The Fifth Round (Round of 16) of the 110th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is complete. There were a number of impressive individual performances over the round’s eight games. 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)
Osman Bukari, Austin FC (MLS)
Bukari started and played 70 minutes, scored on a penalty kick in the 6th minute and assisted on another goal in Austin FC’s 3-1 home win over the Houston Dynamo FC (MLS).
Hugo Cuypers, Chicago Fire FC (MLS)
Started, played 70 minutes, scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal in the 69th minute in a 3-1 road win over the New England Revolution (MLS).
Bruno Damiani , Philadelphia Union (MLS)
Damiani started and played 66 minutes, scored Union’s first goal in the 18th minute from a penalty kick, and assisted on Union’s third goal in Philadelphia’s 4-1 home win over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL-C).
Earl Edwards Jr., San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
Edwards Jr. started and played all 120 minutes, keeping a clean sheet while making 5 saves from 14 shots in San Jose’s 1-0 extra time home win over the Portland Timbers FC (MLS)
Jordan Farr, D.C. United (MLS)
Came on as a substitute goalkeeper in the 119th minute and saved four of Charlotte FC’s five attempts in the penalty shootout in D.C. United’s 2-1 PK shootout win after a 2-2 draw at home over Charlotte FC (MLS). It was the first time in the Modern Era that a goalkeeper made four saves in a penalty shootout.
Emil Forsberg, New York Red Bulls (MLS)
Entered the match in the 65th minute, replacing goalscorer Mohamed Sofo. Then scored the game-tying penalty kick in second half stoppage time. After a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes, Forsberg converted his penalty kick attempt in the fifth round of the shootout to beat FC Dallas (MLS), 4-3.
AJ Marcucci, New York Red Bulls (MLS)
Started and played all 120 minutes, allowed two goals but made two critical saves off four shots on target. Made a game-winning save in Round 5 of New York’s 4-3 PK shootout win over FC Dallas (MLS) after a 2-2 draw at home.
Anthony Markanich , Minnesota United FC (MLS)
Markanich started and played all 90 minutes, scoring goals in the 85th and 88th minutes in Minnesota United’s 3–2 come-from-behind home win over St. Louis CITY SC (MLS).
Wyatt Meyer, Nashville SC (MLS)
Started, played 90 minutes and scored the game-winning goal (his first career goal) in the 79th minute in a 3-2 road win over Orlando City SC (MLS).