2026 US Open Cup Round 3: Colorado Rapids mark return with 1-0 win over Union Omaha

After a two-year absence, the Colorado Rapids returned to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 win over USL League One side, Union Omaha, Tuesday night to advance to the Round of 16.

For many inside and out of the Rapids organization, Tuesday’s game was mostly an afterthought with Saturday’s league match versus Inter Miami.

But before the Rapids could worry about Saturday’s 30^th anniversary match with Lionel Messi and about 60-plus thousand of its nearest and dearest, the Rapids had to dispatch of pesky third-division Union Omaha in the Round of 32 in front of a chilly, sparse crowd at Dicks Sporting Goods Park.

The Rapids trotted out a mixed lineup of starters and reserves — only one of whom was part of the last Rapids Open Cup side that lost at home, 1-0, to Real Salt Lake in 2023—including 15-year-old debutant, Nathan Tchoumba.

“He’s a fantastic young man,” said manager Matt Wells of the academy product. “He’s definitely warranted the opportunity. Having him in the squad was something I wanted to do because it’s really exciting for the club. It’s very exciting for the fan base to have a young player to identify with.”

The two clubs traded volleys early. Before the Rapids could even crack open their smelling salts, Diego Gutierrez found room on the left flank, finding a streaking Adrian Billhardt making a far post run, missing just wide.

Two minutes later Dante Sealy, who had yet to find the back of the net since his move to the Rapids in the offseason, found room on the right, forcing Omaha’s goalkeeper, Rashid Nuhu to save to his right.

“The lack of a goal to that point has started to weigh on him. I could see that in the way he was training,” Wells said. “I can see that in his decision making in games.”

Omaha showed early signs of struggling with the Rapids’ stifling press. After several turnovers, right back Keegan Rosenberry stripped Omaha center back Brett Kallman of the ball at the 18-yard box. The tackle conveniently ended at Sealy’s feet. With the defensive pressure pancaked under Rosenberry, Sealy took a touch into the penalty area, setting up a simple left-footed pass to the far post for his first goal in Rapids burgundy.

“I’m still slowly integrating into the team,” Sealey said. “We’re in a good space. We get a lot of chances. We’ll score a lot of goals.”

The press nearly bit the Rapids in the backside at the end of the first half. With less than two minutes to play a quick counter had the Rapids’ defense chasing a streaking Gutierrez on the left flank. Gutierrez put Billhardt in on goal, but he could not beat Rapids backup goalkeeper Nico Hansen.

“We got two No. 1s in goal,” Wells said. “That’s how I see it. So we’re really, really fortunate in that respect. That’s what I want to create in every other position.”

With five minutes to play, the Rapids nearly put the game away. After the game was dragged to a crawl as Union Omaha scratched, clawed, kicked and fouled its way through the second half, the Rapids midfielder Mamzat Ojediran plowed through two Union Omaha defenders to get on the end of a corner kick, putting the ball back on goal. Nuhu managed to get enough of the gently headed ball to put it off the crossbar before it was finally cleared from danger.

Before it was all over, a total of seven yellow cards were issued between the clubs as the final quarter of an hour more resembled a community center professional wrestling card than a cup tie.

“It was a very physical game. That’s what the cup brings, that kind of intensity,” Sealey said. “This game for them was a final. It’s good that we got the result. That’s all that matters.” With the win, the Rapids advance to the Round of 16 for an I-25 Derby versus the Colorado Springs Switchbacks after the USL Championship side’s resounding 3-0 win over Sporting KC.