The first night of the Fourth Round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup was one of the more tightly-contested evenings this tournament has had. Seven of the eight games were decided by one goal or less, with two of them going to penalty kicks.
The defending champion was one-and-done for just the third time in the Modern Era (1995-present), the Pittsburgh Riverhounds upset a MLS team for the first time in more than two decades and Monterey Bay FC took the lead over LAFC in extra time only to lose it and fall in PKs.
On Wednesday, it was home teams that shined. Six of the eight games were won by the home team (five of them by shutout). All but one of the teams that advanced were from Major League Soccer. The only lower division team to advance on Wednesday was the Birmingham Legion FC, who defeated fellow USL Championship side Memphis 901 FC.
The draw for the Round of 16 will take place on Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m. ET on Bleacher Report’s app and the B/R Football YouTube channel. That draw will reveal a bracket that will remain in place for the remainder of the competition.
Below, you will find a brief summary of every Round 4 game. Links to the full match reports will be added as the articles are published.
TUESDAY, MAY 9
Charlotte FC (MLS)
1:0
Orlando City SC (MLS)
By Colton Coreschi
It took 70 minutes, but Charlotte FC eventually found the breakthrough and sent the defending champs home, defeating Orlando City SC 1-0 at the Sportsplex at Matthews. The lone goal was delivered by midfielder Kamil Józwiak midway through the second half with Orlando unable to find an equalizer before the final whistle.
After a slow first half that saw two yellow cards as the primary action, things picked up in the second half as Charlotte substituted on a few powerhouse players, including Józwiak and fellow Polish designated player Karol Swiderski around the hour mark. Within ten minutes of entering the match, the two countrymen linked up as Józwiak finished off a stumbling run through Orlando’s back line to secure the lone goal of the evening.
While Orlando fought back valiantly, firing off 11 total shots, Charlotte’s defense was stout. The Lions were unable to put a single one of their double-digit shots on-target, with their Queen City hosts blocking five and keeping the evening simple for goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina.
With the win, Charlotte makes their second Round of 16 in two attempts and will attempt to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time after last year’s loss to the New York Red Bulls. For Orlando, the loss marks the end of their title defense after being crowned champions for the first time in 2022 and returns their focus to fighting among the final playoff spots in MLS’ Eastern Conference.
Inter Miami CF (MLS)
1:0
Charleston Battery (USL-C)
By Andrew Mosier
Inter Miami advanced to the round of 16, defeating the Charleston Battery 1-0 at DRV PNK Stadium. The lone goal came off the face of Charleston defender Juan Palma just after the start of the second half.
The Battery were forced to adjust their game plan before the ten-minute mark when Nicholas Markanich was replaced with what appeared to be an ankle injury. Markanich has four goals in all competitions.
Miami’s first and best chance came in the 18th minute when Harvey Neville got in behind the Battery back line but hit his shot straight at Battery goalkeeper Trey Muse.
Miami got on the scoreboard three minutes after the start of the second half when Kamal Miller found Neville on the right flank. Neville’s cross was cleared desperately away from a poaching Josef Martínez at the far post by the Battery’s Derek Dodson off the face of Palma. It was the kind of goal Martínez would have historically scored were it not for the interference of Dodson.
The Battery nearly pulled level in the 71st minute when Augustine Williams sublimely controlled the ball in the penalty area and got a shot off, smacking it off the near post back into play.
With the win, Miami advance to the Round of 16 for the second consecutive year. In 2022, Miami’s first Open Cup appearance, Miami lost in penalty kicks (4-2) at Orlando City after playing to a 1-1 draw in regulation.
New England Revolution (MLS)
0:1
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL-C)
By Ray Curren
Danny Griffin’s toepoke goal in the 44th minute off an incisive through ball from Marc Ybarra held up as Pittsburgh stunned New England 1-0 Tuesday night at Gillette Stadium in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup, eliminating the 2007 champs and giving the Riverhounds only their second ever win over an MLS side in the competition, some 22 years after their first over Colorado.
The Riverhounds controlled much of the play in the first half and had the only three shots on goal in the match. After the Revs, who have lost just once in 11 MLS regular season matches in 2023, could get little going after the intermission, Bruce Arena called on his big guns in the 63rd minute, making a quadruple substitution, including star Carles Gil. But although New England put some pressure on in the final minutes, the Revs recorded just one shot on goal, a relatively tame effort from Giacomo Vrioni in the 73rd minute.
Griffin, who grew up in Revs country (Wethersfield, Conn.), was just re-signed last week by Pittsburgh from Huntsville City FC. The Riverhounds, who have won just twice in nine USL Championship outings this season, went on the quarterfinals of the Open Cup in 2001 before losing in extra time to Chicago, their deepest Cup run to date.
The match marked Jozy Altidore’s first USOC match since his professional debut for Red Bull New York on August 23, 2006, a quarterfinal loss to DC United (he also played for Arena in that match). Altidore went 90 minutes and had a few chances, but never got a shot on goal.
New York Red Bulls (MLS)
1:0
D.C. United (MLS)
By Michael Battista
The New York Red Bulls beat DC United, 1-0, at MSU Soccer Park to reach the Round of 16. Omir Fernández scored the game’s lone goal.
For New York the match is hopefully a jolt in the right direction. After only winning one match in eleven games this season, the Major League Soccer side mutually parted ways with three year head coach Gerhard Struber. New head coach Troy Lesesne, best known for his run to the 2019 Open Cup Quarterfinals with New Mexico United, won his Red Bulls debut.
Despite being without eight players, New York dominated the game. DC United was held to only five shots (0 on target) behind an excellent defensive front. Despite not being challenged, keeper Ryan Meara earned the clean sheet (his team leading seventh in USOC play).
Chicago Fire FC (MLS)
2:1
St. Louis CITY SC (MLS)
By Jordan Beech
For the first time since 2018, Chicago Fire FC are headed to the quarterfinals of the US Open Cup. The Fire, in interim manager Frank Klopas’ first match in charge, dispatched St. Louis CITY SC, 2-1, at SeatGeek Stadium on Tuesday night.
Maren Haile-Salassie opened the scoring for Chicago in just the third minute of play after getting on the end of a long headed pass from Mauricio Pineda. The Fire then doubled their advantage through second-half sub Fabian Herbers match-winner in the 75th minute off an assist from Brian Gutierrez. St. Louis clawed one back in the third minute of second-half stoppage time thanks to a header by Miguel Perez from Eduard Lowen’s service from a corner kick.
The win marks just the first time in 10 years that the Fire have won their opening two rounds of the Open Cup in regulation. The club moves the Fire to a sterling 28-1-3 all-time in home Cup matches thanks to Tuesday night’s triumph.
Minnesota United FC (MLS)
3:3
Philadelphia Union (MLS)
Minnesota advances, 7-6 in penalty kicks
By Tyler Crane
If you were looking for Open Cup drama Tuesday night, Minnesota United and Philadelphia Union came to deliver. After three goals from each side over the course of regulation and extra time it would ultimately be Minnesota United who came out on top after penalty kicks to advance to the Round of 16.
The entirety of the first 45 minutes of play saw both sides struggling to establish control with a momentum shift back and forth regularly. The Loons and the Union found opportunities more often than not, but failed to deliver any true danger until the second half.
Things began to heat up after the 63rd minute when Minnesota subbed on Bongokuhle Hlongwane. Just 5 minutes later D.J Taylor, working in from the left side of the attack, sent the ball into the box, finding Hlongwane who delivered a solid header into the back of the net. Hlongwane wasn’t finished yet as he found himself working through several Union defenders in the box before laying a pass off to Joseph Rosales at the top of the box. Rosales didn’t hesitate to take his shot and put Minnesota up 2-0 on the visitors.
Minnesota’s lead wouldn’t hold for long, though. In the 78th minute a failed clearance by the Loon’s would find its way to Chris Donovan who quickly broke through the defense to close the scoring gap with a goal. A reinvigorated Philadelphia side began to put the pressure on and was rewarded in the last few seconds of stoppage time with a Kai Wagner equalizer, sending the game into extra time.
Minnesota found themselves back in the lead after a Rosales goal, seeming to close out the match. Though, fate would see Philadelphia earn a free kick just outside of the box leading to another late equalizer by Wagner just before time expired. The outcome of the game was finally decided by penalty kicks with the Loons ultimately prevailing, 7-6.
Monterey Bay FC (USL-C)
2:2
Los Angeles FC (MLS)
LAFC advances, 5-4 on penalty kicks
By Josh Taylor
It was a packed house at Cardinale Stadium but LAFC had to go penalty kicks to put away Monterey Bay FC and avoid a cupset.
Christian Torres scored the first goal of the match in the 25th minute to put LAFC ahead. LAFC was in control but late into the 90th minute Simon Dawkins scored from outside the box with a nice assist from Christian Volesky to get the equalizer and send this match into extra time.
In the first half of extra time, Jesse Maldonado put Monterrey Bay in front to take a 2-1 lead in the 95th minute. However in the 105th minute, Matheus Maia buried his shot to get the equalizer to tie the match 2-2 just before the end of the first half of extra time for LAFC. We had no goals in the second half of extra time so the match went to penalty kicks.
Both teams made their penalty kicks in the first two rounds. Monterey Bay’s Sean Okoli shot was saved by LAFC goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic in Round 4. Jakupovic would score in the next round of PKs with a top left corner shot to put LAFC in front 4-3. Chase Andrew Boone would score for Monterey Bay to tie it at 4-4 and we go to sudden death after five rounds. LAFC’s Diego Rosales would convert his penalty kick for LAFC but Monterey Bay’s Mobi Fehr shot was saved and LAFC won 5-4 on penalties and advanced to the Round of 16.
Sacramento Republic FC (USL-C)
2:4
Colorado Rapids (MLS)
By Tyler Pilgrim
USL Championship-side Sacramento Republic played host to the Colorado Rapids Tuesday night as last year’s runner-up looked to keep their recent unbeaten streak alive. It would be the visitors, however, that would get off on the front foot in the fourth minute off a Jonathan Lewis goal. A sloppy bit of defending, which could partially be blamed on the slippery pitch, allowed Lewis an early, wide-open chance from the middle of the box that he easily buried. Sacramento did well to create opportunities from that point, but Colorado struck again in the 15th minute off a corner by Alex Gersbach that Michael Edwards expertly headed on goal.
The game entered a back-and-forth state for most of the first half until the home side found their opener in the 42nd minute from a Sebastian Herrera header delivered by Keko. It would then be Herrera that found the equalizer early in the second half to draw the game even at 2-2, with Jack Gurr laying another beautiful ball into the box for him to pounce on. Colorado would immediately respond three minutes later with a Michael Barrios screamer off the bar which was then tapped in by second-half sub Sam Nicholson.
Sam Wiedt of Sacramento Republic would then receive two yellows within 90 seconds to leave the team with 10 men on the pitch and 30 minutes to go. They continued to stay on the front foot, though, until a well-worked Colorado counter saw Brian Galvin deliver a long cross to Michael Barrios, who headed it home to make it 4-2. The Republic fought hard for the final few moments but they couldn’t overcome the deficit, allowing Colorado into the Round of 16 to break their “Curse of the Rhinos”. It was the first time that the Rapids had won multiple games in a US Open Cup tournament since they lost the 1999 US Open Cup Final to the Rochester Raging Rhinos. It also snapped a seven-game road losing streak.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10
FC Cincinnati (MLS)
1:0
New York City FC (MLS)
By Craig Tower
It was a historic night for FC Cincinnati as they won for the first time in any competition against NYCFC and advanced for the first time (as an MLS franchise) to the Round of 16 of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. While neither team dominated play in the midfield, FC Cincinnati had the better of the chances with five shots on goal. NYCFC recorded their only shot on goal and that occurred in the 79th minute.
The only goal came off a corner kick in the 58th minute, Cincinnati’s Brandon Vazquez lost his marker and tipped the ball to the far post past NYCFC keeper Matt Freese. NYFC’s best chance came over 20 minutes later when James Sands pounded a point-blank header into the arms of FCC’s Alec Cann.
Loudoun United (USL-C)
1:5
Columbus Crew (MLS)
By Abram Heredia
After having succeeded in a convincing 5-0 victory against Flower City Union in the previous round, Loudoun got a taste of their own medicine as they were pelted 5-1 at home by the Columbus Crew. The tall task of facing the first MLS side in their history proved too difficult even in front of their home fans at Segra Field. That task was made even more difficult when Loudoun was forced to play with 10 men for nearly 80 minutes. Columbus however, will be happily traveling back home after successfully moving on to the next round as well as giving valuable minutes to some of their youngsters.
It became clear early on that this would be a difficult game for Loudoun United when they conceded in the sixth minute to Yaw Yeboah and it only became increasingly more difficult as play went on. Following a straight red card to Gaoussou Samake in the 10th minute, the Crew were able to score another four before the end of the half, averaging a goal every 7.2 minutes. Though Columbus would fail to score for the remainder of the match they did enjoy 68% of possession and continued to pepper their opposition with shots. The only consolation Loudoun will be able to take from this match is their first goal against a MLS team which came via a penalty in the 86th minute which Khalil ElMedkhar tucked away to ruin the clean sheet.
Birmingham Legion FC (USL-C)
3:0
Memphis 901 FC (USL-C)
By Chuck Carlson
Birmingham Legion FC became the first Alabama team in the history of the tournament to reach the Round of 16 of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup as they sent fellow USL Championship side Memphis 901 FC packing with a comfortable 3-0 home win at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
In the first ten minutes, Memphis, who had been the more in-form team, were on the front foot, and dominated the Legion. But in the 19th minute, Birmingham was awarded a free kick. Tyler Pasher, who had been the engine driving Birmingham’s resurgence, passed a short corner to Enzo Martinez. Martinez whipped in a low cross, which Open Cup veteran Juan Agudelo met with his right foot, and he smashed the ball off both posts before it crossed the line and ended up in the net.
Nineteen minutes later, it was again Pasher, as he drove through the Memphis defensive line, and hit a 25-yard left footed drive. Memphis keeper Bill Hamid could only parry the shot on to the right foot of an on-rushing Enzo Martinez, who deftly cut to his left, took another dribble, and beat Hamid low at the inside post. This second goal clearly took the heart out of Memphis, and they were lucky to get into half only down by 2.
The second half started where the first half ended, with Birmingham firmly in control of the game. In the 64th minute, Legion put the game to bed. Birmingham forward, Prosper Kasim slipped as he attempted to control the ball at the top of the box, but it fell to an overlapping Tyler Pasher, who took the ball on his left, cut to the right, and curled the ball around Hamid and inside the post to put Legion up 3-0. The home side would maintain that scoreline until the final whistle.
Houston Dynamo (MLS)
1:0
Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
By Rich Flemings
Despite playing down a man for almost an hour, Houston Dynamo rode a 12th-minute goal from Thor Úlfarsson to victory over Sporting Kansas City. The visitors, and four-time US Open Cup champions, finished the match with 17 total shots, compared to Houston’s two, but were unable to capitalize on the advantage served in the first half. For the third straight appearance in the US Open Cup, Houston Dynamo has advanced to the Round of 16.
Sporting Kansas City looked to threaten early in the match and almost took an early lead. In the 2nd minute, Gadi Kinda received a pass from Stephen Afrifa and couldn’t finish the opportunity, sending the shot wide of the goal. Minutes later, when Sporting Kansas City was on the attack, Afrifa had an opportunity that was sent over the crossbar. With spells of open play following these chances, the visitors wouldn’t see a quality chance until the 20th minute, when Chris Rindov couldn’t direct a cross from Kinda on frame. Try as they might, Sporting Kansas City couldn’t tip the scales any further in their favor and left Shell Energy Stadium empty handed.
Houston took the early lead when Thor Úlfarsson jumped on a loose ball, directed the ball back to the middle, and set himself up for a beautiful left-footed shot to the bottom right corner. Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper John Pulskamp was able to get horizontal, but couldn’t react quickly enough to parry the ball away from goal. The goal was Úlfarsson’s first of the season across all competitions. With the victory, Houston looks to break their current streak of exiting the tournament in the Round of 16. The last time Houston was able to advance to the Quarterfinals was in 2018, when the Dynamo won the Cup. This was the sixth meeting between the two sides in the last seven tournaments, which is one of the most common matchups in the Modern Era. With the win, Houston evens the series at 3-3.
Nashville SC (MLS)
2:0
FC Dallas (MLS)
By Jordan Beech
For the second time in as many seasons, Nashville SC has punched their ticket to the US Open Cup Quarterfinals. Playing host to FC Dallas, Nashville secured a 2-0 triumph.
Though the offense was lacking in the first half, the second provided plenty of action. Fafa Picault drew first blood in the 63rd minute, firing home a low effort off Taylor Washington’s service. Alex Muyl doubled the advantage in the 76th minute off an assist from Brian Anunga. Though they were outshot by Dallas, 7-4, the Nashville defense only allowed one shot on goal.
With the win, Nashville maintains an unbeaten home record of 7-0-1 at home in the Open Cup in club history.
Austin FC (MLS)
2:0
New Mexico United (USL-C)
By Seth Biddulph
Any hope that New Mexico United to become giant killers once again in the US Open Cup were quickly extinguished by Austin FC. The MLS team thoroughly dominated the USL Championship side 2-0 in front of their home fans in Austin.
United lacked any sort consistency in their play throughout the first half and multiple giveaways in their own half opened up chances for Austin to jump ahead early. In the 24th minute, the first corner of the night for either side was for the hosts and Emiliano Rigoni sent the ball into the area where Rodney Redes was able to flick the ball into the side netting for the 1-0 lead. Twelve minutes later, Max Urruti doubled the lead. Taking a cross from Adam Lundkvist on his right foot, Urruti slotted home to the center of the net extending the lead to 2-0.
With the win Austin FC advances to the Round of 16 for the first time in the club’s brief history
LA Galaxy (MLS)
3:1
Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
By Jim Coppock
At Dignity Health Sport Park, the LA Galaxy hosted league rivals Seattle Sounders in the round of 32. The crowd of 8,412 saw the home side beat the four-time Open Cup champions, 3-1.
The game kicked-off with LA in the driver’s seat. LA’s Julian Aude found a rebound from a corner kick in the 3rd minute, blasting a rocket to the upper left corner to open the scoring. At the 2:10 mark, it was the fastest US Open Cup goal in team history. LA’s Lucas Calegari nearly doubled the lead in the 29th with a 35-yard blast that went just wide. Fredy Montero and Dylan Teves had great looks for Seattle. Montero’s effort required a save, via Lucas Calegari’s knee, off the goal line only minutes after LA took the lead. Despite the slow start, Seattle seemed to have the more dangerous chances through the first half, though none were converted.
The second half started at a much faster pace for both sides. After trading dangerous chances for 15 minutes, Memo Rodriguez extended the lead in the 66th for the Galaxy, just two minutes after entering the game and with his first touch of the ball. Seattle’s Paul Rothrock quickly pulled a goal back on a diving header from an Ethan Dobbelaere cross in the 68th minute. The two goals were just 96 seconds apart. The final nail in the coffin, however, was Memo’s second goal of the night (the sixth of his career) in the 84th minute. With the victory (their 36th all-time), the Galaxy has qualified for the Round of 16.
Portland Timbers (MLS)
3:4
Real Salt Lake (MLS)
By Jeremiah Braeback
Real Salt Lake punched their ticket to the 2023 US Open Cup Round of 16, defeating the Portland Timbers 4-3 in a goal fest at Providence Park on Wednesday.
The Timbers struck quickly, as Sebastian Blanco quickly capitalized on some early pressure, nutmegging Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Gavin Beavers to put the Timbers up 1-0 in the 4th minute.
The sides would trade chances over the next 25 minutes, including a penalty call in the 25th minute for the Timbers, which would be overruled following a meeting between referee Victor Rivas and the nearside assistant referee. Not five minutes later, Real leveled the match, as Daniel Musovski took advantage of a failed Timbers clearance to level the match at 1-1. RSL would take the lead 11 minutes later as Andres Gomez hit an incredible goal from outside the box to the top corner, giving them the 2-1 lead heading into halftime.
Following the break, the Timbers came out firing, scoring twice in seven minutes to take the lead 3-2, as Justin Rasmussen hit a rocket from the top of the box in the 49th minute, followed by second half substitute Jarozlaw Niezgoda hitting the back of the net in the 52nd. The lead was short-lived, as Mikael Chang quickly responded to level the match in the 55th minute and take the lead in the 59th minute as he caught the Timbers’ defense napping.
