Starting with 107 teams, the hopeful qualifiers for next year’s 2023 US Open Cup are down to just 36 teams. 71 teams have already been eliminated over two rounds, and there is still one more round to go in December where it will be win and you’re in.
The 108th edition of the Open Cup started off better than last year. While 2022’s qualifying round was filled with forfeits, only two games have so far. The biggest story of the first qualifying round is how many familiar faces went down in their first match. Two former champions failed to escape the first weekend while two 2022 competitors were pushed to the brink. The second round saw even more of those teams go down such as United German Hungarians and New York Greek American SC, both having made multiple Finals in the past.
The 18 winners of this third round will then face off in the fourth and final round of qualifying December 17-18. Those 9 winners will qualify for the First Round proper next March 2023.
Here is the preview for the 18 matches being played this weekend.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19
Florida Premier FC (UPSL / USASA) at Club de Lyon (NISA Nation)
Young Pine Park; Orlando, FL
Kickoff: 3 p.m.
LIVE STREAM: TBA
Florida Premier FC | Tampa, FL
UPSL Florida West Division
2022 Spring Season: 5-3-2, 17 pts., 21 GF 18 GA, 2nd place
2022 Fall Season: 5-1-3, 18 pts., 20 GF 8 GA (ONGOING)
Club de Lyon | Orlando, FL
NISA Nation Florida Region
2022 Spring Season: 10-1-1, 31 pts., 48 GA 8 GA, 1st place
Florida Premier finished second in the UPSL Florida West Division Spring season with a 5-2-3 record, Florida Premier began in 1979 as the West Pasco Youth Soccer Association, while Gainesville City FC got their start in 2021.
Club de Lyon won the NISA Nation Florida Region with a 10-1-1 record, and their 48 goals scored was tops among all the NISA Nation teams. Victor Rojas led all of NISA Nation with 8 goals and 12 assists during the 2022 Spring season.
In the first round of qualifying Florida Premier FC defeated fellow UPSL club Clearwater Chargers 4-0. Stewart Vigh scored twice, both assisted by Oliver Drost and Daht Faal and Nico Colacci provided the other goals. In the second round Premier ousted Gainesville City FC (UPSL) 2-1. Premier grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 5th minute and Vigh added another in first half stoppage time.
Club de Lyon opened their 2023 qualifying run with a 3-0 win over fellow Orlando and NISA Nation club Deportivo Lake Mary. Victor Rojas (PK), Damian Duda scored for Lyon, with the final goal coming from an own goal off a shot by Rojas. In the Second Round, Lyon ousted 2022 qualifier Orlando FC Wolves 3-1 on three unanswered goals after falling behind 1-0 in the 5th minute.
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Chicago House AC (Midwest Premier League / USASA) at Metro Louisville FC (UPSL)
Woehrle Athletic Complex; Jeffersonville, IN
Kickoff: 4 p.m.
LIVE STREAM: TBA
Chicago House AC | Chicago, IL
Midwest Premier League West
2022 Spring Season: 5-1-5, 20 pts., 27 GF 8 GA, 4 GA, 4th place
Metro Louisville FC | Louisville, KY
UPSL KY-TN Division
2022 Spring Season – 6-3-1, 19 pts., 24 GF 11 GA, 3rd place
2022 Fall Season – 6-4-0, 18 pts., 20 GF 25 GA, 4th place
Metro Louisville FC are making their Open Cup qualifying debut this year. Metro just missed the UPSL Ohio division playoffs, finishing 1 point behind Fut Ohio SC in the 6 team Ohio Division Spring season. After starting their UPSL Fall season with a four-game winning streak, Louisville finished winning just two of their final six games.
Metro Louisville drew a bye in the first round of qualifying, and in round 2 defeated Valhalla FC of the Ohio Valley Premier League 1-0. Louisville only had 11 players available, and a 28th minute goal from Alejandro Trejo was enough to see Metro through to the next round. Full match video
Chicago House AC began playing in NISA in the 2021 Fall season but left the league after that first season due to a dispute between team owners and league officials. As a result, House were voted out of the league and left unable to participate in the 2022 Open Cup. The team spent 2022 playing in the semi-pro Midwest Premier League. CEO Peter Wilt has expressed interest in returning to NISA for the 2023 season.
Chicago House AC had a bye in the first round of qualifying. In the second round House were pushed to the limit by Ft. Wayne’s 1927 SC of the Ohio Valley Premier League. after going down 1-0 in the 8th minute, Chicago House equalized one minute into stoppage time on a Seo-in Kim penalty kick. After a scoreless extra tie, Chicago prevailed 4-3 in the penalty tiebreaker. Full match video
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D10 Lions FC (National Soccer League / USSSA) at D’Feeters Kicks Soccer Club (UPSL)
Lake Ridge High School; Mansfield, TX
Kickoff: 6 p.m.
LIVE STREAM: TBA
D10 Lions FC | Houston, TX
National Soccer League Texas Conference
2022 Spring season: 4 pts., 5th place
D’Feeters Kicks Soccer Club | Dallas, TX
UPSL Texas North Division
2022 Spring Season: 7-1-2, 23 pts., 62 GF 6 GA, 1st place
2022 Fall Season: 5-1-4, 19 pts, 29 GF 16 GA, 2nd place
D’Feeters qualified for the 2022 Open Cup, knocking off the NPSL’s Denton Diablos 3-2 before losing to the USL Championship’s San Antonio FC 3-1 in the Second Round. DFKSC finished first in the UPSL Texas North with a 7-1-2 record and a dominating +56 goal difference.
D’Feeters Kicks opened their 2023 qualifying run with a 5-1 win over FC Fort Worth, five different players scoring for DFKFC. The win was a bit of payback for FC Fort Worth defeating D’Feeters Kicks in the UPSL Texas North playoffs in June. In the second round D’Feeters knocked off Alamo City Soccer Club (UPSL) 3-2, with Sebastian Mendez scoring all three goals.
After drawing a first-round bye, D10 faced off with NSL rivals Houston FC in the second round, coming away with a contentious 3-2 victory. D10 took a 2-1 lead in the first half on a pair of goals from David Perez. In the second half 10 lost their starting goalkeeper after receiving a straight red card for handling the ball outside the penalty area. D10 lost another player to a red card, and Houston FC held a 2-man advantage for a while until one of their players was sent off. D10 scored late in the game to take a 3-2 lead and survived nearly 10 minutes of second half stoppage time to hold on for the win.
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Nova FC (Eastern Premier Soccer League / USASA) at DCFC (DC Premier League / USASA)
Jelleff Recreation Center; Washington, D.C.
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m.
LIVE STREAM: TBA
NoVa FC | Leesburg, VA
Eastern Premier Soccer League Mid-Atlantic Division
2021/22 Season: 12-1-0, 36 pts., 66 GF 15 GA 1st place
*Won 2021/22 Mid-Atlantic Division Playoffs
2022/23 Season – 6-0-0. 18 pts., 28 GF 4 GA (ONGOING)
DCFC | Washington, D.C.
DC Premier League D1
2022 Spring Season: 6-4-1, 22 pts., 42 GF 11 GA, 3rd place
2022 Fall Season: 6-0-2, 20 pts., 22 GF 4 GA (ONGOING)
Northern Virginia FC had quite a season in 2022. NoVa qualified for the 2022 Open Cup, winning their first round game 3-1 over EPSL rivals Lynchburg FC, and narrowly lost 1-0 to the Richmond Kickers of USL League One. NoVa also finished in first place in the EPSL Mid-Atlantic Division with a 12-0-1 record, and also won the Division playoffs. Finally, NoVa nearly gained automatic qualification to the 2023 Open Cup, losing the 2022 National Amateur Cup Final to Bavarian United FC 1-0.
NoVa began their 2023 qualifying run with a penalty shootout win over Steel Pulse FC of the Maryland Super Soccer League. Steel Pulse held NoVa to a scoreless draw for 120 minutes, 110 of which Steel Pulse played with 10 men. NoVa prevailed in the shootout 3-1 to advance.
NoVa’s second round game was much easier, cruising past Germantown FC of the UPSL 6-0. Vagner Marques opened the scoring early in the game and assisted on Kevin Nadeau’s goal in the 30th minute. Nadeau struck again just before halftime by heading in a free kick from Jhonny De Souza. Marques added his second goal just after halftime, and Nadeau completed his hat trick with an easy goal after an error by Germantown’s goalkeeper. Frankie DiOrio finished NoVa’s scoring with a rocket free kick.
DCFC are making their qualifying debut this year, and to open their Open Cup qualifying debut DCFC overcame DC Premier League rivals Team Tevez, coming out 4-2 winners after extra time. Harrison Engoren and Charles Touch eave DCFC a 2-0 halftime lead, and in extra time Engoran scored a second time and Ryan Mahoney added the insurance goal.
In the second round DCFC pulled off somewhat of an upset, knocking off Open Cup regulars Christos FC on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Christos jumped out to a first half lead, but DCFC tied the game midway through the second half on a penalty kick from Ergoren. In the penalty shootout DCFC converted all five of their spot kicks, while Christos missed their opening attempt.
Despite finishing third in the DC Premier League Spring season, DCFC held a league high +31 goal differential.
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Oyster Bay United FC (UPSL) at Lansdowne Yonkers FC (Eastern Premier Soccer League / USASA)
Tibbetts Brooke Park; Yonkers, NY
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
LIVE STREAM: TBA
Oyster Bay United | Oyster Bay, New York
UPSL Northeast American Division
2022 Spring Season: 8-2-0, 24 Pts. 51 GF 9 GA, 2nd place
2022 Fall Season: 10-0-2, 32 pts., 59 GF 12 GA, 1st place
Lansdowne Yonkers FC | Yonkers, NY
Eastern Premier Soccer League Metropolitan Division
2021/22 Season: 12-1-5, 41 pts., 43 GF 15 GA, 3rd place
2022/23 Season: 6-1-1, 19 pts., 21 GF 7 GA (ONGOING)
Oyster Bay United is looking to qualify for their second straight Open Cup. In 2022 they knocked off a pair of three-time Open Cup champions in qualifying, defeating NY Greek American SC and NY Pancyprian Freedoms. A 4-1 win over Westchester United sent them to their first ever Open Cup. Oyster Bay defeated Hartford City FC of the NPSL 3-0 in the opening round but fell 3-1 to Hartford Athletic of the USL Championship.
Lansdowne Yonkers FC return to Open Cup qualifying after having earned a spot in last year’s tournament as 2021 National Amateur Cup champions. Lansdowne also qualified for the Open Cup in 2016 and 2018 as members of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. The club also previously won the National Amateur Cup in 2017. Lansdowne have racked up three wins in the Open Cup proper, with their biggest coming in 2016 as a 2-0 upset of USL Championship side Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
Lansdowne received a bye in the opening round, and in the second round defeated EPSL rivals NY Greek American SC 3-0. Shamir Mullings gave Lansdowne a 1-0 halftime lead and Bala Danso and Daryl Kavanaugh added two more in the second half. Full Match Video
Oyster Bay United had little trouble with UPSL division rivals Queensboro FC II 4-1 in their qualifying opener after a first round bye. After giving up an own goal in the first half, the rest of the scoring was all Oyster Bay. Mathew Carriel and Duga Dambelly gave OBU the lead at halftime, and Junior Rosero and Sebastian Ruiz scored the final two goals in the second half. Full Match Video
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IASC Boom (Rochester District Soccer League / USASA) at SC Vistula Garfield (Garden State Soccer League / USASA)
Athenia Steel Recreation Complex; Clifton, NJ
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
LIVE STREAM: TBA
IASC Boom | Rochester, NY
Rochester District Soccer League
2022 Season: 12-1-1, 37 pts., 62 GF 24 GA, 1st place
SC Vistula Garfield | Garfield, NJ
Garden State Soccer League Super Division
2021-22 Season: 7-4-2, 23 pts., 26 GF 17 GA, 2nd place
2022-23 Season: 5-0-0. 15 pts., 19 GF 8 GA (ONGOING)
IASC Boom are the reserve club of the UPSL’s Roc City Boom and are also known as Italian American SC Bakshi FC in the Rochester District Soccer League. IASC are making their second run at USOC qualifying, having fallen short last year with a penalty kick loss to FC Maritsa in the Third Round of qualifying. Roc City Boom finished the UPSL Spring season with a 8-2-0 record in the Western New York division, and reached the Round of 16 of the UPSL National playoffs.
IASC Boom had a first round bye in qualifying, and in the second round came out 3-1 winners over Sahara Gunners FC of the UPSL. Witman Hernandez scored twice, and Ali Shawish added another, all in the first half. Full Match Video
Celebrating its 70th anniversary, Vistula have often entered Open Cup qualifying in the past, but this is their first appearance since qualifying was revamped in 2015. Vistula’s first known appearance in the Open Cup came in qualifying for the 1971 tournament. Vistula pulled off a bit of an upset in the opening round of qualifying, knocking off NY Pancyprian Freedoms 1-0. Goalkeeper Anthony Caruso kept the Freedoms scoreless, and 40-year-old Christopher Karcz headed home the winner for Vistula in the 89th minute.
In the second round Vistula faced off with GSSL rivals Jackson Lions FC. Paul Kondratowicz opened the scoring for Vistula in the first half and Nicholas Kozdron converted a penalty in the second. Jackson pulled back a goal late on a penalty kick but Vistula held on to advance.
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Escondido FC (UPSL) at Orange County FC (UPSL)
Lake Forest Sports Park; Lake Forest, CA
Kickoff: 11 p.m.
LIVE STREAM: TBA
Escondido FC | Escondido, CA
UPSL Socal South Division
2022 Spring Season: 6-1-3, 21 pts., 33 GF 11 GA, 2nd place
2022 Fall Season: 4-1-3, 15 pts., 19 GF 9 GA (ONGOING)
Orange County FC | Mission Viejo, CA
UPSL Socal North Division
2022 Spring Season – 8-1-3, 27 pts., 42 GF 10 GA, 2nd place.
UPSL Socal Central Division
2022 Fall Season – 9-0-1, 28 pts., 41 GF 12 GA, 1st place
Escondido FC had a successful Open Cup qualifying debut last year, defeating Sporting ID11 3-1 in the final round. Escondido got their second qualifying attempt off to a good start with a win over Rebels SC on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Marcos Rodrigo Celestino equalized in the second half, and Christian Bahena put Escondido temporarily ahead in extra time. Escondido had another tough game in the second round, nudging out a 1-0 win over Outbreak FC of the Southwest Premier League. Omar Rodriguez Corral scored for the winners in the 3rd minute.
OCFC return to Open Cup qualifying after a six-year hiatus, with their lone qualifying game ending in a 3-0 loss to La Marquina FC in 2017. Orange County turned a second-place finish in the UPSL Socal North Spring season into a championship run, going all the way in the UPSL playoffs to defeat Beaman United 3-1 in the Final. Orange County are managed by U.S. Men’s National team legend Paul Caligiuri.
Orange County FC cruised to a 7-1 win in their opening qualifying game over Temecula FC (SWPL), jumping out to a 4-0 lead after 30 minutes, adding three more goals I the second half.
Escondido finished second in the UPSL Socal South Division spring season, then made their way to the UPSL Round of 16, losing to eventual champions Orange County FC 2-1. Angel De Leon scored for Escondido, while Oscar Flores and Jose Montes De Oca found the net for Orange County. Full game video (in Spanish)
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20
Olympians FC (UPSL) at UDA Soccer (UPSL)
UDA at New Mexico State University; Las Cruces, NM
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
LIVE STREAM: TBA
Olympians FC | El Mirage, AZ
UPSL Arizona Division
2022 Spring Season: 7-1-2, 23 pts., 41 GF 22 GA, 1st place
2022 Fall Season: 10-0-1, 31 pts., 32 GF 8 GA, 1st place
UDA Soccer | Las Cruces, NM
UPSL West Texas-New Mexico Division
2022 Spring Season: 6-2-2, 20 pts., 25 GF 11 GA, 1st place
2022 Fall Season: 5-3-0, 15 pts., 26 GF 16 GA, 2nd place
UDA is a soccer academy at New Mexico State University that allows players to receive year-round training while enrolled at New Mexico State. UDA had a successful 2022 Spring season, finishing first in the West Texas-New Mexico Division with a 6-2-2 record, and advancing to the UPSL National Quarterfinals.
Olympians FC won the UPSL Arizona Division with a 7-1-2 record, then advanced to the UPSL National playoffs by winning the Arizona Division playoffs. Olympians FC joined the UPSL during the 2020 Spring season and reached the Final of the UPSL 2020 Fall playoffs.
After a first round bye, UDA had no problem with Coronado Athletic Club (UPSL), winning 4-0. Mattias Cavallo put UDA up 1-0 at the half, and in the second half Eric Gomez-Silva scored twice, and Marco Millan added the final goal.
Olympians FC also received a first round bye and opened their qualifying campaign with a 2-0 win over Valley FC Raiders of NISA Nation. Josias Ortiz opened the scoring in the 6th minute. In the second half Valley FC Raiders were reduced to 9 men through a red card and an injury, and Olympians eventually got their second goal when Agustin Orozco put away a deflected shot from teammate Roberto De Lima.
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Unations FC (UPSL) at Brockton FC United (Bay State Soccer League / USASA)
Randolph High School; Randolph, MA
Kickoff: 2 p.m.
LIVE STREAM: TBA
Unations FC | Worcester, MA
UPSL New England Division
2022 Spring Season: 5-3-2, 16 pts., 14 GF 14 GA, 3rd place
2022 Fall Season: 4-6-0, 12 pts., 17 GF 28 GA 6th place
Brockton FC United | Brockton, MA
Bay State Soccer League, Division 1
2022 Season – 7-8-3, 24 pts., 47 GF 45 GA , 4th place
Brockton FC United are looking to advance to their second straight Open Cup after qualifying in 2022. Their qualifying run last season finished with a dominating 17 goals scored against just three allowed. While Brockton’s BSSL team is U-21, the club will have their senior team on the field as most of the U-21 players are with their college teams now. The Brockton FC United UPSL team went 10-0-0 this past spring but were upset in the New England Division playoffs by Santa Cruz FC.
Unations FC faced the Brockton FC United UPSL team back in May, with Brockton cruising to a 6-1 victory.
After first round bye qualifying, Brockton defeated Boston Street FC 1-0 in the second round in a game that featured an “only in the U.S.; Open Cup moment. After a Boston Street protest that the field was too narrow, and it was indeed one year short when measured. Given a 7 p.m. deadline to fix the issue, Brockton supporters bought field chalk from a local hardware store to re-line the field and finished one minute before the deadline to avoid a Brockton forfeit. On the field, Antonio Correira scored the lone goal in the 64th minute off of a free kick from Geo Alves.
Unations FC also received a first-round bye, and advanced via forfeit over Santa Cruz FC (UPSL) due to player unavailability for Santa Cruz. The Third round marks the farthest Unations have advanced in qualifying, as their previous qualifying attempts in 2018 & 2022 ended after one game.
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West Chester United SC (United Soccer League of Pennsylvania / USASA) at Vereinigung Erzgebirge (United Soccer League of Pennsylvania / USASA)
Vereinigung Erzgebirge Clubhouse; Warminster, PA
Kickoff: 2 p.m.
LIVE STREAM: TBA
Vereinigung Erzgebirge | Warminster, PA
United Soccer League of Pennsylvania Men’s Major
2021/22 Season: 14-0-1, 35 pts., 43 GF 8 GA, 1st place
2022/23 Season: 3-2-0, 11 pts., 14 GF 4 GA (ONGOING)
West Chester United SC | West Chester, PA
United Soccer League of Pennsylvania Men’s Major
2021/22 Season: 13-2-0, 39 pts., 70 GF 13 GA, 2nd place
2022/23 Season: 3-0-1, 9 pts., 23 GF 5 GA (ONGOING)
Vereinigung Erzgebirge is one of the more historic clubs in the qualifying field, the club having been founded in 1931 with the soccer team emerging soon after. The first known Open Cup appearance VE made was qualifying for the 1958 tournament. Since then, the club has been a regular in Open Cup competition. More recently, VE has qualified for the Open Cup just twice, in 2002 and again for the cancelled 2020 edition. VE had an outstanding 2021-22 campaign in the United Soccer League of Pennsylvania, finishing atop the league with a 14-0-1 record. VE’s only league blemish was a 1-1 draw versus United German Hungarians.
In addition to the USL of PA, West Chester United fields teams in USL League Two and the NPSL. WCU’s USL-2 team qualified for the Open Cup last season, while their USL of PA team made the cut in 2016 & 2019. WCU’s USL-2 & NPSL teams are unlikely to make the cut to qualify from either league for 2023. WCU also reached the National Amateur Cup Final in 2018 and have won the USL 0f PA championship four straight seasons from 2015/16-2018/19. West Chester United finished the ‘21-‘22 USL of PA season in second place behind champions Verinigung Erzgebirge, holding a +57 goal difference. 2022 was the first time since 2016 that their USL of PA team did not enter qualifying, as their USL-2 team had secured an Open Cup spot through league play.
VE bested West Chester United 3-2 in USL of PA play back on Sept. 26, and ironically were set to face off again in league play on Nov. 20, but that match has been rescheduled for the Open Cup qualifying game.
In the first round Vereinigung Erzgebirge tackled another mainstay of Open Cup qualifying, Philadelphia Lone Star of the UPSL, coming away with a 2-1 win. Kevin Smolyn and Johnny Ciarlante scored second half goals to avenge VE’s loss to Lone Star in last year’s qualifying. In the second round VE overcame the UPSL’s Lancaster Elite 2-0. Derek Antonini scored the first goal for VE in the 11th minute, then assisted on Chris Bakers goal four minutes after halftime. Match Highlights
WCU opened Open Cup qualifying his year with a 2-1 win over fellow USL of PA club and four time Open Cup champions Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals. After the Uke Nats jumped out to an early lead, but Finn Reese leveled the score a few minutes before halftime. As extra time seemed certain, Derek Ramirez stepped up to convert a penalty kick in second half stoppage time. West Chester United blanked another USL of PA rival, United German Hungarians, 4-0 in the second round. After a scoreless opening half, WCU broke through for four goals. Finn Reese led the way with two goals and an assist, with Levi Maruca and Clay Moyer scoring the other two. Match Highlights
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Azteca FC (Colorado Super League / USASA) at Athletic Club of Sloan’s Lake (Colorado Super League / USASA)
Wheat Ridge High School; Wheat Ridge, CO
Kickoff: 3 p.m.
LIVE STREAM: TBA
Azteca FC | Denver, CO
Colorado Super League
2022 Spring Season: 6-0-1, 19 pts., 27 gf 10 ga, 2nd place
Athletic Club of Sloan’s Lake | Golden, CO
Colorado Super League
2022 Spring Season: 2-4-1, 7 pts., 13 GF 16 GA, 5th place
As rivals in the Colorado Super League, Azteca and Sloan’s Lake met last April in league play, with Azteca FC coming out on top 2-1.
Azteca FC have made it to the Open Cup three times, in 2017, 2018 and 2022, but have yet to record a win in the tournament proper. In 2022 qualifying Azteca qualified for the Open Cup knocking off Colorado Rush (4-1), Colorado Rovers (5-2) and Harpo’s FC (4-3 aet).
Azteca knocked off Colorado Rovers, another club from the Colorado Super League, 3-1 in the opening round of qualifying. Saul Garcia, Jovany Herrera and Freddy Fragozo scored for Azteca. In the second round Azteca defeated FC Denver, another Super League rival, 4-1. After FC Denver took an early 1-0 lead Azteca scored four unanswered goals. Brice Colcombe equalized in the first half, and Jovany Herrera (PK), Saul Garcia and Jose Bencomo (PK) scored the second half goals.
Sloan’s Lake picked up their first ever qualifying win in the opening round, 3-0 over Peak Eleven FC of the Mountain Premier League. Jacob Love, Jack O’Brian and Miguel Camerolinga scored second half goals in the win. Love is a former player of Italian Serie B club AC Capri. The second round saw Sloan’s Lake up against a fellow Super League club, Boulder United, and came away with a 2-1 win. Down 1-0 from the fourth minute on, Sloan’s Lake scored two goals in the final ten minutes to pull out the win. JD Michael tied the game for Sloan’s Lake in the 86th minute, and Jacob Love netted the winner in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time.
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Tobacco Road FC (Triangle Adult Soccer League / USASA) at South Carolina United Heat (UPSL)
Southeastern Freight Lines Soccer Center; Columbia, SC
Kickoff: 5 p.m.
LIVE STREAM: TBA
Tobacco Road FC | Durham, NC
Triangle Adult Soccer League Men’s 1
2022 Spring Season: 5-3-2, 17 pts., 26 GF 21 GA
South Carolina United Heat | Columbia, SC
UPSL Mid-Atlantic Division
2022 Spring Season: 9-0-1, 27 pts., 39 GF 7 GA, 1st place (Spring Season)
2022 Fall Season: 10-0-0, 30 pts., 54 GF 7 GA, 1st place
Tobacco Road’s TASL team serves as the reserve team of their USL 2 club, although the club has yet to participate in the Open Cup proper at any level. Tobacco Road returns to Open Cup qualifying after a five-year hiatus. The club last entered qualifying in 2016 and forfeited their opening game to CD Motagua of New Orleans due to travel costs. This year the team received a bye in the first round. tobacco Road came a few games from avoiding qualifying altogether, reaching the semifinals of the Region III section of the 2022 National Amateur Cup. The champion of the Amateur Cup qualifies automatically for the next season’s Open Cup.
South Carolina United Heat are looking to make up for a disappointing end of their 2022 Open Cup qualifying campaign. After defeating Atletico Atlanta (3-1) and Georgia Revolution FC Reserves (3-2 aet), SCU Heat were forced to forfeit their final qualifying game to Orlando FC Wolves due to a COVID-19 outbreak among the team, missing out on a change to qualify for the Open Cup. The Heat won the UPSL Mid-Atlantic division Spring season with a 9-0-1 mark but fell in the first round of the playoffs to Georgia FC 2-0.
SC Heat took its first step towards avenging last year’s disappointing finish, defeating TCSA of the UPSL 4-0 in the Second round of qualifying. Two goals from Rodane McKenzie powered the Heat, with Alejo Binaghi, Mitch Backer scoring the other two.
Tobacco Road opened its qualifying campaign with a 3-1 win over Mint Hill FC of the UPSL. Joaquin Del Rosario opened the scoring for Tobacco Road in the first half, and Jordan Snell and Orlin Roque scored second half goals.
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Davis Legacy SC (UPSL) at Inter San Francisco (San Francisco Soccer Football League / USASA)
Beach Chalet Soccer Field; San Francisco, CA
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
LIVE STREAM: TBA
Davis Legacy SC | Davis, CA
UPSL Norcal North Division
2022 Spring Season: 11-1-0, 33 pts., 74 GF 10 GA, 1st place
2022 Fall Season: 5-4-1, 16 pts., 28 GF 18 GA (ONGOING)
Inter San Francisco | San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Soccer Football League Majors Division
2022 Season: 15-2-3, 47 pts., 68 GF 32 GA, 1st place
*Won promotion to SFSFL Premier Division
David Legacy have entered Open Cup qualifying 5 times since 2016 but have failed to reach the finish line. The closest they came was in 2016 when they lost to San Francisco City FC 4-3 in the final round of qualifying. 2022 Spring season play was a different matter, as Davis finished first in the UPSL Norcal North Division with a 11-1-0 record, with a +64 goal difference. David then won the Division playoffs and advanced to the IPSL National Quarterfinals, where they lost to eventual champions Orange County FC.
Inter San Francisco began in the SFSFL First Division (3rd tier) then won promotion to the Majors Division in 2021. In the 2022 season Inter SF won the Major Division with a 15-3-2 record to move up to the Premier Division. Inter SF made their initial Open Cup qualifying run for the 2022 tournament, defeating Real San Jose 4-2 before losing to Sporting ID11 3-1.
Inter began their 2023 qualifying run with a 5-0 win over Marin United. Former Oakland Roots pro Matt Fondy scored twice, while Dyan Autran, Nikolai Littlejohn (both former Roots players), and Gerardo Burgos added the other goals. In the second round of qualifying, Inter SF had no trouble in dispatching Real San Jose of the National Soccer League 4-0. Dylan Autran scored twice and assisted on Gamal Compaore’s goal for a 3-0 halftime lead. Matt Fondy added the fourth off of a corner kick.
Davis Legacy opened their 2023 qualifying run with a 4-3 win over UC Davis Club Soccer. Junior Kazeem and JJ Rigo scored two goals apiece. In the second round, David Legacty had another close contest in their 2-1 win over Elk Grove Blues of the UPSL. The game remained scoreless until the 81st minute when Elk Grove took the lead, leading to Davis scoring twice in the following seven minutes. James Togbah leveled the score in the 84th minute, and Lesia Simon Thetsane put Davis up for good in the 88th.
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Beaman United FC (UPSL) at Kalonji Pro-Profile (UPSL)
Shiloh Generals Stadium; Snellville, GA
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
LIVE STREAM: TBA
Beaman United FC | Nashville, TN
UPSL KY-TN Division
2022 Spring Season: 8-1-1, 25 pts., 53 GF 8 GA, 1st place
2022 Fall Season: 7-1-2, 23 pts., 41 GF 15 GA, 2nd place
Kalonji Pro-Profile | Dacula, GA
UPSL Georgia Division
2022 Spring Season: 7-3-1, 22 pts., 41 GF 16 GA, 3rd place
Beaman went on to reach the UPSL National Semifinals, defeating the Dodge City Toros 2-1, then lost to Orange County FC 3-1 in the UPSL Championship game. Beaman also appeared to reach the 2022 National Amateur Cup Semifinals after defeating ASC New Stars 3-0 to win the Region III tournament but were later disqualified due to ineligible players.
Kalonji Pro-Profile is the top team of the Kalonji Soccer Academy, and fields U-23 and U-17 teams in the UPSL as well.
After a first round bye. Beaman United opened it’s 2023 Open Cup qualifying run with a 3-1 won over the UPSL’s Bowling Green FC. Alphonso Gooden scored first for Beaman in the 22nd minute. Eight minutes later former NYCFC midfielder Kwadwo Poku doubled the lead. After seeing their lead cut in half just after halftime, Beaman regained their two goal advantage through a tap in goal from Hayden Black.
Beaman captain Kwadwo Poku has an interesting US Open Cup resume from his earlier playing days. In addition to his nine career tournament goals, he is one of two players to score a goal in three consecutive tournaments for three different teams at three different levels. Poku scored for the Georgia Revolution (NPSL) in 2013, Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL, Div. 2 pro) in 2014 and then for New York City FC (MLS, Div. 1) in 2015.
Kalonji also had a first round bye, and recorded a 5-1 victory in the qualifying opener over FC Birmingham of the UPSL. Kalonji jumped out to a quick lead after a 5th minute goal from USL Championship veteran Junior Sandoval. Frantz Rooby Dalusma doubles Kalonji’s lead 12 minutes later, and in an “only in the U.S. Open Cup” moment, the game was stopped for ten minutes while players searched the woods surrounding the field to find one of the game balls. In the second half Dalusma netted his second goal with Anthony Sumo Jr. and Kofi Twumasi finished the scoring, Full Game Video
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Naples City FC (UPSL) at Miami Soccer Academy (National Soccer League / USSSA)
Monsignor Edward Pace High School; Miami Gardens, FL
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
LIVE STREAM: TBA
Naples City FC | Naples, FL
UPSL Florida West Division
2022 Spring Season: 4-4-2, 14 pts., 9 GF 11 GA
2022 Fall Season: 5-3-2, 17 pts., 15 GF 13 GA (ONGOING)
Miami Soccer Academy | Miami Beach, FL
National Soccer League Florida Elite Division
2022 Spring Season: 1st place, regular season champions
2022 Fall Season: 5-2-1, 16 ps. 18 GF 9 GA (ONGOING)
Naples City’s will be looking for a bit of revenge, and their first attempt at Open Cup qualifying ended abruptly in 2022, losing their opening game 2-1 to Miami Soccer Academy. Naples City FC struggled in the UPSL Florida West Division in the 2022 Spring season, finishing 4-4-2 and a sixth-place finish.
After a first round bye Naples City defeated Naples United FC of the NSL 4-0 in a game stopped in the 65th minute due to severe weather. Raidel Ramos, Alejandro Martinez and Mateo Rolon scored first half goals, and Martinez added another in thew second half before heavy rain stopped the match. Full Match Video
Miami Soccer Academy are making their second run at Open Cup qualifying, with their debut last year ending in a 3-1 defeat to Open Cup qualifiers Orlando FC Wolves in the Third Round. MSA had a very successful Spring season in the NSL Florida Elite Division, finishing first and then winning the Elite Division playoffs.
MSA defeated the UPSL’s O’Shea’s FC 2-1 in the opening round of qualifying. In the second round MSA needed extra time for a 3-1 win over Juventus Academy of the UPSL. After dropping in a 1-0 hold just before halftime, MSA responded just after the break on a Jeff Mesidor goal. Neither team could find the net the rest of the way, but just three minutes into extra time Kemar Jordan have MSA the lead. In the 110th minute Jhojan Leyton padded MSA’s lead for the eventual final score.
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City Soccer FC (National Soccer League / USSSA) at Miami United FC (National Soccer League / USSSA)
Ted Hendricks Stadium; Hialeah, FL
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
LIVE STREAM: TBA
City Soccer FC | West Palm Beach, FL
National Soccer League Florida Division Premier Division
2022 Spring Season: 2nd place, won Elite Division playoffs
2022 Fall Season: 5-4-0, 15 pts., 22 GF 11 GA (ONGOING)
Miami United FC | Miami Beach, FL
National Soccer League Florida Division Elite Division
2022 Spring Season: 7th place
2022 Fall Season: 1-3-2, 5 pts., 9 GF 12 GA (ONGOING)
Miami United U-23 have entered Open Cup qualifying twice in the past. Their first foray in qualifying came in 2018 with a one and done entry. In 2020 qualifying Miami United qualified with a 4-0 win over Hurricane FC, but the Open Cup was ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Miami United ‘s NPSL club have qualified for the Open Cup four times (2015, 2017, 2018 & 2022), with their deepest run coming in 2018 when they reached the Fourth Round.
Miami United won their opening round qualifying game 3-1 over NSL rivals Florida Brothers, Miami United then whitewashed the UPSL’s International Soccer Association 5-0 in the second round.
After Manuel Conte opened the scoring for Miami United, a pair of players with overseas professional experience added to the first half score line. Andrea Pastore (formerly of Serie B & Serie C in Italy) scored the team’s second goal in the 31st minute and Robertino Insúa (Club Atlético San Lorenzo, Argentina) followed to make it 3-0 in the 38th minute. Miguel Benito and Shamar Shelton finished the scoring in the second half.
City Soccer FC are making their second qualifying appearance after a successful 2022 run. In last year’s qualifying City Soccer racked up 14 goals scored against 4 allowed, topped off by a 4-0 win over Florida Soccer Soldiers to qualify. In the tournament proper City Soccer lost 3-1 to the NPSL’s Miami United FC in a wild game in which all four goals were scored in the final 15 minutes. City Soccer again encountered Florida Soccer Soldiers in the opening round of 2023 qualifying and came away with a 3-2 victory. FSS sent the game into extra time in the 90th minute, and City Soccer won the game in the final minute of extra time.
In the second round City Soccer encountered another NSL club, Hurricane FC, and came away with a 2-0 win. City Soccer jumped in from just second before the halftime whistle, and then doubled their lead a few minutes after the restart.
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BattleBorn FC (NISA Nation / USASA) at Legend Football Gold (Federal Way Men’s Open Sunday / USASA)
Saghalie Park; Federal Way, WA
Kickoff: 8 p.m.
LIVE STREAM: TBA
BattleBorn FC | Minden, NV
NISA Nation Pacific Region
2022 Spring Season: 5-0-1, 16 pts., 32 GF 5 GA, 1st place
Legend Football Gold | Lake Forest Park, WA
Federal Way Men’s Open Sunday
2022 Spring Season: 5-1-4, 19 pts.., 1st place
Legend Football Gold are the champions of the four team Federal Way Men’s Open Sunday league and are making their Open Cup qualifying debut. The league and all the teams are sponsored by www.legendsportsvideo.com. The league is also known as the Kajumulo City League after Alex Kajumulo, a long-time fixture of local soccer in the Seattle area originally from Tanzania, who supplies the league with kits through Kajumulo World Sports.
After a first round bye, Legends opened their qualifying run with a 1-0 win over Bellevue Athletic FC of the UPSL. Karsimi Konneh scored the lone goal of the game in the 19th minute.
BattleBorn FC are making their second attempt at Open Cup qualifying, having reached the Third Round last where they lost to Metro FC 1-0. BattleBorn finished first in the NISA Nation Pacific Region at 5-0-1. BattleBorn began their 2023 qualifying run with a 4-2 win over Medesto City Football Club of the Southwest Premier League. Junior Mahi gave BattleBorn a 1-0 lead just 30- seconds into the game, and Joaquin Garcia Broggi netted two more in the opening half, with Jonathan Cuavas helping on all three goals. Broggi finished his hat trick in the second half. Modesto began a modest comeback but could only cut the score to 4-2.
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Capo FC (NISA Nation / USASA) at Desert FC (UPSL)
Hovely Park (Field 3); Palm Desert, CA
Kickoff: 9:30 p.m.
LIVE STREAM: TBA
Capo FC | San Juan Capistrano, CA
NISA Nation Southwest Region
2022 Spring Season: 8-1-1, 25 pts., 32 GF 12 GA, 1st place
Desert FC | La Quinta, CA
UPSL Socal East Division 1
2022 Spring Season: 4-6-1, 12 pts., 25 GF 25 GA
2022 Fall Season: 4-2-2, 14 pts., 16 GF 13 GA (ONGOING)
Desert FC make their Open Cup qualifying debut this year, receiving a bye in the opening round. The club had been established in the UPSL Women’s league in Spring 2021, with the Men’s team being established for the 2022 Spring season in the Socal East Division, UPSL Division 1.
As part of the Southwest Premier League Capo FC got to the final round of 2022 Open Cup qualifying, where they lost to San Fernando Valley FC 2-1. Capo finished first in the NISA Nation Southwest Region with an 8-1-1 record.
Capo won their opening 2023 qualifying game via forfeit when their opponents, OC Kings FC of the UPSL, did not have enough eligible players to play. In the second round, Capo had to wait an extra 72 hours to top the UPSL’s Laguna United FC 4-1, as lightning forced the match scheduled for Sunday Oct. 15 to be pushed to Oct. 19. Capo jumped on top quickly through a Daniel Segal goal in the 4th minute, soon followed by Fatmir Becovic’s tally. Hevany Mota scored just before and after halftime, and Capo held the four goal advantage until Laguna pulled one back late in the game.
Desert FC opened with a resounding 6-1 win over LA Monsters of the Southwest Premier League. Erick Guzman and Jovanni Molina each racked up hat tricks in the victory.