With 16 more games in the books, there were a number of impressive individual performances in the Third Round of the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. But which player deserves to be TheCup.us Player of the Round?
Since 2006, TheCup.us has set out to honor the best individual performance of each round.
The award is voted on by TheCup.us staff, a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters, and select backers from TheCup.us’ Patreon. If you’d like to vote in this, or upcoming rounds, consider pledging $10 or more and help us continue to cover the US Open Cup and research its long history. If you did have a vote, which player do YOU think should win?
Here are the finalists (in alphabetical order):
Jerry Ayon, Monterey Bay FC (USL Championship)
Started and played 90 minutes in his debut with the club and scored both goals (32nd min., 65th min.) in a 2-1 home win over Irvine Zeta (NISA).
Taylor Calheira, NYCFC II (MLS NEXT Pro)
Started and played 120 minutes, scored two goals (63rd min., 99th min. equalizer) in a 3-2 extra time road win at Hartford Athletic (USL-C).
Rashid Nuhu (Union Omaha, USL-1)
Started and played 120 minutes, made six saves in a scoreless draw at home vs. El Paso Locomotive (USL-C). He made the deciding save in a 5-3 win in the PK shootout.
Dane Jacomen (Loudoun United – USLC)
Started, played 120 minutes, made 4 saves in a scoreless draw on the road against the Richmond Kickers. Made 1 save in the 5-4 PK shootout win to send them to Round 4.
Juan Carlos Obregón Jr , Charlotte Independence (USL League One)
Started, played 105 minutes, scored two goals (26th min. PK, 95th min. go-ahead goal) in a 4-4 home draw (5-4 PK win) vs. Rhode Island FC (USL-C).
Yannik Oettl, Indy Eleven (USL Championship)
Started, played 90 minutes, made 11 saves from 22 shots faces, earned a clean sheet in a 1-0 road win at Chicago Fire FC II (MLSNP).
Nighte Pickering, Memphis 901 FC (USL Championship)
Started, played 90 minutes, scored both goals (31st min., 85th min.) in a 2-0 home win vs. Miami United FC (USSSA/USSL).
Stéfano Pinho, Birmingham Legion (USL Championship)
Started, played 111 minutes, scored all four goals (48th min., 80th min., 105th+1 min., 107th min.) in a 4-2 extra time home win over Chattanooga Red Wolves (USL-1). He became the 13th player in the Modern Era to score four or more goals in a single game and just the second to score them all after halftime.