The First Round of the 110th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is complete. There were a number of impressive individual performances over the 32 games last week. But which one was the best?
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):
Player, Team (League)
Brent Abu-Gyamfi, Columbus Crew 2 (MLS NEXT Pro)
Abu-Gyamfi scored twice (45+4’, 69’) in the Crew 2’s 4-1 home win over New York Renegades (UPSL)
Matt Bentley, Chattanooga Red Wolves (USL-1)
Bentley scored both of Chattanooga’s goals (a PK in the 65th min. and another in the 84th) and converted the Red Wolves’ first attempt in the penalty shootout in Chattanooga’s PK win on the road over New Jersey Alliance (UPSL) after a 2-2 extra time draw.
Aaron Bibout, Ventura County FC (MLS NEXT Pro)
Bibout scored a hat-trick (41’, 52’, 68’) in Ventura County FC’s 7-0 home win over Laguna United (UPSL)
Riley Bidois, Loudoun United FC (USL-C)
Bidois scored twice, once in the 36th minute and a PK in the 61st minute in Loudoun United’s 3-1 road win over West Chester United SC (USASA)
Francisco Bonfiglio, MIami FC (USL-C)
Bonfiglio scored the first two goals, the first in the 41st minute and the next in first half stoppage time, in Miami FC’s 4-1 home win over Naples United FC (UPSL)
Yuval Cohen, Inter Miami II (MLS NEXT Pro)
Cohen scored the final two goals (70’, 81’) in Inter Miami II’s 4-2 home win over Miami United (UPSL)
Jerry Desdunes, AV ALTA FC (USL-1)
Desdunes scored the first two goals, the first in the 28th minute and the next from the penalty spot in first half stoppage time in AV ALTA’s 3-1 home win over Ventura County Fusion (USL-2)
Matt Evans, Los Angeles FC 2 (MLS NEXT Pro)
Evans scored twice (2’, 65’) and assisted on Jude Terry’s 48th minute goal in LAFC2’s 7-1 home win over FC Arizona (NPSL)
Juan Galindrez, Forward Madison (USL-1)
Galindrez scored two goals (86’, 90+7’) in Forward Madison’s 5-1 home win over Duluth FC (NPSL)
Xavi Gnaulati, Monterey Bay (USL-C)
Gnaulati scored twice (26’, 45+2’) in Monterey Bay’s 4-0 home win over International San Francisco (USASA/SFSFL).
Rafael Jauregui, Charlotte Independence (USL-1)
Jauregui scored twice (79’, 107’), including the eventual game winning goal in extra time in Charlotte’s 2-1 road win over the Long Island Rough Riders (USL-2)
Sacha Kljestan, Des Moines Menace (USL-2)
Kljestan scored both Menace goals via penalty kicks (57’, 75’) In Des Moines’ 2-1 away win over Sporting Kansas City 2 (MLS NEXT Pro).
Azaad Ladi, Portland Hearts of Pine (USL-1)
Ladi scored two goals (29’, 62’) in Portland’s 4-0 home win over CD Faialanse (BSSL/USASA)
Josh Levine, NY Pancyprian Freedoms (USSSA/APSL)
Levine kept a clean sheet for 120 minutes, facing 24 shots and 4 corner kicks and making 7 saves in the Freedom’s PK win on the road over FC Cincinnati 2 after a 0-0 extra time draw
Johnan Lizarralde, El Farolito (NPSL)
Lizarralde allowed one goal over 9 minutes, facing 18 shots and 5 corner kicks, making 5 saves in El Farolito’s 3-1 upset win on the road against Real Monarchs (MLS NEXT Pro)
Alfredo Midence, Lexington Sporting Club (USL-1)
Midence scored once (46’) and assisted on three other goals in Lexington’s 5-0 home win over Southern Indiana FC (UPSL)
Tommy Mihalic, Los Angeles FC 2 (MLS NEXT Pro)
Mihalic assisted on LAFC2’s first two goals (2’, 27’), then scored his own goal (42’) unassisted in LAFC2’s 7-1 home win over FC Arizona (NPSL)
Luis Müller, Ventura County FC (MLS NEXT Pro)
Muller scored one goal (63’) and assisted on three others in Ventura County FC’s 7-0 home win over Laguna United (UPSL)
Brayan Padilla, FORO SC (UPSL)
Padilla scored both goals (15’, 99’) in FORO SC’s 2–1 upset road win over Texoma FC of USL League One
Niall Reid-Stephen, South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL-1)
Reid-Stephen scored the final two goals (75’, 80’) in South Georgia’s 3-0 home win over Harbor City FC (UPSL)
Joseph Rice, Virginia Dream (USASA/VSSL)
The Virginia Dream GK allowed just one goal on 16 shots and 11 corner kicks, making 5 saves in Virginia Dream’s 3-1 upset win away from home against the Richmond Kickers (USL-1)
Joshua Rodriguez, Carolina Core (MLS NEXT Pro)
Rodriguez scored the first two goals for Carolina (18’ (PK), 58’) and assisted on the third goal in Carolina’s 4-2 home win over Soda City FC (UPSL)
Bryan Romero, El Paso Locomotive (USL-C)
Romero scored back to back goals (37’, 45+2’) in El Paso Locomotives’ 5-1 home win over Harpos FC (USSSA/CPL)
Yu Tsukanome, Tacoma Defiance (MLS NEXT Pro)
Tsukanome scored the final two goals (47’, 71’) in Tacoma’s 3-1 road win over Washington AC (USASA/SRATS)
Tomasz Wróblewski, Little Rock Rangers (USL-2)
Rangers GK Wróblewski posted a clean sheet over 90 minutes, making 3 saves while facing 13 shots and 7 corner kicks in the Little Rock Rangers’ 1-0 home upset over Birmingham Legion (USL-C). He also saved a penalty kick in regulation.