After Tuesday night’s games, 10 teams have punched their ticket to the Second Round of the 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Tonight, the First Round will wrap up with nine more First Round games.
For the first time, the entire first round (and the entire tournament) will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Since 2003, fans who wanted to follow the opening round of the second-oldest, continually-operating soccer tournament in the world, would have to rely on updates from this site, or, in later years, the occasional live audio or video stream. Now, fans who are unable to attend a match in person, can watch every game from the comfort of their home, or through their favorite mobile device.
The first round features 32 open division teams (14 NPSL, 10 USL League Two, 8 Open Division Local) and six USL League One (Div. 3 pro) teams. The winners will advance to Round 2 where 25 USL Championship (Div. 2 pro) teams will enter.
Below is a preview of all nine of Wednesday’s opening round games.
#USOC2019 NEWS
2019 US Open Cup Schedule/Results
Things you should know about the First Round of the US Open Cup (Modern Era)
2019 US Open Cup qualifying schedule/results
2019 US Open Cup Qualifying Round 1 game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Qualifying Round 2 game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Qualifying Round 3 game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Qualifying Final Round game-by-game review
Every US Open Cup game to stream on ESPN+ in multi-year media rights deal
More pros, less amateurs, an extra sub in 2019 US Open Cup format
Chattanooga FC qualifies for 2019 US Open Cup, but opts out
MEET THE UNDERDOGS SERIES
Milwaukee’s Bavarian Soccer Club, proudly amateur since 1929
West Chester United battle tested from long journey back to US Open Cup
NTX Rayados grooming “new generation” to keep qualifying streak going
Academica SC earns first US Open Cup berth after more than 40 years as a club
FC Denver using US Open Cup to build to “higher level”
First year Florida Soccer Soldiers winning with “respect, pride and commitment”
Dayton Dutch Lions (USL-2) at Erie Commodores FC (NPSL)
McConnell Family Stadium – Erie, PA
Kickoff: May 8 – 7 p.m. ET
Round 2 scenarios: If Dayton Dutch Lions wins, they play at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL-C) on May 14 .. if Erie Commodores wins, they host Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL-C) on May 14.
BROADCAST: ESPN+
By Michael Berton
The Dayton Dutch Lions of USL-2 were founded in 2009 and began league play in USL-2 (then PDL) in 2010. After moving to USL PRO from 2011 to 2014, the club rejoined USL-2 in the Great Lakes Division. In 2018, Dayton won its first title at any level, finishing first in that division with a 8-3-3 record. However, the Dutch Lions fell in the first round of the playoffs. Dayton will be making its 6th Open Cup appearance, but first since its last season in USL PRO in 2014. Its most successful tournament run came in 2012, when the Dutch Lions defeated the Columbus Crew and the Michigan Bucks (USL-2) en route to a Quarterfinal loss to eventual champions Sporting Kansas City. Dayton begins its season on May 18.
Erie Commodores FC were also founded in 2009 under the name Erie Admirals SC, competing in the NPSL. Erie has won its division five times in its 10-year history, including last year winning the Midwest Region East Conference in 2018 with a 8-1-3 record. Erie eventually ended its campaign in the NPSL regional quarterfinals. The Commodores qualified for the Open Cup for the first time in 2013, but declined to enter due to travel and financial issues. They would finally make their tournament debut in 2018, defeating the Rochester River Dogz on penalty kicks before succumbing to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the Second Round. Erie opens its season on May 17.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Dayton Dutch Lions (USL-2)
6th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 6-5-0
Away: 4-5-0
vs. Open Division: 5-0-0
Best finish: 2012 Quarterfinals (Lost 3-0 at Sporting Kansas City of MLS)
Erie Commodores (NPSL)
2nd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-1-1 (1-0 PK)
Home: 0-1-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. Open Division: 0-0-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: 2018 Second Round (Lost 2-1 vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds of USL)
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Philadelphia Lone Star FC (NPSL) at Reading United AC (USL-2)
Alvernia University Stadium – Reading, PA
Kickoff: May 8 – 7 p.m. ET
Round 2 scenarios: Winner plays at Louisville City FC (USL-C) on May 15.
BROADCAST: ESPN+
By Michael Berton
Philadelphia Lone Star has come a long way since its humble beginnings as Junior Lone Star in a Philadelphia Soccer League. Lone Star, established in 2001 by a group of Liberian American immigrant soccer players, now boasts a team in the NPSL, an Under-23 team in the UPSL, a new “Legends” team in the Philadelphia-based CASA Soccer League, and even a team in the Liberian Third Division. Philadelphia Lone Star earned its best NPSL finish in 2018, a second-place campaign in the Keystone Conference with a 8-2-0 record, before falling in the first round of the playoffs. Philadelphia will be making its second US Open Cup appearance. In 2017, the club qualified through the Open Division Local qualifying tournament, falling 3-1 in the first round to the Ocean City Nor’easters of USL-2 (then PDL). Philadelphia Lone Star opens its season on May 11.
Reading United AC is making its 11th straight appearance in the US Open Cup, the Modern Era’s longest qualifying streak of any open division team in the country. Competing in USL League Two, Reading won the Mid-Atlantic Division in 2018 with a 12-2-0 record and advanced all the way to the Final before losing 4-2 in overtime to the Calgary Foothills. United has won at least one game in every Open Cup it has appeared in since 2012, and the club has gotten as far as Round 3 twice. In 2018, Reading got past Christos FC on penalties in the First Round before falling in penalties to Richmond Kickers in the Second Round. Reading kicks off its regular season on May 11.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Philadelphia Lone Star FC (NPSL)
2nd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-1-0
Away: 0-1-0
vs. Open Division: 0-1-0
Best finish: 2018 First Round
Reading United AC (USL-2)
13th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 8-10-3 (1-2 PK)
Home: 8-3-2 (1-1 PK)
vs. Open Division: 6-1-2 (1-1 PK)
Best finish: Third Round (2013, 2014, 2017)
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Black Rock FC (USL-2) at New York Cosmos B (NPSL)
Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium – New York, NY
Kickoff: May 8 – 7:30 p.m. ET
Round 2 scenarios: Winner plays at Hartford Athletic (USL-C) on May 14.
BROADCAST: ESPN+
By Michael Battista
The Route 1 battle between New York Cosmos B and Black Rock FC on Wednesday will be the first time these teams play one another. The Massachusetts side will be entering the Big Apple for a match against the current NPSL powerhouse stacked with professional talent.
In only its second season of play, Black Rock FC is entering the 2019 Open Cup with a brief but solid track record. The team won the Northeast Division last season in the Premier Developmental League only losing two games and scoring 33 times over the 14 regular season games. Even though the team fell to New York Red Bulls U-23s in the first round of the playoffs, the conference win was enough to secure a place in the tournament.
The New York Cosmos B are back in the competition following a highly successful NPSL season and a unique US Open Cup run in 2018. The team was allowed to compete in the competition last year through a Play-in round along with Miami FC 2 and the Jacksonville Armada despite all of them joining a league after the cutoff period due to the North American Soccer League (NASL) going on hiatus. The team fell to the Brooklyn Italians in its first game, 3-2, after Rasmus Hansen scored his second goal of the game with five minutes to play in regulation. When the senior team was a member of the NASL it played in three straight tournaments between 2014 and 2016 where it reached the Fifth Round and eliminated three MLS teams (New York Red Bulls in 2014 and New York City FC in 2015 and 2016).
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Black Rock FC (NPSL)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: N/A
Away: N/A
vs. Open Division: N/A
Best finish: N/A
New York Cosmos B (NPSL)
2nd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-1-0
Home: N/A
vs. Open Division: 0-1-0
Best finish: 2018 Play-In Round
AFC Ann Arbor (NPSL) at Lansing Ignite FC (USL-1)
Cooley Law School Stadium – Lansing, MI
Kickoff: May 8 – 7 p.m. ET
Round 2 scenarios: Winner plays at Indy Eleven (USL-C) on May 15
BROADCAST: ESPN+
By Jake Sillick
This is the third year in a row that AFC Ann Arbor has qualified for the US Open Cup and the club is still seeking its first tournament win. They look to change that this year against a professional team. A 9-1-2 record last year in the Great Lakes Conference of NPSL won them the regular season title. A win over Cleveland SC in the Midwest Region playoffs was enough to secure their berth in the Open Cup as an NPSL regional finalist. AFC Ann Arbor has yet to score in the Open Cup as well, losing on the road to the Michigan Bucks (now Flint City Bucks) in their debut in 2017, and falling 3-0 at home to the Ocean City Nor’easters. This will be AFC Ann Arbor’s first match against a professional team in the cup.
Lansing Ignite is a pro team in the newly-created USL League One (Div. 3 pro). As such, this is the first ever cup match in club history. In USL League One play, Lansing sits in the logjam for 4th through 9th places of the 10 team league with seven points. All seven points have come against the Richmond Kickers this year. They started the season off defeating Richmond twice in 3 matches by 3-2 and 3-1 scorelines. In their most recent match of the season leading up to this cup tie, Lansing drew Richmond 2-2.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
AFC Ann Arbor (NPSL)
3rd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-2-0
Away: 0-1-0
vs. Open Division: 0-2-0
Best finish: First Round (2017, 2018)
Lansing Ignite FC (USL-1)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: N/A
Home: N/A
vs. Open Division: N/A
Best finish: N/A
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Duluth FC (NPSL) at Des Moines Menace (NPSL)
Cownie Soccer Park – Des Moines, IA
Kickoff: May 8 – 8:30 p.m. ET
Round 2 scenarios: If Duluth FC wins, they play at Saint Louis FC (USL-C) on May 15 .. If Des Moines Menace wins, they host Saint Louis FC (USL-C) on May 15.
BROADCAST: ESPN+
By Jake Sillick
Duluth FC had a historic season last year for the club in the NPSL, making it all the way to the national semifinals before falling to eventual champions Miami FC 3-0. That run in the playoffs, which included wins over North Conference regular season champion Minneapolis City SC and AFC Ann Arbor, qualified them for this year’s competition. They also qualified last year in 2018, making this their second appearance in the Open Cup. Last season, they defeated fellow NPSL club Dakota Fusion FC in penalty kicks after eight goals in 120 minutes before falling to USL-C club Saint Louis FC in the 2nd round.
Des Moines Menace have a long and storied history in this competition, participating 11 times since its first appearance in 2002. In those 11 appearances, they have been giant killers, defeating professional clubs on seven different occasions, the second most of any Open Division team in the Modern Era (Michigan Bucks – 10). To qualify this season, Des Moines won the USL League Two regular season championship, going undefeated in the 14-game regular season last year with a 13-0-1 record and 40 points. Their last appearance was in 2017 where they lost to AFC Cleveland in the first round. Their most memorable cup run came in 2005 when they upset three straight professional teams (Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Charleston Battery, Atlanta Silverbacks) before getting knocked off by the Kansas City Wizards (Sporting KC), 6-1.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Duluth FC (NPSL)
2nd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-1-1 (1-0 PK)
Away: N/A
vs. Open Division: 0-0-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: 2018 Second Round
Des Moines Menace (USL-2)
11th US Open Cup appearance*
*The Menace organization also qualified a “reserves” team in 2011 and 2014
Overall: 12-11-1 (1-0 PK)
Home: 7-5-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. Open Division: 6-2-0
Best finish: 2005 Fourth Round (Lost 6-1 at Kansas City Wizards of MLS)
South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL-1) at Greenville Triumph SC (USL-1)
Legacy Early College Field – Greenville, SC
Kickoff: May 8 – 7 p.m. ET
Round 2 scenarios: If South Georgia Tormenta FC wins, they play at Charleston Battery (USL-C) on May 15 .. If Greenville Triumph SC wins, they host Charleston Battery (USL-C) on May 15.
BROADCAST: ESPN+
By Michael Battista
On March 29, 2019, South Georgia Tormenta FC and Greenville Triumph SC played in the first-ever USL League One game at the former’s home. Now a month and a half later the two teams will meet for the second time but two things will be different. Now the Triumph have home field advantage and it will be in the First Round of the US Open Cup. Tormenta FC left the first match with a win, 1-0, after a second half goal by forward Alex Morrell in front of a sold-out crowd of 3,519 fans in Erk Russell Park.
South Georgia, as an organization, has more Open Cup experience after Tormenta FC qualified for the tournament last year as a member of the Premier Developmental League (now USL League Two). Tormenta defeated fellow PDL side Myrtle Beach Mutiny, 2-1, in the First Round before falling to USL side Charleston Battery in the next round. Four days after the game on May 12 the squad will return home to face Toronto FC II, and should it advance to the Second Round for a potential rematch with Charleston that game would be on May 15, with yet another league game happening three days after that.
As a brand new organization, just like Tormenta, in USL League One, Greenville is entering its’ first ever US Open Cup. The team is currently trending in the lower half of the league standings after six games with a record of 2-1-3 and have gone winless since April 13. Head coach and US Soccer Hall of Famer John Harkes, recently featured in the upcoming documentary “SoccerTown USA,” has his own history with national knockout competitions. During his stint with D.C. United, he helped lead the team to the US Open Cup title in 1996 and was a member of the Sheffield Wednesday team that finished runner-up to Arsenal FC in the 1993 English FA Cup Final.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL-1)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: N/A
Home: N/A
vs. Open Division: N/A
Best finish: N/A
Greenville Triumph SC (USL-1)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: N/A
Home: N/A
vs. Open Division: N/A
Best finish: N/A
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Florida Soccer Soldiers (USASA / UPSL) at Miami FC (NPSL)
Buccaneer Field (Barry Univ.) – Miami Shores, FL
Kickoff: May 8 – 7 p.m. ET
Round 2 scenarios: Winner will play at Charlotte Independence (USL-C) on May 14
BROADCAST: ESPN+
By Jake Sillick
Florida Soccer Soldiers rolled through three qualifying matches last fall. In September they downed fellow South Florida squad Miami Sun FC 2-1. Then in the second round in October they downed four time Open Cup qualifier Red Force FC by a 1-0 scoreline. For the their third and final qualifying match they defeated Hurricane FC of Delray Beach, FL by a whopping 6-0. They would have had a fourth qualifying match, but American Soccer Club of Orlando had to withdraw. This will be the first ever Open Cup appearance for Florida Soccer Soldiers, who are a perfect 5-0-0 in the UPSL Spring 2019 season.
Miami FC has participated in the cup every season of its existence and this will be the fourth appearance overall for the club. This includes a 2017 Quarterfinal run in which they defeated two MLS clubs, Orlando City and Atlanta United, before being defeated by FC Cincinnati. In 2016, however, they were bounced in the Third Round by Wilmington Hammerheads. Last season they had to start in the Play-In Round, but got into the second round before losing to Miami United. Miami FC earned their Open Cup spot by being NPSL champions, winning the regular season Sunshine Conference championship and rolling through five playoff matches in all to win the NPSL title.
2019 MEET THE UNDERDOGS: First year Florida Soccer Soldiers winning with “respect, pride and commitment”
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Florida Soccer Soldiers (USASA / UPSL)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: N/A
Home: N/A
vs. Open Division: N/A
Best finish: N/A
Miami FC (NPSL)
4th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 6-3-0
Home: 4-3-0
vs. Open Division: 3-1-0
Best finish: 2017 Quarterfinals (Lost 1-0 vs. FC Cincinnati of USL)
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NTX Rayados (USASA / North Texas Premier Soccer Assoc.) at Little Rock Rangers (NPSL)
Episcopal Collegiate School – Little Rock, AR
Kickoff: May 8 – 8 p.m. ET
Round 2 scenarios: Winner will play at OKC Energy FC (USL-C) on May 14
BROADCAST: ESPN+
By Jake Sillick
No matter how what format qualifying is or how many matches you put in front of them, NTX Rayados keeps on winning and winning. This will be Rayados’ eighth consecutive trip to the tournament proper. This particular qualifying run was remarkable, as they had to get through two penalty kick shootouts, one of them going well beyond the normal five rounds of spot kicks. The first round against Dallas Elite FC had furious comebacks by both teams, including a stoppage time in extra time equalizer by NTX Rayados. That match ended 4-4 and Rayados won the shootout 4-3. After a much calmer second round win over Leon FC by a score of 2-0, NTX Rayados had to go to penalties again in the third round against Motagua of New Orleans. After a 1-1 draw, Rayados won the shootout 10-9. They were probably relieved to have a much more dominant 5-0 win over FC Maritsa in the fourth and final qualifying match.
Prior to 2018, the only thing the club had to show for their six trips to the US Open Cup (and one disqualification) was a thrilling penalty kick shootout win over the Austin Aztex (USL League Two) in 2014. Last year, they put their winless tournament history behind them as they earned wins over Fort Worth Vaqueros (NPSL), OKC Energy (USL), and FC Wichita (NPSL) before falling on the road to eventual champions Houston Dynamo (MLS) in Round 4.
According to TheCup.us records, Little Rock Rangers will be the first team from Arkansas to ever participate in the US Open Cup. After three seasons in the NPSL, Little Rock posted a 7-3-0 regular season as advanced all the way to the South Region Final. That regional final appearance qualified them for this year’s cup. They opened up NPSL play this season with a 1-3 loss to Tulsa Athletic. They will play Ozark FC on May 12 following this first round match.
2019 MEET THE UNDERDOGS: NTX Rayados grooming “new generation” to keep qualifying streak going
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
NTX Rayados (USASA / North Texas Premier Soccer Assoc.)
7th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 3-6-2 (1-1 PK)
Away: 0-5-2 (1-1 PK)
vs. Open Division: 2-4-2 (1-1 PK)
Best finish: 2014 Fourth Round (Lost 5-0 at Houston Dynamo of MLS)
Little Rock Rangers (NPSL)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: N/A
Away: N/A
vs. Open Division: N/A
Best finish: N/A
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FC Denver (USSSA / Colorado Premier League) at Midland-Odessa Sockers FC (NPSL)
Grande Communications Stadium – Midland, TX
Kickoff: May 8 – 8:30 p.m. ET
Round 2 scenarios: Winner will play at Colorado Springs Switchbacks (USL-C) on May 15
BROADCAST: ESPN+
By Michael Battista
In the combined three Open Cup appearances between the two teams, neither FC Denver nor Midland-Odesssa Sockers FC have ever failed to reach the Second Round. With the two sides set to clash Wednesday night in Texas, that fact is about to change. Both teams will meet for the first time in Midland, Texas in what is scheduled to be the final game of Round 1.
Midland-Odessa Sockers FC has been around since 2009, but has only qualified twice (2015, 2018). The team has never been on the road in the tournament and in the First Round that may be a factor to their 100% win rate, beating NPSL side Tulsa Athletics and PDL side Lakeland Tropics in 2015 and 2018 respectively. While that may be the case the squad has never beaten a USL team in the tournament falling both times in the Second Round. The team finished second overall in the NPSL Lone Star Conference with a record of 7-2-1 (22 pts) but fell in its first playoff game to the Houston Dutch Lions FC, 3-2.
Last year many people had never heard the name FC Denver prior to the 2018 US Open Cup. One year later, the organization has expanded to include a youth academy, a women’s team, and now play their league and Open Cup games at Metropolitan State University’s soccer-specific stadium in downtown Denver. The 14-year-old club used the Open Cup last year, where it beat fellow local qualifier Azteca FC, 4-2, and pushed the USL’s Colorado Switchbacks FC to the brink before falling, 1-0, as a springboard for growth and statewide recognition. After four straight wins were needed to qualify, a second straight Second Round appearance will be on the mind’s of every FCD fan in the Centennial State and beyond.
2019 MEET THE UNDERDOGS: FC Denver using US Open Cup to build to “higher level”
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
FC Denver (USSSA / Colorado Premier League)
2nd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-1-0
Away: 0-1-0
vs. Open Division: 1-0-0
Best finish: 2018 Second Round
Midland-Odessa Sockers FC (NPSL)
3rd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 2-2-0
Home: 2-2-0
vs. Open Division: 2-0-0
Best finish: Second Round (2015, 2018)