After an entertaining 31 games in addition to one forfeit in the First Round, the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Second Round features 16 matches played across two days, six on Tuesday, April 2 and 10 on Wednesday, April 3.
Move over United States men’s national team; there might be a new Snow Clasico to remember after this week’s US Open Cup action. A Spring snowstorm is forecasted in Vermont, while windy, rainy severe weather is possible across much of the Eastern Seaboard.
The Second Round match winners will advance to face 16 USL Championship Teams who enter in the Third Round.
You can find the schedule for Round 2 here and the goalscoring leaders here. You can find a review of every Round 1 games HERE. The draw for Round 3 will take place once the Second Round is complete.
TheCup.us will have reporters at every Round 2 game and will be providing live updates on X (Twitter), @USOpenCup.
As a reminder all Second Round matches stream for free on US Soccer’s website. We will provide links to the live streams as they become available.
TUESDAY, APRIL 2
Richmond Kickers (USL-1) vs. Maryland Bobcats (NISA)
City Stadium – Richmond, VA
7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO (YouTube)
One of two Open Cup Champions in the First Round, the Kickers make their 19th straight appearance. Aside from their Championship win in 1995, Richmond has one Semifinal appearance (2011) and three trips to the Quarterfinals (2001, 2004, 2007) on their Open Cup resume. Since that Semifinal run in 2011, the Kickers have advanced to a third game just four times and have faced MLS opposition seven times without success.
In the First Round Richmond exorcized the demons from when they lost to Christos in 2017 at City Stadium in Richmond with a 1-0 triumph over the same foes at the same venue. Adrian Billhardt’s goal in first half stoppage time was enough to stop the upstart amateurs from Baltimore. Heading into the second round, the Bobcats will be Richmond’s first Division 3 opponents since 2011, when the Kickers defeated the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on USL Pro 4-1. The Kickers have never lost an Open Cup game to Division 3 opposition, the closest coming in the 1995 Final when they beat the El Paso Patriots on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
The Kickers are looking to bounce back from a very disappointing 2023 season, which saw them finish second to last in the 12-team USL League One. The Kickers are 0-2 early in the League One season, losing to Spokane (2-1) and South Georgia (3-1).
The Maryland Bobcats got their start as an amateur club in the Washington D.C. area as World Class Premier Elite, winning the 2018 Spring Season in both the Washington Premier League and Maryland Major Soccer League. WCPE nearly made it into the 2019 Open Cup, falling in the final round of qualifying to amateur side Virginia United on penalties. The team moved to the UPSL in 2019, and later that year took on the name Maryland Bobcats, and in 2020 made the move to NISA as a professional team.
In the First Round, Maryland won their first Open Cup game in their short history, topping West Chester United 2-0 on the strength of a brace from Darwin Espinal. In league play, Maryland finished with an 11-3-10 record last season. The Bobcats’ season came to an end in the quarterfinals of the NISA championship. The Bobcats have yet to play a league game since the start of the 2024 NISA season has been postponed until April.
Richmond Kickers (USL-1)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
24th US Open Cup appearance (1995, 1997, 2000-2002, 2004-2023)
Overall: 35-21-4 (2-2 PK)
Home: 28-8-1 (0-1)
vs. Div. 3: 8-0-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: 1995 US Open Cup champions
Maryland Bobcats FC (NISA)
How they qualified: Automatic bid
3rd US Open Cup appearance (2022-23)
Overall: 2-2-0
Away: 1-2-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: Third Round (2023)
Charlotte Independence (USL-1) vs. South Carolina United Heat (UPSL)
American Legion Memorial Stadium – Charlotte, NC
7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO (YouTube)
Charlotte has the second longest Open Cup history of all the USL League One teams with seven appearances. The club’s high point was a run to the Fifth Round in 2015, when they upset the New England Revolution 1-0 in the Fourth Round. The Independence fell short of reaching the Quarterfinals, dropping a 3-1 decision to the Chicago Fire. Captain Jorge Herrera was voted Player of the Round by TheCup.us for his performance against New England. Charlotte has outright lost only one Open Cup game in seven played against amateur competition, a 3-1 loss to the Ocean City Nor’easters in the 2018 Second Round. The next year in the same round Charlotte were ousted by Florida Soccer Soldiers on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
Charlotte advanced to the Second Round with a 2-0 win over amateur side Vereinigung Erzgebirge (USL of Pennsylvania). After a scoreless opening half Omar Ciss and Kharlton Belmar each scored a goal and assisted on the other. The win over VE brings Charlotte’s Open Cup record versus amateur clubs to 5-2-1, the lone draw ending in a PK tiebreaker loss.
MORE: As ‘soccer city’ grows, Charlotte Independence begins Year 10 with coach who never left
The South Carolina United Heat are not to be confused with South Carolina United Bantams of USL League Two. After two qualifying attempts in 2022 and 2023 fell frustratingly short at the last step, South Carolina United Heat finally managed to clear the final hurdle and claim an Open Cup berth. In 2022 SCU were forced to forfeit their final qualifying game due to positive COVID-19 tests throughout the team. In 2023, the Heat were minutes away from an Open Cup spot when Club de Lyon converted a penalty kick in second half stoppage time and then won it in extra time. SCU were runners-up for the UPSL 2022 Spring championship. In the past six Spring & Fall UPSL seasons, the Heat have amassed a 51-3-5 record.
SCU Heat had one of the more dramatic upsets of the First Round, defeating Crown Legacy FC of MLS NEXT Pro 1-0. After the Legacy missed a penalty kick in the 88th minute, SCU were awarded a spot kick of their own in stoppage time. Wilterlynd Inalien just beat Legacy GK Chituru Odunze with his shot to the lower right corner.
Charlotte Independence (USL-1)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
7th US Open Cup appearance (2015-19, 2022-23)
Overall: 7-6-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 2-2-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Amateurs: 5-2-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Fifth Round (2015)
South Carolina United Heat (UPSL)
How they qualified: Open Division Local Qualifying tournament (defeated Tennessee Tempo FC 4-2 in final round)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 1-0-0
Best finish: N/A
NYCFC II (MLS NEXT Pro) vs. New York Red Bulls II (MLS NEXT Pro)
Belson Stadium – Queens, NY
7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
The reserve version of the Hudson River Derby finds its way to the Open Cup for the first time. NYCFC II won two of the three games the teams played each other in last season, and the clubs will meet again at Belson Stadium on April 10 in a league game. NYCFC II are 1-1 in the early 2023 season, the win coming via penalties as MLS NEXT Pro uses PK shootouts if a match ends in a draw. New York Red Bulls II are 3-0 in MLSNP play, Roald Mitchell scoring three of the team’s six goals so far.
Both teams had simple paths through the First Round. Red Bulls II “hammered” the Hudson Valley Hammers (USL-2) 5-1. Five different players scored for the baby Bulls as they peppered the amateurs with 29 shots. NYCFC II task wasn’t much harder as they cruised past FC Motown (NPSL) 3-0. Three players shared the scoring duties and NYCFC outshot Motown 34-4.
After years of having loose affiliations with USL clubs, New York City FC finally fielded their own reserve team with the formation of MLS NEXT Pro in 2021. NYCFC II’s first season saw them miss the playoffs by a single point. Forward MD Myers finished 2023 in a three-way tie atop the league’s goalscoring chart with 19 goals, before moving on and signing with the Charleston Battery of the USL Championship.
In 2015 when the Red Bulls II were part of the United Soccer League, MLS affiliated reserve teams were allowed to play in the Open Cup. That year the Red Bulls II lost their only Open Cup game 1-0 to the PDL’s Jersey Express. Unlike this year, the reserve teams did not replace their parent MLS clubs in the tournament in 2015.
Red Bulls II played in the USL Championship from 2015-2022, winning the league title in 2016. Red Bulls II left the USL Championship in 2023 with the remaining MLS reserve teams to play in MLS NEXT Pro.
New York City FC II (MLS Next Pro)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
New York Red Bulls II (MLS Next Pro)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
2nd US Open Cup appearance (2015)
Overall: 1-1-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: Second Round (2015)
Lubbock Matadors (NPSL) vs. FORO SC (UPSL)
LCU Soccer Field – Lubbock, TX
8:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
The lone amateur vs. amateur game in the Second Round features two teams who had dramatic wins over their pro opponents in the First Round. Down to 10 men from the 81st minute onwards, FORO FC managed to take a 1-1 draw to extra time. After going down 2-1, second half sub Kyle Bennett scored in extra time stoppage time to send the game to penalties. Bennett then converted the winning spot kick to send FORO to the second round. As a result, Bennett was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round.
The Matadors also needed extra time heroics against NISA’s Arizona Monsoon in their 2-1 victory. With seven minutes remaining, Salvador Martinez tied the game for Lubbock. Tied 1-1 in extra time, and both teams playing a man down due to red cards, Toufik Najem scored in the 119th minute to send the sellout crowd of 2,258 at Lubbock Christian University’s LCU Field into a frenzy.
On July 15, 2023, 5,842 fans saw the Matadors play Brownsville NPSL at Lubbock’s Cooper Pirate Stadium, ranking among the top ten in single-game attendance figures in NPSL history, and the club averaged around 4,000 for six home games in the 2023 season. Head coach Paul Gilbert was named NPSL Coach of the Year for the 2023 season.
MORE: Matadors Fighting Strong: Meet Lubbock, TX’s International Brigade
FORO SC are making their US Open Cup debut in 2024 after punching their ticket through the Open Division Local qualifying tournament. They defeated a pair of fellow UPSL sides to qualify starting with a 2-0 win over Tenfifteen FC. In Round 2, Athletic Katy FC forfeited and then FORO clinched their first Open Cup berth with a 4-0 home win over Alamo City SC. FORO won the 2021 UPSL Fall season playoffs with a 1-0 win over Chicago Nation FC. In 2023, FORO SC finished second to 2022 Open qualifier D’Feeter Kicks in the UPSL Texas North division. In the Fall season FORO reached the UPSL final four, losing to eventual champion Chiriaco FC, 2-1
Lubbock Matadors SC (NPSL)
How they qualified: Finished 11-0-1 in NPSL Lone Star Conference
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Amateur: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
FORO SC (UPSL)
How they qualified: Open Division Local qualifying (defeated Alamo City Soccer Club 4-0 in final round)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Amateur: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
MNUFC2 (MLS Next Pro) vs. Michigan Stars FC (NISA)
Allianz Field – St. Paul, MN
8:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
The Twosies will be looking to continue the run of Minnesotan lower-division pro sides that includes Minnesota Stars run in 2012 which included upsetting MLS side Real Salt Lake. MNUFC 2 barely missed the playoffs in 2023, finishing at 43 points with Houston Dynamo 2, but losing out on tiebreakers. MNUFC2 have gotten off to 0-2 start in the young MLS NEXT Pro season, with losses to LAFC (4-1) and Real Monarchs (2-1).
MMUFC2’s performance in the First Round was a stark contrast to their league form, defeating Chicago House AC (USASA/Midwest Prem. League) 3-0. Jordan Adebayo-Smith tallied a second half hat-trick to deny the windy city amateurs a chance at duplicating their run to the Third Round in 2023. Adebayo-Smith finished second in the voting for TheCup.us Player of the Round.
MNUFC are off to an 0-2 start in the new MLS Next Pro season and have a league game scheduled versus Houston Dynamo 2 just two days after their Open Cup game.
The Michigan Stars, the 2022 NISA champions, nearly made it two league titles in a row, but were upset in the championship game by Flower City Union. The club got its start in 1998 as the Windsor Spartans FC in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Moving to the Metro Detroit area in 2013 the team joined the NPSL, and in 2019 made the move to the newly-formed NISA.
While MNUFC2 had it relatively easy in the First Round, The Stars found themselves in a fight with the NPSL’s Steel City FC, squeaking out a 1-0 victory. Niels Lellouch got the winning goal with seven minutes remaining in the game. Goalkeeper Tatenda Mikurva kept Steel City out of his goal with six saves from 16 shots faced. It was the first Open Cup win in Stars history in their third attempt.
Two of the Stars’ three Open Cup games have come against professional opponents, both in the Second Round against USL Championship teams. In 2022 they fell to former NISA rivals Detroit City FC 2-0, and in 2023 the Stars took Indy Eleven to extra time before falling 3-1. Like the rest of their league-mates, the Stars have yet to begin league play as NISA pushed the start of the season back two weeks.
MNUFC2 (MLS NEXT Pro)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Home: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Michigan Stars FC (NISA)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
3rd US Open Cup appearance (2022-23)
Overall: 1-2-0
Away: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: Second Round (2022, 2023)
El Farolito (NPSL) vs. Central Valley Fuego FC (USL-1)
University of California Merced – Bobcat Field – Merced, CA
10:30 pm ET
LIVE VIDEO (YouTube)
To novice Open Cup followers, they are known as “the burrito joint team”, but those in the know are aware of El Farolito’s history in the Open Cup.
El Farolito is one of two former Open Cup champions among the first round entrants (Richmond Kickers the other in 1995), having won the US Open Cup in 1993 (under the name CD Mexico). The club also reached the Final of the 1991 National Amateur Cup. El Farolito competed in the San Francisco Soccer Football League and California Premier Soccer Association for most of their existence before switching to the NPSL in 2018. In fact, El Farolito would have been making their fourth Open Cup appearance this year instead of their third but were disqualified in 2018 for switching leagues in the middle of the competition. (The club was the subject of TheCup.us’s “Meet the Underdogs” series back in 2017.)
Second half goals from Jhohann Yabur and Dembor Benson erased a 1-0 halftime deficit and El Farolito held on the rest of the way for a 2-1 upset win over Timbers2 in the First Round.
Last season, El Farolito finished second in the NPSL, and topping the table in the Golden Gate conference with a 9-0-1 record. They would fall short in the postseason with a loss to Crossfire Red in the West regional final. El Farolito’s NPSL season has already started, with the club holding a 1-0-1 record.
MORE: San Francisco Originals El Farolito: High Hopes Forged in Former Glory
Central Valley have struggled in their two seasons in USL League One, missing the playoffs both years and finishing last in 2023. During the offseason Central Valley hired former U.S. Men’s National Team defender Jermaine Jones as head coach. After winning their opening game of the League One season, the Fuego have lost two in a row.
Central Valley opened the 2023 tournament with a 2-1 over a game FC Folsom (UPSL), Folsom held on to a 1-1 draw until Shavon Brown’s goal in the 82nd minute gave the win to the pros. Before this year, all three of Central Valley’s previous Open Cup games had been against USL Championship teams. Their lone win was a 4-1 upset at home vs. El Paso Locomotive in the Second Round, and Villyan Bijev was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round after scoring two goals in the win. The Fuego pushed Monterrey Bay to extra time in 2023 before falling 3-1.
El Farolito SC (NPSL)
How they qualified: Finished 9-0-1 in NPSL Golden Gate Conference
3rd US Open Cup appearances (2017, 2023)
Overall: 3-2-1 (0-1 PK)
Away: 2-1-0
vs. Div. 3: 1-0-0
Best finish: 1993 US Open Cup champions (as “CD Mexico”)
Central Valley Fuego FC (USL-1)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
3rd US Open Cup appearances (2022-23)
Overall: 2-2-0
Home: 1-1-0
vs. Amateurs: 1-0-0
Best finish: Third Round (2022)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3
Miami United FC (USSSA/USSSL) vs. Club de Lyon FC (NISA)
UPSL Stadium (Broward College-South Campus); Pembroke Pines, FL
6 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
For the fifth time out of six Open Cup appearances, Miami United advanced past their opening game, knocking off MLS NEXT Pro’s Chattanooga FC 1-0 on Jhon Pajoy’s stunning free kick from 30 yards out in the 12th minute. The win over Chattanooga was Miami United’s first over a professional club, going winless in their previous four attempts. (NOTE: In 2018, United beat two NPSL teams Miami FC 2 and Jacksonville Armada FC who were part of amateur leagues, but were featured paid players)
Miami United are making their third consecutive appearance in the Open Cup, bringing their total to six overall. The previous four times Miami United qualified through their NPSL club while in 2023 and 2024 it was their National Soccer League (NSL) team navigating Open Division Local qualifying. The NSL rebranded this past offseason, changing its name to the United States Soccer League. Miami United won the USSL South Florida Elite division by beating 2022 Open Cup qualifier City Soccer FC 1-0 in a playoff final. Miami United then captured the USSL Elite Florida championship on March 23, scoring twice in the final three minutes to beat FC America CFL Spurs 2-1.
Their most successful stint came in 2018 when they reached the Fourth Round (just 17 amateur teams have done it in the Modern Era) after defeating , Miami FC 2 and Jacksonville Armada to earn a game with Orlando City SC of MLS, which they lost 3-0.
MORE: USSSA has representation in US Open Cup for 10th year in a row
Club de Lyon won its first ever Open Cup game in dramatic fashion, thanks to 38-year old veteran Juan “Burrito” Martinez. The former Velez Sarsfield and Real Salt Lake striker scored CDL’s opening goal , then nodded home the game winner in the 90th minute for a 3-2 win over 2023 UPSL Spring champions AS Frenzi. Previously, Club de Lyon’s only Open Cup game was a 2-1 extra time loss to San Antonio FC (USL Championship) in the Second Round of last year’s competition.
Just as Irvine Zeta did this year, Club de Lyon initially qualified for last year’s tournament through the Open Division Local tournament, and then announced its entry of a professional team in NISA, leading to a pro and amateur club competing under the same name. Originally founded as Orlando Lions RFC in 2021, the club changed its name when it joined NISA Nation in 2022. In its initial season in NISA, Club de Lyon missed out on the playoffs by five points.
Miami United FC (USSSA / United States Soccer League)
How they qualified: Open Division Local Qualifying (defeated City Soccer FC 3-1 in final round)
6th US Open Cup appearance (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 7-4-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 4-2-0
vs. Div. 3: 1-1-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2018)
Club de Lyon (NISA)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
2nd US Open Cup appearance (2023)
Overall: 1-1-0
Away: 1-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 1-0-0
Best finish: Second Round (2023)
South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL-1) vs. Savannah Clovers FC (NISA)
Tormenta Stadium – Statesboro, GA
7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
Tormenta advanced to the Second Round via a 1-0 win over Open Division qualifier FC America CFL Spurs. Nick Akoto’s goal in the 5th minute held up the rest of the way as South Georgia won their first Open Cup match played against amateur competition.
South Georgia Tormenta FC (or just Tormenta FC) started as an amateur club in the PDL (USL League Two) in 2016. After three seasons they turned pro to join the newly created USL League One, although they still maintain a team in USL-2. Tormenta won the 2022 League One championship, defeating the Chattanooga Red Wolves SC 2-1 in the Final. Tormenta finished an agonizing one-point shy of reaching the USL League One playoffs in 2023. Tormenta FC are off to a sluggish start to the new season, sitting at 1-2-1.
Tormenta have made three appearances in the Open Cup, with their best run coming in 2022 when they upset a pair of USL Championship teams (Charleston 1-0 & Birmingham 2-0) to reach the Third Round where they dropped a 3-1 decision to Inter Miami. Tormenta have only played one Open Cup game against Division 3 opposition, a 1-0 loss to the Greensville Triumph in Tormenta’s Open Cup debut in 2019. Wednesday’s game marks just the third time in the Modern Era (1995-present) that an Open Cup game has featured an all-Georgia matchup. In 2012 the NASL’s Atlanta Silverbacks defeated the NPSL’s Georgia Revolution 1-0 in the Second Round. The two teams met again the following year in the same round, with the Silverbacks winning 3-2.
MORE: South Georgia Tormenta FC 2024 season preview
The Savannah Clovers started in 2016 as a UPSL club, and as the team continued to grow successfully on the field, it was decided to turn the team professional and join NISA in 2022. The club is owned and operated by its supporters. The Clovers made their US Open Cup debut last year, falling 4-1 on the road to the Charleston Battery (USL-C). The Clovers won their first Open Cup game with 2-0 win over Brave SC (formerly The Villages SC) of USL League Two. Roddy Green and Vlad Jokic scored unassisted first half goals.
Savannah’s initial foray into NISA did not go as well as they would have liked, finishing 8th in the nine-team circuit. Like the other NISA teams, Savannah is opening their season with the Open Cup, as the opening weekend for their league was pushed back by two weeks. (MORE on the Savannah Clovers here)
South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL-1)
How they qualified: Automatic bid
4th US Open Cup appearance (2019, 2022-23)
Overall: 4-3-0
Home: 2-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-1-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2022)
Savannah Clovers FC (NISA)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
2nd US Open Cup appearance (2023, 2024)
Overall: 1-1-0
Away: 1-1-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: Second Round (2023)
One Knoxville SC vs. Greenville Triumph SC
Regal Stadium – Knoxville, TN
7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
One Knoxville began as an amateur team in USL League Two with the intent to eventually move to League One. After registering a 11-1-2 record and reaching the League Two Quarterfinals in the 2022 season, One Knoxville made the move to League One for 2023. The club had a fairly successful debut season, finishing five points from reaching the playoffs. Sean Lewis won the League One Golden Glove for best goalkeeper, registering eight shutouts and maintaining a 1.04 goals against average. Knoxville are off to a fantastic start to the new League One season, holding a 3-0-0 record.
One Knoxville advanced to the Second Round with a 2-0 win over USL League Two’s Ashville City SC. Rodolfo Castro Jr. and Callum Johnson first half goals held up despite Knoxville going down a man in the 61st minute due to a red card to defender Jalen Crisler. One Knoxville also gained possession of the hiking boot-shaped trophy for winning the Smokey Mountain Series. One Knoxville has just one other Open Cup game under their belt, a 2-1 extra time loss to Memphis 901 FC.
MORE: One Knoxville SC (2024 season preview)
The Greenville Triumph have been one of the more successful clubs in USL League One. In its five years in the league, Greenville have made the playoffs every year, finishing as championship runners-up in 2018 and 2021, and winning the title in 2020. Only one of Greenville’s six Open Cup games have been away from home, and that came last year with a cross-country trip to face USL Championship club Phoenix Rising in the Second Round.
Greenville reached the Second Round with a chippy 1-0 win over South Carolina United Bantams of USL League Two. Leonardo Castro’s goal just before halftime was enough for the pros in a game that saw 36 fouls and seven yellow cards between the two teams. Greenville is off to a 2-0-1 start in USL League One, including a 3-2 victory over Lexington Sporting Club, in which they overcame a 2-0 deficit to win on a Lexington own goal deep into second half stoppage time.
MORE: New Greenville Triumph coach looks for seamless transition at the top
One Knoxville SC (USL-1)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
2nd US Open Cup appearances (2023)
Overall: 1-1-0
Home: 0-1-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: Second Round (2023)
Greenville Triumph SC (USL-1)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
4th US Open Cup appearance (2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 3-3-0
Away: 1-1-0
vs. Div. 3: 1-0-0
Best finish: Third Round (2022)
Vermont Green FC vs. Carolina Core FC
Virtue Field – Burlington, VT
7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
The Vermont Green are the second team from the Green Mountain State to appear in the US Open Cup proper (Vermont Voltage in 2014 the other). The club was recognized as USL League Two Organization of the Year and has built a strong following. Vermont has already sold out their allotment of 1,300 season tickets for the 2024 season. Last year, they finished with a 10-1-3 record, but missed out on the postseason. They are one of two USL League Two qualifiers (Northern Virginia FC the other) to miss the 2023 playoffs.
In the First Round, Vermont became the first team to host an Open Cup game in the state, and it sure was memorable. A packed house of 2,500 at Burlington’s Virtue Field saw the home side hold on for a 4-3 upset win over Lexington Sporting Club of USL League One. Vermont jumped out to a 3-1 halftime lead, and Jake Ashford’s goal five minutes into the second half pushed the lead to 4-1. Lexington fought back, Cameron Lancaster’s brace cutting the lead to one with 12 minutes remaining, bjut Vermont was able to hold on for the win that brought praise from Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders
MORE: Vermont Green FC & the Lullaby of Burlington
The Carolina Core are one of two independent MLS NEXT Pro teams, along with Chattanooga FC. Former U.S. Men’s National team defender and D.C. United standout Eddie Pope serves as the Chief Sporting Director, and his USMNT teammate Roy Lassiter serves as the club’s head coach.
Carolina overcame a 2-1 halftime deficit to knock off Northern Virginia FC of USL League Two 3-2. David Polanco began the comeback with a goal five minutes into the second half, and then assisted on Joshua Rodriguez’s game winner in the 81st minute.
Carolina are 1-2-0 in the early stages of the MLS NEXT Pro season, with the one win coming from a PK shootout tiebreaker.
MORE: Carolina Core Soccer Team Ready To Kick Off Season
MORE: Roy Lassiter up to challenge of building Carolina Core
Vermont Green FC (USL-2)
How they qualified: Finished 10-1-3 in USL-2 Northeast Division
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 1-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Carolina Core FC (MLS NEXT Pro)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-1-0
Best finish: N/A
Apotheos FC vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
Silverbacks Park Stadium – Atlanta, GA
7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
In just their second year of existence, Apotheos FC have put themselves on the map as a team to watch. After winning the NPSL Southeast Conference with a 6-1-3 record, Apotheos won five games to reach the NPSL National Championship game against fellow Open Cup qualifier Tulsa Athletic. Apotheos appeared to have the championship in hand when Junior Sandoval scored with 10 minutes remaining. Chris Taylor then tied the game for Tulsa in stoppage time and the championship was eventually decided by penalty kicks. Each team converted their first five attempts, and Apotheos finally missed in round nine to open the door for Tulsa to win the shootout 8-7. Club founders Anthony Catalano and Dale Hughes also operate Apotheos Roastery in the Atlanta area. The name apotheos is derived from “apotheosis,” a word that suggests elevating something to its most divine form.
Apotheos FC had their Open Cup debut pushed back a couple weeks when their first round opponents, NISA’s Georgia Lions, were forced to forfeit.
In the First Round, Chattanooga won their first Open cup game in four attempts, but they had to earn it as the Red Wolves needed extra time to defeat Brockton FC United (UPSL) 4-2. Just as Chattanooga appeared to be closing out a 2-0 win, Brockton scored in the 89th minute and stoppage time to tie the game 2-2 and force extra time. As the game seemed destined for penalties, second half substitute Ropapa Mensah scored in the 116th minute, then again hear the final whistle. The one amateur team the Red Wolves have faced was their very first Open Cup game in 2019, as they where upset 3-0 by South Georgia Tormenta FC 2, the reserve club of their league rivals.
Chattanooga’s time in USL League One has been up and down, missing the playoffs in 2019 and 2020 followed by reaching the semifinals (2021) and the Final in 2022 then crashing to 10th place in 2023. Their 2024 season is off to a slow start, the lone result being a 1-0 loss to Lexington, as their first two home games have been postponed. The Red Wolves also suffered a loss in court recently. A decision was handed down by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board in favor of Arkansas State University, who previously issued a cease-and-desist order to the Chattanooga Red Wolves, asserting its exclusive rights to the Red Wolves name and logo. The Chattanooga Red Wolves have filed an appeal to the ruling.
Apotheos FC (NPSL)
How they qualified: Finished 6-1-3 in NPSL Southeast Conference
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Home: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL-1)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
4th US Open Cup appearance (2019, 2022-23)
Overall: 1-3-0
Away: 0-2-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-1-0
Best finish: Second Round (2022, 2023)
Chicago Fire FC II vs. Forward Madison FC
SeatGeek Stadium – Bridgeview, IL
8 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
Forward Madison will be looking for a bit of Open Cup revenge over the city of Chicago, as last year they were ousted by amateur side Chicago House AC 3-2 in extra time. Forward Madison has won just once out of three attempts against fellow professional opponents, a 3-0 upset of USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive in 2019. Madison just snuck into the League One playoffs in 2023, edging Tormenta FC by one point.
Forward is the state motto of Wisconsin, and the flamingo in their logo represents the official bird of the city of Madison, a flamingo lawn ornament. Returning goalkeeper Bernd Schipmann was second in the league in 2023 with 12 clean sheets, but his performance could not overcome only 38 goals scored by the club, second to last in the league. The flamingos are off to a positive start in 2024, holding a 1-2-0 record and coming off a dominating 3-0 win over Central Valley Fuego on March 30.
Chicago Fire II will have to go a long way to match their parent club’s Open up success. Last year the Fire reached the Quarterfinals, and the absence of the Fire in 2024 will delay by another year their chance at winning a fifth Open Cup title to join Bethlehem Steel, Maccabee AC and the Fall River Marksmen with five. The Fire II have played just two games in the young MLS NEXT Pro season, both 1-1 draws. They both go down as wins as MLSNP uses PK shootouts to decide drawn games. Three players (Goalkeeper Spencer Richey, Javier Cassas and Wyatt Omsberg) who took the field for the Fire II in the First Round also played in Open Cup matches for the senior Fire in 2023. In fact, Richey started all four of the Fire’s 2023 Open Cup game in goal.
Chicago Fire FC II (MLS NEXT Pro)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Forward Madison FC (USL League One)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
4th US Open Cup appearance (2019, 2022-23)
Overall: 4-3-0
Away: 2-1-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: Third Round (2019, 2022)
Union Omaha vs. Des Moines Menace
Al F. Caniglia Field – Omaha, NE
8:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
Making their third appearance in the Open Cup, Union Omaha has a high bar to duplicate their best showing in the tournament. In 2022 the Owls knocked off two MLS clubs (Chicago Fire & Minnesota United) to reach the Quarterfinals. The run ended with a 6-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City, but the scoreline did not diminish Omaha’s feat of becoming the first team from Nebraska to reach the Quarterfinals and the first third division team to do so since 2013. Omaha saw their cup run end abruptly last year with a 5-1 loss to St. Louis City in front of a third-round record crowd of 22,423 fans in St. Louis.
Union finished the 2023 USL League season in first place but were upset by the Charlotte Independence in the playoff semifinals on penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw. Dominic Casciato was named USL League One Coach of the Year for the 2023 season. During the offseason, Omaha signed Victor “PC” Giro, a midfielder who spent the last three seasons with San Antonio FC, and defender Mechack Jérôme, a veteran who has made 78 appearances for the Haitian National Team. Departing are Noe Meza, JP Scearce, Joe Brito and Luis Gil. The four players combined for 25 of Omaha’s 64 goals in all competitions in 2023. Gil also had nine assists, good for second in USL League One. Omaha are currently riding a 15 match unbeaten streak that stretches back to last season.
In the First Round Omaha had a relatively easy time defeating the Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2) 4-0. After being held to a 1-0 lead at the half, the floodgates opened after halftime and Omaha scored three more times, including Joe Gallardo completing a hat trick and getting strong support for TheCup.us Player of the Round honors.
MORE: Union Omaha owners, city officials announce soccer stadium plans
Appearing in their fourth Open Cup in a row, the Des Moines Menace are one of the great lower league upset darlings of the Open Cup. The Menace have 14 Open Cup wins (15 if you include the times they entered as an Open Division Local team), and eight upsets of professional opponents, both of which are the second most among all amateur teams in the Modern Era (1995-present). Only the Flint City Bucks (15 wins, 10 pro upsets) have more in both categories. The Menace have missed out on just three Open Cup tournaments since 2010, and of the three amateur clubs in this year’s field with 10+ appearances, Des Moines are the only ones not to have played as a professional club. The Menace are currently on a nine-season streak of finishing either first or second in their division in USL League Two.
The recruiting drive continues for the Menace. After securing the services of veterans Sacha Kljestan, Brian Rowe and Euan Holden for their First Round game, Des Moines have enticed former LA Galaxy defender AJ De la Garza (11 previous Open Cup appearances) and Sporting Kansas City legend Roger Espinoza (23 Open Cup appearances, 3 US Open Cup titles, FA Cup winner in 2013) to join the team for their Second Round game.
After making headlines signing Kljestan and Holden, the Menace then played in an “instant classic”, tying Capo (NISA) FC 2-2, the advancing on PKs. Kickoff was delayed 40 minutes due to a high school lacrosse game using the field. Kljestan then proved worth by assisting on the opening goal for the Menace in the 53rd minute. Parker Scalzo tied it for Capo 13 minutes later, In extra time, Leroy Enzugusi put the Menace back in front in the 117th minute, only to see Scalzo score his second goal for Capo in the 12oth minute. In penalties, after each team made their first four kicks, Kljestan converted for Des Moines and Scalzo sent his attempt over the bar. Kljestan finished third in the voting for TheCup.us Player of the Round.
The Menace have advanced past their opening game in 14 of their 14 appearances. 2005 was Des Moines most successful run, defeating two pro teams (Charleston Battery 3-2, Atlanta Silverbacks 5-1), setting up a meeting with the Kansas City Wizards (Sporting KC) in the Fourth Round, which the Menace lost 6-1. They would meet the Wizards again in the 2006 Third Round, narrowly losing 2-1 on a 90th minute goal.
Omaha and Des Moines have one previous meeting in Open Cup play, In Omaha’s very first cup game in the 2022 Second Round, they defeated the Menace 2-1
MORE: Des Moines menacing the big boys since 1994
Union Omaha (USL-1)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
3rd US Open Cup appearance (2022-23)
Overall: 5-2-1 (1-0 PK)
home: 3-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 1-0-0
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2022)
Des Moines Menace (USL-2)
How they qualified: Finished in 10-0-2 in USL-2 Heartland Division
14th US Open Cup appearance (2002-03, 2005-06, 2010, 2012-13, 2015-2017, 2019, 2022-23)
Overall: 8-6-4 (4-1 PK)
Away: 6-6-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 2-3-2 (2-0 PK)
Best finish: Fourth Round (2005)
Colorado Rapids 2 vs. Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC
Dicks Sporting Goods Park – Commerce City, CO
9:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
Rapids 2 will look to match what their parent club has done just once since 1999, advance past their second game in the tournament. The MLS Rapids won their first two Open Cup games in 2023, the first time in 17 tries they accomplished that feat.
This is not the first time that a reserve team of the Colorado Rapids has competed in the US Open Cup. The Boulder Rapids Reserve, who played in the PDL (USL League Two), participated in the 2004 Open Cup. The team, led by up-and-coming goalkeeper Luis Robles and a few other future pros, reached the Third Round before losing to the Minnesota Thunder 2-1 in sudden death extra time.
Fast forward to last season, the Rapids 2 finished first in the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference, nine points clear of second place Tacoma Defiance, but were eliminated in the Conference Final by eventual champions Austin FC II. Rémi Cabral’s (on loan to Phoenix Rising) 19 goals were good for a three-way tie atop the league leaders, and midfielder Marlon Vargas led the league in assists with 10 and Yosuke Hanya finished right behind him with nine.
The reserve Rapids have a 1-2-0 record in MLS NEXT Pro play. Marlon Vargas has accounted for four of the five Rapids goals.
Northern Colorado cruised past Tulsa Athletic (NPSL) 4-1 in the First Round, getting goals from four different players and outshooting their amateur opponents 24-8. The Rapids 2 also had an easy time in the First Round, cruising past Denver’s Azteca FC (USSSA/Colorado Premier League) 3-0
The Hailstorm will have a huge hole to fill on offense as Trevor Amann, who set the USL League One single season record with 23 goals scored in 2023. He departed for the Sacramento Republic. The team will also be without league assists leader Arthur Rogers, who signed with FC Tulsa. One player who is staying put is goalkeeper Lalo Delgado, who posted a league high 13 clean sheets. The Hailstorm have also added a couple of young international players to their roster. 21-year old midfielder Brahima Ouattara is currently part of the Ivory Coast U-23 team, and 21-year-old MF Real Gill has earned six caps with Trinidad & Tobago.
Northern Colorado’s best Open Cup performance came in 2022, when they knocked off in-state rivals Colorado Springs Switchbacks 1-0 in extra time in the Second Round, and then upset Real Salt Lake 1-0 in the Third round, scoring on their only shot on goal. The run ended with a 2-0 defeat to fellow USL League One upstarts Union Omaha. Northern Colorado has yet to play at home in the Open Cup, and three of their previous six Open Cup games have been against another team from Colorado. The Hailstorm faced the Rapids MLS side last year in the Third Round, losing 3-1. Three players on this year’s Rapids 2 roster played in that game (Michael Edwards, Marlon Vargas and Darren Yapi).
In league play, the Hailstorm are coming off a successful 2023 campaign where they finished three points shy of the regular season championship (3rd overall) and reached the league semifinals, falling to eventual champion North Carolina FC. The club is 1-0-1 in the early goings of the 2024 League One season.
MORE: Are Northern Colorado Hailstorm better without Amann, Rogers, and Cornwall? They think so
Colorado Rapids 2 (MLS NEXT Pro)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (USL-1)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
3rd US Open Cup appearance (2022-23)
Overall: 4-2-0
Away: 4-2-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2022)
Ventura County FC vs. Irvine Zeta FC
Dignity Health Sports Park Track & Field Stadium – Carson, CA
10:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
You can’t blame Ventura County FC for doing a double-take when their Second Round opponents were announced. If you weren’t looking closely, you would think they already played Irvine Zeta in the First Round but it was Zeta’s reserve team from the UPSL that Ventura defeated 2-1. Just as NISA’s Club de Lyon did last year, Irvine Zeta initially qualified through the Open Division Local qualifiers, then later made a move to field a professional team in NISA, whose clubs are granted automatic entry into the US Open Cup. The Irvine Zeta senior team defeated 2023 National Amateur Cup champions SC MesoAmerica 1-0 in a tight contest to advance to the Second Round.
Ventura County FC, formerly known as LA Galaxy II (or “Los Dos”) have history in the US Open Cup dating back to 2014 and 2015. Back then, MLS reserve teams playing in the USL were granted entry into the Open Cup for those seasons. In 2014, LAG II reached the Third Round, where they fell to amateur club PSA Elite on penalties. The following year, they lost their opening game to Ventura County Fusion 2-1. The Galaxy II played in the USL Championship until 2022, when MLS NEXT Pro was started. Galaxy II finished the 2023 season last in the Western Conference, allowing a league high 74 goals in 28 games.
VCFC are 3-0 in the new MLS NEXT Pro season, their latest result a 5-2 thumping of the Tacoma Defiance on Mar. 31.
Irvine Zeta will be the first professional opponent in Ventura County’s limited Open Cup history. Ironically, Ventra County FC’s last Open Cup opponent in 2015 was the Ventura County Fusion of the PDL (USL-2). The then-Galaxy II lost 2-1 to the Fusion in second half stoppage time. Current CF Montreal forward Ariel Lassiter scored the lone goal for Galaxy II on a PK.
Led by club president Cary Lyu, Irvine Zeta are the first Chinese-founded professional club in the United States. Due to NISA pushing the start of their season back two weeks, Irvine Zeta, along with league-mates Arizona Monsoon and Capo FC, joined the 2022 Northern Colorado Hailstorm (USL-1) by playing their first-ever match in the Open Cup
Ventura County FC (MLS NEXT Pro)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
3rd US Open Cup appearance (2014-15)
Overall: 2-1-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 2-1-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 1-1-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Third Round (2014)
Irvine Zeta FC (NISA)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Spokane Velocity FC vs. LA Force
ONE Spokane Stadium – Spokane, WA
10:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
The city of Spokane returned to the Open Cup for the first time since 2004, when the Spokane Shadow the PDL (now USL League Two) dropped a first round game to the Sacramento Knights (USASA/NPSL). The team’s name and crest reference the Spokane River, which runs through the city. The club also has a team in the USL W League, the Spokane Zephyr FC, set for their debut season as well in 2024.
The Velocity have signed midfielder and former MLS player Luis Gil, whose nine assists with Union Omaha was good for second in USL League One in 2023. Also joining the Velocity is midfielder Andre Lewis, who has appeared in 100 games with the Colorado Springs Switchbacks and Hartford Athletic from 2020-2023. Up front Spokane will feature forward Romain Métanire, who logged 77 games with Minnesota United from 2019-2022, and has 27 caps for Madagascar. Spokane are off to a 2-2-0 start in USL League One play.
Spokane travelled to Seattle for the First Round, where an Andre Lewis goal seven minutes deep into second half stoppage time gave Spokane a 1-0 win and spoiled Ballard FC’s dream of upsetting the rookie professional club.
The LA Force finished third in the 2023 NISA season but were bounced from the playoffs by eventual champions Flower City Union 4-2. The Force have played just two Open Cup matches in their history, both Second Round losses to USL Championship teams. In 2022 the Force lost to Orange County SC 5-2, and in 2023 Las Vegas Lights bested them by a 4-0 scoreline. Due to the fact NISA pushed the start of the league back two weeks, the LA Force are opening their season in the Open Cup. LA managed to get by a pesky Redlands FC (USL L2) 2-1, with the winning goal not coming until the 84th minute from Jose Montes de Oca.
Spokane Velocity (USL-1)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
LA Force FC (NISA)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
3rd US Open Cup appearance (2022-23)
Overall: 1-2-0
Away: 0-2-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: Second Round (2022, 2023)