There are just eight teams remaining in the 109th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. To get there we had eight Round of 16 games with a number of impressive individual performances. 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):
Denis Bouanga, LAFC (MLS) – Started, played 79 minutes, assisted on two of the team’s three goals in a 3-0 home win vs. Loudoun United.
Josh Cohen, Atlanta United (MLS) – Started, played 120 minutes, made four saves, kept a clean sheet through regulation and extra time, and saved two penalties in the shootout to beat Charleston Battery (USL-C), 5-4 on the road.
Felipe Hernández, Sporting Kansas City (MLS) – Started, played 90 minutes and scored the first and third goals (38’, 63’) in Kansas City’s 4-0 home win over FC Tulsa (USL-C).
Marco Micaletto, New Mexico United (USL-C) – Started, played 75 minutes and had two assists including the game-winner in New Mexico’s 3-0 road win over NYCFC II (MLS NEXT Pro).
Maarten Paes, FC Dallas (MLS) – Started, played 90 minutes and the only goal he allowed was a penalty kick, made eight saves while facing 30 shots and 10 corner kicks in a 2-1 road win over Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL-C).
Kieran Phillips , Sacramento Republic (USL Championship) – Started, played 79 minutes, scored the first two goals (17’, 38’) in Sacramento’s 4-3 extra time home win over the San Jose Earthquakes (MLS).
Hunter Sulte, Indy Eleven (USL Championship) – Started, played 90 minutes, kept a clean sheet while making seven saves on 17 shots and 10 corner kicks in a 3-0 home win over Detroit City FC (USL-C).