After two years off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 107th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup brought plenty of drama and excitement. Usually in this tournament, when there’s a drama, there’s often a few lower division teams involved and the 2022 US Open Cup was no different.
The Sacramento Republic FC made the most headlines (and even drew the attention of National Public Radio, which is not known for its soccer coverage). The USL Championship side became just the fourth non-Major League Soccer team since 1996 to reach the championship game. In the end, they fell short in the Final, losing 3-0 to Orlando City SC.
There were other underdogs who made some noise in 2022, like Union Omaha (USL League One, Div. 3) reaching the Quarterfinals, and Louisville City FC (USL-C) making it to the Round of 16.
Following each year’s competition, TheCup.us honors a player with the distinction of being named “Player the Tournament” for their outstanding performance. However in 2012, an additional honor was added: TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament. The goal is to honor the players on lower division teams (Open Division, Division 3, and Division 2) who have stood out and helped their team make a memorable run in the Open Cup that year.
The award is voted on by TheCup.us staff, a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters, and select backers from TheCup.us’ Patreon. If you’d like to vote in this, or the upcoming “Player of the Tournament” vote, consider pledging $10 or more and help us continue to cover the US Open Cup and research it’s long history.
We encourage everyone to read over each players’ tournament resume and make your case for who you think should win the award in the comments or on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instragram).
Here are 2022’s finalists (in near alphabetical order):
Joseph Brito (Union Omaha, USL League One, Div. 3)
Arguably the second-best Cinderella run in the 2022 US Open Cup was Union Omaha was USL League One (Div. 3). They upset two MLS teams on the road en route to becoming the first Division 3 club since 2013 (Orlando City SC, USL Pro) to reach the Quarterfinals. While there were many heroes for the defending USL League One champions during their run to the Quarterfinals, the one that stood out was midfielder Joseph Brito. The New England Revolution youth academy product scored a first half equalizer in a 2-1 home win over the Des Moines Menace, the defending USL League Two champions. Brito played the first 90 minutes in a road game against the Chicago Fire where Omaha eliminated the four-time champions in penalty kicks. Northern Colorado Hailstorm’s upset of Real Salt Lake in Round 3 meant Union Omaha got to play a fellow USL League One team in Round 4. Brito assisted on the second goal in a 2-0 win as Union advanced to the Round of 16. It was there when Brito and Omaha would have to play another MLS side away from home. There he scored what would prove to be the game-winner in a 2-1 win over Minnesota United FC. His impressive goal earned him TheCup.us Player of the Round honors. The run would come to an end in the Quarterfinals with a 6-0 road loss to Sporting Kansas City as Omaha was unable to pull off a third road upset against a MLS team (which would have been a Modern Era first for a Division 3 team).
???? A volley like THIS to put us on top???
— Union Omaha (@Union_Omaha) May 26, 2022
Put some respect on @josephbrito08's name immediately. ????#OneMeansAll | @opencup pic.twitter.com/Z4cNnjIqOc
Round 2: Started, played 77 minutes, assisted on a first half equalizer (19th min.) in a 2-1 home win vs. Des Moines Menace (USL-2).
Round 3: Started, played 90 minutes, in a 5-4 PK shootout win (2-2 draw) on the road vs. Chicago Fire (MLS).
Round 4: Started, played 71 minutes, assisted on the second goal in a 2-0 home win vs. Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (USL-1)
Round 5: Started, played 80 minutes, scored the game-winning goal (51st min.) in a 2-1 road win vs. Minnesota United FC (MLS). Brito was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round
Quarterfinals: Started, played 90 minutes in a 6-0 road loss vs. Sporting KC (MLS)
Rodrigo Lopez (Sacramento Republic FC, USL Championship, Div. 2)
Rodrigo Lopez was the most consistent offensive contributor for the Sacramento Republic in the club’s run to the 2022 US Open Cup Final. He began by scoring a goal and adding two assists in 60 minutes of work in a one-sided win over the Portland Timbers U-23s (USL-2). In the next round, Lopez assisted on his team’s opening goal and eventually scored the game-winning penalty kick over Central Valley Fuego FC (USL-2). The 90th-minute goal was his fifth career US Open Cup goal, the second-most in Sacramento Republic history. After not playing in his team’s Round 4 win over Phoenix Rising FC (USL-C), Lopez once again played hero in his team’s upset win over the San Jose Earthquakes (MLS). His corner kick found former quakes player Luis Felipe in the 28th minute to give his team the lead. Then later on, he sealed the result himself with a clinching goal in the 84th minute to secure the team’s first-ever win against an MLS side. He continued to find the back of the net in the Quarterfinal against LA Galaxy (MLS), scoring the opening goal in what would be another cupset for the Indomitable Club. His final mark was stepping up to the spot in the fifth round of his team’s penalty kick shootout against Sporting Kansas City (MLS) in the semifinal. Following a Danny Vitiello save, his successful attempt pushed Sacramento into the final following a scoreless 120 minutes.
Ro Ro, you know! | ????
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) April 8, 2022
Rodrigo Lopez slams a fourth home for @SacRepublicFC — who are heaping woe on @TimbersU23.
4-0 | #USOC2022 pic.twitter.com/nd5LmVPhTv
Round 2: Started, played 60 minutes, scoring a goal and adding two assists in a 6-0 home win vs. Portland Timbers U-23s (USL-2)
Round 3: Started, played all 90 minutes, assisted on the opening goal, scored the game-winning penalty kick in second half stoppage time in a 2-1 home win vs. Central Valley Fuego FC (USL-1).
Round 4: Did not play in 2-0 home win vs. Phoenix Rising FC (USL-C)
Round 5: Started, subbed out in second half stoppage time, assisted on the opening goal, scored an 84th minute clincher in a 2-0 home win vs. San Jose Earthquakes (MLS).
Quarterfinals: Started, played 62 minutes, scored the opening goal in a 2-1 road win vs. LA Galaxy (MLS)
Semifinals: Started, played 120 minutes, scored the game-winning PK in the 5-4 PK shootout win (after 0-0 draw) at home vs. Sporting KC (MLS)
Final: Started, played 90 minutes in a 3-0 road loss vs. Orlando City SC
Maxi Rodriguez (Detroit City FC, USL Championship, Div. 2)
Detroit City FC waited two years to make their Open Cup debut as a professional team. But fans of the USL Championship (Div. 2) side were left more than fulfilled after their club downed both a in-state rival and MLS team in their club’s best tournament performance to date. While many might look towards the stalwart goalkeeper Nate Steinwascher as the most impactful player, it’s hard to overlook how much Maxi Rodriguez impacted his team’s results. The second-year DCFC striker assisted on two of his team’s three goals through “smoke, smell, and darkness” against rival Michigan Stars FC in Round 2. Besides just advancing, the result was City’s first outright win ever in the tournament (only advancing previously through penalty kicks). Rodriguez followed up the first game by playing every minute of the following two games and scoring every goal for his team going forward. In front of a sold-out Keyworth Stadium, with 6,000+ mostly home fans cheering, Rodriguez helped Detroit win possibly the biggest match in the team’s decade long history by dispatching a Major League Soccer side. His two goals in the second half countered a Gyasi Zardes penalty kick and lifted DCFC to a win over the Division 1 side. For his efforts, Maxi was awarded TheCup.us Player of the Round honors for Round 3. In Round 4 against league foe Louisville City, the former UNC Charlotte star channeled some of that southeast fire and played a complete match against the defending USLC Eastern Conference finalist. His successful penalty kick in the 14th minute put the team up, 1-0, and went on to convert his shot during the eventual shootout. His team went on to lose 4-2 in PKs after the match finished 1-1 after 120 minutes.
HE DOES IT AGAIN. UNBELIEVABLE.@MaxiRodrigue21#DCTID | #USOC2022 pic.twitter.com/Mz2iww42Da
— Detroit City FC (@DetroitCityFC) April 20, 2022
Round 2: Started, played 71 minutes, assisted on two goals in a 3-0 home win vs. Michigan Stars FC (NISA).
Round 3: Started, played 90 minutes, scored both goals in a 2-1 home win vs. Columbus Crew (MLS)
Round 4: Started, played 120 minutes, scored the lone goal, converted his PK in the shootout in a 4-2 PK loss (1-1 draw) at home vs. Louisville City FC (USL-C)
Danny Vitiello (Sacramento Republic FC, USL Championship, Div. 2)
For Sacramento Republic their goalkeeper was probably the most indomitable piece of their run to the final. With three clean sheets to his name, including one against the local Division 1 team, Danny Vitiello solidified his presence on this list through a number of outstanding performances. After not playing in his team’s opening blowout win, Vitello’s 2022 tournament debut wasn’t stellar. He made 0 saves and allowed a tying goal against USL League One side Central Valley Fuego. His first Open Cup appearance since 2018 (a Round 2 loss with Long Island Rough Riders) was saved by fellow LDPOTT nominee Rodrigo Lopez’s stoppage time goal. The next two rounds, however, are what truly began Vitiello’s legend. His clean sheet in Round 4 saw him make six saves, including a penalty kick stop just before halftime, that lead to a win, 2-0, over league rival Phoenix Rising FC. In his team’s fourth straight home game the next Round, Sacramento and Vitiello finally got the monkey off their franchise’s back and beat a Major League Soccer team. His five saves combined with goals in each half gave Republic the 2-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes in the “Hella Derby”. Heading on the road for the Quarterfinal game against Div. 1 LA Galaxy was uncharted territory for team. While Vitiello allowed his first goal in two games, an own-goal at that, he technically kept every member of the Galaxy off the scoresheet. His four saves and a second half Luis Felipe goal pushed Sacramento to the semifinals, the first non-MLS team to reach the mark since 2017. All of this leads to the defining moment of what has been a journey man career for Vitiello. In the national semifinals against Sporting Kansas City of MLS, the New York state native was the biggest factor in his team’s upset win. In 120 minutes, the keeper made eight saves including multiple in extra time as his team’s offense waned. Pushed into a penalty kick shootout, Vitiello was unable to stop any of the first four shots that came his way – not including a called-back save in the third round for coming off his line. With his team perfect on the other side, the fifth round separated each team from sudden death. U.S. international Graham Zusi stepped and Vitiello guessed correctly by diving to his left for the save, allowing team captain Lopez the chance to convert and move the team onto the cup final.
Despite a second half collapse against Orlando City SC in the last game, Vitiello’s tournament performance still ranks among the best by a lower division keeper in the Modern Era.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man ????
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) July 28, 2022
How @dannyvitiello_ stepped up to claim @opencup glory for @SacRepublicFC last night ⬇️
Round 2: Did not play in a 6-0 home win vs. Portland Timbers U-23s (USL-2)
Round 3: Started, played all 90 minutes, made 0 saves in a 2-1 home win vs. Central Valley Fuego FC (USL-1).
Round 4: Started, played all 90 minutes, earned a clean sheet and made 6 saves in a 2-0 home win vs. Phoenix Rising FC (USL-C)
Round 5: Started, played all 90 minutes, earned a clean sheet and made 5 saves in a 2-0 home win vs. San Jose Earthquakes (MLS).
Quarterfinals: Started, played all 90 minutes, made 4 saves in a 2-1 road win vs. LA Galaxy (MLS)
Semifinals: Started, played 120 minutes, earned a clean sheet and made 8 saves in the 5-4 PK shootout win (after 0-0 draw) at home vs. Sporting KC (MLS) Vitiello was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round
Final: Started, played 90 minutes in a 3-0 road loss vs. Orlando City SC
Honorable Mention: Sainclair Tueno (FC Motown, National Premier Soccer League, Open Division)
Sainclair Tueno never played a minute in the 2022 US Open Cup – at least officially. But it can be argued that no player had more of an impact on their team during this year’s tournament. Tueno came on as a substitute late in the first half of extra time in Motown’s original Round 1 game against West Chester United SC. By the time the Lycoming College alumnus entered, the visiting PA side had already taken the lead and his 20 minutes of play were uneventful as Motown fell, 3-2 (AET). While his team protested the result, something they’d eventually win, Tueno would not be able to see it personally. Four days after the game on March 26th Tueno was tragically struck by a fast travelling car just outside of Pittsburgh, PA. Put on life support, he’d remain in that state until early May when he passed away at the young age of 25. But his story doesn’t end here. As he fought for his life, Tueno’s teammates continued their run in the Open Cup in his honor. In the West Chester replay, Ryan Peterson’s cross into the box deep into stoppage time seemingly continued to float right into the net for winner. In Round 2, against professional side AC Syracuse Pulse, a scoreless match entered extra time where Federico de Oliveira scored the game winner in the 96th minute. On the other side, goalkeeper David Greczek made an incredible save to keep it level but also, in his mind, had a little help. A late regulation time chance by Syracuse’s Molley Karpeh got past a defender and a diving Greczek but rolled mere inches wide to keep the game scoreless. Following the go-ahead goal, in the last moments of the first ET half, a low corner kick was headed over the Motown defense and looked to be going in the net. Inexplicably, Karpeh raised his leg as the ball neared the goal line, inadvertently redirecting it out of play.
“Obviously for our guy Sainclair, he saved us a couple of times today, he was there with us,” former Motown head coach Šaćir Hot said after the game. “Some goal line clearances. Some close calls that could have fallen their way. I think the power of our guy up there was with us.”
Motown’s run ended in Round 3 in a penalty kick shootout, 2-2 (4:3 pks) with MLS Next Pro side Rochester New York FC. That game also included some unique moments including Motown coming back from two goals down and tying the game in second half stoppage time. The team earned $25,000 dollars as the furthest reaching Open Division team and helped raise the same amount for Tueno’s family during that span to help cover medical expenses. Outside of the tournament, the team went on to win the National Premier Soccer League national championship for the first time later that year. Even up to that final whistle, members of Motown still believe Sainclair was with them fighting. The team’s pre-match attire for the rest of the year, even past the tournament, was a simple white shirt with Sainclair’s number 23 and initials on the back and “Fight the fight” proudly displayed across the front. His tragic circumstance brought Motown, a team that rarely if ever trains, together as a unit. In a way, Armel Sainclair Tueno Nguimfack (1996-2022) is possibly the most impactful lower division player from this year’s competition.
Thanks to @coachAlMac for getting a great banner honoring Sainclair Tueno at Drew University. We miss him dearly and have dedicated the season to our brother. #st23 #npsl #rbny #morristown pic.twitter.com/Fmojztc4zo
— FC Motown Celtics (@fc_motown) June 12, 2022
Round 1: Subbed on, played 20 minutes in extra time during 3-2 AET home loss vs West Chester United SC that was later successfully challenged