2023 US Open Cup Round 1: Who should be voted TheCup.us Player of the Round?

28 amateur teams began their 2023 US Open Cup journey across three days of thrilling soccer action. There were competitive games, with half of the them (7) decided by a single goal, and two more that went to penalty kicks. Of the 14 amateur sides advancing, six of them were from the NPSL, four from USL League Two, and one each from the UPSL, EPSL, Midwest Premier League, and NISA Nation, respectively.

The 108th edition of the US Open Cup Second Round takes place on April 4-6.

Since 2006, TheCup.us has set out to honor the best individual performance of each round.

The Player of the Round award is voted on by TheCup.us staff and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters but if YOU had a vote, which player do you think should win?

Here are the finalists (in alphabetical order):

Pedro Batista Alves

Cleveland SC (NPSL)

In a 1-0 victory over Lionsbirdge FC (USL-2), Cleveland SC goalie Predo Batista Alves made eight saves and preserved the victory, playing down a player for 17 minutes.

Joseph Devivo

Lansdowne Yonkers (EPSL)

Devivio scored both of Lansdowne’s goals in a 30-minute span, winning 2-1 on the road over NPSL side Hartford City FC.

Camden Holbrook

Appalachian FC (NPSL)

Holbrook put Appalachian FC on the board in the first minute of action before adding a second goal 30 minutes later in a 2-2 draw, advancing 3-0 in penalty kicks at home vs. NC Fusion Under-23s.

Bibi Karamoko

Manhattan SC (USL-2)

In a game that almost didn’t happen over a dispute over field dimensions, Karamoko proved to be the difference maker as Manhattan SC secured a 2-1 extra time home win vs. FC Motown. He scored in the 55th minute before assisting on the game-winning goal in extra time.

Jhon Quinones

El Farolito (NPSL)

In an efficient 49 minutes of action, he scored the team’s second goal and assisted on the final goal in El Farolito’s 3-0 home win over Inter San Francisco.

Hevany Ramos-Mota

Capo FC (NISA Nation)

Ramos assisted on Capo FC’s equalizer in the first half and scored the team’s second and final goal in a 4-1 road win vs. Ventura County Fusion.

Gabriel Rodriguez

Des Moines Menace (USL-2)

Rodriguez scored Des Moines Menace’s first two goals in a 3-0 road win vs. Beaman United FC (UPSL).

Nicklaus Rulle

Jacksonville Armada U-23s (NPSL)

After 120 minutes of action allowing just one goal, Rulle scored the game-winning penalty kick and made eight saves on the night in a 1-1 (9-8 PKs) result against Miami United (NSL).

Rafa Santos

Nona FC (USL-2)

Playing the final 26 minutes with 10 men, the Nona FC keeper made five saves in a 1-0 road win vs. Club de Lyon B (NISA Nation).