2017 US Open Cup Quarterfinals Review: FC Cincinnati joins three MLS teams in Semifinals

The New York Red Bulls celebrate their 1-0 win over the New England Revolution in the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: Bob Larson

For the first time since 2011, the quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup will feature a non-MLS team. FC Cincinnati continued its Cinderella run in the tournament, beating Miami FC 1-0 on Wednesday.

Weeks ago, in a battle of Open Cup purebreds, three-time winners Sporting Kansas City beat the holders FC Dallas thanks to three extra time goals in a match that ended with just 19 players on the field.

SKC will meet up with Western Conference rivals San Jose Earthquakes, who beat LA Galaxy in the Open Cup version of the California Clasico, in the semifinals. FC Cincinnati and its massive crowds will play host to New York Red Bulls, who edged the New England Revolution, as they advanced toward their goal of winning their first Open Cup trophy.

Here is a brief recap of each quarterfinal game with links to the full match report:

Chris Wondolowski’s brace was enough to push San Jose into the Semifinals for the second time in club history. L.A. opened the scoring early when Jelle Van Damme headed home a corner kick. Wondolowski netted his first goal with a left-footed shot from the top of the box in the 16th minute and scored his second just after halftime on a soft header. San Jose put the game on ice with 30 minutes left when Danny Hoesen got in behind the Galaxy back line. Even a San Jose own goal in the 84th minute did little to damper the first victory by the Earthquakes over the Galaxy in six Open Cup meetings. FULL MATCH REPORT »

In a battle of the past two champions of the Open Cup, Sporting Kansas City overcame an early red card and scored three goals in extra time to beat FC Dallas. Seth Sinovich was sent off in the 15th minute for denying a goal scoring opportunity. Maxi Urruti was given a second yellow due to a high boot early in extra time and Latif Blessing slotted home the game’s first goal after a pass from Benny Feilhaber minutes later. FC Dallas went down to nine men after a second yellow was shown to Javier Morales which opened the floodgates as Blessing scored his second goal of the game in the stoppage time and Daniel Salloi made it 3-0 in the 118th minute. FULL MATCH REPORT »

The Red Bulls beat the Revolution for the second time in a span of just over a week when Bradley Wright-Phillips scored his first-ever Open Cup goal on the campus of Harvard University. Neither team broke through until the 85th minute when Felipe’s low pass found Wright-Phillips at the penalty spot. The two-time MLS Golden Boot winner’s shot lazily rolled past New England keeper Brad Knighton. New York, who has scored just three goals in three games in the tournament, advances to the semifinals for the first time since 2003. FULL MATCH REPORT »

Almost a month after a dangerous storm postponed the original match, Djiby Fall scored his fourth game-winning goal of the tournament and FC Cincinnati continued its impressive Open Cup run with a 1-0 win over NASL spring season champion Miami FC. Fall, who has scored the game-winner in every Open Cup match he’s appeared in this year, redirected a shot in the 68th minute to give Cincinnati the only goal they would need. FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt earned his fourth straight shutout (and the fifth straight by the team) as the second-year USL club reached the Semifinals. FULL MATCH REPORT »