The home teams went five-for-five on the opening night of the Third Round of the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The lone “cupset” came in the form of the Charlotte Independence (USL League One) eliminating USL Championship expansion side Rhode Island FC in a penalty kick shootout.
Three Open Cup regulars advanced (Detroit City FC, Louisville City FC, New Mexico United), and two of the three remaining amateur sides, Lubbock Matadors (NPSL) and El Farolito SC (NPSL), both crashed out away from home.
On Wednesday, 10 of the 11 teams to advance were either USL Championship teams or from USL League One. The lone non-USL side was NYCFC II from MLS NEXT Pro.
The last amateur team was also eliminated when Miami United FC fell to Memphis 901 FC. As a result, with three amateur teams falling in the same round, the tournament’s Open Division prize money came down to a tiebreaker. Once the numbers were crunched, El Farolito is $25,000 richer because of a goal difference tiebreaker.
The Third Round match winners will advance to join the eight remaining USL Championship teams and all eight Major League Soccer teams who will enter in the Fourth Round / Round of 32 (May 7-8). The draw for Round 4 will take place on Thursday at 1 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on the United States Soccer Federation’s YouTube page. The 16 teams that will join the competition will each play against one of the Round 3 winners.
You can find the results and schedule for the 2024 US Open Cup here and the goalscoring leaders here. You can find a review of every Round 1 game HERE and the Round 2 games HERE.
As a reminder all Third Round matches stream for free on US Soccer’s website. You can find all of the video embedded on this page.
You can find a brief summary of every Third Round game with a link to the full match report and video highlights below.
TUESDAY, APRIL 16
Charlotte Independence (USL-1)
4:4
Rhode Island FC (USL-C)
Charlotte advances, 5-4 on penalty kicks
BY: Chuck Nolan Jr.
It’s not often a club’s debut in the Open Cup is an eight-goal thriller, unfortunately for Rhode Island FC that debut ended with them being eliminated via penalty shootout by the Charlotte Independence of USL League One.
Conor McGlynn opened the scoring for Rhode Island in the 11th minute, and in what would become the theme of the match Charlotte drew level then took the lead through a Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. penalty in the 26th minute and a goal from Tresor Mbuyu in the 35th. Just before halftime, Nathan Messer put Rhode Island back on even terms, then Clay Holstad put RIFC up 3-2 five minutes into the second half. In the 72nd minute, Luis Alvarez leveled the game at 3-0, where it stood for the remainder of regulation.
Charlotte retook the lead in the 95th minute on Obregon Jr.’s second goal of the night, but Rhode Island had the final say as Stephen Turnbull scored for the final goal of the game to make it 4-4.
In the penalty tiebreaker, it was 3-3 heading into the fifth round, After Clay Dimick missed for Charlotte, but Charlotte GK Austin Pack saved Joe Brito’s attempt. Pack came up big again, saving Gabriel Alves’s attempt in the seventh round to send Charlotte to the Fourth Round for the second time in club history. It was the second consecutive game with Charlotte advancing by a PK shootout. {FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS}
Louisville City FC (USL-C)
3:1
Greenville Triumph SC (USL-1)
BY: Grace Ott
The match between Louisville and Greenville started off with a bang, as Louisville’s Sean Totsch scored the opener just two minutes into the game, heading home a cross after a corner kick. After gaining the early lead, Louisville never looked back. They had a flurry of activity in Greenville’s half in the first 15 minutes, with several shots that were ultimately blocked. Greenville also had their chances, but Louisville was able to extend the lead just after halftime in the 49th minute with a goal by Wilson Harris.
In stoppage time, Greenville had a moment of hope, as they cut the lead in half with a goal from Hayden Anderson in the third minute of stoppage time. However their optimism was short-lived after Louisville sealed the deal with a final goal by Jorge Gonazalez in the seventh minute of added time. {FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS}
Detroit City FC (USL-C)
1:0
Michigan Stars FC (NISA)
BY: Chuck Nolan Jr.
The smoke and the smell had to wait until second half stoppage time, but Detroit City FC held off a stubborn Michigan Stars FC for a 1-0 victory. After a mostly quiet first half, both teams picked up yellow cards near the end of the half.
In the 79th minute Michigan were reduced to ten men when Hunter Olson picked up his second yellow card. In the third minute of second half stoppage time Detroit City finally exploited the man advantage when Maxi Rodriguez took a pass from Stephen Carroll and scored to give the home side a 1-0 lead. Play was delayed a few minutes as the DCFC supporters flooded the field with celebratory smoke. With the delay ensuring stoppage time would go well beyond the initial seven minutes, Detroit was reduced to ten men when second half sub Brett Levis picked up his second yellow card, but City held on for the second win over the Stars in Open Cup play (2022). {FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS}
New Mexico United (USL-C)
3:1
Lubbock Matadors (NPSL)
BY: Chuck Nolan Jr.
For 57 minutes, the dream of the Lubbock Matadors was alive and well, but in the span of four minutes the amateur side’s dream turned into a nightmare.
After holding the pro New Mexico United squad to a scoreless draw at halftime, the floodgates opened. Harry Swartz broke through in the 58th minute to give the USL Championship side a 1-0 lead. In the blink of an eye it was 2-0, Daniel Bruce scoring a minute after assisting on the opening goal. Just a couple minutes later, Mukwelle Akale sent a long free kick past Lubbock goalkeeper Owen Jack for a 3-0 advantage.
Shuma Sasaki scored a consolation goal from the penalty spot for Lubbock, but it was too little too late as New Mexico United advance to the Fourth Round. {FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS}
Oakland Roots SC (USL-C)
2:1
El Farolito SC (NPSL)
After Extra Time
BY: Andrew Mosier
The Cinderella run of amateur side El Farolito is over. The NPSL side, playing a man down for nearly an hour, fell to the Oakland Roots of the USL Championship 2-1 in extra time. Teenager Ali Elmasnaouy put the Roots in the lead for the first time of the night in the 98th minute, sending them through to the Fourth Round.
The amateur side opened scoring on the night in the 12th minute when Dembor Benson lobbed a free header to the far post after Erik Arias’ initial attempt was partially blocked. Oakland drew level one minute into first half of added time when Ilya Alekseev’s searching cross found Guillermo Diaz at the far post. El Farolito’s mountain grew considerably steeper in the 52nd minute when Edgard Krye was shown his second yellow card for a reckless challenge reducing the amateurs to 10 men. El Farolito managed to hold on for nearly 50 minutes more when teenager, Ali Elmasnaouy, won a scramble for the ball inside the six yard box for the winner. {FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS}
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17
Richmond Kickers (USL-1)
0:0
Loudoun United FC (USL-C)
Loudoun United advances, 5-4 on penalty kicks
BY: Grace Ott
Every possible minute was needed to decide the match between the Virginia-based Richmond Kickers and Loudoun United, as they made it through 120 scoreless minutes before deciding the match in PKs. Though Loudoun held the possession advantage, the two teams were evenly matched around the goal, each getting just four shots on target. Both coaches were frustrated enough to make multiple substitutions at halftime, but that wasn’t enough to break the deadlock.
Fighting all the way through regulation and extra time, the teams forced a penalty shootout. Penalty takers were clinical until Loudoun goalkeeper Dane Jacomen became a hero by saving the final kick of the night in the bottom right corner of the goal. Loudoun emerged victorious and advances to the next round of the tournament. {FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS COMING SOON}
Hartford Athletic (USL-C)
2:3
NYCFC II (MLSNP)
After Extra Time
BY: Jordan Beech
In a match that ended with three sendings-off in the final two minutes, New York City FC II came out on top, 3-2, over Hartford Athletic after extra time. 16-year-old Maximo Carrizo scored the matchwinner in the 109th minute to send the visitors through to the next round.
While it was Carrizo’s goal that won the match, it was the tandem of Taylor Calheira and Jonathan Jimenez that proved potent for NYCFC II. Jimenez assisted Calheira twice — in the 63rd and 92nd minutes — to help Calheira bag a brace on the night.
With the win, NYCFC II remains a perfect 2-0-0 in road wins, and 3-0-0 overall, in their debut Open Cup. {FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS}
North Carolina FC (USL-C)
1:0
Carolina Core FC (MLSNP)
BY: Jordan Beech
It took 60 minutes to find separation, but North Carolina finally found the key to unlocking Carolina Core FC’s defense in a 1-0 victory on Wednesday night. Teenager Julian Placias scored the match’s lone goal to send the USL Championship side through.
Neither team could find the breakthrough in the opening 45 minutes of action, going into the interval level at 0-0. Placias proved the difference 15 minutes into the second half, scoring from close range off an assist by Garret McLaughlin to give NCFC their first tournament win since 2019. {FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS}
Memphis 901 FC (USL-C)
2:0
Miami United FC (USSSA/USSL)
BY: Jordan Beech
Continuing the trend from Tuesday night, the final amateur side alive in the tournament was sent home via a 2-0 scoreline as Memphis 901 FC scored a goal in both halves to knock off the cup darlings, Miami United FC.
Nighte Pickering scored both goals for the hosts, striking first in the 31st minute before adding an insurance goal in the 85th. The win is Memphis’ second against an amateur side in their Open Cup history, and marks the Bluff City outfit’s first trip to the Round of 32. {FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS}
Miami FC (USL-C)
2:4
South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL-1)
BY: Jordan Beech
South Georgia Tormenta FC scored a Cupset on Wednesday night, upending USL Championship side Miami FC, 4-2. Tormenta scored three second-half goals with a man advantage to maintain a sterling 4-0-0 record against Second Division clubs in Cup action all-time.
Jake Dengler nodded home for the visitors from the Peach State in the 12th minute for an early lead that was erased eight minutes later by Luis Pedro. Khadim Ndiaye was sent off in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, setting up an electric second half. Luis Pedro secured his brace three minutes later to make it 2-1 going into halftime.
Conor Doyle drew Tormenta level in the 69th minute off a corner delivered by Philip Spengler. The visitors then scored goals in the 88th minute and the first minute of second-half stoppage time through Callum Stretch and Sebastian Vivas to take the lead and secure passage to the Round of 32 for the first time in club history. {FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS}
Birmingham Legion FC (USL-C)
4:2
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL-1)
After Extra Time
BY: Jordan Beech
Extra time was required, but Birmingham Legion managed to get past 10-man Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, 4-2, to reach the Round of 32 for the second year in a row. Stefano Pinho delivered a Player of the Round-worthy performance, scoring all four of Birmingham’s goals on the evening. He becomes just the 13th player in the Modern Era (1995-present) to score four goals in a game and the first since 2019.
Leo Fallas put the Red Wolves up in the 12th minute which would prove enough to send the visitors into halftime with the lead. However, Pinho scored two goals on either side of Ricky Ruiz’s penalty to send the match into extra time. The Legion were aided heading into extra time as Gustavo Fernandes was sent off in the first minute of second half stoppage.
The additional 30 minutes was all Pinho. He first scored in the 105th minute off an assist by Kobe Hernandez-Foster. He followed that up two minutes later with a goal off Prosper Kassim’s helper to salt the match away. He finished the night with nine career US Open Cup goals, which is tied for 15th. {FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS}
Union Omaha (USL-1)
0:0
El Paso Locomotive FC (USL-C)
Union Omaha advances, 5-3 on penalty kicks
BY: Jordan Beech
Penalties were necessary to separate Union Omaha and El Paso Locomotive, with Omaha advancing 5-3 in the shootout after a scoreless 120 minutes.
Ninety minutes came and went with neither side team finding a breakthrough goal. However, just before the end of regulation, Noah Dollenmayer was sent off forcing the visitors to play down for the entirety of extra time. El Paso still couldn’t get a shot past Rashid Nuhu despite the advantage, sending the match to penalty kicks.
Omaha converted all five penalty attempts in the shootout, while Nuhu saved Gonzalo Pelua’s attempt, to send the Owls through to the Round of 32. Union Omaha is now 6-2-2 overall in Cup action, and has triumphed in both of its penalty shootouts in the tournament. {FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS}
Chicago Fire FC II (MLSNP)
0:1
Indy Eleven (USL-C)
BY: Jordan Beech
Douglas Martinez’s goal in just the fourth minute proved all the scoring needed for Indy Eleven to get past Chicago Fire FC II and into the Round of 32. This marks the first time Indy Eleven has advanced as one of the final 32 teams in the tournament in their ninth Open Cup appearance.
Martinez struck gold for the visitors just four minutes into the match. The striker got on the end of Jack Blake’s pass and fired a right-footed shot home from the center of the box. Indy’s defense held firm against a relentless Fire II offensive the remainder of the night to preserve the clean sheet. Yannik Oettl tallied 11 saves on the night to deliver the USL Championship side their first-ever road win in team history. {FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS}
FC Tulsa (USL-C)
2:1
Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (USL-1)
BY: Andrew Mosier
FC Tulsa advanced to the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup, beating the Northern Colorado Hailstorm, 2-1. Diego Pacheco put the hosts on the board in the 38th minute from the penalty spot. Milo Yosef doubled the USL Championship side’s lead in the waning moments of the first half with a blast from outside the penalty area.
Chelo Martinez pulled one back for the USL League One side in the 64th minute, moments after he entered the match, curling the ball just inside the far post from just inside the penalty area. In the end, it was FC Tulsa’s first regulation win over a pro team in club history. {FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS}
Monterey Bay F.C. (USL-C)
2:1
Irvine Zeta FC (NISA)
BY: Andrew Mosier
Monterey Bay advanced to the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup with a 2-1 win over Irvine Zeta FC.
Jerry Ayon, making his Monterey Bay debut, tallied a brace to put the USL Championship side in the lead twice, in the 32nd and 65th minutes of the match. George Lira de Cavalho Almeida drew the visiting NISA side level in the 62nd minute.
Ayon started things off for the opening goal, making a streaking run from the middle of the park to after winning the ball near the center circle. His run was rewarded with a deft cross from Rafael Baca just past the half-hour mark.
Almeida drew the third-tier side level in the 62nd minute off an assist from Edson Alvarado.
Monterey responded immediately when Ayon ran onto a looping pass from Jesus Enriquez near midfield. Ayon drove towards goal setting up a right footed shot, which deflected off an Irvine defender to wongfoot the Irvine goalkeeper, Mitch North to put Monterey through to the next round. {FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS}
Las Vegas Lights FC (USL-C)
2:1
Spokane Velocity FC (USL-1)
BY: Andrew Mosier
Las Vegas Lights FC advanced to the Fourth Round of the US Open Cup topping the Spokane Velocity 2-1 after extra time.
Valentin Noel and Riki Alba scored for the USL Championship side in the win. Andre Lewis scored the equalizer for the first-year USL League One side, sending the game into extra time. Noel opened the scoring in the 51st minute putting the ball just inside the far post. Eleven minutes later Noel had a second goal called back for offside.
In the third minute of stoppage time Spokane went down a man after Derek Waldeck was sent off after receiving his second yellow card.
Spokane found an equalizer in the sixth minute of stoppage time despite being down a man when Lewis smashed a shot from about 35 yards out.
The home side responded in the 113th minute when Alba smashed home a loose ball in the goalmouth to put Las Vegas through to the next round. {FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS}