• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • US Open Cup Central
  • US Open Cup Qualifying
  • US Open Cup History

Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

  • 2022 Schedule/Results
  • 2022 Statistical Leaders
  • Support TheCup.us
  • TheCup.us Store
  • TheCup.us Awards
  • Contact Us

2022 US Open Cup Round 2: NC Fusion snaps road streak, hands Charlotte another upset loss

April 6, 2022 by Dave Hodges

American Legion Memorial Stadium
American Legion Memorial Stadium

For the third time in club history, and the third tournament in a row, the Charlotte Independence have been eliminated from the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup by an amateur team. The North Carolina Fusion U-23s join the Ocean City Nor’easters (2018) and the Florida Soccer Soldiers (2019) in knocking the Jacks out of the competition.

If you appreciate our coverage of the US Open Cup for the last (nearly) two decades, and want to see it grow in the future, consider joining our Patreon team by clicking above.

The Fusion U-23s, who were the USL League Two runner-up last season, defeated the Independence 4-2 to earn the club’s first win over a pro team since 2006. It also snapped an eight-game road losing streak for the Fusion in the Open Cup, the longest such streak in the Modern Era (1995-present). The last time the Fusion won a road game in the Open Cup was in 1999 when they were a Div. 3 pro team (USL D-3 Pro League) and traveled across the country to upset the Orange County Zodiac of the A-League (Div. 2 pro).

Not many fans made it out to American Legion Memorial Stadium due to torrential downpours in the Charlotte Metro region. But the ones that were in attendance saw a hard-fought and scrappy match.

The Independence would get on the board first, thanks to a Shalom Dutey header off a set piece in the 14th minute.

Luis Neto would equalize in the 37th minute for the Fusion.

Ayrton Paez would put the Jacks back in front just before halftime, thanks to an assist from Ivan Luquetta.

The second half would see tempers flare between the in-state squads. Some pushing and shoving would eventually lead to Tresor Mbuyu, of the Independence, being shown a red card in the 76th minute.

Just before the end of regulation, Tom Marriott of the Fusion would score his first goal of the match in the 88th minute. William Lorentz would seal the victory for the amateur side with a goal five minutes into second half stoppage time, right before the full-time whistle.

“It was a massive win for the club,” said Fusion goalkeeper Josh Perryman.

Since joining USL League Two in 2004 under the name Carolina Dynamo, the Fusion have eliminated four professional teams. Only three amateur clubs in the Modern Era have more pro team upsets than North Carolina. (Flint City Bucks 10; Des Moines Menace 7; Ocean City Nor’easters 6)

Perryman said his Fusion teammates came into the match with a mindset of “no fear” and are eager to see who their next opponent will be in the Third Round. The draw for Round 3 will take place at Noon on Friday.

 

Filed Under: 2022 US Open Cup, Feature - Main, US Open Cup Tagged With: 2022 US Open Cup, Charlotte Independence, North Carolina Fusion U23

Primary Sidebar

Featured Video

Follow Us on Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

U.S. Open Cup History

Weck Henney (left) and Davidson (right) of Chicago's Manhattan Beer fight for the ball with St. Mary's Celtic in the second leg of the 1939 National Challenge Cup Final at Starlight Park in the Bronx. Photo: Brooklyn Daily Eagle

1938-1939 National Challenge Cup: The first time the US Open Cup was invite-only

The 2021 US Open Cup is expected to be reduced to 24 teams and few may know this will mark the second time in the tournament’s history that the entire field was selected by invitation only instead of individual club entry.

  • American soccer’s greatest modern underdog story: Rochester Raging Rhinos win 1999 US Open Cup
  • US Open Cup officially cancelled for first time in tournament’s 106-year history
  • Spanish Flu, severe weather, Olympic Games: 2020 US Open Cup isn’t first tournament to be delayed
  • 1918/1919 National Challenge Cup Semifinals & Final: Bethlehem Steel earn back-to-back shutouts to win 4th title
  • 1918/1919 National Challenge Cup Quarterfinals: Bethlehem Steel flattens Goodyear’s tires as snow causes problems elsewhere

Analytics powered by

Copyright © 2022 • Built by Jacob Martella Web Development