• 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 3: Charlotte FC avoids upset in debut, beats Greenville in OT

April 22, 2022 by Chris Ashley

Christian Ortiz of Charlotte FC celebrates after scoring a goal against Greenville Triumph in the Third Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Charlotte FC
Christian Ortiz of Charlotte FC celebrates after scoring a goal against Greenville Triumph in the Third Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Charlotte FC

A record home crowd of over 4,000 fans was not enough to lift USL League One’s Greenville Triumph to a cupset victory over Major League Soccer’s Charlotte FC in the Third Round of the 2022 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The capacity crowd, which featured a sizeable contingent of traveling Charlotte fans, were treated to a back-and-forth affair that ended after extra time sending the visitors home with a 2-1 victory. Charlotte FC’s Harrison Afful played the hero, scoring the game-winning goal in the 106th minute to give the expansion side a win in their US Open Cup debut.

The first half was a fairly balanced affair with each team finding plenty of chances to take the lead.

The deadlock was broken just before halftime when Charlotte’s Titi Ortiz defied the laws of physics by scoring with a ball that was nearly over the end line following a Paul Christensen save. That goal came in the 39th minute and sent the visitors into the locker room with a 1-0 halftime lead.

TiTi time ⏰ pic.twitter.com/oTy7yLdwvQ

— Charlotte FC (@CharlotteFC) April 20, 2022


Coming out of the break, Greenville coach John Harkes made one substitution but shifted the formation adding an additional striker up top. That move paid quick dividends as the Triumph created plenty of big chances early in the second half. They would eventually get one in the back of the net when Jake Keegan scored in the 59th minute. Keegan received a pass near the top of the box and then ripped a shot past the goalkeeper to tie the game.

Going into the first extra time period, Greenville once again looked to be on the front foot creating chances to take the lead. But much to the dismay of the home fans, Charlotte’s Harrison Afful would find that breakthrough goal in stoppage time of the first extra period. He approached the penalty area and played a one-two with Kamil Jóźwiaka, received the ball back and fired a shot past Christensen to give them the expansion side the lead in the 106th minute.

The second period saw Greenville throwing everything they had at the visitors, but tired legs on both sides, and a strong defensive block for Charlotte, saw the team from North Carolina hold onto the 2-1 victory.

TiTi time ⏰ pic.twitter.com/oTy7yLdwvQ

— Charlotte FC (@CharlotteFC) April 20, 2022


Charlotte advances to the Fourth Round where they will face the Richmond Kickers (USL-1) on May 11.

Filed Under: 2022 US Open Cup, Feature - Main, US Open Cup Tagged With: 2022 US Open Cup, Charlotte Football Club, Greenville Triumph SC

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