The Fourth Round of the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup had plenty of history in store by the time it ended on Wednesday night. From the Coffee Pot Cup battle between DC United and Charleston Battery to a match that featured five goals all scored in extra time, there was something unusual to find in every match. However, there was one bit of history that almost nobody could have predicted.
With 16 MLS teams entering this round against 16 lower league opponents, the potential for cupsets seemed great. However, for the first time in the Modern Era, only one non-MLS club will be featured in the Round of 16 of the 110th edition of the US Open Cup.
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds managed to be the last lower league member standing (and earned the $50,000 Division 2 prize money). And while these results may appear that the magic of the cup has left the lower league teams, the round was still marked with high competition, great drama, and more than a handful of gutsy performances that prove the Open Cup is still no cakewalk for the top division teams. Four of the 16 matches went to extra time (one of those ending in penalties) and another six matches ended with only a one-goal margin of victory for the MLS clubs involved.
The “Empire” may have struck back this year, but the lower leagues continue to show that their force is strong.
The Riverhounds and the 15 MLS survivors now advance to face off the week of May 20-21 with spots in the Quarterfinals on the line.
You can find a brief recap of all 16 Fourth Round games with links to the full match report and video highlights (as they become available).
TUESDAY, MAY 6
DC United (MLS)
2:0
Charleston Battery (USL-C)
After Extra Time
By Connor Bunnell
The Round of 32 opened in our nation’s capital with an extra trophy on the line. In a rematch of the 2008 US Open Cup Final, MLS side and three-time Open Cup champions D.C. United bested the USL Championship’s Charleston Battery 2-0 in extra time to retain the Coffee Pot Cup.
Those who know this rare interdivisional derby had every reason to expect fireworks going in, and Charleston was the first to launch them, threatening for goals immediately and taking an early edge in possession over their MLS counterparts. D.C. soon found their footing, though, and in a back-and-forth first half, each side showed their stuff, but neither broke through for a score in the opening 45.
With the Coffee Pot Cup physically in the stadium by halftime, the two teams returned to the pitch hungry to make it theirs. Once again, the Battery threatened hard, getting their second disallowed goal for offsides in as many halves. For their part, United knocked furiously at the door and got multiple setpieces in dangerous territory, but couldn’t make anything of them. Add in some impressive saves from Charleston keeper Luis Zamudio and a painful stretch in the final minutes where the Eagles shot like they thought the goal was somewhere in the upper deck, and you have a recipe for this game going to extra time.
In the 96th minute, the dam finally broke, as D.C.’s Jacob Murrell got a pass from Randall Leal on the break and launched a curving missile from 25 yards out. Not satisfied with breaking the deadlock, the Eagles stayed on the hunt, turning a Battery free kick into a lightning-quick counter, with Jared Stroud poking it past a dumbstruck Zamudio to double the lead and Leal once again orchestrating things with an assist. Charleston’s Juan Torres copped a straight red in the second half of extra time, and that just about sealed it for the home side.
With their victory, DC United move to 36-16-7 all-time in the US Open Cup, as well as claiming a third straight Open Cup win in the Coffee Pot Cup rivalry.
North Carolina FC (USL-C)
1:4
Charlotte FC (MLS)
After Extra Time
By Gracin Galbreath
In a stateside battle between two sides from North Carolina, it would be Charlotte FC who emerged victorious with a 4-1 win through extra time.
It would be a scoreless first half, with NCFC putting up a fair fight—both had two shots but the hosts were edged out in possession. In the second half, it was much of the same. A scoreless regulation would bring it to extra-time.
Once substitutes were introduced, the match exploded into life. In the 97th minute, Liel Abada would break the deadlock for Charlotte after slotting a cutback into the middle of the net. Their 1-0 lead would last only a minute, after Rafael Mentzingen scored a driven shot into the bottom corner. Patrick Agyemang restored a lead for Charlotte in the 104th minute. 2-1 became 3-1 with Petkovic’s strike, and then 4-1 with Vargas who joined the scoring.
Nashville SC (MLS)
1:0
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL-1)
By Jordan Beech
Josh Bauer’s 18th-minute strike was all that was needed for Nashville SC to triumph over Chattanooga Red Wolves SC and advance to the Round of 16 on Wednesday night.
Nashville, largely unbothered by their Division 3 counterparts, advanced to the Round of 16 for the fourth time in club history, including the second time in three years. While Chattanooga’s time in the Cup is over, 2025 was the Red Wolves’ best showing to date in the tournament.
Nashville remains unbeaten in nine all-time home games (8-0-1, 0-1 PKs) in Open Cup competition
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL-C)
1:4
New York Red Bulls (MLS)
By Tim Thomas
A hard fought match on chilly and rainy night at over 6,000 feet above sea level would see the New York Red Bulls overtake the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, 4-1. A first half brace by Mohammed Sofo made all the difference in the match.
The first half did not see many chances for the Red Bulls but Sofo capitalized on both of them he was given, snagging a brace with goals in the 16th and 44th minutes. The second half saw an energized Switchbacks side come out swinging with plenty of chances. Ultimately, it would be New York who would cash in with a goal by Dennis Gjengaar in the 64th minute. Anthony Fontana would give the Switchbacks a fighting chance eight minutes later with a goal. It wouldn’t be enough for the hometown team as Sean Nealis would shut the door with a late Red Bulls goal.
This marked the first time the Colorado Springs Switchbacks had ever hosted an MLS team. The loss would drop Colorado Springs to 7-8-1 all time in the Cup and ensure that they will have to try again next year to make it past the Fourth Round. With the victory New York improves to 28-21-4 in Open Cup matches.
Tacoma Defiance (MLSNP)
2:3
Portland Timbers FC (MLS)
By Andrew Repp
In a spirited Round of 32 match between Portland Timbers of MLS and their Cascadia hosts Tacoma Defiance of MLS NEXT Pro, Portland came out on top in a 3-2 thriller.
After a fairly even first half hour where the hosts arguably had the better of the few chances to be found, Timbers earned the breakthrough after winning a corner in the 33rd minute. Ariel Lassiter swung it in and Zac McGraw headed it in from close range to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Both sides remained aggressive but couldn’t test their respective opposing keepers for the rest of the half.
Defiance quickly got their equalizer just three minutes into the second half when Osaze De Rosario smashed home a Georgi Minoungou cross from the right from close range. They followed the exact same pattern two minutes later, when another Minoungou cross from the right was hammered in by halftime sub Yu Tsukanome to give the home side a 2-1 advantage. In both cases, Timbers keeper Maxime Crepeau could do nothing to stop the shots.
Following the second Tacoma goal, neither team was able to turn any of their half chances into another score until the 80th minute, when Ian Smith of the Timbers sent in a cross from the left that halftime sub Gage Guerra headed past Defiance goalkeeper Andy Thomas to tie the match at 2-2.
There was more back and forth action, but Timbers scored the winning goal after Cristhian Paredes won a penalty kick in the 2nd minute of added time. Kevin Kelsy stepped to the spot and smashed the ball inside the left post to give the visitors a 3-2 lead. Tacoma had one final chance off a corner but were unable to knock it in.
Tacoma’s dream Open Cup run comes to an end, while Portland’s could be just beginning as they move on to the Round of 16.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 7
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL-C)
1:0
New York City FC (MLS)
By Connor Bunnell
The first, and what proved to be the only, Cupset of the round over an MLS team, and it happened in style as the USL Championship’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC defeated New York City FC, 1-0.
In the early going, NYCFC established an overwhelming advantage in possession, a theme that would continue throughout the contest. While Pittsburgh were certainly capable of threatening when they had the ball, their chances were few and far between, while the Pigeons threatened their hosts time and time again, forcing Riverhounds goalie Eric Dick to earn his keep. However, in the 78th minute, City’s overwhelming momentum took a massive hit when defenseman Strahinja Tanasijević made a last man denial of a goal-scoring opportunity. That earned him a straight red and forced the visitors to try and survive with only ten men.
Even after that, New York continued to make menacing approaches, with multiple painful misses in front of Pittsburgh’s net, but the defining moment took place at the end of stoppage time, when Pittsburgh earned one last corner kick. Robbie Mertz launched it to the perfect spot, Beto Ydrach headed it in, and at the absolute death, the Riverhounds took the Cupset.
After this win, Pittsburgh are officially over .500 all-time in the Open Cup, with a record of 19-18-3. This is their third straight win over an MLS team.
Rhode Island FC (USL-C)
1:2
New England Revolution (MLS)
By Zoe Schaedle
Despite enjoying majority of possession, Rhode Island FC fell to the New England Revolution in front of their home fans. The MLS side prevailed with a thrilling 2-1 win over the USL Championship team.
Coming off of a 2-0 road victory over Toronto FC, the Revs looked to counter quickly, attacking Rhode Island’s aggressive defensive press. Meanwhile, Rhode Island looked to win the ball back in the attacking half and target forwards Noah Fuson and Albert Dikwa. However, the Revs defense proved solid having already earned eight clean sheets this season. Defender Sands played a key role in locking down Rhode Island’s attacking threats in Fuson and Kwizera.
In the 38th minute, Revs Tomas Chancalay got the better of Rhode Island’s defense led by Centerback Frank Nodarse who had just returned from his suspension for a red card in the club’s last Cup game against Portland Hearts of Pine. The 26-year-old Argentinian midfielder slotted it past Rhode Island’s goalkeeper Jackson Lee off of a defensive breakdown.
The Revs spearheaded by Luis Diaz’s efforts down the right wing came out hot earning a corner to begin the second half. However, Rhode Island was far from finished, responding by testing New England’s goalkeeper Alex Bono with several shots from outside the box. The equalizer came in the 50th minute from a right footed finish at the top of the box by midfielder Maxi Rodriguez off of a cross from Fuson.
It appeared as if the game would go to extra time when New England’s 75th minute sub Cristiano Oliveira found the back of the net in the 88th minute. The goal was scored off of a rebound shot by teammate Gevork Diarbian who had entered the match for goalscorer Chancalay only a minute before.
Despite a hard fought effort by Rhode Island FC, the New England Revolution avoided “cupset” and advanced to the Round of 16 of the 2025 US Open Cup.
Louisville City FC (USL-C)
0:1
Minnesota United (MLS)
By Ashle Paige
In the first-ever meeting between Louisville City FC and Minnesota United, the hosts from Kentucky dominated nearly the whole match. But in the end it was a single 65th minute strike from Minnesota’s Darius Randell that sent the Loons into the Round of 16.
Coming off a 3-0 thrashing of Austin FC in MLS play just days prior, MNUFC brought in nine players from their MLS NEXT Pro squad to fill out the matchday eighteen. Louisville only changed three players from their previous match against Lexington and from the outset took advantage of the youth and cup inexperience of most of the Minnesota roster. The Boys in Purple seemed to take the lead early on in the contest with a 7th minute goal from Ray Serrano. Ultimately the goal was called back for offside and both clubs settled in for a grinding match that saw no shots on target through the halfway mark.
The second half of play started in the same fashion as the first, with Louisville controlling the pace of play and getting the better of Minnesota. Just as it was in the first half the Loons gained more and more composure. A 65th minute goal from the visitors, when Sang Bin Jeong slipped a low cross across the box to 17 year-old Darius Randell who banged home the shot, was the only one of the night and ultimately sent Minnesota on to the second round.
Louisville did not give up and proceeded to pepper Minnesota United with shots and take even more control for the remaining 35 minutes of the match. In response MNUFC moved to a much more defensive formation to do everything they could to see out the match. 15 shots from Louisville later Minnesota handed LouCity their first loss of 2025 in any competition and set up a date with St. Louis City in the Round of 16.
Philadelphia Union (MLS)
1:1
Indy Eleven (USL-C)
Philadelphia advances 5-4 on penalty kicks
By George Diamond
The Philadelphia Union needed a penalty kick shootout to get past Indy Eleven in a chippy but exciting game. A heavily rotated Union squad opened the scoring early. In the 6th minute, Alejandro Bedoya headed a ball home past Indy goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook off a pinpoint Olivier Mbaizo cross.
Budding young star, Cavan Sullivan, impressed during his first start for the club but was denied a first goal by Charles-Cook several times. On the whole, the Union dominated but were unable to get a second goal.
Shortly after halftime, Elvis Amoh equalizied with a slick backheel, putting the Eleven right back into action. Philly were forced to put on their starters. They peppered Indy’s goal, taking a whopping 33 shots in total, but were unable to find a go-ahead goal. On the other end of the pitch, Andrew Rick was called into action far less than his counterpart, but made several spectacular stops to prevent a cupset. Despite the Union pressure, Indy Eleven survived extra time and the game went to penalties. Former Union SuperDraft pick Aodhan Quinn saw his shot saved by Rick and Jovan Lukic went on to score the winning kick in the shootout, sending the fans at Subaru Park into raptures. The Union will advance to the Round of 16 where they will face the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in an intrastate matchup.
Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL-C)
0:5
Orlando City SC (MLS)
By James Knowles
In a fixture known as much for the fireworks off the pitch as on it, the Tampa Bay Rowdies played host to Orlando City. After holding their own for the first thirty minutes or so, it seemed like the dam burst. In fact, it was 16-year-old academy product Gustavo Caraballo who benefitted most, scoring the first and second goals before a third from Ramiro Enrique effectively sealed the result before halftime.
After the break, both teams made a few subs. The visitors were able to take their foot off the gas while also putting the game out of reach with goals from Duncan McGuire and Dagur Thórhallsson. It finished that way after 90 minutes – or a little sooner for a number fans who were escorted out. Orlando City maintained its record in competitive games vs. the Rowdies and moves on to the Round of 16.
Chicago Fire (MLS)
4:0
Detroit City FC (USL-C)
By Tim Hotze
Few cities in the country have longer or more storied histories in professional sports than Chicago and Detroit, but two pro teams from the two cities had never met in the Modern Era of the most historic trophy in the world’s largest sport until the Chicago Fire hosted Detroit City in Wednesday night’s US Open Cup Round of 32 matchup. Ultimately, the home side completed a routine and professional match against an overwhelmed lower-division opponent to the disappointment of their large contingent of traveling supporters, with Chicago finishing the night as 4-0 victors.
The match pitted a struggling Chicago Fire side, winless in their last six, against a Detroit City team undefeated in their last six games across all competitions, but it didn’t take long for the MLS team to make their mark when Maren Haile-Selassie managed to gain possession inside Detroit’s box in the fourth minute, sending the ball to Hugo Cuypers. From short distance, Cuypers cannoned the ball past Detroit goalkeeper Carlos Saldaña, who had no chance on the play. In the 35th minute, the Fire doubled their lead off an own goal by Detroit’s Darren Smith created by Chicago’s pressure in the box.
The Fire added a third in the 50th minute when Chicago’s Jonathan Bamba pulled Detroit’s defense to him creating time and space for Omari Glasgow, giving Guyana’s all-time scorer his first goal for Chicago’s first team after making his U.S. Open Cup debut last year with Chicago Fire II in MLS Next Pro. In the 71st minute, Brian Gutiérrez set up Maren Haile-Selassie for the Fire’s fourth and final goal of the evening. The goal gave the Swiss winger a three point night alongside his two assists on the night.
The Chicago Fire’s 4-0 victory sets up an all-MLS matchup in the Round of 16 against the New England Revolution and ends Detroit City’s hopes to build on their U.S. Open Cup performance last year where they eliminated the defending champion Houston Galaxy.
St. Louis CITY FC (MLS)
2:0
Union Omaha (USL-1)
By Tim Abbott
An uneventful first half between the hosts and the Owls, with CITY reduced to pot shots from distance but Union not threatening from their low block.
The theme continued in the second half and the game was decided by another blast from distance, a dipping shot from 25 yards by CITY debutant Joey Zalinsky in the 68th minute, for his first ever professional goal. João Klauss added icing to the scoreline in the 86th minute. And thus ended the lofty aims of the Owls of Union Omaha to add another cupset to their extensive record.
CITY move on to play Minnesota United twice in a week – once in MLS and once in the Round of 16 of the Open Cup. Union Omaha does walk away with a $50,000 consolation prize as the Third Division team that advanced the furthest in the tournament (they edged Tacoma Defiance via a “regulation wins” tiebreaker)
FC Dallas (MLS)
3:1
AV ALTA FC (USL-1)
By Julian Cardillo
FC Dallas opened their 2025 US Open Cup campaign with a 3-1 victory over AV ALTA FC, a USL League One entry from Southern California, in the Round of 32 at Toyota Stadium on Wednesday night.
Goals from Luciano Acosta, Kaick da silva Ferreira, and Bernard Kamungo powered Dallas to victory. That said, the slickest moment of the match — indeed, what may go down as the best goal in this year’s edition of the 110-year-old tournament — came in the 16th minute, when AV ALTA’s Osvaldo Rafael Lay Ayala found the back of the net with an effort from behind the midfield line; Ayala’s long-range stunner bounced over the head of Dallas goalkeeper Michael Collodi, who was off his line, before settling inside the goal.
Ayala’s goal served as a formidable response to Acosta’s opener, which was converted off a low cross from the right flank in the third minute. Kaick restored Dallas’ lead in the 42nd minute after being played in behind on the left edge of the box by Tsiki Ntsabeleng. Kamungo put the game out of reach by finishing a low cross from the left flank in the 71st minute.
FC Dallas, owners of the 1997 and 2016 U.S. Open Cup titles, play the New York Red Bulls in the Round of 16 on either May 20 or 21.
Austin FC (MLS)
3:2
El Paso Locomotive FC (USL-C)
By A.D. Mosier
For 72 minutes, it looked like El Paso Locomotive FC was going to pull a Texas-sized Cupset in the first ever meeting between the two sides.
Leaning on a first-half brace by Beto Avila with just over a quarter of an hour to play, it looked like the lowly USL Championship side would slay the giants to the north. Then the Verde seemed to wake up, scoring three unanswered goals in the span of seven minutes to advance to stop the Locomotive’s hopes of advancing into the Round of 16 in its tracks.
Brandon Vasquez earned the hefty transfer fee Austin paid to bring him back north of the border bookending Austin’s scoring, along with Myrto Uzuni, whose 76th minute goal drew Austin level.
Moments after El Paso had goal called back for an obvious offside, Avila opened scoring in the 20th minute, beating two Austin defenders off the dribble inside the penalty area. Avila bagged his second on the night thanks to some dodgy defending, getting the rebound off a badly played ball off a defender and hitting the ball to the far post, where Austin goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland failed to make a routine save to his right.
It wasn’t until the final 20 minutes that Austin looked like the higher-budget team. Vasquez finally put the hosts on the scoreboard in the 73rd minute running onto a through-ball from Owen Wolff. Uzuni drew the hosts level three minutes later, slotting the ball to the far post from 18 yards after some deft post-up play by Vasquez. Then Vasquez put Austin in the lead with his head four minutes later, redirecting a Wolff cross to put Austin through to the Round of 16 for the second time in club history.
Phoenix Rising FC (USL-C)
1:4
Houston Dynamo FC (MLS)
After Extra Time
By A.D. Mosier
It took 120 minutes, but the Houston Dynamo will move on to the Round off 16 thanks to a brilliant 99th minute goal by Jack McGlynn to break a 1-1 deadlock with Phoenix Rising. The 2023 Open Cup champions would go on to score three goals in extra time to advance to the Round of 16
Felipe Andrade put the Dynamo in the lead in the 17th minute, nodding home a 17th minute free kick from Nico Lodeiro.
Dariusz Formella pulled the home side level in the fourth minute of first-half added time from the penalty spot after a controversial call on Dynamo goalkeeper, Blake Gillingham, on Ihsan Sacko.
The second half was all Dynamo. Everyone at Phoenix Rising Stadium knew it was only a matter of time before the bending Rising back line would finally break.
Jack McGlynn put the visitors in the lead with a spectacular left-footed goal in the 99th minute. McGlynn entered the match in the 63rd minute as part of a Houston shift change that seized control of the match. After several near misses in regulation, McGlynn bagged the winner, curling his twenty-yard shot to the far post past a statuesque Patrick Rakovsky.
From there, the floodgates opened. Substitute Ezequiel Ponce iced the game in the 112th minute finishing a cross from Ondrej Linger from close range, followed by a fourth goal by Sebastian Kowalczyk three minutes later to put the Dynamo through to the Round of 16.
San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
2:1
Sacramento Republic FC (USL-C)
By Tim Howerton
The San Jose Earthquakes started quickly as they defeated Sacramento Republic 2-1 on Wednesday night. The hosts dominated all phases of the match and, despite the scoreline, were never in danger of falling to their second division rivals.
Preston Judd found Amahl Pellegrino only 67 seconds into the match to start the scoring. Sacramento’s defense then found themselves on the back foot for the majority of the next 20 minutes, and were lucky not to be down even more. Pellegrino proved himself to be a major problem in the center and left of the box, but couldn’t complete three more early chances at increasing the San Jose lead.
After amassing only 18% possession in the first 25 minutes Sacramento started to find signs of life, began some good spells of possession and got in some dangerous positions. The attack was just a step too slow, however, and the defense found ways to constantly recover holding the USL Championship side to only one shot in the first half—which was well off target.
Just as the visitors thought they might escape to the locker room with their luck intact, Judd grabbed a goal of his own. His 43rd-minute strike, off an amazing flick on assist from 19-year-old Niko Tsakiris, set the halftime scoreline at 2-0.
The second half wasn’t quite action packed as San Jose was able to hold Sacramento at arms length for most of the half. The hosts had the more dangerous of chances, including three that Pellegrino will wish he could have slotted home, but Sacramento was able to build better momentum and possession going forward.
However, what was looking to be a professional performance to close out the second half could have proven to be very nervous for San Jose. Jamar Ricketts was shown a straight red card in the 83rd minute as his challenge from behind on Aaron Edwards was immediately deemed too dangerous.
Trevor Amann was able to get a consolation goal back for Sacramento in the 6th minute of stoppage time, but it would prove too little, too late as the USL Championship side bowed out of the tournament.
San Jose Earthquakes will now prepare to host Portland Timbers on either May 20th or 21st in the Round of 16.