There were several exceptional individual performances in the Round of 16 (Fifth Round) of the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. This should make for a challenge when the staff of TheCup.us and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters cast their votes for TheCup.us Player of the Round.
While the votes are being tallied up, check out the list of nominees below and tell us who YOU think deserves to win on Facebook or Twitter:
MORE: 2018 TheCup.us Player of the Round winners (so far)
Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union, MLS): Bedoya started, played 90 minutes and assisted on both goals in the Union’s 2-1 home win over the New York Red Bulls (MLS).
Sebastian Blanco (Portland Timbers FC, MLS): Blanco started and played nearly 90 minutes (subbed out in stoppage time) and scored the lone goal in the Timbers’ 1-0 home win over the Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
Yohan Croizet (Sporting Kansas City, MLS): Just a few minutes after entering the game as a substitute (replacing Daniel Salloi) in the 85th minute, Croizet scored one of the best goals of the tournament in the 89th minute, lifting Sporting Kansas City to a 3-2 home win over FC Dallas (MLS). His stunning strike off a volley was the second-latest game-winning goal scored by Sporting Kansas City in team history.
Earl Edwards Jr. (Orlando City SC, MLS): Edwards made five saves over 120 minutes and made a save in the penalty kick shootout to give Orlando City a 4-2 penalty kick win on the road (after a 1-1 draw) over D.C. United.
Oscar Jimenez (Louisville City FC, USL): Jimenez started and played 66 minutes and had an impressive all-around game as Louisville City picked up a 2-1 home win over Nashville SC (USL). Jimenez assisted on the opening goal in the 24th minute and was a crucial part of the play that set up the 58th minute goal that would prove to be the game-winner.
Nemanja Nikolic (Chicago Fire, MLS): Nikolic started, played 78 minutes and scored the lone goal in the 54th minute to five the Fire a 1-0 road win against Atlanta United in front of the biggest crowd in US Open Cup history (41,012).
Diego Rossi (Los Angeles FC, MLS): Rossi started and played 90 minutes in a 3-2 home win over the Sacramento Republic (USL). LAFC rallied twice and Rossi was the team’s main offensive threat highlighted by his 67th minute equalizer and assisting on Latif Blessing’s 89th minute game-winner.
Daniel Salloi (Sporting Kansas City, MLS): Salloi started, played 85 minutes and scored the first two goals for Sporting Kansas City in the club’s 3-2 home win over FC Dallas (MLS).
Chris Seitz (Houston Dynamo, MLS): Seitz made five saves and kept a clean sheet in Houston’s 1-0 home win over Minnesota United FC (MLS).