The 2022 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is down to 16 teams and all eight games of the Round of 16 will take place on Wednesday night.
There are three lower division teams remaining in the competition, along with 13 from Major League Soccer. Out of the remaining 16 teams, 12 of them are aiming to lift the trophy for the first time.
Union Omaha, who was awarded $25,000 as the Third Division team to advance the farthest in the tournament, will travel north to take on 2019 US Open Cup runner-up Minnesota United FC. The Fifth Round will also feature a border battle as Louisville City FC (USL Championship) will host Nashville SC (MLS). And then a pair of Northern California clubs will square off when Sacramento Republic FC (USL Championship) will welcome the San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) to the capital city.
The all-MLS games feature some compelling matchups with an all-Sunshine State battle with Orlando City hosting Inter Miami, and last year’s Supporters Shield winner, New England Revolution, taking on last year’s MLS Cup winner, New York City FC at Belson Stadium at St. John’s University.
Expansion team Charlotte FC will travel up to MLS original New York Red Bulls with both clubs seeking their first Open Cup title. Meanwhile, Sporting Kansas City, a club trying to tie the all-time record by capturing a fifth Open Cup title, will take on the 2018 champions Houston Dynamo for the fifth time in the last six years in tournament play.
All games this round, and the rest of the tournament, will be broadcasted on the ESPN+ subscription service.
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 eight of Wednesday’s games with links to each broadcast:
It’s North Florida vs. South Florida as Orlando City looks to keep on track to repeat their Semifinal appearance in 2019, and Inter Miami tries to make its Open Cup debut a memorable one.
Orlando City holds a 13-4-1 (1-0 PKs) record at home in the Open Cup, but that drops to 4-3-1 (1-0 PKs) since they joined MLS in 2015. The club is 3-2-3 (2-0 PKs) against MLS opposition since joining the league, and all three wins have come at home, as well as one of the two penalty shootout wins.
Orlando are currently third in the MLS Eastern Conference, three points behind first place Philadelphia Union. They’ve been up and down all season, unable to string together more than two games without a defeat. Miami are 10th in the Eastern Conference, and are riding an unbeaten streak of three games in which they have one win and two draws.
How they got to the Round of 16
Orlando opened their 2022 Open Cup run with a 2-1 win at home over the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the USL Championship in the Third Round. Alexandre Pato and Junior Urso scored second half goals.
In the Fourth Round, Ercan Kara and Andres Perea scored within three minutes of each other in the second half to push Orlando to a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union.
Inter Miami’s Open Cup debut ended with a 1-0 win in the “Miami Classico” over Miami FC of the USL Championship. Leonardo Campana scored the lone goal in the 83rd minute, and Inter was reduced to ten men in the final moments when Damion Lowe was sent off after a second yellow in second half stoppage time.
In the Fourth Round, Miami found South Georgia Tormenta of USL League One to be a stubborn foe in their 3-1 win at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Ariel Lassiter scored twice and Robbie Robinson added another, although Robinson will miss the Round of 16 after an altercation with Tormenta’s Jake Dengler saw both players ordered off the field.
Open Cup History
Orlando City had achieved some success in its six seasons prior to entering MLS. The club went at least three rounds deep in five of its six appearances as a USL pro club, including a Quarterfinal run in 2013. Orlando’s greatest success came in 2019 with an appearance in the Semifinals. Their run started in the Fourth Round with a 3-1 win over Memphis 901 FC of the USL Championship. Sacha Kljestan scored twice and Robin Jannson scored the other.
In the Round of 16, Orlando needed extra time for their 2-1 win over the New England Revolution. Benji Michel and Tesho Akindele scored in the first period of extra time and survived a late Revolution goal.
Their Quarterfinal game with New York City FC went even further, requiring a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes. After holding a 1-0 lead much of the game from Chris Mueller’s second half goal, Maxi Moralez tied the game for NYCFC in the sixth minute of stoppage time. The penalty shootout gave us one of the more memorable moments in recent Cup history, as Orlando City supporters raced to the opposite end of the stadium to where the shootout was taking place. Goalkeeper Adam Grinwis was the hero for Orlando, saving two of NYCFC’s six attempts to put his club in the semifinals for the first time ever. Orlando’s Cup run ended at the hands of eventual champions Atlanta United in a 0-2 loss at Orlando. (Grinwis was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round for his performance)
This is Inter Miami’s first ever Open Cup tournament appearance, and they will try to bring some much-needed tournament success to the state of Florida. Since the St. Petersburg Kickers became the first Florida team to lift the trophy in 1989, only one other team has reached the championship game since: the 2000 Miami Fusion.
The Fusion opened their run with a 6-1 thumping of USL D3 Pro’s New Jersey Stallions, four of those goals coming from Welton. In the Third Round the Fusion narrowly avoided a major upset squeaking past the Mid-Michigan Bucks of the PDL (now Flint City Bucks of USL League Two). After a 3-3 draw through 120 minutes, Miami converted all six of their spot kicks while the Bucks missed their sixth.
More late drama greeted Miami in the Quarterfinals against D.C. United, winning 3-2 in golden goal extra time. Jim Rooney scored the winner in the 112th minute. In the Semifinals the Fusion got past the MetroStars (NY Red Bulls) 3-2. After an 11th minute goal from Andy Williams, Diego Serna and Welton added second half goals. Miami fell in the Final 2-1 to the Chicago Fire, Hristo Stoichkov gave Chicago the lead just before halftime, and a Miami own goal in the 88th minute could not be countered by Welton’s 90th minute score.
Inter Miami CF (Major League Soccer)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 2-0-0
Away: 1-0-0
vs. MLS: 0-0-0
Best finish: Fifth Round (2022)
Current Season
4-6-3 15 Pts., 13 GF 21 GA, 10th in MLS Eastern Conference
Goal Scoring Leader: Leonardo Campana, 6
Assists Leaders: Ariel Lassiter, 3
Goalkeeping Leader:
Drake Callender, 5 games, 1.20 GAA / 2 clean sheets
Nick Marsman, 5 games, 1.60 GAA / 1 clean sheet
Last Three Games
5/14 – MLS – 2-2 draw vs. D.C. United
5/18 – MLS – 0-0 draw at Philadelphia Union
5/22 – MLS – 2-0 win vs. New York Red Bulls
Orlando City SC (Major League Soccer)
12th US Open Cup appearance | 6th in Major League Soccer
Overall: 19-11-3 (3-0 PKs) | 7-5-3 (3-0 PKs) in Major League Soccer
Home: 13-4-1 (1-0 PKs) | 4-3-1 (1-0 PKs) in Major League Soccer
vs. MLS: 5-9-2 (2-0 PKs) | 3-3-0 (2-0 PKs) in Major League Soccer
Best finish: Semifinals (2019)
Current Season
6-4-3 21 Pts., 126 GF 17 GA, 3rd in MLS Eastern Conference
Goal Scoring Leader: Ercan Kara, 3
Assists Leader: Mauricio Pereyra, 5
Goalkeeping Leader: Pedro Gallese, 12 games, 1.33 GAA / 6 clean sheets
Last Three Games
5/10 – USOC 4R – 2-1 win vs. Philadelphia Union
5/14 – MLS – 1-0 win at Toronto FC
5/22 – MLS – 2-2 draw at Austin FC
Nashville SC (MLS) at Louisville City FC (USL Championship)
Lynn Family Stadium; Louisville, KY
Kickoff: 7:00 PM EST
Live Video: ESPN+
A former USL Championship club visits a current member of the league when Nashville SC heads to Lynn Family Stadium to face Louisville City FC. Nashville, who are participating in their first US Open Cup as a member of MLS, are looking for their first-ever Quarterfinal spot in team history, while Louisville look to return to the quarters for the first time since 2018.
Louisville are 7-0-2 (2-0 PKs) at home, but this is the first time they will host MLS opposition, whom they are 1-3 overall against in Cup play. The lone win came as a 3-2 victory over the New England Revolution in the Fourth Round of Louisville’s Quarterfinal run that year.
Louisville sits atop the Eastern Conference of the USL Championship with a 7-2-3 record, tied on points with Detroit City FC but holding the edge in goal differential. After a 10-game unbeaten streak to start the season, Louisville have lost two straight in USL Championship play, most recently a 2-0 home loss to Monterey Bay FC.
Nashville SC are 5-4-4 in the MLS Western Conference and sit in sixth place. While awaiting completion of GEODIS Park, Nashville played its first eight games on the road for a 2-2-3 record. Since opening their new stadium on May 1, the team has gone 2-2-1.
How they got to the Round of 16
Louisville had an even longer wait for victory in their Third Round game. After playing a scoreless 120 minutes with St. Louis CITY 2 of MLS Next Pro, Louisville came out on top in the penalty shootout 9-8, just one round short of each team’s goalkeepers taking a turn at a spot kick.
It was penalties again for Louisville in the Fourth Round, as they came out on top after a 1-1 draw with a 4-2 penalty shootout win over Detroit City FC on the road. TheCup.us Player of the Third Round Maxi Rodriguez scored the opening goal for Detroit after 14 minutes, but Wilson Harris answered for Louisville ten minutes later. After a scoreless extra time Louisville won the shootout 4-2, converting on all of their attempts while goalkeeper Kyle Morton saves one Detroit penalty and another was missed.
Nashville SC entered in the Fourth Round against Atlanta United and orchestrated a stunning comeback from an early 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 extra time win. Thiago Almeda and Luiz Araujo gave Atlanta a 2-0 lead by the 29th minute. Hany Mukhtar began the comeback with a penalty kick in the 50th minute, and after a couple of near misses by Walker Zimmerman, CJ Sapong tied the game in the third minute of stoppage time. Just three minutes into the extra period Ethan Zubak netted the eventual game winner for Nashville.
Open Cup History
The lone Open Cup meeting between the two clubs came when Nashville SC was still in the USL. In the Round of 16 in the 2018 tournament, Nashville traveled to Lynn Family Stadium to face 2017 USL Champions Louisville City. Both teams were coming off upsets of MLS opponents in the Fourth Round: Louisville knocked of the New England Revolution 3-2 in Louisville, and Nashville eliminated the Colorado Rapids 2-0 in Nashville.
Paco Craig opened the scoring for Louisville in the 24th minute, and Paolo DelPiccolo doubled the lead in the 58th minute. Matt LaGrassa gave Nashville a bit of hope with his 68th minute goal, but Louisville held on, moving on to face the Chicago Fire in their only Quarterfinal Open Cup appearance to date.
Nashville FC (Major League Soccer)
3rd US Open Cup appearance (1st in MLS)
Overall: 5-1-1 (0-1 PKs) | 1-0-0 in MLS
Away: 0-1-0 | 0-0-0 in MLS
vs. Division 2: 0-1-0 | 0-0-0 in MLS
Best finish: Fifth Round (2018, 2022)
Current Season
5-4-4 19 Pts., 15 GF 15 GA 6th in MLS Western Conference
Goal Scoring Leader: CJ Sapong, Hany Mukhtar, 4
Assists Leader: Hany Mukhtar, 5
Goalkeeping Leader: Joe Willis, 13 games, 1.15 GAA / 3 clean sheets
Last Three Games
5/14 – MLS – 0-2 loss at Houston Dynamo
5/18 – MLS – 2-1 win vs. CF Montreal
5/21 – MLS – 2-2 draw vs. Atlanta United
Louisville City FC (USL Championship)
6th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 10-5-3 (3-0 PKs)
Home: 7-0-2 (2-0 PKs)
vs. MLS: 1-3-0
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2018)
Current Season
7-2-3 24 Pts., 23 GF 10 GA, 1st in USL Championship Eastern Conference
Goal Scoring Leader: Wilson Harris, 6
Assists Leader: Wilson Harris, 3
Goalkeeping Leader: Kyle Morton, 11 games, 0.55 GAA / 7 clean sheets
Last Three Games
5/10 – USOC 4R – 1-1 draw (4-2 PK) at Detroit City FC
5/13 – USL-C – 3-4 loss at LA Galaxy II
5/21 – USL-C – 0-2 loss vs. Monterey Bay FC
New England Revolution (MLS) at New York City FC (MLS)
Belson Stadium (St. John’s Univ.); Jamaica, NY
Kickoff: 7:30 PM EST|
Live Video: ESPN+
A rematch of the Eastern Conference semifinals of the 2021 MLS Cup playoffs is on tap as the New England Revolution travels to Belson Stadium in Jamaica, NY to face New York City FC.
On their way to their first-ever MLS Cup Championship, NYCFC defeated the Revs on penalties after a 2-2 draw after extra time. Santiago Rodriguez (NYCFC) and Adam Buksa (NE) traded goals in the first ten minutes, and it was all quiet until the 109th minute when Taty Castellanos gave NYCFC the lead in extra time. Tajon Buchanon equalized for New England in the 118th minute to send the game to penalties. In the shootout, NYCFC converted all of their chances, and Buksa’s miss gave NYCFC a 5-3 PK win. The teams have not met since that day.
NYCFC have switched between Yankee Stadium and Citi Field for their MLS schedule, but Belson Stadium has become their home for Open Cup play, as this will be the third of their four home games in Open Cup play at Belson.
New England holds underwhelming Open Cup records both on the road and against MLS clubs. Their away record stands at 6-10-2 (1-1 PKs), and they are 1-4-0 as the road team against MLS clubs since 2013. Their record against MLS teams stands at 8-10-1 (1-0 PKs), though seven of those eight wins came at home.
New England are beginning to rebound from a slow start to their 2022 MLS season, with three wins and two draws in their last six games. The Revs are currently 9th in the MLS Eastern Conference
NYCFC are in 2nd place in the MLS Eastern Conference at 7-3-2, and are one of the hottest teams in the league, unbeaten in their last seven games, six of those being wins.
How they got to the Round of 16
New England started their 2022 Open Cup in emphatic fashion, pounding FC Cincinnati 5-1 at Gillette Stadium. Cincinnati opened the scoring in the 12th minute through Alvaro Barreal, but after that it was all Revolution. Carles Gil scored back to back goals in the 34th and 37th minute, the first from the penalty spot. Adam Buksa chimed in just after halftime for his first, and Gil completed his hat trick soon after. Buksa netted his second soon after that, assisted by Gil, and New England was able to cruise the rest of the way. Gil’s hat trick was the first ever scored by a New England Revolution player in an Open Cup game, and he was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round.
NYCFC had a bit of a tougher task with Rochester New York FC, beating the MLS Next Pro club (formerly known as the Rochester Rhinos) 3-1 in the Fourth Round. Thiago Andrade started the scoring for NYCFC in the 23rd minute, and eight minutes later Heber took advantage of a goalkeeping mistake to double the lead. Jesus Baitz got Rochester back into the game in first half stoppage time, but Maxime Chanot’s goal midway through the second half gave the MLSers a comfortable lead.
Open Cup History
NYCFC have a very short history in the Open Cup. Their only notable success in their five previous appearances was a Quarterfinal appearance in the 2019 tournament. That year they got started in the Fourth Round with a 4-0 win over North Carolina FC (then in the USL Championship) at Belson Stadium. NYCFC traveled to face D.C. United in the Round of 16. After Wayne Rooney’s opening goal for D.C., Alexandru Mitria and Ismael Tajouri-Shradi gave NYCFC the winning goals just before halftime.
The run ended in Orlando with a penalty shootout loss to Orlando City SC after a 1-1 draw. Maxi Morales scored the game tying goal in the sixth minute of second half stoppage time, but Orlando prevailed on penalties 5-4.
The Revolution’s most recent run of Open Cup success came in 2016 when they reached the Final. The run began in the Fourth Round against the USL’s Carolina RailHawks in Cary, NC, and the Revs needed Zachary Herivaux’s 103rd minute goal in extra time to pull out a 1-0 win. In the Round of 16, New England made their first appearance at Belson Stadium as guests to the NASL’s New York Cosmos. The back and forth game saw the Cosmos take the lead twice before Kai Kamara tied it at 2-2 for New England in the 75th minute, and Teal Bunbury netted his second goal of the game with seven minutes remaining to secure the win.
The Quarterfinals brought another nail-biter for the Revs as they hosted the Philadelphia Union. Je-Vaughn Watson gave New England the lead just before halftime, and Fabian Herbers sent the game to extra time with a last minute goal for Philadelphia. After a scoreless extra time New England won in the penalty shootout 4-2. In the Semifinals New England secured their third ever appearance in the Final with a 3-1 win over the Chicago Fire. Kamara scored from a penalty in the 16th minute, and Watson regained the lead for the Revs just before halftime after David Accam scored for Chicago. Teal Bunbury put the game away with an 85th minute goal.
In the Final against FC Dallas, Juan Agudelo scored twice, but it wasn’t enough to counter two goals from Max Urruti and a goal apiece from Matt Hedges and Mauro Diaz as FC Dallas won 4-2.
New England Revolution (Major League Soccer)
19th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 21-15-5 (3-2 PKs)
Away: 6-10-2 (1-1 PKs)
vs. MLS: 8-10-1 (1-0 PKs)
Best finish: U.S. Open Cup Champion (2007)
Current Season
4-5-3 15 Pts., 21 GAF 22 GA, 9th in MLS Eastern Conference
Goal Scoring Leader: Adam Buksa, 7
Assists Leader: Carles Gil, 7
Goalkeeping Leaders:
Earl Edwards Jr., 4 games, 2.00 GAA / 1 clean sheet
Brad Knighton, 4 games, 2.00 GAA
Matt Turner, 4 games, 1.50 GAA/ 1 clean sheet
Last Three Games
5/11 – USOC 4R – 5-1 win vs. FC Cincinnati
5/15 – MLS – 1-1 draw at Atlanta United
5/21 – MLS – 3-2 win at FC Cincinnati
New York City FC (Major League Soccer)
6th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 3-3-2 (0-2 PKs)
Home: 2-1-0
vs. MLS: 1-2-1 (0-1 PKs)
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2019)
Current Season
7-3-2 23 Pts., 24 GF 10 GA 2nd in MLS Eastern Conference
Goal Scoring Leader: Valentin Castellanos, 7
Assists Leader: Santiago Rodriguez, 6
Goalkeeping Leader: Sean Johnson, 12 games, 0.83 GAA / 7 clean sheets
Last Three Games
5/14 – MLS – 2-0 win vs. Columbus Crew
5/18 – MLS – 2-0 win at D.C. United
5/22 – MLS – 1-0 win vs. Chicago Fire
Charlotte FC (MLS) at New York Red Bulls (MLS)
MSU Soccer Park (Montclair State Univ.); Montclair, NJ
Kickoff: 8:00 PM EST
Live Video: ESPN+
The New York Red Bulls play their 25th Open Cup game against MLS opposition, welcoming Charlotte FC, who are looking to make their very first Open Cup tournament a memorable one.
The Red Bulls return to the Montclair State University Soccer Park in Montclair, N.J. where it previously served as a home venue in their 2019 Fourth Round loss to the New England Revolution. The Red Bulls are 10-6-2 (1-1 PKs) all time at home in the Open Cup, although “home” has been a variety of venues over the years.
The Red Bulls had their impressive MLS road record blemished this past weekend, losing to Inter Miami 2-0, as previously the Red Bulls were 5-0-1 on the road, having yet to win a game at home in six tries.
Charlotte have been a pleasant surprise in their debut MLS season, sitting 7th in the Eastern Conference, and have won two of their last three league games.
How they got to the Round of 16
The Red Bulls reached the Fourth Round with a 2-1 win over Hartford Athletic of the USL Championship. Early goals from Lewis Morgan and Aaron Long was all NYRB needed while out shooting Hartford 30-4.
NYRB had no trouble with their Fourth Round encounter with rivals D.C. United, leaving D.C’s Audi Field with a 3-0 win. Luquinhas opened the scoring in first half stoppage time, and John Tolkin added another just after halftime. Zach Ryan put the game to bed with his 68th minute goal.
Charlotte faced a tough battle in their Open Cup debut in the Third Round, outlasting the Greenville Triumph of USL League One, 2-1 in extra time. Christian Ortiz scored the opener just before halftime, and Harrison Afful netted the eventual game-winner in the 106th minute.
Charlotte faced their second consecutive USL League One opponent in the Fourth Round, traveling to Richmond to thrash the Kickers 5-1. Goals from Daniel Rios (Charlotte) and Zach Moran (Richmond) had the teams level at 1-1 early in the second half. The floodgates opened for Charlotte in the 54th minute, three goals poured in over seven minutes, Yordy Reyna netting one and McKinzie Gaines getting the other two. Andre Shinyashiki closed the scoring in the 86th minute.
Open Cup History
The Red Bulls most recent successful run came in the 2017 tournament when they reached the Final, a path in which four of their five opponents were from MLS. Their opening game in the Fourth Round was a New York City derby against New York City FC at Red Bull Arena. Daniel Royer scored the lone goal in the 67tgh minute to give the Red Bulls an Open Cup win over their city rivals. Next up was a Round of 16 encounter with the Philadelphia Union. Sacha Kljestan scored just before halftime, but Roland Alberg tied it at 1-1 for Philly in the 86th minute. After a scoreless extra time, NYRB prevailed in the penalty shootout 5-3.
The Quarterfinals saw the Red Bulls travel to Boston to face the New England Revolution, and Bradley Wright-Phillips won the game for the Red Bulls with his 87th minute goal in the Red Bulls 1-0 victory. In the Semifinals New York had to face down the Cinderella story of the 2017 tournament the USL’s FC Cincinnati, who had already beaten the Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire. Cincy took a 2-0 lead midway through the second half, and Gonzalo Veron and Wright-Phillips scored within three minutes of each other to tie it at 2-2. Wright-Phillips got his second goal eleven minutes into extra time to end Cincinnati’s dreams of an Open Cup Final
The Red Bulls’ championship aspirations ran dry in the Final, falling to Sporting Kansas City 2-1 at Children’s Mercy Park in KC. Latif Blessing and Daniel Salloi gave KC a 2-0 lead that held through most of the game until Wright-Phillips gave NYRB a brief glimmer of hope with a second half stoppage time goal.
Charlotte FC are looking to match the deepest run by a North Carolina team in the Open Cup, that being the Carolina RailHawks in 2007. Now playing in USL League One (Division 3) as North Carolina FC, the RailHawks at the time were part of the USL First Division (Division 2). The RailHawks hosted their first four Cup games in 2007, and opened in the First Round with a 4-1 win over Chicago Amateurs RWB Adria, Connally Edozien scoring twice for Carolina. Next up in the Second Round were the Milwaukee Bavarians of the NPSL, and Anthony Maher scored two goals in the RailHawks 4-0 win.
Their big test came in the Third Round when the Chicago Fire came to town, and on the strength of McColm Cephas’ 56th minute goal Carolina pulled off the upset. Due to five upsets of MLS clubs in the Third Round, Carolina was paired with USL Division Two’s Richmond Kickers, and Connally Edozien struck again as the lone goal scorer in Carolina’s 1-0 win.
Carolina saw their run come to an end in the Semifinals with a 2-1 extra time loss to the New England Revolution in New Britain, Connecticut. Anthony Maher gave Carolina an early 1-0 lead, But Jeff Larentowicz in first half stoppage time and Pat Noonan in extra time gave the Revs the victory.
Charlotte FC (Major League Soccer)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 2-0-0
Away: 1-0-0
vs. MLS: 0-0-0
Best finish: Fifth Round (2022)
Current Season
5-7-1 16 Pts., 12 GF 16 GA, 7th in MLS Eastern Conference
Goal Scoring Leader: Karol Swiderski, 4
Assists Leader: Benjamin Bender, 3
Goalkeeping Leader: Kristjian Kahlina, 13 games, 1.23 GAA / 4 clean sheets
Last Three Games
5/11 – USOC 4R – 5-1 win at Richmond Kickers
5/14 – MLS – 0-2 loss vs. Montreal CF
5/22 – MLS – 2-1 win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)
22nd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 24-20-3 (2-1 PKs)
Home: 10-6-2 (1-1 PKs)
vs. MLS: 9-12-3 (2-1 PKs)
Best finish: Final (2003, 2017)
Current Season
5-3-5 20 Pts., 20 GAF 14 GA, 5th in MLS Eastern Conference
Goal Scoring Leader: Lewis Morgan, 5
Assists Leader: Omir Fernandez, 6
Goalkeeping Leader: Carlos Coronel, 12 games, 1.00 GAA, 3 clean sheets
Last Three Games
5/14 – MLS – 1-1- draw at Philadelphia Union
5/18 – MLS – 3-3 draw vs. Chicago Fire
5/22 – MLS – 0-2 loss at Inter Miami CF
Union Omaha (USL League One) at Minnesota United FC (MLS)
Allianz Field; St. Paul, MN
Kickoff: 8:00 PM EST
Live Video: ESPN+
Minnesota United face their second opponent from USL League One in the 2022 US Open Cup, welcoming Union Omaha to Allianz Field for the Round of 16.
Omaha will be well-rested since their last competitive game was back on May 14, a 1-1 draw with the Richmond Kickers in a USL League One game. Union are the final team alive from Division 3, and by doing so will collect a $25,000 bonus. Omaha has struggled in the early USL League One Season with a record of 1-1-3, although just one of those games were at home.
Minnesota United are sitting ninth in the MLS Western Conference draw and a win in their last two games snapped a three-game losing streak.
How They Got To The Round of 16
Minnesota took the first step in returning to the Final with a 2-0 win over Forward Madison (USL League One) in the Third Round. Adrien Honou and Brent Kallman scored in the second half.
In the Fourth Round, Minnesota had to wait a day to add to the Open Cup misery of the Colorado Rapids. After playing just 18 minutes on May 11, the game was suspended with the score 1-1 due to severe weather and very heavy rain. Picking up where they left off the following afternoon, Minnesota got a goal from Emanuel Reynoso with three minutes remaining for a 2-1 victory. The loss was Colorado’s 17th straight Open Cup in which they failed to advance beyond two games.
Union Omaha had to go a lot longer to pull off the upset in their Third Round match with the Chicago Fire. Noe Meza scored the tying goal midway through the second half, and in extra time Alex Touche sent the game to penalties with a 120th minute stoppage time goal . Rashid Nuhu saved Chicago’s Final penalty to give Omaha the upset.
Omaha’s found USL League One rivals Northern Colorado Hailstorm waiting in the Fourth Round, and came away with a 2-0 victory. Goals from Noe Meza and Conor Doyle in the second half powers Union to the win.
Open Cup History
While Union Omaha and Minnesota United have never previously met in Open Cup play, this is actually the second time a team from the Twin Cities has faced off with an Omaha club, and that meeting also involved Union head coach Jay Mims. In 2008, Mims, while serving as an assistant coach at Creighton University in Omaha, put together an amateur club called 402 FC, and the team qualified for the 2009 US Open Cup. The team was made up of former Creighton players as well as two former members of the Minnesota Thunder, Johnny Torres and Andrei Gotsmanov.
402 FC’s First Round opponent turned out to be the Minnesota Thunder of the USL First Division, and the Omaha amateurs gave the professionals a run for their money, losing 3-2 to Minnesota as their hope for an upset were hampered by a pair of red cards in the final ten minutes.
Minnesota United reached the 2019 US Open Cup Final after having minimal cup success first as a NASL team (2010-2016) then with MLS (2017-present). The club entered the 2019 tournament in the Fourth Round, defeating Sporting Kansas City 4-1 in the first Open Cup game at Allianz Field. In the Fifth Round, the Loons came back from a 2-0 halftime deficit against the Houston Dynamo to win 3-2. Darwin Quintero and Mason Toye scored in the final eight minutes to complete the comeback.
In the Quarterfinals Minnesota hosted New Mexico United of the USL Championship, and led by a Angelo Rodrigues hat-trick cruised to a 6-1 win. In the semifinals the Portland Timbers came to Allianz, and once again it was Quintero and Toye to the rescue, each scoring a goal apiece in the 2-1 win. In the Final against Atlanta United, Minnesota found themselves in a 2-0 hole after only 16 minutes, and despite a Robin Lod goal just after halftime Minnesota could not pull off another comeback.
Minnesota United (Major League Soccer)
11th US Open Cup appearance | 4th in Major League Soccer
Overall: 12-8-2 (1-1 PKs) | 6-3-1 (1-0 PKs) in Major League Soccer
Home: 5-3-0 | 4-0-0 in Major League Soccer
vs. Division 3: 2-0-1 (0-1 PKs) | 1-0-0 in Major League Soccer
Best finish: Final (2019)
Current Season
5-5-3 18 Pts., 15 GF 14 FA, 9th in MLS Western Conference
Goal Scoring Leader: Robin Lod, 6
Assists Leader: Emanuel Reynoso, 3
Goalkeeping Leader: Dayne St. Clair, 11 games, 1.09 GAA / 3 clean sheets
Last Three Games
5/15 – MLS – 1-3 loss at Seattle Sounders
5/18 – MLS – 1-1 draw vs. Los Angeles Galaxy
5/22 – MLS – 2-1 win at FC Dallas
Union Omaha (USL League One)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 3-0-0
Away: 1-0-0
vs. MLS: 0-0-1 (1-0 PKs)
Best finish: Fifth Round (2002)
Current Season
1-1-3 6 Pts., 7 GF 5 GA, 9th in USL League One
Goal Scoring Leader: Hugo Kametani, John Scearce, Noe Meza, 2
Assists Leader: Noe Meza, 2
Goalkeeping Leader: Rashid Nuhu, 4 games, 0.86 GAA / 2 clean sheets
Last Three Games
4/30 – USL L1 – 1-2 loss at Charlotte Independence
5/11 – USOC 4R – 2-0 win vs. Northern Colorado Hailstorm
5/14 – USL L1 – 1-1 draw at Richmond Kickers
Houston Dynamo (MLS) at Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
Children’s Mercy Park; Kansas City, KS
Kickoff: 8:30 PM EST
Live Video: ESPN+
MLS Western Conference rivals Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City square off in their fifth Open Cup meeting in the last six tournaments for a spot in the Quarterfinals.
As hosts, Sporting Kansas City hold a 21-7-2 home Open Cup record, with two penalty kick wins. KC has an active nine-game Open Cup home unbeaten streak, tied for fourth all time since 1995. Kansas City’s last home Open Cup loss came to the Portland Timbers 3-1 in the 2014 Fifth Round.
This is the first road Open Cup game for the Dynamo since traveling to Cary, NC to face North Carolina FC in the 2017 Fourth Round. In fact, 18 of Houston’s last 21 Open Cup games have been at home, and they are just 3-6-1 (0-1 PKs) as the road team.
The teams met this season back on March 5 in KC, with Kansas City emerging 1-0 winners on Remi Walters’ 60th minute goal.
Kansas City has struggles so far in the MLS season, sitting next to last in the Western Conference standings with a 3-7-4 record. Sporting have managed just one win in their last nine games.
Houston’s season has been a bit more optimistic, as the Dynamo are in 7th place with a 5-5-3 record. The Dynamo have cooled off from a start in which they lost just once in their first seven games.
How they got to the Round of 16
Houston needed a stoppage-time winner from Samuel Janqua to get past the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros 2-1. Each team gifted the other with own goals earlier in the game.
The Dynamo needed late game heroics again in the Fourth Round to deny another upset bid. This time it was Sebastian Ferriera in the 83rd minute providing the winner for Houston’s 1-0 defeat of San Antonio FC of the USL Championship.
While Nashville SC had a two goal comeback of their own on May 11, Sporting pulled off the same feat a night earlier, taking a 4-2 extra time thriller from FC Dallas. Franco Jara and Edwin Munjoma gave Dallas a 2-0 lead that held until the 60th minute. At that moment Nikola Vujnovic began the comeback for Kansas City, but the tying goal had to wait until eight minutes into stoppage time. Remi Walter sent a corner kick into the box and Marinos Tzionis headed it in for his first goal for Sporting KC.
Four minutes into extra time an own goal from Edwin Cerrillo put KC up for good, and Khiry Shelton made it 4-2 in the 113th minute.
Open Cup History
Houston and Sporting Kansas City are well accustomed to facing off in the Open Cup, having met in four of the previous five tournaments.
2015 Quarterfinals
Kansas City won the initial encounter 3-1 in the Quarterfinals in Kansas City, on their way to their 2015 Open Cup championship. Houston played much of the game with 10 men after Luis Garrido was sent off in the 30th minute. Will Bruin scored Houston’s lone goal in the 59th minute, and after Benny Feilhaber tied the game in the 71st minute, Dom Dwyer and Kriztian Nemeth scored in the final four minutes for the win.
2016 Fifth Round
Houston got revenge the following year in the Round of 16 with a 3-1 win in Houston. Mauro Mantoas scored goals in each half, with Alex scoring the middle goal. Bradley Davis scored the lone tally for Kansas City.
2017 Fifth Round
The third meeting came in the 2017 Round of 16 in Houston, and Sporting Kansas City came out 2-0 victors. Ike Opara scored in the 61st minute, and Gerso Fernandes finished off the win in second half stoppage time. Kansas City went on to win their third Open Cup title.
2018 Quarterfinals
Houston evened up the Open Cup series in the 2018 Quarterfinals with a 4-2 win in Houston. Romell Quioto and Mauro Manotas each scored twice to advance the Dynamo towards their only Open Cup championship. Jonathan Russell and Yohan Croizet scored for KC.
Houston Dynamo (Major League Soccer)
14th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 19-11-2 (1-1 PKs)
Away: 3-6-1 (0-1 PKs)
vs. MLS: 6-91 (1-0 PKs)
Best finish: U.S. Open Cup Champions (2018)
Current Season
5-5-3 18 Pts., 17 GF 14 GA, 7th in MLS Western Conference
Goal Scoring Leader: Sebastian Ferreira, Darwin Quintero, 5
Assists Leader: Sebastian Ferreira, Adam Lundqvist, 3
Goalkeeping Leader: Steve Clark, 13 games, 1.08 GAA / 4 clean sheets
Last Three Games
5/14 – MLS – 2-0 win vs. Nashville SC
5/18 – MLS – 0-1 loss vs. Seattle Sounders
5/22 – MLS – 3-0 win at Los Angeles Galaxy
Sporting Kansas City (Major League Soccer)
22nd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 29-15-6 (4-2 PKs)
Home: 21-7-2 (2-0 PKs)
vs. MLS: 15-10-3 (3-0 PKs)
Best finish: U.S. Open Cup Champions (2004, 2012, 2015, 2017)
Current Season
3-7-4 13 Pts., 13 GF 25 GA, 13th in MLS Western Conference
Goal Scoring Leader: Johnny Russell, Daniel Salloi, 4
Assists Leader: Cameron Duke, Felipe Hernandez, 3
Goalkeeping Leader: Tim Melia, 14 games, 1.79 GAA / 4 clean sheets
Last Three Games
5/14 – MLS – 2-7 loss at Portland Timbers
5/18 – MLS – 2-1 win vs. Colorado Rapids
5/22 – MLS – 1-1 draw at San Jose Earthquakes
Los Angeles FC (MLS) at LA Galaxy (MLS)
Dignity Health Sports Park; Carson, CA
Kickoff: 10:30 PM EST
Live Video: ESPN+
“El Trafico” comes to the Open Cup for the very first time, as Southern California rivals Los Angeles FC and the LA Galaxy battle for a spot in the Quarterfinals.
The Galaxy come into this game with one of the best home records in modern Open Cup history, winning 24 and losing just three. The Galaxy’s last home loss was to FC Dallas in the 2016 Semifinals, and they have a current five game Open Cup home winning streak. They also possess the all-time longest home winning streak since 1995, running 17 games without a home loss from the 2002 Second Round to the loss to FC Dallas in 2016.
Both teams hold lofty positions in the early MLS standings. LAFC sit atop the Western Conference with an 8-3-2 record, starting the season with a ten-game unbeaten run before dropping two of their last three.
The Galaxy are six points back of LAFC in fifth place at 6-5-2, but have lost two of their last three, including a 3-0 defeat at home to the Houston Dynamo on May 22.
The teams have already met this season, at Dignity Health Park. Javier Hernandez and Sega Coulibaly have the Galaxy a 2-0 halftime lead, and LAFC could manage just one goal in the second half through Cristian Arango, giving the Galaxy a 2-1 win.
How they got to the Round of 16
The Galaxy welcomed former club legend and San Diego Loyal manager Landon Donovan to Dignity Health Sports Park in the Third Round and came away 1-0 winners. Kevin Cabral scored the lone goal of the game.
In the Fourth Round, the Galaxy got by the stubborn California United Strikers of NISA 3-2. Cal United grabbed a shock 1-0 lead in the 19th minute on a Shinya Kadono goal, but Dejan Joveljic evened things up with the first of his two penalties for the Galaxy. The game stayed level until the 80th minute when Owen Lambe put the Galaxy ahead, and three minutes later Joveljic converted his second penalty. Cal United created some late drama with an 88th minute goal from Kevin Garcia-Lopez.
Los Angeles FC began its 2022 Open Cup with a 2-0 win versus the Portland Timbers. Cristian Arango opened the scoring in the 32nd minute and Mamadou Fall added the second nine minutes into the second half.
Open Cup History
The most recent deep run for the Galaxy came in 2016 when they reached the Semifinals. Their tournament got off to a surprising start when they needed extra time to defeat amateur club La Maquina FC 4-1. The Galaxy played most of the match with 10 men after Rafael Garcia was sent off in the 17th minute. The teams traded first half goals and finished 1-1 after 90 minutes. The Galaxy took the lead in the 96th minute on a controversial restart after a foul. Sebastian Lletget added two more goals too allow the Galaxy to avoid a major upset.
The Round of 16 saw the Galaxy travel to Portland to face the Timbers, and a 5th minute goal from Raul Mendiola was all LA needed to advance 1-0. The Quarterfinals saw LA knock off the Seattle Sounders 4-2. Down 2-1 late in the second half, Giovani dos Santos put LA level in the 77th minute, and Lletget scored twice in the 85th & 88th minutes to send the Galaxy to the Semifinals. In the Semis, LA took a 1-0 lead over FC Dallas in the 101st minute on a Mike Magee penalty, but Dallas got late goals from Matthew Hedges and Victor Ulloa to send LA home.
Los Angeles reached the Semifinals in their very first tournament in 2018. They opened in the Fourth Round with a 2-0 win over Fresno FC of the USL, Diego Rossi and Latif Blessing providing the goals. The Round of 16 saw Sacramento Republic give LAFC all they could handle, forcing the MLS club to come back from a 2-1 second half deficit to win 3-2. Rossi tied the game in the 67th minute, and Blessing provided the winner in the 89th.
The Quarterfinals featured another tight game for LAFC, this time at home versus the Portland Timbers. LAFC jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first half, and as Portland crept to within one, Marco Urena pushed the advantage back to two goals early in the second half. Portland scored once more but LA held on for a 3-2 win. In the Semifinals against the Houston Dynamo Diego Rossi provided a hat-trick to bring LA back from 3-1 hole, including a dramatic equalizer in stoppage time to force extra time. Neither team scored in extra time and it was Houston that prevailed on penalties 7-6.
Los Angeles FC (Major League Soccer)
3rd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 7-1-1
Away: 1-0-1 (0-1 PKs)
vs. MLS: 4-1-1 (0-1 PKs)
Best finish: Semifinals (2018)
Current Season
8-3-2 26 Pts., 26 GF 14 GA, 1st in MLS Western Conference
Goal Scoring Leader: Carlos Vela, 6
Assists Leader: Jose Cifuentes, Diego Palacios, Carlos Vela, 3
Goalkeeping Leader: Maxime Crepeau, 12 games, 1.00 GAA / 4 clean sheets
Last Three Games
5/14 – MLS – 0-2 loss at Colorado Rapids
5/18 – MLS – 1-2 loss vs. Austin FC
5/21 – MLS – 2-0 win at Columbus Crew
Los Angeles Galaxy (Major League Soccer)
17th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 34-17-1 (1-0 PKs)
Home: 24-3-0
vs. MLS: 12-13-1 (1-0 PKs)
Best finish: U.S. Open Cup Champions (2001, 2005)
Current Season
6-5-2 20 Pts., 13 GF 14 GA, 5th in MLS Western Conference
Goal Scoring Leader: Chicharito, 5
Assists Leader: Raheem Edwards, 5
Goalkeeping Leader: Jonathan Bond, 13 games, 1.08 GAA / 5 clean sheets
Last Three Games
5/14 – MLS – 1-3 loss vs. FC Dallas
5/18 – MLS – 1-1 draw at Minnesota United
5/22 – MLS – 0-3 loss vs. Houston Dynamo
San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) at Sacramento Republic FC (USL Championship)
Heart Health Park; Sacramento, CA
Kickoff: 10:30 PM EST
Live Video: ESPN+
The San Jose Earthquakes take a trip to one of the hardest places to win an Open Cup game in the Round of 16, facing the Sacramento Republic at Heart Health Stadium.
Sacramento have an incredible 15-1-0 home record in the Open Cup, and they are currently on an eight-game home winning streak that goes back to 2017, tied for fourth in the Modern Era (1995-present). Their only loss was a 3-1 upset by the amateur Kitsap Pumas in the 2016 Third Round. Sacramento has knocked off two MLS teams at Heart Health Park, a 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake in the 2017 Fourth Round, and a 2-1 extra time win over the Seattle Sounders in the 2018 Fourth Round.
Countering Sacramento’s stellar home record is San Jose’s excellent performance against Division 2 teams in the Open Cup. The Earthquakes are 9-1-2 with two wins via PKs, their only loss coming way back in the 2003 Fourth Round against the then A-League Seattle Sounders. Since then, San Jose has advanced all seven times it has faced a team from a Division 2 league.
Both teams have struggled a bit in league play in the 2022 season. Sacramento is currently 8th in the Western Conference of the USL Championship, and are 1-2-2 in their last five games.
After Alex Covelo took over the head coaching position on April 18 from Matias Almeyda, San Jose went 3-1-2 after starting 0-3-3, good for 10th in the MLS Western Conference.
How they got to the Round of 16
San Jose rolled over Bay Cities FC of NISA 5-0 in the Third Round, with Jack Skahan, Paul Marie, Cade Cowell, Niko Tskarias and Ousseni Bousa scoring.
The Earthquakes needed 120 minutes and eleven rounds of penalties to knock off the Seattle Sounders in the Fourth Round. Jack Skahan and Cade Cowell gave San Jose a 2-0 lead, but Seattle fought back with goals from Jimmy Medranda and Freddy Montero to tie the score 2-2. In the penalty shootout both teams missed in the initial five attempts, then proceeded to convert every spot kick in sudden death until it came time for the goalkeepers to try their luck. Matt Bersano converted for San Jose, then saved an attempt from Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland.
Sacramento had no trouble beating the Portland Timbers U-23s 6-0 in the Second Round. Sacramento held a 6-0 lead at halftime and eased up in the second half so as not to run up the score on the youngsters.
In the Fourth Round, Sacramento hosted a battle of USL Championship Western Conference rivals, facing off with Phoenix Rising. Republic added to their outstanding home Open Cup record with a 2-0 win, Luis Felipe scoring in the first half and Douglas Martinez adding the second in the 88th minute
Open Cup History
San Jose and Sacramento have met three times in the Open Cup, with the Earthquakes winning each time.
2014 Fourth Round
In Sacramento’s first year of play they traveled to Kezar Stadium in San Francisco to face San Jose in the Fourth Round. Justin Braun put Sacramento ahead in the 42nd minute, but Khari Stevenson leveled the score for San Jose with a penalty just before halftime. Cordell Cato put San Jose ahead for good in the 73rd minute, and Sacramento’s hopes of a comeback were dimmed when Chad Bartlome was sent off in the 77th minute for his second yellow card. San Jose held on for a 2-1 win.
2015 Fourth Round
The clubs met once again in the Fourth Round in 2015, this time in San Jose. Sacramento grabbed an early lead on Rodrigo Lopez’s 6th minute penalty kick, and Emrah Klimenta put the visitors up 2-0 in the 54th minute. Chris Wondolowski came to the rescue for the MLS side, scoring in the 74th and 79th minutes to put the score at 2-2. After a scoreless extra time, In the penalty shootout each team missed twice in the initial five shooters, and on the this attempt in sudden death Sacramento’s James Kiffle sent his shot over the bar to give San Jose a 6-5 PK win.
2019 Fourth Round
The teams met for the third time in the 2019 Fourth Round in what was the wildest game of the three. Once again Sacramento started fast, scoring in the 2nd minute through Sam Werner. Magnus Eriksson answered for San Jose eight minutes later, but Villyan Bijev’s goal gave Sacramento the lead back in the 14th minute. Cristian Espinoza tied the game 2-2 for San Jose in the 38th minute.
Vako Qazaishvili put San Jose ahead for the first time in the 78th minute, and pushed the lead further in the first minute of second half stoppage time. Drew Skundrich added some late drama with his own stoppage time goal, for Sacramento, but time ran out on any comeback hopes.
San Jose Earthquakes (Major League Soccer)
17th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 16-12-8 (4-4 PKs)
Away: 7-7-5 (3-2 PKs)
vs. Division 2: 9-1-2 (2-0 PKs)
Best finish: Semifinals (2004, 2017)
Current Season
3-5-5 14 Pts., 23 GF 29 GA, 11th in MLS Western Conference
Goal Scoring Leader: Jeremy Ebobisse, 7
Assists Leader: Cristian Espinoza, 6
Goalkeeping Leader: JT Marcinkowski, 13 games, 2.23 GAA / 1 Clean Sheet
Last Three Games
5/14 – MLS – 3-3 draw at Vancouver Whitecaps
4/18 – MLS –3-2 win vs. Portland Timbers
4/22 – MLS – 1-1 draw vs. Sporting Kansas City
Sacramento Republic FC (USL Championship)
7th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 16-5-1 (0-1 PKs)
Home: 15-1-0
vs. MLS: 2-4-1 (0-1 PKs)
Best finish: Fifth Round (2017, 2018, 2022)
Current Season
4-3-3 15 Pts., 11 GF 10 GA, 8th in USL Championship Western Conference
Goal Scoring Leader: Douglas Martinez, Rodrigo Lopez, 2
Assists Leader: Douglas Martinez, 2
Goalkeeping Leader: Daniel Vitiello, 7 games, 1.00 GAA / 1 clean sheet
Last Three Games
5/8 – USL-C – 1-0 win at New York Red Bulls II
5/11 – USOC 4R – 2-0 win vs. Phoenix Rising
5/18 – USL-C – 0-1 loss at El Paso Locomotive