After a first round that saw the final game go all the way to 10 rounds of penalty kicks, we’re finally ready to get started with all of the lower division professional teams joining the competition. Even though one match was deemed a forfeit after Rochester NY FC folded before the season started, there are still have 29 matches over the next week to get through to decide who will join 18 lower seeded MLS sides in the Third Round, 10 of which will be played today. Four professional sides will make their US Open Cup debut today in the 10 matches to be played on April 4.
Below you will find the 10 games being played today with links to each broadcast, if available.
TUESDAY, APRIL 4
Lansdowne Yonkers FC (USASA/EPSL) at Hartford Athletic (USL-C)
Trinity Health Stadium – Hartford, CT
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: YouTube
By Jake Sillick @sportzfrk
Hartford Athletic host storied amateur side Lansdowne Yonkers tonight in a match that Hartford hopes is their first win of the 2023 season. Lansdowne will hope to continue their cup run for their first appearance in the Third Round since 2016.
Hartford is making just their third Open Cup appearance and has gone 1-1-0 in both tournament runs in 2019 and 2022. In the 2019 edition, Hartford would defeat New York Cosmos B in the Second Round by a score of 2-1 before falling in the Third Round to fellow USL Championship side Memphis 901, 4-0. The 2022 tournament started with a 3-1 victory over Oyster Bay United before losing to New York Red Bulls 2-1 in the Third Round.
This season has not started well for Hartford with a 0-2-2 record placing them in 10th place currently in the Eastern Conference. This includes a season opening 5-3 loss at Monterey Bay F.C. and a home defeat to Birmingham Legion 0-1.
Lansdowne Yonkers went through 4 grueling rounds of qualifying to get to the tournament proper this year, defeating storied teams like New York Greek American on their road. Their tournament proper started in Hartford as well, where in the first round they defeated Hartford City FC, 2-1.
Lansdowne currently sit in second place in the EPSL Metropolitan Conference with a 11-1-1 record, second to New York Greek American.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Lansdowne Yonkers FC (USASA/EPSL)
4th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 3-3-1 (1-0 PK)
Away: 3-3-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 0-1-0
Best finish: Third Round (2016)
Hartford Athletic (USL-C)
3rd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 2-2-0
Home: 2-1-0
vs. Amateurs: 2-0-0
Best finish: Third Round (2019, 2022)
Jacksonville Armada FC U-23s (NPSL) at Miami FC (USL-C)
FIU Soccer Stadium – Miami, FL
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: YouTube
By Shana Kerby
Miami FC of the USL Championship will open Round 2 of the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup at home against the NPSL’s Jacksonville Armada Under-23s. Both teams look to continue their cross-league rivalry and will compete for a potential matchup with a MLS side in the next round.
The Armada advance to face Miami FC after a dramatic first round win against Miami United. That match saw a red card for the Armada, 120 minutes of open play, 10 rounds of penalty kicks, and a penalty conversion to win the whole thing by the Armada’s starting goalkeeper, Nicklas Rulle. Notably, Nicklas Rulle also went on to be voted TheCup.us Player of the Round, voted on by TheCup.us staff, for his efforts. The Armada will be looking for goals from last year’s top scorer, Eduardo Coimbra, Tuesday night before their regular season opener later this month against Tallahassee SC.
The match against the Armada serves as Miami FC’s debut in the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and a win would see them advance for the third straight tournament. Their league record is currently 0-1-3, leaving them 9th in league standings, but all their matches have had tight margins – their last against Memphis 901 FC was razor thin at a 1-1 final score. American forward Kyle Murphy and midfielder Florian Valot will both be looking to add to their score tallies.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Jacksonville Armada FC U-23s (NPSL)
4th US Open Cup appearance
NOTE: Pro team entered 4 times
Overall: 2-3-1 (1-0 PK)
Away: 1-2-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-2-0
Best finish: Second Round (2012, 2014, 2017)
Miami FC (USL-C)
6th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 7-5-0
Home: 5-5-0
vs. Amateurs: 4-2-0
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2017)
Memphis 901 FC (USL-C) at One Knoxville SC (USL-1)
Regal Soccer Stadium – Knoxville, TN
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: YouTube
By Jordan Beech
Regal Soccer Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, will play host to the action on Tuesday night as Memphis 901 FC takes on One Knoxville SC in Second Round action. Regardless of the outcome, club history will be made.
Memphis will be looking to secure their first-ever road triumph in Open Cup play, as well as first win over a third division side in tournament action. It’s been four years since Memphis has tasted victory in tournament play, but in 2019 they secured wins over New York Red Bulls U-23s and Hartford Athletic to reach the Fourth Round. Last year, Memphis finished second in the Western Conference in the regular season with a 21-8-5 record. They would fall in the Conference Semifinals 1-0 to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. They’ve been off to a tough start to the 2023 season, as they have yet to taste victory in their first three games (0-2-1). In their last outing they finished with a 1-1 draw against Miami FC this past Saturday.
One Knoxville will be making their debut in the Open Cup. After a successful stint in USL League Two during the 2022 season in which they made it all the way to the conference finals after winning the South Central Division. Knoxville made the jump to USL League One for the 2023 season; however, their debut match in their new league was postponed this past weekend.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Memphis 901 FC (USL-C)
3rd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 2-2-0
Away: 0-1-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-1-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2019)
One Knoxville SC (USL-1)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Home: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Gold Star Detroit (NISA) at Detroit City FC (USL-C)
Keyworth Stadium – Hamtramck, MI
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Bleacher Report
By Dan Vaughn (@TheDanVaughn)
When Gold Star Detroit launched late in 2022, their coach Alex Lubyansky talked about making the Open Cup one his club’s big priorities. He went so far as saying it was his goal to win the Cup in the next five years. Of course, there’s a lot on Lybyansky’s plate at the moment.
Entering NISA play over the weekend, Gold Star took a 3-0 loss at Chattanooga FC. The Detroit club’s offense didn’t look entirely inept against CFC, but certainly wasn’t up to the challenge of the best club in the Division 3 league. But Gold Star’s opening match in the USOC isn’t against a D3 opponent.
Detroit City hasn’t got off to the run it hoped this season in the USL Championship, only getting points in a lone win against El Paso Locomotive. Out of the three losses in their 1-3-0 record, all of them were by a single goal. Regardless, DCFC will be up for this USOC opening match at Keyworth against an expansion club in Detroit. Their match could give them some momentum with a loud crowd behind them. They are also hoping to build on last year’s Open Cup run. In their first tournament as a professional team, they played three home games and defeated local rival Michigan Stars FC (NISA) 3-0, and pulled off the club’s greatest victory with a 2-1 win over the Columbus Crew (MLS). Their best cup run would end against fellow USL Championship side Louisville City FC in a penalty kick shootout.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Gold Star Detroit (NISA)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Home: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Detroit City FC (USL-C)
6th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 2-2-5 (2-3 PK)
Home: 2-0-3 (1-2 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 1-0-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Fourth Round (2022)
Manhattan SC (USL-2) at Flower City Union (NISA)
Rochester Community Sports Complex – Rochester, NY
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Eleven Sports
By Dan Vaughn (@TheDanVaughn)
Manhattan SC snuck into the second round of the Cup, thanks to a goal in extra time by William Lulka in a 2-1 win over amateur side FC Motown. The USL League Two side now gets to face a very upgraded Flower City Union (NISA) side. While FCU debut season in NISA was a bit of a disaster, finishing 2-18-3, the 2023 version should be significantly improved. Despite the difficult league season, they did manage to pick up a win in their Open Cup debut on the road with only 10 men. They beat USL League Two side Western Mass Pioneers 1-0 in extra time. They would get their first taste of MLS opposition, falling at home to D.C. United 3-0.
Manhattan won’t begin league play until May, but last year, they qualified for the 2023 US Open Cup for the first time by winning the Metropolitan Division with a 12-2-0 record. Flower City kicked off its regular season NISA schedule this past weekend with a 1-0 loss to Maryland. Even with the added firepower of last year’s NISA golden boot runner-up, Alioune Diakhate (formerly of Indy Eleven and ALBION San Diego), FCU couldn’t put a goal into the net. Not that they didn’t try. In fact, the offense looked smooth at times, with players interchanging and progressing the ball. Will it be enough to win a Second Round match against a well-rested USL-2 side?
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Manhattan SC (USL-2)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Flower City Union (NISA)
2nd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-1-0
Home: 0-1-0
vs. Amateurs: 1-0-0
Best finish: Third Round (2022)
Nona FC (USL-2) at Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL-C)
Al Lang Stadium – St. Petersburg, FL
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: NONE
By James Knowles (@RBLRSports)
The Rowdies come into this Open Cup game off the back of one their worst starts to a season in recent memory. The Green and Gold drew their first two matches of the year 1-1, before dropping their second two by a combined score of 5-0. The team is certainly on a skid and will be looking to turn things around.
Coming into their Open Cup game on Tuesday, the return of Lewis Hilton will bolster the Rowdies. He is a tough competitor who has been the heart of the midfield for the last several years now. Hilton playing against Nona FC is very likely, as he’ll still need to up his game-time fitness.
Tampa Bay needs a win in 2023 and will look to get that against a USL League 2 club two divisions beneath them. Orlando-based Nona FC are likely to have some talent that can create dangerous chances, a former Pittsburgh Riverhound and a former USF Bull in William Eyang and Gabrielle Privitera, respectively, and will try to trouble a back line of professionals. Nona FC kicked off their opening season in USL-2 with a 12-1-1 record and running away with the Southeast Division title. They would suffer an upset in their first playoff game, As the top-seed, they were upset 2-1 by the No. 8 seed West Virginia United.
Nona FC began their inaugural cup run playing against another Orlando-based club as they edged Club de Lyon, 1-0. William Eyang scored the lone goal in the opening minute and they managed to hang on for the win despite playing the final 26 minutes down a man after Jeferson Junior received his second yellow card.
Neil Collins will be hoping his lineup can use this game to improve their sharpness and cut out the silly mistakes that have plagued it so far. With team talisman Leo Fernandes missing the whole season through injury, Cal Jennings and JJ Williams will want to get their names on the scoresheet for the first time this year. Look to the Rowdies fullbacks to be heavily involved, whipping in crosses for them to head home. Also look to the aforementioned Hilton to be spraying passes out wide from where the attacks are likely to be initiated.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Nona FC (USL-2)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Away: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL-C)
11th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 8-10-0
Home: 5-1-0
vs. Amateurs: 5-0-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2013, 2016)
Savannah Clovers FC (NISA) at Charleston Battery (USL-C)
Patriots Point Soccer Stadium – Mount Pleasant, SC
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: NONE
By Forrest Wimberly @soccer_forrest
A new Lowcountry rivalry will be born as NISA expansion Savannah Clovers pay a visit to USL Championship Charleston Battery in the second round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
The contrast between the two sides could not be any greater as it matches the new kids on the block versus one of the most successful lower-division professional franchises in the country with a rich history in the tournament.
The Battery has enjoyed over 20 years of US Open Cup success and have claimed several major “cupsets” in front of huge Palmetto state home crowds since their tournament debut in 1999. Highlights for the Battery include wins over DC United (1999), Metrostars (2001), and San Jose Earthquakes (2013) over this stretch. Recent results, however, have gone against the Battery as the weather has not cooperated with the hosts forcing delays and rescheduled matches versus South Georgia Tormenta (2022) and Atlanta United (2019) where the Battery were bounced from the Cup.
New head coach Ben Pirmann leads the Battery in 2023 and the reigning USL Coach of the Year has built a potent roster of strong returners along with some proven newcomers to entertain the crowds inside Patriots Point stadium. Leading scorer Augustine Williams from 2022 as well as veteran defenders Leland Archer and AJ Patterson anchor the core of returning players while Trey Muse, Chris Allan, Emilio Ycaza, and Nick Markanich will look to add their mark to the 2023 campaign. Teenager Fidel Barajas is another player to watch as the 16-year-old bagged his first professional goal versus Tampa Bay to push the Battery’s record to 2-0-1 after three games played.
The Clovers in their previous amateur seasons in the UPSL never qualified for the US Open Cup before making the jump to the professional ranks this spring in the NISA. Clovers’ Head Coach David Proctor has been busy this spring building a roster of players from around the globe and a couple of players with previous ties to the Battery made the team in Savannah.
Goalkeeper Jack Pondy and forward Joel Bunting were the first two signings for the Clovers and they will make their return to the Patriots Point pitch this time wearing the visitor’s kit. Other notable signings include Ahdan Tait (former Michigan Stars), Alex Ierides (former Jacksonville Armada U-23), and Yakov Pomozov (former Sochi FC, Russia). Adding to this core group will be recently graduated collegiate soccer players from all levels of the US system to build this inaugural Clovers’ roster. The Clovers made their NISA professional debut hosting the Michigan Stars on April 1st looking to put all the individual pieces together. That game would finish in a 1-1 draw.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Savannah Clovers FC (NISA)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Charleston Battery (USL-C)
22nd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 34-18-7 (4-3 PK)
Home: 26-7-5 (2-3 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 5-2-0
Best finish: Runner-Up (2008)
Club de Lyon (NISA) at San Antonio FC (USL-C)
Toyota Stadium – San Antonio, TX
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: YouTube
By Jordan Beech
Two teams setting off on their 2023 Open Cup journey will take the field Tuesday night in San Antonio, Texas. While San Antonio FC are well acquainted with Open Cup play, Club de Lyon of NISA will be making their debut in the storied Cup competition.
Club de Lyon, out of Orlando, Florida, enjoyed an incredibly successful year in 2022, winning the Florida Region championship in the NISA Nation league while also going undefeated in the UPSL. Lyon are still working to get their legs under them this season, with a 1-0 loss to LA Force last Friday marking their first action of the year. The challenge for Club de Lyon is that the club qualified out of the tournament’s Open Division Local qualifying tournament. This cup tied their roster to the CDL’s amateur roster in NISA Nation. Then once the team announced that they were joining NISA, many of the players that would likely have moved up to join the professional roster, were already cup tied to the amateur team. So it will be interesting to see what kind of roster Club de Lyon is able to put together. Their amateur side lost their opening round game to Nona FC, 1-0.
On the other side of the pitch, San Antonio FC will be making their sixth Open Cup appearance. The reigning USL Championship champions have been excellent on their home turf in Cup play, posting a 4-1-1 record. Last season, the club matched their best performance in the tournament, advancing to the Fourth Round for the third time in club history. This run was highlighted by the club’s first-ever win over a MLS team, as they defeated Austin FC 2-1 in extra time.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Club de Lyon (NISA)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
San Antonio FC (USL-C)
6th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 7-4-2 (1-1 PK)
Home: 4-1-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2016, 2018, 2022)
UDA Soccer (UPSL) at New Mexico United (USL-C)
Rio Rancho High School – Rio Rancho, NM
Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: YouTube
By Andrew Mosier
For the first time in Open Cup history, two teams from New Mexico will face off in the tournament proper when New Mexico United (USL Championship) face Open Cup debutants, UDA Soccer at New Mexico State University (USPL) in the second round in Albuquerque.
New Mexico United are 3-2-2 in two appearances in Open Cup play. In 2019, the club’s inaugural year, the club advanced to the Quarterfinals. The first-year club played all five Open Cup matches on the road, beating fellow USL Championship sides Phoenix Rising in penalty kicks, and Colorado Springs Switchbacks 2-1 in extra time, followed by shocking wins over MLS sides Colorado Rapids in penalties, and FC Dallas 2-1 before falling in the quarters at Minnesota United, 6-1. In 2022, United walked past amateurs Las Vegas Legends (NPSL) 5-0 before falling to Phoenix Rising in the Third Round, 2-1.
United are 1-1-0 in the USL Championship league play this year, opening the season with a 1-0 win at Miami FC before falling by the same score at Oakland Roots. Justin Portillo scored the club’s only goal in the early season from the penalty spot in the win over Miami.
UDA Soccer at New Mexico State University (UPSL) are the second team affiliated with a college or university to qualify for the tournament proper in the modern era of the Open Cup (BYU 2006, 2007, 2015), and the only affiliated club to advance to the second round. UDA advanced to round two with a 1-0 over USL League Two side Park City Red Wolves. Jose Puente scored in the 78th minute from the penalty spot to put UDA through.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
UDA Soccer (UPSL)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
New Mexico United (USL-C)
3rd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 3-2-2 (2-0 PK)
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 1-0-0
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2019)
El Farolito (NPSL) at Oakland Roots (USL-C)
CSUEB Pioneer Stadium – Hayward, CA
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Bleacher Report
By Abel Anguiano
“El Faro” is back in the US Open Cup. They have made a couple of appearances in the last six years, but they are most remembered for their championship run in 1993, when they won the Cup under then-name CD Mexico. This week, they face a Bay Area powerhouse in Oakland Roots.
El Farolito advanced from the first round after taking down International San Francisco by a score of 3-0. After going 0-0 for the first 90 minutes, El Faro went into extra time hot, scoring two goals in the first nine minutes. Cesar Benitez sealed the deal in minute 113 to make it three over the SFSFL debutants.
The Roots, on the other hand, will be making their 2023 Cup debut. After uncertainty regarding whether they can play on their home field, they settled for CSU East Bay’s Pioneer Stadium, which is where they played their first “home” game in this season’s USL.
For Bay Area soccer fans, a treat is in store Tuesday and Thursday.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
El Farolito (NPSL)
3rd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 2-1-1 (0-1 PK)
Away: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-1-0
Best finish: 1993 US Open Cup champion (as CD Mexico)
Best finish (Modern Era): Second Round (2022)
Oakland Roots (USL-C)
2nd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-1-0
Home: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-0-0
Best finish: Second Round (2022)