After 938 days without the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, the First Round of the 107th edition of America’s oldest cup competition kicked off yesterday with six games. On Wednesday, there are 10 games on the schedule between Open Division amateur sides. The winners will earn dates with professional sides in Round 2 (April 5-7).
West Chester United SC (USL-2), Cleveland SC (NPSL), Oyster Bay United FC (UPSL), The Villages SC (USL-2), Southern States SC Stars (NPSL), and D’Feeters Kicks SC (The Roja League) all punched their tickets to Round 2 with wins on Tuesday night.
All of the First Round games will be streamed live on either ESPN+ or the United States Soccer Federation’s YouTube channel.
As always, TheCup.us will have reporters at every game and will be providing in-game updates on Twitter (@USOpenCup) and as we have done for more than a decade, the hashtag we recommend is #USOC2022.
Below you will find a brief preview of all ten of Wednesday’s games. Broadcast links will be added when they are made available.
Escondido FC (USASA/UPSL) at San Fernando Valley FC (USASA/UPSL)
Sepulveda Basin Sports Complex – Encino, CA
Kickoff: 5:45 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: USSF’s YOUTUBE
By Jim Coppock
In a battle of debutants, Escondido FC of the UPSL’s SoCal South-Premier division hosts San Fernando Valley FC of the UPSL’s SoCal North-Premier division.
Escondido, one of the newest amateur sides, qualified for the Open Cup on its first attempt by defeating division rivals Rebels SC (3-2) and Sporting ID11 (3-2 after extra time). These wins bookended a 3-1 victory over veteran Open Cup side, Chula Vista FC. Most remarkably, the team finished it’s qualifying run with a roster of just 13 players after the loss of two key players during the UPSL Fall campaign. The two players, Aurturo Soltero and Angel De León, are not expected to be available for this game.
2022 Meet the Underdogs: Escondido FC
San Fernando Valley FC earned their first tournament berth with a pair of 2-1 wins over SC Trojans and UPSL rivals, Capo FC. Escondido were gifted a free pass in their second match when Desert Communities SC Pathfinders withdrew. The win over Capo FC of the Southwest Premier League punched their ticket to the US Open Cup. SFVFC are the first team from the San Fernando Valley to qualify since 1995 when the San Fernando Valley Golden Eagles of USISL Pro lost their opening round game. San Fernando Valley will look to established goalscorer Cristo Deras to help lead the attack. Deras helped lead the team to promotion from the SoCal North-Division I this past fall, the team’s first season in the UPSL’s top tier.
The prize for the winner of this game is a road game against California United Strikers FC of NISA in the Second Round.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Escondido FC (USASA/UPSL)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: N/A
Best finish: N/A
San Fernando Valley FC (USASA/UPSL)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Home: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: N/A
Best finish: N/A
Lansdowne Yonkers FC (USASA/EPSL) at Ocean City Nor’easters (USL-2)
Carey Stadium – Ocean City, NJ
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: ESPN+
By Chuck Nolan Jr.
Lansdowne Yonkers FC enters their third US Open Cup tournament as defending USASA National Amateur Cup champions. On their way to wearing the Amateur crown, Lansdowne defeated three fellow Open Cup qualifiers (FC Motown, Brockton FC United and West Chester United) in the Region I tournament. In the National Finals, Lansdowne defeated Nashville United 1-0 in the semifinals and Cal FC 2-1 in the Final.
Lansdowne won the inaugural Eastern Premier Soccer League championship in 2020-21, and currently sit second in the Metropolitan Conference as the second half of the EPSL season gets underway in March. The club will look to rebound from its first loss in nearly 486 days after dropping the Eastern NY Amateur Cup final to NY Greek American SC 1-0 on March 17.
Lansdowne have won at least one game in each of its previous two US Open Cup appearances. Their biggest win came in 2016 when they traveled to the Steel City and upset the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL), 2-0.
Ocean City will make its first Open Cup appearance since 2018, when it reached the Third Round after upsetting the USL’s Charlotte Independence 3-1. The Nor’easters are one of the biggest giant killers of the Modern Era. That upset over Charlotte was the sixth pro team the Nor’easters had eliminated in club history, third-most of any amateur team in the Modern Era (Flint City Bucks – 10, Des Moines Menace 7). Ocean City also has the third most wins (11) as an amateur side (Flint City Bucks 15, Des Moines Menace 12). They qualified with a 9-2-3 record and a second place finish in the Mid-Atlantic Division behind fellow Open Cup qualifier West Chester United. After a 1-0 win over the Boston Bolts in the opening round of the playoffs, the season would end with a narrow 1-0 loss to that same West Chester United team. They come in with two very good records, 6-1 against amateur teams all-time and 8-4-1 (0-1 PKs) at their home stadium, Carey Stadium, nicknamed “The Beach House.”
The winner of this game will travel to upstate New York to take on Rochester New York FC (formerly the Rochester Rhinos) of the new MLS Next Pro league on April 7.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Lansdowne Yonkers FC (USASA/EPSL)
3rd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 3-2-0
Away: 3-2-0
vs. Amateurs: 2-0-0
Best finish: Third Round (2016)
Ocean City Nor’easters (USL-2)
10th US Open Cup appearance (1 as a pro team)
Overall: 12-8-1 (0-1 PKs)
Away: 4-4-0
vs. Amateurs: 6-1-0
Best finish: Third Round (2005, 2009, 2013, 2018)
Northern Virginia FC (USASA/EPSL) at Lynchburg FC (USASA/UPSL)
Lynchburg City Stadium – Lynchburg, VA
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: USSF’s YOUTUBE
By Chuck Nolan Jr.
Northern Virginia FC has a rather lengthy history that goes back to 1998 in the USL’s D-3 Pro League as the Northern Virginia Royals. As the Royals, the club made its only two Open Cup appearances in 1999 and 2000, and 22 years and three name changes later they’ve made their way back … through a different league. The Royals joined the PDL (now USL League Two) in 2006 and remain in the league to this day. They rebranded as Evergreen FC in 2015 and then took on their current name after the 2020 season. While it maintains a team in USL League Two, it also fields a team in the Eastern Premier Soccer League. As a member of the EPSL, NoVa entered the Open Division Local qualifying tournament.
In a first attempt at qualifying, they secured their first Open Cup berth in more than two decades.
NoVa started with a 2-0 win over Springfield FC, followed by a 2-1 victory over leaguemates Virginia United FC. NoVa qualified with a convincing 5-0 win over Districtonia Futbol, despite finishing the game with just nine players.
Lynchburg’s qualifying run began with a forfeit win over three-time qualifier Aegean Hawks when the Hawks had to withdraw at the last minute due to roster complications. Lynchburg got past Rockville SC 3-0 in the third round, then snuck past FC Maritsa 1-0 for a first-ever Open Cup appearance.
Northern Virginia are currently in first place of the EPSL Mid-Atlantic Conference with a 8-1-0 record as the leagues’ spring schedule gets underway.
The winner of this game will play against the Richmond Kickers of USL League One. If Northern Virginia wins, it will host the Kickers, but if Lynchburg wins, it will have to travel to Richmond.
2022 MEET THE UNDERDOGS: Lynchburg FC
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Northern Virginia FC (USASA/EPSL)
3rd US Open Cup appearance (2 as pro team)
Overall: 0-2-0
Away: 0-1-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-1-0 (as pro team)
Best finish: Second Round (2000)
Lynchburg FC (USASA/UPSL)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Home: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: N/A
Best finish: N/A
North Carolina Fusion U-23s (USL-2) at South Carolina United FC (USL-2)
SEFL Soccer Complex – Columbia, SC
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: USSF’s YOUTUBE
By Chuck Nolan Jr.
North Carolina Fusion U23s have the second-longest Open Cup history of any club in the first round, making their Open Cup debut in 1996 as the professional Carolina Dynamo of the USISL Select League. This will be the 13th US Open Cup appearance in club history, having played 24 tournament games. Aside from their Quarterfinal appearance as a pro team in 1996, their best Open Cup was came in 2006 when they won three games, including two wins over pro teams in the Richmond Kickers (USL Second Division) and the Seattle Sounders (USL First Division). Their run would end in the Fourth Round on the road against a team with the same nickname, the Houston Dynamo (MLS).
On the other hand, SC United Bantams make just their second Open Cup appearance after a debut in 2017. That year, they lost their opening game against the Atlanta Silverbacks (NPSL), 4-1.
The two teams were very successful in their 2021 USL League Two campaigns, the Fusion finishing 11-2-1 in the South Atlantic Division, and South Carolina posting a 11-1-2 record in the Deep South Division. The clubs met in the Conference Semifinals, with the Fusion coming out on top with a 2-1 extra time win. They would advance to the USL League Two championship where they fell to the Des Moines Menace.
The two teams combined to place five players on the USL League Two Southern Conference All-Conference team, with Arnaud Baron (SCU), Toby Sims (SCU) and Joao Gomiero (NCF) making the All-League team.
The winner of this game will play on the road against the Charlotte Independence (USL League One) on April 5.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
North Carolina Fusion U-23s (USL-2)
13th US Open Cup appearance (5 as pro team)
Overall: 11-12-1 (1-0 PKs) | 6-7-1 (1-0 PKs) as USL-2 team
Away: 2-9-0 | 0-4-0 as USL-2 team
vs. Amateurs: 7-2-1 (1-0 PKs) | 3-1-1 (1-0 PKs) as USL-2 team
Best finish: Quarterfinals (1996) (as pro team)
SC United Bantams (USL-2)
2nd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-1-0
Away: 0-1-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-1-0
Best finish: First Round (2017)
Brockton FC United (USASA/Bay State Soccer Lg) at Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2)
Lusitano Stadium – Ludlow, MA
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: USSF’s YOUTUBE
By Chuck Nolan Jr.
Ludlow, Mass. has a long history in the US Open Cup. The first known appearance of a Ludlow club in the tournament was on Dec. 19, 1937, when Gremio Lusitano defeated Springfield 3-0 in the second round of qualifying for the 1938 Open Cup. Ludlow Lusitano and Gremio Lusitano also saw Open Cup success in the 1950s.
Several decades later, the Western Mass Pioneers have made 12 US Open Cup cup appearances since their formation in 1998 (six of them as a pro team). The Pioneers finished with a 10-2-2 record in the USL League Two Northeast Division in 2021, making their way to the national semifinals where they were stopped by the North Carolina Fusion U-23s, 3-1. The Pioneers are attempting to win multiple games in a single tournament for the first time in club history.
Brockton FC United finished first in the Bay State Soccer League Division 1 during the 2021 Spring season, but then dropped to sixth out of nine teams in the fall season. Brockton also finished as runners up in the 2021 BSSL McKenzie Cup, dropping a 3-2 contest to Providence City FC. They qualified for their first US Open Cup by way of the Open Division Local Qualifying tournament scoring 17 goals in three wins over Unations FC (UPSL), Kendall Wanderers (Bay State Soccer League) and Philadelphia Lone Star FC (UPSL).
The winner of this game will play against Flower City Union (NISA). If Western Mass wins, they will host, but if Brockton wins, they will have to travel to Rochester, NY.
2022 Meet the Underdogs: Brockton FC United
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Brockton FC United (USASA/Bay State Soccer Lg)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: N/A
Best finish: N/A
Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2)
12th US Open Cup appearance (6 as pro team)
Overall: 6-8-3 (0-3 PKs) | 1-3-2 (0-2 PKs) as USL-2
Home: 5-5-2 (0-2 PKs) | 1-1-2 (0-2 PKs) as USL-2
vs. Amateurs: 6-2-2 (0-2 PKs) | 1-1-2 (0-2 PKs) as USL-2
Best finish: 2005 Third Round (as pro team)
City Soccer FC (USSSA/NSL) at Miami United FC (NPSL)
Ted Hendricks Stadium – Hialeah, FL
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: ESPN+
By Chuck Nolan Jr.
City Soccer FC is the second club from the National Soccer League (NSL) to earn a berth in this year’s Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, joining Orlando FC Wolves. City started their qualifying campaign with a 3-2 win over Miami Sun FC of the UPSL. This was followed by a dominating 7-2 victory over International Soccer Academy. Finally a 4-0 win over 2019 upset darlings Florida Soccer Soldiers sent City Soccer to their Open Cup debut.
2022 Meet the Underdogs: City Soccer FC
Miami United FC makes their fourth Open Cup appearance, and their first since their run to the Fourth Round in the 2018 Open Cup where they fell to Orlando CIty SC (MLS) 3-0. That 2018 Open Cup run is one that doesn’t look all that impressive on paper, until you take a closer look. After beating a talented FC Kendall team, they beat a pair of NPSL teams in Miami FC 2 and Jacksonville Armada FC. At face value, beating a pair of teams from your own league doesn’t make a lot of headlines, but both of those teams were a rare example of being professional.
Miami posted a 7-1-2 record in NPSL play in 2021, but were upset in the playoffs by Naples United 4-1. The club had previously reached the NPSL Conference Final in 2018 and 2019.
The winner will stay in South Florida where they will play a road game against Miami FC of the USL Championship on April 6.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
City Soccer FC (USSSA/NSL)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: N/A
Best finish: N/A
Miami United FC (NPSL)
4th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 5-3-0
Away: 3-2-0
vs. Amateurs: 5-0-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2018)
Minneapolis City SC (NPSL) at Des Moines Menace (USL-2)
Valley Stadium – West Des Moines, IA
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: ESPN+
By Chuck Nolan Jr.
The big question for Minneapolis City SC is, will they finally get to play a US Open Cup game in the tournament proper? It all started in 2017 when the club defeated Oakland County FC 2-1 in extra time to qualify for the 2017 US Open Cup. They were disqualified after because they switched from the Premier League of America to the NPSL in the middle of the qualifying tournament. Minneapolis then qualified through the NPSL for the 2020 & 2021 tournaments, both of which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The opponents for Minneapolis City are the Des Moines Menace, one of the great lower league upset darlings of the Open Cup. The Menace have 12 Open Cups wins, and seven upsets of professional opponents, both of which are the second most among all amateur teams in the Modern Era. Only the Flint City Bucks (15 wins, 10 pro upsets) have more in both categories.
Des Moines are the defending USL League Two champions, finishing the 2021 regular season with a 11-0-1 record and defeating North Carolina Fusion U-23s 1-0 in the League Two Final.
The winner will play on the road against Union Omaha (USL League One) on April 5.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Minneapolis City SC (NPSL)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: N/A
Best finish: N/A
Des Moines Menace (USL-2)
14th US Open Cup appearance (12 as USL-2 team)
Overall: 12-11-3 (2-1 PKs)
Home: 7-5-3 (2-1 PKs)
vs. Amateurs: 6-2-1 (1-0 PKs)
Best finish: Fourth Round (2005)
Azteca FC (USASA/Colorado Super Lg) at Tulsa Athletic (NPSL)
Case Soccer Complex (Oral Roberts Univ.) – Tulsa, OK
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: USSF’s YOUTUBE
By Jim Coppock
Tulsa Athletic enters their fourth US Open Cup First Round (2014, 2015, 2017) via an NPSL berth by virtue of finishing as runners-up in the NPSL National Final last August. Captain Joe Garcia had a first half brace in what would ultimately be a 5-2 defeat against Denton Diablos. Tulsa is still seeking the club’s first Open Cup win. The closest they’ve come was their last entry in 2017 when they took the Oklahoma City Energy U-23s (USL League Two) to penalty kicks before falling in the shootout.
Azteca FC makes their third appearance in the tournament (2017, 2018). Established veterans goalkeeper Marcos Madera, midfielder Eduaro Reza and forward Jovany Herrera, will be looking to snap the club’s losing streak in the competition. Just like their opponent, they have yet to taste victory in the Open Cup. They lost a pair of road games, 1-0 in extra time at FC Wichita (NPSL) in 2017 and 4-2 at FC Denver (USSSA) in 2018.
Qualification came with a dramatic Denver Superclasico win against league rival Harpos FC, winning 4-3 after extra time. Prior to that “Win & You’re In” match, they beat fellow Colorado Super League side Colorado Rush, 4-1, followed by a 5-2 home win over the Colorado Rovers (Colorado Premier League).
Azteca sees their spring season opener on March 20 against the same side that beat them in the Super League final in November, FC Denver.
The teams have five previous first round appearances between them, but this is the first time these two sides have met each other in Open Cup competition. Victory assures the winner of a Second Round date against FC Tulsa of the USL Championship on April 5.
2022 Meet the Underdogs: Azteca FC
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Azteca FC (USASA/Colorado Super Lg)
3rd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-2-0
Away: 0-2-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-2-0
Best finish: First Round (2017, 2018)
Tulsa Athletic (NPSL)
4th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-2-1 (0-1 PKs)
Home: 0-1-1 (0-1 PKs)
vs. Amateurs: 0-1-1 (0-1 PKs)
Best finish: Second Round (2014)
Contra Costa FC (NPSL) at Portland Timbers U-23s (USL-2)
John Chambers Field – Salem, OR
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: USSF’s YOUTUBE
By Tim Abbott
The Portland Timbers U-23s of USL League Two are attempting to leverage their Western Conference championship into a repeat of their best finish in the US Open Cup, albeit with players that were a part of the USL Academy Championship team last May, as opposed to the college players which make up their regular season squad.
Last season, the Timbers ran away with the Mountain Division in the Western Conference. With a 10-1-1 record, they qualified for the postseason and reached the national semifinals before bowing out to the Des Moines Menace, the eventual champions.
They face a Contra Costa team making its debut in the Cup, after qualifying through the Open Division Local qualifying tournament. With the COVID-19 pandemic having caused the cancellation of their entire conference schedule in NPSL play, the team was allowed to enter the qualifying tournament as an alternative. Like their opponents, the team profile trends young, with a majority of the starting XI for Contra Costa FC being 18 and 19 year olds. They qualified after a 3-1 win over UPSL side Modesto City FC in the second qualifying round.
In the third qualifying round, Contra Costa FC faced fellow NPSL side El Farolito. Despite being the younger team, Costa was able to go toe-to-toe at P. Lang Park in San Francisco. In the end, they would defeat the one-time Open Cup champions (1993), 3-2 to advance to a “Win & You’re In” match.
In the fourth and final round, it was a marathon as Contra Costa had to get through 10 rounds of penalty kicks against San Francisco Metro to qualify for the 2022 U.S. Open Cup. Contra was down early on in the match after 24 minutes when former professional Matt Fondy scored to give Metro a 1-0 lead. After halftime Contra equalized in the 61st minute with a goal from Roberto Gonzalez. In the shootout, goalkeeper Carlos Herrera made big saves to keep his team in the match and in the 10th round Fernando Lara converted from the spot to send CCFC to qualify for the US Open Cup for the first time.
The winner of this game will travel south to take on Sacramento Republic FC on April 7.
2022 Meet the Underdogs: Contra Costa FC
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Contra Costa FC (NPSL)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: N/A
Best finish: N/A
Portland Timbers U-23s (USL-2)
6th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 2-5-0
Home: 2-4-0
vs. Amateurs: 2-2-0
Best finish: Second Round (2013, 2018)
Park City Red Wolves SC (USL-2) at Las Vegas Legends FC (NPSL)
Peter Johnson Soccer Field (UNLV) – Las Vegas, NV
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: ESPN+
By Tim Abbott
UNLV plays host to this matchup of two cup debutants, with the Las Vegas Legends having qualified for the tournament by virtue of winning the NPSL’s Southwest Conference with a 6-2-2 record. They would suffer a loss in their opening match of the postseason, falling to FC Golden State, 3-0. With 38 goals scored in 10 matches, they were the third-highest scoring team in the league. They received a boost during the offseason by adding US Soccer Hall of Famer Eric Wynalda to an assistant coaching role.
Facing them are the Park City, Utah branch of the Red Wolves organization. They qualified for the Open Cup for the first time after winning the Mountain Division of the Western Conference with a 5-2-3 record. Their playoff run was short-lived as they fell to the Portland Timbers U-23s in penalty kicks after a 3-3 draw.
The winner of this game will travel to take on New Mexico United (USL Championship) in the Second Round on April 5.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Park City Red Wolves SC (USL-2)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: N/A
Best finish: N/A
Las Vegas Legends FC (NPSL)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: N/A
Best finish: N/A