When Major League Soccer joins the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, the tournament gets a boost. The bread and butter of this 107-year-old competition is the potential for an upset with a lower division team knocking off one of the clubs from the top division. A David vs. Goliath matchup, as it’s commonly referred to.
On Tuesday night, the first of two matchdays for the Third Round took place and two of those Goliaths fell. Detroit City used their home field advantage at Keyworth Stadium to come from behind and knock off the Columbus Crew, while Union Omaha (USL League One) stunned the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field in a dramatic penalty kick shootout.
Elsewhere, California United Strikers scored in second half stoppage time to beat FC Tucson and advance to Round 4. Five other MLS teams received scares with four of them winning one-goal games, while FC Cincinnati was taken to extra time before eliminating the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL Championship).
Round 4 will be decided by a formal draw, hosted on Thursday on U.S. Soccer’s YouTube and Twitter pages.
Check out a preview of all 13 of Wednesday’s games (with ESPN+ video links) and scroll down for a brief recap and links to a full match report for all 11 of Tuesday’s games:
D.C. United (MLS) at Flower City Union (NISA)
Rochester Community Sports Complex – Rochester, NY
By Chuck Nolan Jr.
A rainy and cold Rochester greeted D.C. United for their Third Round U.S. Open Cup game with Flower City Union of NISA. The NISA rookies held firm for 73 minutes until the MLS visitors broke the game open for a 3-0 win.
The opening half ended scoreless due to the great play of Flower City goalkeeper Maykell Ortega, who faced nine shots from a D.C. United attack that included regular starters Ola Kamara and Michael Estrada.
Flower City continued to hold D.C. United at bay for most of the second half, until the MLS team finally broke through in the 73rd minute. A shot by Ola Kamara hit the post, and on the follow up shot Ortega fumbled the ball, allowing Kamara to easily head the ball into goal. D.C. then broke the game open, Nigel Robertha scored in the 81st minute, and Kamara got his second from the penalty spot four minutes later. The rest of the half quietly ran out and D.C. United booked a spot in the Fourth Round. [*] FULL MATCH REPORT COMING SOON
Inter Miami CF (MLS) at Miami FC (USL Championship)
FIU Stadium – Miami, FL
By Chuck Nolan Jr.
Inter Miami made their way to Ricardo Silva Stadium at Florida International University for their Third Round U.S. Open Cup match against Miami FC, aka the “Miami Classico”, and had to wait until late to book their spot in the Fourth Round.
The first half started quiet with the teams tied at 0-0, although Inter Miami got a bit rambunctious with four players receiving yellow cards in a five minute span just before halftime.
Inter came out for the second half looking for the lead and almost got it. Robert Taylor and Leonardo Campana had chances in front of goal that were kept out by goalkeeper Connor Sporrow.
Inter Miami finally broke through in the 83rd minute when Leonardo Campana beat Sparrow with a shot assisted by Robert Taylor. Inter Miami held on the rest of the way, although they will be without Damion Lowe in the next round as he was sent off following a second yellow card in stoppage time. [*] FULL MATCH REPORT COMING SOON
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL Championship) at FC Cincinnati (MLS)
TQL Stadium – Cincinnati, OH
By Chuck Nolan Jr.
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds traveled down the Ohio River to Cincinnati and put up a good fight for 95 minutes, but FC Cincinnati managed to come out with a 2-0 extra-time win.
The Riversounds had a great chance in the 40th minute when Daniel Griffin took a shot near the left post, but Ciny goalkeeper Roman Celentano snuffed out the chance. The first half ended with
Pittsburgh holding an advantage on shots at 6-3.
In the 50th minute Cincy had a flurry of chances. Allan Cruz hit the right post with a shot, then Nicholas Markanich’s shot from the rebound was swatted away by Jamal Waite. Markanich followed up with a shot that went high of the goal. The hosts had another great chance ten minutes later when Waite was forced to make a diving save on Alvasro Barreal’s shot.
Cincinnati could have pulled ahead in the 82nd minute if not for the heroics of Arturo Ordonez. After a scramble in the box a shot by Luciano Acosta got by Waite, but Ordonez was on the goalline behind him to clear it away with a header. Pittsburgh continued to ward off Cincinnati attacks for the rest of the half, and 30 minutes of extra time was needed.
Cincinnati broke the game open in extra time. In the 95th minute Alvaro Barreal scored on a penalty after he was fouled in the box. Four minutes later Barreal scored again on a breakaway to make it 2-0. [*] FULL MATCH REPORT COMING SOON
Columbus Crew SC (MLS) at Detroit City FC (USL Championship)
Keyworth Stadium – Hamtramck, MI
By Chuck Nolan Jr.
The Columbus Crew traveled to a packed and windy Keyworth Stadium to face Detroit City FC of the USL Championship.
Columbus got off to a quick start when Gyasi Zardes converted a penalty kick in the 7th minute after Detroit’s Abdoulaye Diop fouled Aidan Morris of the Crew inside the penalty area. Detroit outshot the Crew 6-2 in the first half despite Columbus holding 62% of possession, and the half ended 1-0 in favor of the visitors.
Detroit got their equalizer in the 62nd minute when Maxi Rodriguez scored on a header off a cross from Antoine Hoppennot. Detroit nearly took the lead in the 76th minute when a corner kick rattled around the box before being cleared.
With five minutes to go Maxi Rodriguez put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot. Michsael Bryant was fouled in the box by Josh Williams, and Rodriguez sent the spot kick off the left port and behind goalkeeper Evan Bush.
Detroit withstood multiple Crew attacks for the rest of the game, and after seven minutes of stoppage time Le Rouge was able to celebrate their upset. [*] FULL MATCH REPORT COMING SOON
South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL League One) at Birmingham Legion FC (USL Championship)
Preston Goldfarb Field (Birmingham-Southern Col.) – Birmingham, AL
By Chuck Nolan Jr.
The South Georgia Tormenta of USL League One came to Birmingham looking for an upset, and that’s exactly what they got with a 2-0 win over Birmingham Legion of the USL Championship.
In the 33rd minute Birmingham goalkeeper Trevor Spengenberg managed to get his fingertips on a long Torments shot, and Curtis Thorn was right there to easily put away the goal for a 1-0 lead.
Just before halftime South Georgia made it 2-0. Jamil Roberts sent a corner kick right in from the goal, and a sliding Jake Dengler easily put the ball in a wide open net.
Gabriel Cabral nearly added a third for Tormenta when his shot bounded off the crossbar in the 63rd minute. Birmingham’s attempts to pull level came to nothing, and South Georgia was on their way to the Fourth Round. [*] FULL MATCH REPORT COMING SOON
Union Omaha (USL League One) at Chicago Fire FC (MLS)
Soldier Field – Chicago, IL
By Chuck Nolan Jr.
An active first half finished scoreless, the Fire outshooting Omaha 13-5. In the 20th minute Chicago had a flurry of shots that were cleared away for corner kicks, with the final shot coming off the crossbar.
In the 53rd minute Chicago were awarded a penalty after Jhon Duran was fouled by Eddie Gordon. Rafael Czichos stepped up and put the Fire ahead 1-0.
Chicago stifled Omaha’s attack until the 68th minute when Noe Meza fired home a rocket from inside the penalty area off a defensive rebound to bring the USL League One underdogs level. Omaha had a few more chances as the half wore down, and as extra time loomed, the Fire brought on a trio of their regular starters on as subs in a bid to win the game in extra time and avoid penalties.
Extra time remained scoreless for 25 minutes when Chicago was awarded another penalty. Brian Gutierrez was brought down on the left side of the box by Emir Alihdzic, and Czichos stepped up again to convert the spot kick and give Chicago a 2-1 lead.
Just as Chicago looked to see out the rest of extra time, Union Omaha got their equalizer in stoppage time when Alex Touche put away a centering pass from Dion Acoff to give Union a dramatic equalizer.
Kacper Przybylko started off the penalty shootout, and hit the crossbar to immediately put the Fire at a disadvantage. Omaha made their first two attempts, then Noe Meza had his shot saved by Spencer Richey. The shootout was tied 4-4 after each team took five shots, and in the first attempt of sudden death, the Fire’s Miguel Navarro had his shot saved by Rashid Nuhu.
Dion Acoff stepped up for Union and easily beat Richey to give Omaha a 5-4 shootout win, and a Cinderella spot in the Fourth Round. [*] FULL MATCH REPORT COMING SOON
FC Tulsa (USL Championship) at FC Dallas (MLS)
Toyota Stadium – Frisco, TX
By Chuck Nolan Jr.
Using mostly a team of reserves, FC Dallas held off FC Tulsa of the USL Championship, 2-1, to advance to the Fourth Round.
Dallas’ first goal came after 32 minutes. Johnny Fenwick fouled Franco Jara in the box, and Jara took the penalty kick himself and beat goalkeeper Sean Lewis to his right for a 1-0 lead.
Ten minutes later Tulsa leveled the score. After a Tulsa corner kick the ball rattled around just in front of goal, and Bradley Bourgeois tapped in the loose ball.
Dallas took the lead back ten minutes into the second half when Szabolcs Schon sent a curling cross into the box, which was met by Jader Obrian, who beat Lewis with a light shot.
FC Dallas finished the game not allowing Tulsa any real chances to score to advance to the Fourth Round. [*] FULL MATCH REPORT COMING SOON
Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (USL Championship) at Houston Dynamo FC (MLS)
PNC Stadium – Houston, TX
By Chuck Nolan Jr.
The Houston Dynamo welcomed the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros to PNC Stadium, and narrowly avoided extra time with a stoppage-time winner.
Houston’s scoring began on a Toros mistake. Thorleifur Ulfarsson sent a cross into the penalty area and in an attempt to clear, Frank Nodarse sent the ball past his own goalkeeper for an own goal.
Houston returned the favor just minutes into the second half. In the 48th minute, a corner kick from RGV’s Michael Nelson seemed to go into the goal untouched, but was later credited as an own goal by Houston’s Teenage Hadebe.
Rio Grande Valley had a great chance to take the lead in the 61st minute when they were awarded a penalty when Frank Lopez was fouled in the area. Lopez tapped up himself to take the kick, but his shot was blocked by Michael Nelson, which bounced off the crossbar and out.
After both teams made 90th minute subs to prepare for extra time, Houston’s San Junqua rendered the extra 30 minute unnecessary as he headed home a cross from Roberto Avila in the third minute of stoppage time to advance Houston to the Fourth Round. [*] FULL MATCH REPORT COMING SOON
California United Strikers FC (NISA) at FC Tucson (USL League One)
Kino North Stadium – Tucson, AZ
By Chuck Nolan Jr.
FC Tucson took an early lead in the 19th minute when Giovanni Calixtro took a pass from Burke Fahling, then dribbled across the top of the penalty area before beating goalkeeper Steven Barrera with a low shot.
In the 71st minute California United drew level. Brady Treinen sent a long pass from the defensive half that found Omar Nuno. After beating a Tucson defender, Nuno sent a shot past goalkeeper Carlos Merancio to tie the score 1-1.
Just as it appeared extra time would be needed, Cal United got the dramatic winner. Cal Kurtz sent a cross in from the right side which was too high for Omar Nuno in front of goal. Substitute Ryotaro Kawashima collected the ball and fired a shot past Merancio to put his club into the Fourth Round. [*] FULL MATCH REPORT COMING SOON
Bay Cities FC (NISA) at San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
PayPal Park – San Jose, CA
By Chuck Nolan Jr.
The San Jose Earthquakes had an easy time with NISA’s Bay Cities FC, cruising to a 5-0 victory on their way to the Fourth Round.
San Jose’s first goal came on a free kick from just outside the penalty area. Jack Skahan tgook the kick from the top of the penalty area and beat goalkeeper Ian Mcgrane with a shot to the top right corner. The Earthquakes doubled their lead nine minutes before halftime when Paul Marie took a shot from outside the penalty area off a rebound.
San Jose got its third in the 59th minute on a penalty after Ousseni Bouda was brought down by Jonathan Partida. Bouda took the kick himself and converted to the bottom left corner of goal.
Bay Cities did not get its first shot attempt until the 71st minute, San jose outshooting them 23-3. Niko Tsakiris put San Jose up 4-0 in the 82nd minute. The hosts added insult to injury with a fifth goal in the 88th minute when Bouda scored his second. [*] FULL MATCH REPORT COMING SOON
San Diego Loyal SC (USL Championship) at Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
Dignity Health Sports Park – Carson, CA
By Chuck Nolan Jr.
San Diego Loyal manager Landon Donovan led his side into his old stomping grounds at Carson, California, but the LA Galaxy were rude hosts, running out as 1-0 winners and advancing to the Fourth Round.
The Galaxy took a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute. Kevin Cabral sent a shot off the left post, but the ball came right back to him and he was able to effortlessly put the ball in. San Diego didnt have many chances in the opening half, which ended 1-0 in favor of the Galaxy.
The clubs traded chances early in the second half, but the Galaxy were able to subdue the USL Championship visitors and hold on to a 1-0 win. [*] FULL MATCH REPORT COMING SOON
