The theme of the Round of 16 of the 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is simple: new blood.
When the dust settled on the tournament’s Fifth Round, eight teams were left standing. Six of them from Major League Soccer, and two from the USL Championship. Based on the eight teams that survived Round 5, it is guaranteed that no matter who wins this year’s US Open Cup title, they will be lifting the trophy for the first time. Another thing they have in common is their team histories. All eight of them have existed in their respective leagues for less than a decade, from the youngest in expansion side New Mexico United (USL Championship) to the oldest with the Portland Timbers, who joined MLS in 2011.
It was a dramatic round with six of the eight games decided by a single goal. Among those games, the headliners were the USL Championship sides who advanced to the Quarterfinals. Saint Louis FC scored a stoppage time winner to beat FC Cincinnati, and New Mexico United held off FC Dallas on the road to become the first New Mexico club to reach the Quarterfinals in almost 30 years. Arguably, the most dramatic win came from Minnesota United, who overcame a 2-0 halftime deficit on the road against the defending US Open Cup champion Houston Dynamo. The win was capped off by a 90th minute game-winner to send the Loons to the Quarterfinals for the first time in franchise history.
Below is a brief summary of every Round of 16 game with links to every match report.
#USOC2019 ESSENTIALS
2019 US Open Cup Schedule/Results (with links to every match report
2019 US Open Cup statistical leaders (Goals, Assists, GKs)
2019 US Open Cup bracket (TheCup.us)
2019 US Open Cup Round 1: Game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Round 2: Game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Round 3: Game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Round 4: Game-by-game review
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NPSL Mid-Atlantic Conference currently ineligible for 2020 US Open Cup
Every US Open Cup game to stream on ESPN+ in multi-year media rights deal
THECUP.US PLAYER OF THE ROUND
Round 1: Charles Boateng – Richmond Kickers
Round 2: Bryant Martin – Florida Soccer Soldiers
Round 3: Blake Frischknecht – Orange County FC
Round 4: Teal Bunbury – New England Revolution
#USOC2019 QUALIFYING
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
Florida Soccer Soldiers qualify for first time after America SC withdraws
More pros, less amateurs, an extra sub in 2019 US Open Cup format
Chattanooga FC qualifies for 2019 US Open Cup, but opts out
Bavarian SC qualify for 2019 US Open Cup by winning Amateur Cup title
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”
Columbus Crew (MLS)
2:3
Atlanta United (MLS)
Atlanta United broke through into the Quarterfinals for the first time in the club’s brief three-year history with a 3-2 road win over the Columbus Crew. A goal in each half by Brandon Vasquez and another by Miles Robinson was the difference as United won their first tournament game away from home, and their first game against a fellow MLS team. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
Houston Dynamo (MLS)
2:3
Minnesota United (MLS)
The defending US Open Cup champion Houston Dynamo appeared to be on their way back to the Quarterfinals. Playing in front of their home fans for the eighth tournament game in a row (dating back to 2017), they jumped out to a 2-0 halftime lead over Minnesota United on goals from Ronaldo Pena and Tomas Martinez. United came alive in the second half with three unanswered goals — two of them by Darwin Quintero — capped off by a 90th minute game-winner by Mason Toye to send the Loons into the Quarterfinals for the first time in club history. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
D.C. United (MLS)
1:2
NYCFC (MLS)
New York City FC dug themselves out of an early hole to defeat D.C. United 2-1 on the road to advance to the Quarterfinals. Wayne Rooney put United in the lead with a 32nd minute goal, but the Pigeons would answer back six minutes later with an equalizer from Alexandru Mitra. Just before halftime, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi would give NYCFC the lead and they would hold on to it throughout the second half. After going winless in their first four US Open Cup matches, NYCFC have now won back-to-back tournament games. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
Orlando City SC (MLS)
2:1 (AET)
New England Revolution (MLS)
Orlando City SC held on in extra time to defeat the New England Revolution 2-1. The game was scoreless after 90 minutes but in extra time in the 96th minute Benji Michel scored his first goal for Orlando City to give them the lead. Five minutes later, Tesho Akendele doubled the lead for Orlando in the 101st minute off a rebound to make it 2-0. The Revolution scored a late goal in the 117th minute by Justin Rennicks but they were unable to find the equalizer despite the best efforts of Juan Fernando Caicedo who had his shot in the final minute go just wide of the target. With the win, Orlando advances to the Quarterfinals for the second year in a row, and the fourth time in club history. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
FC Dallas (MLS)
1:2
New Mexico United (USL-C)
USL Championship expansion side New Mexico United went on the road for another cupset against an MLS team as they held on for a 2-1 win over FC Dallas to advance to the Quarterfinals. FC Dallas got the lead first with an impressive goal from Brandon Servania in the 41st minute. Few minutes later Kevaughn Frater equalized for United just before the half. In the second half, New Mexico United took the lead with a goal off a set piece from Sam Hamilton to put United up 2-1. New Mexico held on for the win to earn a fifth straight road game against a fifth straight professional opponent as they will hit the road to take on Minnesota United in the Quarterfinals. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
Saint Louis FC (USL-C)
1:0
FC Cincinnati (MLS)
The other “cupset” in the Round of 16 occurred in Fenton, Mo. where the hometown Saint Louis FC of the USL Championship scored a last-minute stoppage time goal to knock off FC Cincinnati. Saint Louis captain Sam Fink scored off a header off a corner kick from Lewis Hilton to them a 1-0 win over the first-year MLS franchise to advance to the Quarterfinals for the first time in their history despite being outpossessed 63% to 37%. Saint Louis will travel to play Atlanta United in the Quarterfinals. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
Portland Timbers FC (MLS)
4:0
Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
The round’s only truly one-sided affair took place in Portland where the Timbers cruised to a 4-0 home win over the Galaxy. After a Perry Kitchen own goal gave Rose City side an early lead, Brian Fernandez scored a goal and assisted on another to send the Timbers into the Quarterfinals for the second year in a row. Sebastian Blanco added another and goalkeeper Steve Clark made four saves to earn the clean sheet as the Timbers took one step closer to becoming the first Oregon-based club to win the tournament. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
Los Angeles FC (MLS)
3:1
San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
Los Angeles FC closed out the Round of 16 with a 3-1 home win over the San Jose Earthquakes on Thursday night. After Vako put the visitors in front with a 7th minute goal, LAFC answered with three unanswered goals by Diego Rossi, Adama Diomande and Carlos Vela. LAFC were eliminated last year by the Houston Dynamo in penalty kicks in their inaugural Cup run in the Semifinals (officially listed as a draw), so with the win, the club remains undefeated in Open Cup play in six games. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT