping a 2-1 decision at New York Red Bulls 2 in their most recent match. The Armada are currently contesting their third season and are third in the NASL table with 13 points from eight matches. They are 3-1-4 in league play, with a 2-1-2 record from their last five. Their last league contest was a 2-1 win over North Carolina FC.

The Battery made their Open Cup debut in 1999 and have participated every year since, except for 2003. They were runners-up in 2008, semifinalists in 1999 and 2004, and have reached the Quarterfinals six times, more than any other lower division team in the Modern Era.

In last year’s edition, they advanced to the Third Round following a victory by forfeit over the PDL’s Villages SC before falling 2-1 after extra time to Jacksonville.

This will be the Armada’s third Open Cup campaign, having lost in the Third Round to the Richmond Kickers in 2015 and 1-0 in the Fourth Round to Orlando City SC in 2016.

The two clubs have faced each other just twice in the past, with Jacksonville winning last year’s Cup match and Charleston winning a 2015 friendly, 1-0. The winner of this match will travel to Atlanta United, which has an affiliate relationship with Charleston, in the next round.

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Winner will host Columbus Crew SC (MLS) in Round 4

Just 90 minutes apart by car, these two well-supported USL rivals will play in front of a raucous Nippert Stadium crowd in the Third Round of the US Open Cup.

Both these teams saw their Open Cup runs end at the hands of NASL teams last year, as Cincinnati lost 2-1 to the Tampa Bay Rowdies (they have since moved to the USL) while Louisville were taken down 2-1 by Indy Eleven.

Both teams will also be coming into the match in relatively good league form, as they stand equal on points (though Louisville has played three fewer games) in third place in the USL Eastern Conference. Louisville will be coming into the game relatively fresh, having beaten the Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1-0 on the road back on May 20 after a 9-0 trouncing of amateur side Tartan Devils Oak Avalon in Round 2. FC Cincinnati will be coming in with high spirits as well, having nipped Toronto FC 2 1-0 at home on Saturday.

It’ll be the second matchup between Cincinnati and Louisville, as the two drew 1-1 at Nippert on April 22. But this time, the prize will be a home match against the Columbus Crew SC of MLS.

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Winner will play at Philadelphia Union in Round 4

In a matchup of teams the Philadelphia Union have been affiliated with, Harrisburg City Islanders (USL) and Reading United AC (PDL) will play for the right to play the Union.

Reading, a current Union affiliate, is coming off one of the bigger “cupsets” of the Second Round. The amateur side defeated New York Cosmos (NASL) 3-2 with all three goals coming in a six minute stretch near the end of the first half.

Paul Marie, Marco Micaletto and Frantzdy Pierrot scored in the victory to send Reading into the Third Round to match the PDL side’s best Open Cup performance for the third time.

Since defeating New York, Reading has gone 1-1-0 in its league season to find itself in third place of the PDL Mid-Atlantic Division table with six points. Saturday, Reading beat FA Euro 2-0 Saturday with goals coming by Mohammed Conde and Hugo Delhommelle.

Harrisburg, a Union affiliate until the 2016 season, advanced to the Third Round by eliminating Reading’s primary PDL Mid-Atlantic rival, the Ocean City Nor’easters, in penalty kicks (6-5) after a scoreless draw in the Second Round.

The City Islanders are coming off a 3-1 defeat to the Bethlehem Steel Sunday. Danny DiPrima scored the lone goal in the loss, which drops Harrisburg to 13th in the USL Eastern Conference with a 2-4-4 record.

Harrisburg’s Aaron Wheeler, Pedro Riberio and Manolo Sanchez will all being facing their former team. Wheeler won the PDL MVP in 2009 for Reading after scoring 17 goals that season.

Sunday’s game for Harrisburg gave Reading head coach Stephen Hogan an advanced look at his opponent as he is an assistant coach with the Bethlehem Steel.

Side note: Wednesday’s Open Cup game will also be apart of Reading United’s annual Philadelphia Union festival. Typically a friendly, it will instead be for the right to play Philadelphia. Unannounced members of the Union in attendance for the festivities will also get an advanced look at their Open Cup fourth round opponents.

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Winner will host the Houston Dynamo (MLS) in Round 4

The champion of professional soccer in North Carolina will be crowned on Wednesday night as North Carolina FC of the NASL welcomes Charlotte Independence of the USL to WakeMed Soccer Park in the Third Round of the US Open Cup.

Both teams traveled to Florida for their league match, but only Charlotte came back with a win, as they beat Orlando City B 3-1 on Saturday, which pushed them to within a point of a USL playoff spot with several games in hand. Meanwhile, North Carolina FC dropped a 2-1 decision away to Jacksonville Armada, dropping them to third in the NASL.

Brian Shriver, the top scorer of the 2012 US Open Cup, will likely feature again as he, Matt Fondy, and fellow Open Cup standout Ty Shipalane led the front line in a Round 2 win over the Carolina Dynamo.

Enzo Martinez, once a RailHawk, has been leading the way for the Independence in both the Open Cup and in league play. His four goals in just five games sets the pace for the Independence’s league exploits, while his two late goals were enough to complete a comeback against intra-city foe Charlotte Eagles in Round 2 of the Open Cup.

Wednesday will mark the third-consecutive Open Cup bout between the two in-state rivals, with a home game against the formidable but soft-on-the-road Houston Dynamo. The two have split the previous meetings, which were both held in Cary. Ryan Finley scored the lone goal in the 82nd minute to best the RailHawks in 2015, while NCFC poured in five extra-time goals to rout the Independence last year.

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Winner will play at Orlando City SC (MLS) in Round 4

Of all the USL/NASL matchups in Round 3, this may be the most intriguing as it features two in-state rivals who faced each other in the NASL last year.

Tampa Bay claimed its spot in Round 3 with a 3-0 defeat of the NPSL’s Jacksonville Armada U-23s at Al Lang Stadium. The Rowdies’ goals came from Kyle Porter, Alex Morrell, and Martin Paterson, all of whom scored for the first time in their careers in the Open Cup. Miami advanced with a 3-2 victory over the PDL’s South Florida Surf, with Kwadwo Poku and Jaime Chavez providing the first and third goals, with the second being an own goal.

In their first year of play in the USL, the Rowdies currently sit second in the Eastern Conference with 21 points from 12 games. They are 6-3-3 on the year with a 2-1-2 record over the last five league games. Tampa Bay drew their most recent match 1-1, at home vs. St. Louis FC.

Miami FC is currently top of the NASL table with 18 points from nine games, going 5-3-1 overall and have won four of their last five, drawing their most recent match 1-1, a home tilt vs. Puerto Rico FC.

The Rowdies have participated in the Open Cup since 2010 (playing that year as FC Tampa Bay), missing the 2011 competition due to a lack of sanctioning of the NASL by USSF. They have a 6-6 overall record & their most memorable campaign came in 2013 when they entered in the Second Round and advanced to the Fourth Round after upsetting MLS side Seattle Sounders at home in the Third Round. Last year was Miami FC’s first year of competition in the Cup, losing their Third Round match to the Wilmington Hammerheads (then of the USL), 2-1.

In 2010, then-FC Tampa Bay defeated then-Miami FC 2-1 in Open Cup competition. That Miami FC later rebranded as the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. The South Florida Surf, Miami FC’s competition in the last round, are coached by former Rowdies assistant Eric Arbuzow and feature former Rowdies players Jeff Michaud & Darwin Espinal, both of whom scored in last week’s game. The Rowdies and Miami FC drew all three games in NASL play last year, while Miami prevailed 3-0 in their most recent matchup, a preseason friendly. The winner of this match will travel to Orlando City SC in the Fourth Round.

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Winner will play at D.C. United (MLS) in Round 4

Two of the biggest underdogs in this year’s US Open Cup will face off in Chicago in the Third Round of the tournament.

Christos FC and Chicago FC United already have taken down USL teams in the last round of the venerable competition. Now they will face off Wednesday for the right to play MLS side D.C. United at the Maryland Soccerplex on June 13.

After cruising past Fredericksburg FC (NPSL) in Round 1, Christos FC knocked off the Richmond Kickers (USL), 1-0, in the second round of the USOC, led by goalkeeper Phil Saunders. Saunders notched seven saves in the Baltimore side’s shutout victory and earned TheCup.us Player of the Round honors.

PDL side Chicago FC United, who were formerly affiliated with the Chicago Fire, started off with a narrow 1-0 win over Grand Rapids FC (NPSL). The game was decided by a 90th minute own goal by a Grand Rapids player. In Round 2, Chicago advanced with a 3-1 home win over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, earning the right to host another USOC game. It was Chicago’s first win over a pro team since they beat the New Hampshire Phantoms of USL-2 back in 2004.

In league play, FC United has played just two games and has a massive layoff before playing their next game in the PDL. They defeated the St. Louis Lions 6-0 on May 23, followed by a 1-1 draw with WSA Winnipeg three days later. They don’t play another league game until June 10.

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If Tulsa wins … they will play at FC Dallas (MLS) in Round 4
If San Antonio wins … they will host FC Dallas (MLS) in Round 4

Two teams looking for their first U.S. Open Cup win against another professional side will square off Wednesday in Tulsa.

Hosts Tulsa Roughnecks FC has lost its two previous USOC matchups against pro competition: falling to OKC Energy FC in 2015 and the Des Moines Menace in last year’s competition. Tulsa advanced to the third round of this year’s tournament with a 5-3 win over OKC Energy U-23.

Visiting San Antonio FC is competing in the Open Cup for the second time. It beat two amateur teams last year before falling to MLS side Houston Dynamo on the road. The Texas team earned a trip to Tulsa by beating Dutch Lions FC, 2-1.

The winner of the Tulsa-San Antonio matchup will advance to face FC Dallas. Tulsa would travel to play the MLS side, while San Antonio would host the 4th round USOC game.

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Winner will play at Colorado Rapids (MLS) in Round 4

Colorado Springs Switchbacks will be trying to match its first two US Open Cup performances on Wednesday when it hosts fellow USL side OKC Energy FC.

Colorado Springs has won two Open Cup games in each of its first two years in the tournament. A win on Wednesday against Energy FC would give them two wins in each of its first three years, which is something only three active lower division pro teams have accomplished (New York Cosmos, North Carolina FC, Sacramento Republic).

The Switchbacks are tied for 4th place in the USL Western Conference with a 3-4-5 record. They are winless in their last four matches (0-2-2) with their last win coming on May 5 against the Tulsa Roughnecks.

In US Open Cup play, they are 3-0-0 all-time at home, including a 2-0 triumph over FC Tucson (PDL) last round.

Visitors OKC Energy FC had won just a single game in its first six league games, so they had been struggling until their US Open Cup Second Round game. But after beating Moreno Valley FC (USASA) 5-1, they have won back-to-back home games over Orange County SC and Portland Timbers 2.

The winner of Wednesday’s match will advance to play at the Colorado Rapids of MLS at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Round 4.

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Winner will play at San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) in Round 4

In a match that was originally scheduled to take place in San Francisco, the Deltas will now instead travel to Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex for this Third Round matchup. The winner will face MLS side, San Jose Earthquakes, at Avaya Stadium in Round 4.

This is the fourth appearance of Phoenix Rising in the tournament. They played 3 previous times in the competition as Arizona United SC. Phoenix Rising features three of the biggest stars in North American soccer: Didier Drogba, Shaun Wright-Phillips, and Omar Bravo. In their three previous runs in the Cup, the best finish they have had was an appearance in the Fourth Round in 2014. In that year, they knocked off their only pro side to date in the competition when they beat fellow USL side, Oklahoma City Energy, 2-1 in Round 3 before falling to MLS side, LA Galaxy. In 2015, they were hit with the upset from amateur side Chula Vista FC, as they fell 3-0 in the Second Round that season.

Phoenix currently finds themselves in 9th place in the 15-team USL Western Conference standings after picking up a 2-1 victory over LA Galaxy 2 this past weekend, but they have games in hand on many of the teams ahead of them in the league.

NASL expansion side, San Francisco Deltas, will be playing their first-ever match against a USL side or any other professional side in the Open Cup. They knocked off a strong PDL side in the Burlingame Dragons in Round 2 with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory. They were led in that match by Canadian international and playmaker, Kyle Bekker, whose two dangerous free kicks resulted in the two goals for the Deltas that night.

The Deltas have made a decent showing in their inaugural NASL season so far as they currently sit in the middle of the pack, in the eight-team league. To date, they have picked up 13 points from their opening nine games after a 0-0 draw against the New York Cosmos this past Saturday in New York. They are led by one of the most experienced coaches in North America, Marc Dos Santos, who is no stranger to dissecting USL and NASL opponents over the years and coaching in big games.

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Winner will play at Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) in Round 4

California sides Orange County SC and the Los Angeles Wolves will face off in the US Open Cup for the second consecutive year.

Last year, in their Open Cup debut, the Wolves earned their first pro upset as they eliminated Orange County 4-2 in penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw. For Orange County, it was the fourth time that they had been eliminated by an amateur team. Only the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (5) have been ousted by more amateur teams in the Modern Era (1995-present).

This year, the Wolves needed a pair of wins over amateur clubs to reach Round 3. After a 4-2 win over the PDL’s San Diego Zest to open the competition, they needed extra time to beat Chula Vista FC by the score of 1-0.

Orange County is hoping to earn a measure of revenge against L.A. after snapping a four-match USOC winless streak in the last round, when it beat FC Golden State Force, 5-2.

The winner of this year’s matchup will advance to face MLS power L.A. Galaxy on the road.

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Winner will host Real Salt Lake (MLS) in Round 4

The first official meeting between the Sacramento Republic FC and Reno 1868 FC will take place in the Third Round of the US Open Cup. Located just 130 miles apart, the two clubs met in a pre-season match at Reno’s home stadium, Greater Nevada Field, in a match that finished 3-3. This is the first time that the two clubs will meet at Papa Murphy’s Park in Sacramento. The right to host MLS side, Real Salt Lake, goes to the winner.

This is the Republic’s fourth season, and thus their fourth venture into the US Open Cup. The club has been one of the standard-bearers for all of lower league soccer since they came onto the scene in the 2014 season, winning the USL title in their inaugural season. While they are one of three lower division clubs to win two or more games in each of its first three seasons in the tournament, they have yet to get over the Fourth Round hump. In 2014 and 2015, the Republic reached the Fourth Round twice, falling both times to MLS side, San Jose Earthquakes. Last season, they reached the 3rd round before falling 3-1 to PDL side (now in NPSL), Kitsap Pumas.

They currently hold a 5-1 record against amateur sides in the competition, and an 0-2 record against pro sides. This means that a win against Reno would be the club’s first win against a pro team in the tournament.

The Republic got off to a hot start in league play this year, winning its first three matches. However, they have since picked up just two points in seven matches, with their only win in that time coming against UPSL side, Anahuac FC, in the Second Round of the Open Cup. To this point, Sammy Ochoa has led the team by notching four goals and three assists.

The Republic takes on expansion side and newest rival, Reno 1868 FC. Reno made their debut in the Open Cup in the Second Round when they traveled to Washington to take on NPSL side, OSA FC. This marked the first time a pro team from Nevada had ever taken part in the tournament.

After 120 minutes of play with a score of 1-1, Reno needed penalty kicks to beat the amateur side. Number 10, El Salvadorian international, Junior Burgos, scored the winning PK to help the Nevada side advance to Round 3.

After a slow start in the league, Reno has gotten hot fast. With just two points in their opening five matches in USL play, Reno went on to win their next three matches by a combined total of 14-0. The main man on the team so far this season has been Jamaican international, Dane Kelly. He has scored 10 goals in his first nine matches, and won USL player of the week honors for his first half hat-trick against the Seattle Sounders 2 on May 20.

Kelly has scored seven career US Open Cup goals, which ties him with Paul Conway as the top scorers in Charleston Battery Open Cup history. He ranks third of all Div. 3 players in Open Cup play with seven goals, and he holds the record with two others) for consecutive tournaments with at least one goal (5 from 2011-15). They currently sit 10th out of 15 teams in the USL Western Conference.