There are two underdogs remaining in the 2022 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup as the 107th edition of the tournament has reached the Quarterfinals.
The Owls of Union Omaha beat the Loons of Minnesota United in their nest, becoming the first Nebraskan side to ever reach the 2022 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Quarterfinals in the 107-year history of the tournament and the first Division 3 pro squad since 2013.
Sacramento Republic FC continued their own upset run, winning their 11th straight home match to finish off San Jose Earthquakes and secure a $25,000 prize as the Division 2 team that advanced the farthest in this season’s US Open Cup. It is the first time Republic have won that award and their third win against an MLS squad. It is also the first time in four attempts they have beaten the Earthquakes.
Nashville SC scored a late winner to bring an end to Louisville City’s underdog run. Orlando City needed a PK shootout to dispatch Inter Miami, NYCFC needed extra time to win through.
Things were a little easier for the LA Galaxy, who comfortable winners in the second half of El Trafico: Open Cup edition. The Galaxy and Sporting Kansas City (who got past the Houston Dynamo) are the only teams left that have won the tournament before, with SKC looking to tie an all time record with a fifth Open Cup title.
The Quarterfinals are scheduled for June 21-22, with exact dates and times to be finalized in the coming days.
Scroll down to get a brief recap of all eight games, including a link to the full match recap:
Inter Miami CF (MLS) 1:1 (AET) Orlando City SC (MLS)
Orlando City advance on penalties, 4-2
Exploria Stadium; Orlando, FL
Inter Miami traveled north to Orlando City’s Exploria Stadium seeking a spot in the Quarterfinals, but it will be the Lions making their third straight appearance in the Quarterfinals (fifth all-time) after prevailing on penalties after a 1-1 extra time draw.
After a scoreless 90 minutes, the teams traded goals early in extra time, and Miami struck first in the 94th minute. As Joevin Jones was dribbling to beat an Orlando defender, the ball seemed to get away from him. Jean Mota pounced in and fired a rocket past Mason Stajduhar.
Orlando responded three minutes later when Facundo Torres took a pass from Mauricio Pereyra, dribbled across the top of the penalty area, then fired a shot between three Miami defenders and past goalkeeper Drake Callender to tie the game 1-1.
Callander kept the game level with a difficult save in the 109th minute, diving to stop a shot from Torres. Miami had a golden opportunity to win in stoppage time when Leonardo Campana found himself with the ball in front of goal with Stajduhar out of the way, but his shot was partially blocked and sent skyward over the goal.
In the penalty shootout, Orlando converted all four of their attempts, and Stajduhar was able to save Bryce Dukes’ shot, and DeAndre Yedlin sent his attempt over the bar.
Orlando City will host Nashville SC in the Quarterfinals on June 21 or 22.
[+] FULL MATCH RECAP >> Inter Miami CF at Orlando City SC
Nashville SC (MLS) 2:1 Louisville City FC (USL Championship)
Lynn Family Stadium; Louisville, KY
Nashville SC traveled to Louisville City for the Round of 16, and came away late 2-1 winners to advance to their first Open Cup Quarterfinals appearance in club history.
Louisville City struck first in the 37th minute when Amadou Dia sent a cross in front of goal, and Brian Ownby met it with his head and sent it past goalkeeper Elliot Panicco.
Nashville needed just two minutes to respond, as Luke Haakenson collected a long pass, eventually sending a pass across the goalmouth where Ake Loba finished it. The score stood at 1-1 at halftime.
In the 77th minute Nashville manager Gary Smith made a game changing trio of substitutions, bringing on CJ Sapong, Tah Anunga and Hany Mukhtar. The moves paid off 12 minutes later.
Just outside the penalty area Sapong passed to Handwalla Bwana, who then fed Mukhtar who sent a short across the goal and into the lower corner.
Nashville will now travel to face Orlando City in the Quarterfinals on June 21 or 22.
[+] FULL MATCH RECAP >> Nashville SC at Louisville City FC
New England Revolution (MLS) 0:1 (AET) New York City FC (MLS)
Belson Stadium (St. John’s Univ.); Jamaica, NY
New York City FC needed 120 minutes but just one goal to beat the visiting New England Revolution and advance to their second straight Open Cup Quarterfinal.
Revolution goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic kept NYCFC off the scoreboard early, making saves from point blank range off of a pair of Thiago Andrade shots.
In the fourth minute of extra time, NYCFC took advantage of a NEw England defensive turnover, and Heber sent the ball over to Santiago Rodriguez for what turned out to be the game winning goal.
With the win NYCFC will head to Red Bull Arena on June 21 or 22 to face the New York Red Bulls in a NYC Quarterfinal derby.
[+] FULL MATCH RECAP >> New England Revolution at NYCFC
Union Omaha (USL League One) 2:1 Minnesota United FC (MLS)
Allianz Field; St. Paul, MN
Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a Cinderella!
Union Omaha, from the Division 3 USL League One, went to Allianz Field and upset Minnesota United 2-1,becoming the first team from Nebraska to ever advance to the Open Cup Quarterfinals. It was Omaha’s second MLS upset of the tournament after beating the Chicago Fire on penalties in the Third Round.
Minnesota opened the scoring very early, as Adrien Hunou took a Franco Fragapane pass and beat Union goalkeeper Rashid Nuhu in the 6th minute.
Just before the halftime whistle Union Omaha tied the score. John Scearce got his head to a long clearance from Nuhu, sending the ball to Hugo Kametani who swiftly sent it past goalkeeper Eric Dick.
In the 51th minute Omaha got their dream goal in the 51st minute, when an attempted Minnesota clearance was chested down by Omaha’s Joseph Brito, who then one-timed his shot past Dick for what would turn out to be the upset winning goal.
In the 77th minute Minnesota nearly quelled the upset when David Taylor’s shot after a corner kick went crashing off the crossbar. Union survived the final thirteen minutes and five minutes of stoppage time to become the first Division 3 team to reach the Quarterfinals since Orlando City of USL Pro in 2013.
Union Omaha will now travel to face Sporting Kansas City in the Quarterfinals on June 21 or 22.
[+] FULL MATCH RECAP >> Union Omaha at Minnesota United FC
Charlotte FC (MLS) 1:3 New York Red Bulls (MLS)
MSU Soccer Park (Montclair State Univ.); Montclair, NJ
The New York Red Bulls ended the dream of a debut season Open Cup run by defeating the visiting Charlotte FC 3-1 in the Open Cup Quarterfinals. The win marks a return to the Quarters for NYRB for the first time since 2017.
The teams traded goals very early in the first half. The Red Bulls started it off in the second minute when a corner kick found its way to Patryk Klimala, who sent a short shot in the net.
Charlotte responded six minutes later, when a long kick was collected by Andre Shinyashiki, who found Daniel Rios who dribbled past a Red Bull defender and beat goalkeeper Carlos Coronel.
The score stayed 1-1 until the 63rd minute when New York went ahead for good. Patryk Klimala dribbled past a pair of Charlotte defenders and sent a pass across the goal to a charging Dylan Nealis for an easy goal. Tom Barlow cemented the win with a stoppage time goal off an assist from Luquinhas.
The Red Bulls will now host inter-city rivals New York City FC in the Quarterfinals on June 21 or 22.
[+] FULL MATCH RECAP >> Charlotte FC at NY Red Bulls
Houston Dynamo (MLS) 1:2 at Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
Children’s Mercy Park; Kansas City, KS
Houston Dynamo opened the scoring through Corey Baird in the 41st minute as he converted a cushioned pass from Darwin Quintero but it was Sporting KC, and Johnny Russell in particular, who would end the night on top.
The equalizer from Russell was a drive from the edge of the penalty area away from the despairing dive of the Dynamo keeper in the 52nd minute. The game was decided in the 73rd minute as Russell dispatched a PK after Daniel Salloi was brought down.
Sporting KC now move on to face Union Omaha in the Quarter Finals.
[+] FULL MATCH RECAP >> Houston Dynamo at Sporting KC
Los Angeles FC (MLS) at LA Galaxy (MLS)
Dignity Health Sports Park; Carson, CA
As the Open Cup hosted El Trafico, the two local rivals saw out a scoreless first half, although both sides had chances. Galaxy managed 7 shots, and the only 2 on target, but were marginally out-possessed by their visitors.
Galaxy took the lead when quick thinking by Jonathan Klinsmann in goal triggered a quick counter down the left and a cross from the left was diverted past the goalkeeper by a diving Kevin Cabral in the 51st minute. The lead was doubled in the 57th minute as Chicharito converted a cross from the right wing on another lightning end to end counterattack.
Neat interplay by the Galaxy down the right wing was eventually reversed to the left side of the penalty area where Dejan Joveljic pressed it home in the 80th minute for their third goal.
LAFC got on the board when a cross from the left wing was neatly headed home from close range by Ryan Hollingshead. In the end, it was not enough and the home team claimed the victory.
The Galaxy now move on to host Sacramento Republic in the Quarter Finals.
[+] FULL MATCH RECAP >> LAFC at LA Galaxy
San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) at Sacramento Republic FC (USL Championship)
Heart Health Park; Sacramento, CA
Sacramento Republic, looking to upset their visitors from 2 hours south, secured the lead through former Earthquake Luis Felipe in the 28th minute after a header from a corner was spilled by the Earthquakes keeper. San Jose had more shots on target and out possessed their hosts by 60-40 but held the lead through half time.
In the 67th minute, a scoring chance was brought to a close when the referee failed to play advantage just outside the San Jose penalty area. The resultant free kick hit the wall and then the rebound was saved by Matt Bersano.
Sacramento finally put some space between the two sides on the scoreboard with a goal in the 83rd minute. Rodrigo Lopez blasted a shot from just outside the right corner of the penalty area into the left corner of the goal.
Sacramento earn their Quarter Final spot in Carson against the LA Galaxy.
[+] FULL MATCH RECAP >> San Jose Earthquakes at Sacramento Republic FC