The First Round of the 111th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is complete. There were a number of impressive individual performances over the 31 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?
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Here are the Player of the Round winners from 2025
First Round: Josh Levine, NY Pancyprian Freedoms
Second Round: Hunter Morse, Portland Heart of Pine
Third Round: Peter Rakovsky, Phoenix Rising FC
Fourth Round: Roberto Ydrach, Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Round of 16: Jordan Farr, D.C. United
Quarterfinals: Kelvin Yeboah, Minnesota United FC
Semifinals: Sam Surridge, Nashville SC
Final: Brian Schwake, Nashville SC
Lower Division Player of the Tournament: Ricardo Jerez, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
Player of the Tournament: Sam Surridge, Nashville SC
Here are the finalists (in alphabetical order):
Player, Team (League)
Forster Ajago, Sacramento Republic FC (USL Championship)
Ajago came on as a substitute in the 83rd minute and scored both goals (95’ & 120’+2) in Sacramento Republic FC’s 2-0 home win over El Farolito (NPSL)
Alexander Dalou, Detroit City FC (USL Championship)
Dalou scored one goal (65’) and assisted on two others in Detroit City FC’s 5-1 home win over Michigan Rangers (NPSL)
Ben Fall, Asheville City SC (USL League Two)
Fall played all 90 minutes and assisted on the game-winning goal (82’), and scored the clinching goal (90’+9) in Asheville City SC’s 3-1 home upset of Greenville Triumph SC (USL-1)
Nick Firmino, Lexington Sporting Club (USL League One)
Firmino played all 90 minutes and scored two goals (32’ & 48’) in Lexington Sporting Club’s 9-0 home win over Flower City Union (NPSL)
Phillip Goodrum, Lexington Sporting Club (USL League One)
Goodrum played all 90 minutes and scored one goal (61’) and assisted on another in Lexington Sporting Club’s 9-0 home win over Flower City Union (NPSL)
Hector Guerrero, Virginia Dream FC (USASA)
Guerrero played all 90 minutes, allowed one goal, making 4 saves while facing 10 shots and seven corner kicks in Virginia Dream’s road 2-1 upset of Carolina Core FC (MLS Next Pro)
Andrés Hernández, Hartford Athletic (USL Championship)
Hernández played 80 minutes and scored one goal (51’) and assisted on the other (22’) in Hartford Athletic’s 2-0 road win over FC Motown (USL-2)
Ariel Mbumba, Cruizers FC (NPSL)
Mbumba played 83 minutes as a starter and scored both goals (16’ & 45’+3) in Cruizers FC’s 3-2 road loss to New Mexico United (USL-C)
Kevin O’Connor, FC Naples (USL League One)
O’Connor played all 90 minutes and assisted on the first and third goals (23’ & 90’+2) in FC Naples 3-0 home win over Red Force FC (USASA)
Sergio Ors, Union Omaha (USL League One)
Ors came on as a substitute in the 69th minute and scored two goals (72’ & 744’) and assisted on two others in Union Omaha’s 8-0 road win over BOHFS St. Louis (USASA)
Samuel Owusu, Union Omaha (USL League One)
Owusu played all 90 minutes and scored two goals (49’ & 90’) in Union Omaha’s 8-0 road win over BOHFS St. Louis (USASA)
Kirill Pakhomov, Charleston Battery (USL Championship)
Pakhomov played all 90 minutes and assisted on both goals in the Charleston Battery’s 2-1 home win over Badgers FC (UPSL)
Tola Showunmi, Louisville City (USL Championship)
Showunmi played all 90 minutes and scored both goals (20’ & 30’) in Louisville City FC’s 2-0 home win over Southern Indiana FC (UPSL)
Christian Sorto, San Antonio FC (USL Championship)
Sorto played 71 minutes as a starter and scored two goals (59’ PK & 68’) in San Antonio FC’s 6-0 home win over ASC New Stars (USASA)
Colton Swan, Charleston Battery (USL Championship)
Swan played all 90 minutes and scored both goals (21’ & 90’+12) in the Charleston Battery’s 2-1 home win over Badgers FC (UPSL)
Preston Tabortetaka, Detroit City FC (USL Championship)
Tabortetaka scored the first (22’) and final (86’) goals in Detroit City FC’s 5-1 home win over Michigan Rangers (NPSL)