A three-time US Open Cup champion is heading to Dekalb, Illinois to compete for the 2024 National Amateur Cup. The New York Pancyprian Freedoms became the third team to punch its ticket last weekend which two other teams inched closer to claiming the final spot. The Midwest final is now set and going to be a first-ever match between two Wisconsin sides looking to make history.
Since 2018, the champion of the National Amateur Cup, the highest tournament in the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA), receives direct qualification to the following year’s Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. For the last few years, TheCup.us has tracked the National Amateur Cup from its regional stages all the way up until the national final. These updates have been provided on Twitter / X and stats have been kept internally.
USASA is broken into four regions, each holding their own amateur cup tournament respectively. The champions of these four tournaments qualify for the national finals later this summer.
You can find a brief summary of every game from this past weekend below. Additionally, here are links to the Twitter threads and articles made over the two months regarding other results:
- April 7 (Region I)
- April 14 (Region I & Region II)
- April 20 (Region II)
- April 27 to May 5
- May 11 to 25
- May 28 to June 2
- June 7 to 9 (Region III Tournament Recap)
FULL 2024 NATIONAL AMATEUR CUP SCHEDULE/RESULTS
USASA Region I (Northeast)
Final
SATURDAY, JUNE 15
Christos FC (MD – Maryland Super Soccer League)
0:2
New York Pancyprian Freedoms (NY – Eastern Premier Soccer League)
Ukrainian American Sports Center, Field 6 – North Wales, PA
The New York Pancyprian Freedoms won the USASA Region I Amateur Cup over Christos FC, 2-0, to qualify for July’s national tournament. Goals at the bookends of the match were enough to beat an over-extended Christos team, which had a USL League Two match earlier in the day. The game was played at the Ukrainian American Sports Center during a weekend in which Region I also crowned other champions ranging from Under-23 to women’s amateur cup. The Freedoms are looking to join an exclusive club of teams to win both the National Amateur Cup and US Open Cup. The last team to do it was the Freedoms’ EPSL rival New York Greek Americans back in 2014.
Goal scorers
NYPF:
- James Thristino 2′
- Joe Holland 80′
Match Broadcast:
USASA Region II (Midwest)
Semifinals
SUNDAY, JUNE 9
Bavarian United SC (WI – Midwest Premier League)
7:5
Akron City FC (OH – National Premier Soccer League)
After Extra Time
Indiana Invaders Sports Complex – South Bend, IN
Bavarian United SC is back in the Region II Final after an unbelievable comeback win over Akron City FC, 7-5 after extra time. Despite being the host, Bavarians elected to play the game in South Bend, Indiana as a “meet in the middle” compromise with Akron City. The NPSL side trailed heading into halftime but responded by scoring four goals. The two teams traded goals in the last ten minutes meaning the score was 5-2 in the 82nd minute. The six-time National Amateur Cup champions then pulled off one of the greatest comebacks not seen (because there was no stream). Three goals, including two in stoppage time, forced the game to extra time. Akron seemed deflated and allowed a goal in each extra time half to exit its inaugural tournament.
(Full match recap by Akron City FC)
Goal scorers
BUSC:
- Buran Huseini 40’
- Joe Raasch 81’
- Dogara Zamani 86’
- Kelmend Islami 90+2’
- Michael Russell 90+5’
- Chaney Christensen 100’
- Logan Andryk 113’
ACFC:
- Sam Sarver 47′, 63′
- Ryan Kingsford 60′
- Kelly Jannsen 67′
- Carter Cormier 82′
SUNDAY, JUNE 16
Vlora FC (MN – Minnesota Amateur Soccer League)
0:1
FC Milwaukee Torrent (WI – National Premier Soccer League)
Burnsville High School – Burnsville, MN
FC Milwaukee Torrent scored a late goal over Vlora FC to advance, 1-0, to its first-ever regional final. A scoreless first half saw a Torrent goal called back for offside and two Vlora chances held up by strong defensive plays by the visitors. The critical chance came with under ten minutes to play in regulation. A run down the right side saw a cross from the end line find Juan Lopez for the game’s only goal. For Vlora, the loss ends a historic tournament which saw the Minnesota side reach the regional semifinals for the first time. The team was the only team without a bye to the Quarterfinals to reach the final four of Region II.
(Full match recap by the NPSL)
Goal scorers
FCMT:
- Juan Lopez 81′ (Zakaria Daaou)
Match Broadcast:
USASA Region III (South)
Won by Tobacco Road FC (NC) on June 9, 2024.
USASA Region IV (West)
Won by FC Arizona (AZ) on June 2, 2024.
USASA National Amateur Cup Finals
Once all four regional champions have been crowned, each will take part in the national finals on July 25 to 28 in DeKalb, Illinois. This event is officially being hosted by DeKalb County United, who oddly enough did not even enter the tournament.
Qualified teams:
- New York Pancyprian-Freedoms (Region I)
- Tobacco Road FC (Region III)
- FC Arizona (Region IV)