Andrew Mosier

2026 US Open Cup Semifinals: St. Louis CITY blank Colorado Rapids, reach first USOC Final

September 17, 2026 by Andrew Mosier

Several St. Louis CITY SC fans made the trip to Commerce City, Colo. to cheer on their team during the 2026 US Open Cup Semifinal match against the Colorado Rapids. Photo: St. Louis CITY SC

The drought is over. After a 38-year absence, a team from St. Louis is back in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final.

Following a rich history of St. Louis clubs, St. Louis CITY SC advanced to its first US Open Cup Final with a 3-0 win over the Colorado Rapids Wednesday night at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park.

Jeong Sang-bin scored in the first half, and Simon Becher and Alexandru-Irinel Mǎtan added goals in the second stanza to put St. Louis into the Final on Oct. 21 against the Columbus Crew at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus.

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“Tonight was a complete performance. The way we defended, the way we attacked. I’m really proud of the group,” Yoann Damet, St. Louis CITY SC head coach, said. “We’re writing history for this club. We’re playing in the first final in club history, the first game for a trophy. This is their reward for all the work they’ve put in, all the trust they have in each other.”

Busch Soccer Club was the last St. Louis-based club to appear in an Open Cup Final, beating San Francisco’s Greek American AC 2-1 at the fabled St. Louis Soccer Park to capture the 1988 US Open Cup title. St. Louis City will be the 23^rd Missouri-based club to appear in the Open Cup final. Out of the 110 tournament, a total of 10 teams from St. Louis have lifted the trophy.

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Wednesday’s win entended St. Louis’ unbeaten streak to 17 games across all competitions, a streak that started May 9 against the Rapids in Commerce City.

There was no love lost between the two mid-table Western Conference clubs. Neither of the two fixtures between the two clubs this season—both 1-0 St. Louis wins—could be considered elegant, with 11 cautions and three ejections in the two matches, which also included words between the coaching staffs, not to mention St. Louis buying the Rapids captain Rafael Navarro for a club-record $12 million during the summer transfer window.

Navarro had one goal in the Rapids run to the Semifinals, a penalty kick in the Rapids’ 2-0 quarterfinal win over San Jose.

With even more at stake, the edge of the clubs’ two regular season matches carried over, with both sides looking to make boot-sized impressions on the other from the opening whistle. Referee Joe Dickerson had more than his handful six cautions, which included a VAR rescinded straight red card for what he judged to be a studs-up challenge the replay proved not to be.

It was the Rapids who had the first two chances—albeit slim ones—early in the match, failing to fully connect on crosses that sent City goalkeeper Roman Bürki scrambling across the face of his goal to see the ball safely out of play. In the eighth minute, Darren Yappi got in behind with a long run from midfield, but his touch failed him before he could turn to goal.

St. Louis came right back at the Rapids, putting Mǎtan though the Rapids high defensive line, forcing Rapids goalkeeper Adam Beaudry to make a swatting save as Mǎtan tried to put the ball around him.

The back-and-forth continued through the half-hour mark, when a howler from Beaudry, a homegrown player who spent much of the year playing for Loudoun United in the USL Championship, turned the tide of the game. Looking to slow the game, the Rapids played the ball back to Beaudry, who’s poor touch went straight into Sang-bin’s shins. Both players went to ground scrambling for the ball. Sang-bin was quicker to his feet and easily tapped the ball into the goal to put St. Louis on the board in the 32^nd minute.

“Sang-bin created that goal,” Damet said. “He made that mistake happen. His run, his starting position, his hard work. He made that goal happen. To score a goal like that, when you’re playing away, gives you a lot of confidence.”

St. Louis carried the momentum into the second half when Simon Becher finished a ball played into the penalty area from Conrad Wallem on a quick break after the Rapids were dispossessed at midfield. After a lengthy review, Dickerson was called to the VAR screen to determine if a foul at midfield created the goalscoring opportunity. After multiple replays—and possibly a Friends episode—Dickerson let the 52nd minute goal stand.

Simon Becher of St. Louis CITY SC celebrates with Conrad Wallem after scoring a goal against the Colorado Rapids in the 2026 US Open Cup Semifinals. Photo: St. Louis CITY SC

The game unraveled after that.

Seven minutes later, Mǎtan made it 3-0, running onto a superb flick-on from Thomas Totland after a quick restart at midfield after the Rapids’ Paxten Aaronson picked up a petulant caution. As Mǎtan’s shot hit the back of the net, the 300 or so St. Louis fans in attendance began chanting “We want the cup.”

The chant rang through the half-filled DICK’S Sporting Goods Park well after the final whistle blew and St. Louis players celebrated with the traveling fans.

“We are very happy we have fans like this,” Bürki, the team captain, who has been with the club since its inaugural season in 2023. “Everywhere we play, there are St. Louis CITY fans, and that means a lot to us. And yeah, we want the cup, too.”

1988 US Open Cup champions: Busch SC of St. Louis

With Wednesday night’s semifinal win, St. Louis CITY will travel to Ohio to face the Columbus Crew, where Damet was an assistant coach during the Crew’s 2023 MLS Cup winning run.

“We want to make history for the club, win the first trophy for the club. There is a feeling of not being satisfied, wanting to push, wanting to keep fighting for one another. It’s the mindset this group has,” said Damet. “At the end of the day, these guys turn up ready every single day to work. Playing in a final is a reward for that hard work.”

2026 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Colorado Rapids blank Earthquakes to reach first Semifinal since 1999

May 21, 2026 by Andrew Mosier

Darren Yepi of the Colorado Rapids celebrates after scoring a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes in the Quarterfinals of the 2026 US Open Cup. Photo: Colorado Rapids

For the first time since its inglorious 1999 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup run, the Colorado Rapids are through to the Semifinal round with a 2-0 win over San Jose Earthquakes at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Darren Yapi and Rafael Navarro scored goals in the waning minutes of the first half to put the Rapids through to host St. Louis CITY SC in the semifinal round the week of Sept. 15-16.

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“It’s great to be in the semifinal, but of course we’re not satisfied with that,” Rapids head coach Matt Wells said. “We’ve got a lot of talent in our dressing room. This is where I expect us to be. This is the standard I want going forward.”

In the first quarter of an hour San Jose tested Rapids’ goalkeeper Nico Hansen three times, including twice from close range as the Rapids defenders struggled tracking the Quakes late runs into the box.

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The Rapids answered—or thought it had—in the 22^nd minute after San Jose failed to fully clear a Paxten Aaronson free kick. Josh Atencio ran down the ball on the left wing and found Rafael Navarro at the far post. Navarro pushed the ball past the flailing Daniel at the far post.

After the pyrotechnic smoke had cleared referee Fotis Bazakos was summoned to the replay screen at midfield, where he determined that defender Rob Holding was offside on the initial free kick—without directly being involved with play—nullifying the goal. Unlike earlier Open Cup rounds, VAR was implemented in the quarterfinal round.

“It’s something we’re going to have to take a close look at,” Wells said. “Rob was in an offside position but not contesting for the ball.”

Already degenerating even before the VAR decision, the game further degenerated as both teams took turns knocking the other to the ground as Bazakos waived his yellow card at the back of the offending players. A total of five yellow cards were shown before all was said and done.

With five minutes to play in the first half Darren Yapi banged in a goal that VAR could not take away off a Dante Sealy cross that began with a short corner. Yapi did everything he needed to connect with Sealy’s driven cross a yard from goal to put the ball past Daniel, who was then hit with a bottle from the stands as he fished the ball out of the net. Daniel’s assailant was escorted out by Commerce City Police in handcuffs. The goal was Yapi’s first in Open Cup play.

“That was straight off the training ground,” Wells said. “It was a brilliant delivery from Dante .”

VAR gave the Rapids a second goalscoring opportunity eight minutes into first half added time when Bazakos whistled San Jose defender Reid Roberts for an awkward handling of the ball. Bazakos awarded the free kick just outside of the penalty area. After a long look, Bazakos awarded the Rapids a penalty kick after video showed Roberts was inside the ball when he handled the ball.

Captain for the night, Rafael Navarro took the ball and stood on the penalty spot while San Jose made the requisite protests, slotting his shot to Daniel’s right to put the Rapids up 2-0 ten minutes into second half added time.

“Rafael put in a great effort tonight, his selflessness, the way he helped the team,” Wells said. “It is a benchmark for him, to build and improve. When we do that, we’ve got a top player. It was a great performance for me.”

As the second half wore on it was clear it was not going to be San Jose’s night. The Rapids did all it needed to hold onto the lead—almost adding to it, making Daniel save from close range. When San Jose did have opportunities: shots were either skied over the crossbar or blasted well wide.

Colorado Rapids players celebrate with their fans after a 2-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes in the Quarterfinals of the 2026 US Open Cup. Photo: Colorado Rapids

“We needed to suffer in the second half as a team,” Wells said. “Every single player was participating, focused, putting in the effort.”

With a quarter of an hour left San Jose made its last push, forcing Hanses to save twice to keep the scoresheet clean as a visibly frustrated Bruce Arena stood on the touchline with his hands in his pockets.

Wednesday night’s win was the Rapids’ first Open Cup win versus an MLS opponent in 20 years—a 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake in 2006. It snapped a seven-game losing streak against fellow MLS teams.

The Rapids will host St. Louis CITY SC in the Open Cup Semifinals at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park the week of Sept. 15-16. It will be the first Semifinal the Rapids have hosted in team history and the first time they have reached the final four since 1999, the year that they reached the championship game, but ultimately fell to the Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-League).

2026 US Open Cup Round of 16: 10-man Colorado Rapids end Quarterfinal drought, beat Switchbacks in PKs

April 30, 2026 by Andrew Mosier

Colorado Rapids players celebrate after winning a PK shootout against Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the Round of 16 of the 2026 US Open Cup. Photo: Isaiah J. Downing/Switchbacks FC

A ten-man Colorado Rapids advanced to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Quarterfinals Wednesday night, topping USL Championship side Colorado Springs Switchbacks in seven rounds of penalty kicks after playing to a 2-2 draw in extra time at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Afte the Rapids missed two consecutive kicks from the mark to send the kicks to sudden death, defender Keegan Rosenberry converted his penalty kick to give the Rapids the win and their first trip to the Quarterfinals in nearly two decades.

“That was a crazy game. And credit to them, we knew we gave them massive respect. Obviously, you see with the lineup we put out there, but also with the preparation and knowing it was going to be a very difficult opponent,” said Rapids manager, Matt Wells. “They play very direct, they’re very physical, so it makes it difficult to establish any rhythm in the game.”

Wednesday night’s Round of 16 was the first meeting between the two Colorado-based clubs in a decade. After taking control of the match early, the Rapids took the lead in the 25th minute when Rafeal Navarro put Alexis Manyoma through to goal, pulling Switchback goalkeeper Christian Herrera off his line. Herrera got a piece of Manyoma’s right-footed poke from close range, but it wasn’t enough.

Nine minutes later, the Switchbacks Brennan Creek turned the game on its side after the Rapids failed to clear a Switchbacks corner played to the near post. Creek found himself unmarked at the far post with the ball at his feet, pushing it past Rapids goalkeeper Nico Hansen.

With the run of play in the first half, the Rapids added additional firepower during the intermission, bringing on Georgi Minounhou for Hamzat Ojediran. It nearly paid immediate dividends when Minounhou beat the Switchback’s Patrick Burner on the endline, finding Navarro inside the six-yard box before it was cleared off the line by center back Matt Mahoney.

After mostly playing—and allowing the Rapids to play—in the first half, the Switchbacks took a page out of the USL-One side Union Omaha, which did everything but allow the Rapids to play 15 days earlier in the Rapids 1-0 Round 3 win.

After much start-and-stop it looked like the Rapids would finally get its go-ahead goal after Darren Yapi was put through by the captain for the night, Navarro. Yapi rounded Herrera with only green grass and the goal in front of him but slowed enough in collecting the ball to let center back Matthew Mahoney catch up and clear the ball off the line.

Even with the game slowed considerably from the first half, the Rapids maintained control of the match until halftime substitute Kosi Thompson was shown a straight red card with no compunction from referee Rosendo Mendoza for a hard tackle through the back of the legs of Yosuke Hanya at midfield, leaving the Rapids with ten players to finish the game.

“When we went down to ten, we went to another level in terms of commitment of the team, energy, intensity, players doing double jobs, triple jobs, and then still had quality moments so we should have won the game,” Wells said.

As regulation came to a close, chants of “USL” rang from the 300 or so Switchbacks fans that filled two sections of the north end of the stadium.

The Rapids took a cautious approach entering extra time, moving to a conservative 4-3-2, pushing numbers forward at opportune moments. That moment came in the 114^th minute when Hansen sent a searching goal kick towards Navarro in the center circle. Navarro flicked the restart on to the streaking Minoungou, who won the footrace in on goal, finishing with his right foot 15 yards from goal in what looked like the winner.

Until it wasn’t.

The Switchbacks immediately went searching for the equalizer, again. Substitute Aidan Rochoa found himself free on the right flank, cutting to goal before smashing in a cross that Mendoza caught Rapids deemed to be handled by midfielder Josh Atencio inside the penalty area. With no VAR, the call stood, giving the USL side a lifeline with no time left. After much hemming and hawing, Khori Bennett buried the penalty kick, leveling things at two. After the formality of the restart after the goal Mendoza blew the end of extra time sending the game to kicks from the mark.

“I don’t think it’s ever a penalty with Josh Atencio, so we should have won the game without eating the shootout, but then even once we had the setback,” Wells said. “You go into the shootout probably as the underdogs by that point, but I thought the way the guy is refocused and blocked out all the frustration from the referee.”

As the goalkeepers made their way to the end of the field, the Switchbacks fans made the 120-yard sprint to the other end of the field, filling in the outside edges of the Rapids’ supporters’ section behind the goal.

Bennett buried his second penalty in less than five minutes to put the Switchbacks on the board first. Navarro leveled things at 1-1. Danny Rojas lookalike, Juan Tejada netted the Switchbacks second kick, followed by Rapids substitute, Rob Holding making it 2-2.

Switchbacks Samuel Williams gifted the Rapids the advantage with the third kick when his stutter steps confused only him, making for an easy save for Hanses to his right, then Lucas Herrington put the Rapids up 3-2 scoring to Herrera’s left.

Nico Hansen of the Colorado Rapids makes a save in the PK shootout against Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the Round of 16 of the 2026 US Open Cup. Photo: Isaiah J. Downing/Switchbacks FC

“All the pressure is on the penalty taker,” Hansen said. “As much as possible, I just try to get in their head because at the end of the day, the pressure is on them. And with the fans behind the goal as well, you just want to put as much pressure on them as you can.”

Jon-Talen Maples and Dante Sealy both scored to make it 4-3 Rapids, followed by Tyreek Magee for the Switchbacks, leaving it to Minoungou, whose shot slammed off the post and back into play, leveling things at 4-4.

Not to be outdone, Switchbacks defender Patrick Burner put his following kick off the other post, again handing the advantage to the Rapids before Atencio’s poorly hit penalty down the middle of the goal was kicked away by Herrera keeping the score at 4-4.

After Hanses had little difficulty saving the Switchbacks Jonas Fjeldberg attempt, it was down to veteran Keegan Rosenberry, who thoughtfully placed the winner past Herrera low to the right.

The win puts the Rapids through to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2007. With the Switchbacks loss, only MLS teams are left standing entering the quarterfinals.

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

April 15, 2026 by Andrew Mosier

Rafael Navarro (right) of the Colorado Rapids battles for the ball with a player from Union Omaha in the Third Round of the 2026 US Open Cup. Photo: Colorado Rapids

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.

2026 US Open Cup Round 1: Switchbacks FC blank Azteca FC to remain perfect vs. amateurs

March 18, 2026 by Andrew Mosier

Players from the Colorado Springs Switchbacks and Azteca FC battle for the ball in the First Round of the 2026 US Open Cup. Photo: Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

The Colorado Springs Switchbacks eked out a 3-0 victory over amateur side Azteca FC Tuesday night to advanced to Round 2 of the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Jona Fjeldberg put the reserve-heavy home side up with a sixth minute free kick, and Masereka Sadam and Khori Bennett tallied assurance goals with less than 10 minutes to play.

With the win, the Switchbacks improve to 6-0-0 all-time against Amateur opposition in Open Cup play.

Even before either team had time to get a feel for the match, Azteca’s Edgar Olivas was compelled to drag the Switchbacks’ Juan Tejada down after turning over the ball at the top of the penalty area.

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Fjeldberg then went about his business, nonchalantly slotting the free kick low around the wall to put the home side up 1-0 while a good portion of the announced 1,500 in attendance were still in the beer lines.

Being courteous hosts, the Switchbacks responded in kind two minutes later when Brennan Creek misplayed a ball in his own penalty area and then clumsily fouled Azteca’s Jovany Herrera in a scramble for the ball as it was going out of the penalty area, gifting the visitors a penalty in the eighth minute.

Generally reliable in front of goal, Switchbacks goalkeeper Christian Herrera scuffed his making for an easy but awkward save. He spilled the ball back into play before Olivas skied the rebound into the parking lot.

The penalty and play through the rest of the first half left Switchbacks head coach, Alan McCann fuming.

“Just because the opponent is what they are , you do not play down to that level. It’s the same old mistake that you see a lot in the Open Cup. It nearly happened here tonight,” McCann said. “Chris pulls the heroics off with the penalty save. Literally, straight after we scored, we go and do that.”

From there, it became a game of half-chances and tactical fouls as the Denver-based amateur side clawed and scratched with 10 men behind the ball, limiting the Switchbacks chances. It was more of a game of checkers than chess before the professionals’ fitness and discipline finally overtook the pluck and the plodding of the amateurs allowing Sadam and Bennett to put the game away in the final ten minutes of the match with routine training ground finishes from inside the box.

“The second half was a lot better. You see the power we have in this building when we switch it on. It’s difficult because they rose to the occasion and had some good talent out there,” McCann said. “But we have to hold ourselves to a higher standard. We did that in the second half.”

With the win, the Switchbacks advance to Round 2 of the Cup for the second year in a row.

2025 US Open Cup Round 4: Mohammed Sofo’s brace help NY Red Bulls cruise past Switchbacks

May 7, 2025 by Andrew Mosier

New York Red Bulls forward Mohammed Sofo (37) controls the ball under pressure from Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC defender Akeem Ward (3) and midfielder Stevie Echeverria (13) in the Fourth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Isaiah J. Downing / Switchbacks FC

The New York Red Bulls made quick work of the reigning USL Championship winners, riding two first half goals from Mohammed Sofo to cruise past the Colorado Springs Switchbacks 4-1 in Round 4 of the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on Tuesday at a cold, wet, Weidner Field in downtown Colorado Springs.

Dennis Gjengaar and Sean Nealis added second half goals for the 2024 MLS Cup runners-up in its first Open Cup match of 2025. Anthony Fontana scored for the Switchbacks.

“This was a very good team, I was really surprised with the quality of the Switchbacks,” said New York Red Bulls coach Sandro Schwarz.

This was his first meeting against a USL Championship side since taking over as head coach of the Red Bulls before the 2024 season.

“They came out with a clear philosophy and made things difficult for us to play at times. This was a very good team,” Schwarz said.

It took the visitors time to adjust to the elevation, compounded with a steady rain that threatened throughout the game to turn to snow as temperatures hovered just above freezing.

The Switchbacks came out on its front foot pressuring the reserve-heavy MLS side. It wasn’t until after the first quarter of an hour mark that the field began to tilt in the Red Bulls’ favor.

“I said this to the guys, the rotation doesn’t mean we are coming here and only to collect some minutes for some,” Schwarz said. “We want to win. This competition is important. So we got the result we wanted today with some different players.”

Sofo gave the Red Bulls control of the game in the 16^th minute with a solo effort inside the Switchbacks penalty area, turning his defender before sliding the ball just inside Christian Herera’s near post.

“What we saw out of (Sofo) today is the result of his development over the years,” Schwarz said. “He’s very aggressive, he’s very, very strong in the duel, very good in deep runs and then also to be able to make the last pass.”

With control of the run of play, it was only a matter of time before the Red Bulls picked up its second goal. Sofo, a former Red Bull II player, picked up his second on the night, connecting with Noah Eile to put Sofo in alone on Herera. Sofo had little difficulty making it 2-0 a minute before halftime.

“It looks like a miscommunication on that second goal that really changed the momentum of the game, ” Switchbacks’ coach James Chambers said. “Did they slice us open? No, I don’t think so. I don’t feel that way. I didn’t feel like they absolutely outplayed us. But they scored four bloody goals. So where did they come from? If they don’t slice us open? Is it the structure? We’ll have to have a look at the back, but I don’t feel like that, at this moment. I feel like it’s individual moments where we were not locked in.”

New York Red Bulls defender Sean Nealis (15) celebrates his goal with teammates in the second half against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the Fourth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Isaiah J. Downing/Switchbacks FC

Like in the first half, the Switchbacks started the second half on its front foot, flashing two balls across the face of goal and forcing Red Bull goalkeeper, AJ Marcucci, to save with his feet to keep the two-goal advantage.

Gjengaar made it 3-0 in the 64^th minute after a defensive lapse by the USL Championship side, allowing Sofo and Wiktor Bogacz to have passing practice at the edge of the penalty area. After a calm back and forth, Soto found Gjengaar at the top of the penalty area with plenty of time to slot his shot past Herrera.

Fontana pulled a goal back for the Switchbacks in the 71^st minute, first-timing a cross from Matthew Real for what looked like an effortless goal to give the hosts a glimmer of hope before the Red Bulls’ Nealis turned the last five minutes of the match into a practice of restraint as tempers on both sides began to flare.

Nealis’ 85^th minute goal was gifted to him after a failed clearance gave him time at the top of the penalty area to place the ball past a flailing Herrera.

New York Red Bulls defender Alexander Hack (42) and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC midfielder Jonas Fjeldberg (7) battle for the ball in the Fourth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Isaiah J. Downing / Switchbacks FC

“This is a very important, very important competition for us,” Schwarz said. “It’s not only to come here and see we got the result, especially in these competitions, but also to see how we played.

“This is a very important competition. Now the job has started.”

With the result, New York Red Bulls advance to the Round of 16 May 20 and 21.

2025 US Open Cup Round 1: Union Omaha fends off late push from Flatirons Rush to advance

March 22, 2025 by Andrew Mosier

Players from Union Omaha (left) and Flatirons FC battle for the ball in the First Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Flatirons FC

Twenty-four hours later than planned, Union Omaha advanced to the Second Round of the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a workman-like win over amateur side Flatirons Rush.

Aarón Gómez and Joe Gallardo scored goals to put the USL League One champions through to face Des Moines Menace on April 2. Flatiron’s Shjon Andrews cut Omaha’s deficit to one in the 84th minute before Omaha, winless in the young USL League One season, fended off the amateur’s late surge for the win.

“They gave us a great game, they played really well. You can see why they did so well last year,” said Union Omaha coach, Domenico Casciato. “We came in with a lot of respect for them.”

Initially scheduled for Thursday, the game was pushed back 24 hours after winter weather caused travel delays for the visiting Union Omaha.

“The delay made things a little more challenging for us tonight,” Casciato said. “But we had a job to do and we came out and did it.”

The game could have been very different if Union Omaha’s Mehdi Ouamri had connected on a looping cross from the right flank five minutes into the match, putting the ball awkwardly wide from inside the six yard box.

After the miss, Flatirons worked diligently to get ahold of the match. Going into halftime, the amateurs out possessed the professional side with 53 percent of the possession, though they were lacking in the final third of the field.

Even with the majority of possession, Union Omaha broke the stalemate in the 28th minute when Gómez blasted a rebound past Flatirons goalkeeper Matteo Conci from close range.

Gallardo doubled Omaha’s lead in the 73rd minute from the penalty spot, smashing the ball into the upper left corner after referee Jozefecki Lukasz awarded a penalty kick after a severely spinning ball grazed Flatirons’ defender, Jackson Vander Ven’s hand.

Eleven minutes later, Andrews pulled Flatiron a goal back, heading home an Oluwatobi Osifodunrin cross at the back post, making the final few minutes of the match frantic as Omaha struggled to see out the game.

With the win, Union Omaha travels to face USL-2 side, Des Moines Menace, which will most likely feature a collection of former MLS and USMNT players.

“We know they are going to have quality. They may not have the legs they once did, but they know how to play the game,” Casciato said.

2025 US Open Cup Qualifying: Harpos FC back in USOC after handing rival Azteca FC rare loss

November 18, 2024 by Andrew Mosier

Harpos FC celebrate after a 2-0 win over Azteca FC as they qualify for the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Andrew Mosier

Harpos FC exorcized its U.S. Open Cup qualifying demons Sunday, topping bitter league rivals Azteca FC 2-0 at Broomfield Commons.

Halftime substitutes Jack O’Brian and Adam Mickleson scored to put Harpos back into its fourth tournament proper after a four-year hiatus. Harpos last qualified for the 2020 tournament, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The win was Harpos’ first over Azteca in Open Cup qualifying in its fifth attempt with all four previous meetings decided by a single goal. Azteca, who has qualified for the Open Cup four times, entered Sunday’s match 18-0-0 against teams from Colorado in Open Cup qualifying.

Harpos started the Colorado Clássico on the front foot, when Baptiste Debuire took advantage of some indecisive passing from Azteca defenders in the opening minutes of the match, winning a 50-50 ball 20 yards from goal. Debuire was unable to capitalize on the gift, putting the ball just over the crossbar.

Azteca began to wrestle back control of the match around the quarter-hour mark, calming the frantic pace of the match that favored Harpos by taking control of the midfield. Breaden Jenkins had Azteca’s first and best opportunity of the half in the 16th minute, smashing a 30-yard shot into the upper corner after Harpos failed to fully clear one of Azteca’s three first half corners. With a good line of sight on the shot, Harpos goalkeeper Joel Chavez managed to get across his goal and spectacularly plucked the ball from the top corner to keep the score level.

The remainder of the half turned into trench warfare, with neither team able to mount a sustained attack for the remainder of the half as tempers and the referee began to be tested between the two overly-familiar sides. With play at a stalemate, both sides tinkered tactically during the interval, which included the introduction of O’Brian and Mickleson for Harpos.

“We went into the half knowing we needed some more pace out wide. Adam Mickleson gave us that pace and coverage in the back where we were exposed in the first half,” said Harpos managing director, Johnny Freeston.

Mickleson made his presence felt immediately in the second stanza, Harpos’ first attack of the second half came through Mickleson down the right flank. After turning the corner past a chasing defender, Mickleson drove a low cross to the top of the goal box, finding the streaking O’Brian unmarked eight yards from goal. O’Brian, a recent addition to the Harpos squad, tucked the ball back inside the far post to put Harpos up 1-0.

After nearly half-an-hour of bogged play as Harpos kept numbers behind the ball to fend off the waves of Azteca players coming forward, the speedy Mickleson doubled Harpos’ lead in the 76th minute off a Maradona-esque run through the stabbing Azteca defense that started on his own side of half. After outpacing one defender on the right flank and beating another defender in the penalty area before turning towards goal. Mickleson went around one final defender before going in on Azteca goalkeeper Gerardo Aguilar. An off-balance Mickelson awkwardly wrong-footed Aguilar, who helped Mickleson’s shot over the line to make it 2-0 Harpos.

“I got the ball around midfield and looked up and saw I had some space. I beat a couple guys and knew I had the pace to get around the last defender and go in on goal,” Mickleson said. “I got a little lucky putting it off the ‘keeper’s foot but I’ll take it.”

With the win, Harpos returns to the tournament proper for a fourth time, equaling Azteca’s Open Cup appearances. Meanwhile, Azteca’s 13-game unbeaten streak in the competition was snapped, along with its 12-game road winning streak

“This win gets us back where we want to be,” Freeston said. “We’ve completely rebuilt the team since 2020. We have the talent, and everyone has bought in to what we are doing. We know what it takes to make a run in the Open Cup. We’ve done it before. I think with this team we can do it again.”

2024 US Open Cup Round 2: Stoppage time winner in OT gives Northern Colorado Hailstorm dramatic win over Colorado Rapids 2

April 4, 2024 by Andrew Mosier

*Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC players celebrate a goal against Colorado Rapids 2 in the Second Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Evan Munoz*

It took all 120 minutes, but the Northern Colorado Hailstorm advanced to the Third Round of 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup beating the Colorado Rapids 2, 3-2 in extra time, at Dicks Sporting Goods Park.

Second half substitute defender David Garcia made up for missing an open header only moments before, tapping in a Lucky Opara cross at the 120-minute mark to break the deadlock.

Smoooooooth like ???? @ColoradoRapids2 #USOC2024 // @opencup pic.twitter.com/8V2LV9VFQ5
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) April 4, 2024

“I was going to be thinking about that one if the game ended on a tie,” Garcia said. “I stayed up after that and we got another cross in. When the cross came in it was going to Jake . I said ‘Dummy!’ and he left it for me. It was just an easy tap in.”

After an uninspired first half from both teams, Wayne Frederick put the Rapids 2 in the lead two minutes after the start of the second half, running onto a chipped ball from Marlon Vargas. Frederick chested the ball in stride to set up a simple finish from seven yards out.

“We woke up after they got that first goal,” said Hailstorm coach Éamon Zayed. “We were off the pace in the first half. We have a lot of guys just coming back into the team who haven’t played a lot of minutes yet. The goal woke us up. We were much better after that goal.

One ????, ✌️ Bites #USOC2024 @nocohailstormfc // @opencup pic.twitter.com/vaKz8uvalK
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) April 4, 2024

Marky Hernández, whom Zayed was forced to bring off the bench due to a lack of fitness, drew the Hailstorm level in the 59th minute moments after entering the match, getting his own rebound after Rapids 2 defender, Michael Edwards denied his first opportunity off a driven cross from Noah Powder on the right side.

“Marky so good at putting himself in the box,” Zayed said. “He scored quite a few goals for us last year. He’s just getting his fitness back. He’s not ready to start yet.”

After 20 minutes of frantic, back-and-forth play, the Hailstorm took the lead with 10 minutes to play thanks to carelessness on the ball from a fatigued Vargas. Ethan Hoard dispossessed Vargas and was played over the top of the Rapids back line by Hernández. Hoard turned the corner and smashed the ball to the far post. The goal was Hoard’s second in Open Cup play.

Comeback (nearly) Complete ????@nocohailstormfc // #USOC2024 pic.twitter.com/gU7TXCFsw9
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) April 4, 2024

“We got punished for being half a second late,” said Rapids 2 head coach, Erik Bushey. “Key moments define big games. Unfortunately, we were on the wrong end of them tonight.”

With time winding down Zayed brought in Garcia to play as an extra defender to see out the game as the Rapids 2 threw players forward in search of an equalizer. They got it when 2024 draft pick, Kimani Stewart-Baynes, smashed a mis-hit clearance by Opara inside the penalty area in the 92^nd minute. Stewart-Baynes’ goal came on the heels of a game-winning-assist in the Colorado Rapids’ win over LAFC last weekend.

Coming in clutch ????

Kimani Stewart-Baynes finds the back of the net in stoppage time to send the teams into extra time.#COLvNCO pic.twitter.com/n3o2XkdyHG
— Colorado Rapids 2 (@Rapids_2) April 4, 2024

With only seconds left in added time, Powder nearly ended things for the Rapids 2, smashing a ball off the base of the goalpost from 35 yards out, beating Rapids 2 goalkeeper Adam Beaudry but not the woodwork.

After neither team could generate any scoring chances in the first half of extra time, Garcia nearly put the game away in the 119th minute, putting his free header just over the crossbar.

“I brought him on to see out the game, play him as an extra defender,” Zayed said. “Then we ended up going to a back three and he was playing right back. I know he wants to get up on the end of things.”

Garcia atoned for his miss moments later, sliding Opara’s cross from the left flank just inside the far post for the win.

“This is a big win for us,” Zayed said. “On paper we’re both third division, but we’re two completely different clubs. They’re trying to bleed players through to the first team. That’s what they’re all about. Performance is the name of the game for them. We’re trying to win. We’re trying to get results and win.”

2024 US Open Cup Round 1: Colorado Rapids 2 cruise past Azteca FC in Centennial State battle

March 23, 2024 by Andrew Mosier

Players from Azteca FC and Colorado Rapids 2 pose for a combined team photo ahead of their First Round match in the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Bart Young | @btyphoto

It was all business for the Colorado Rapids 2 in Thursday’s Lamar Hunt US Open Cup First Round match against local amateur side, Azteca FC. The Rapids 2 waltzed to a 3-0 win at Dicks Sporting Goods Park in front of 1,042 fans.

Rapids 2 center backs Joshua Belluz, scoring in his professional debut, and Daniel Garcia tallied almost identical set-piece goals to put the home side up by two going into halftime. Alec Díaz capped off the scoring with a simple tap-in with less than a quarter of an hour to play.

“One of our big targets for us tonight was about performance. Performance and progressing,” said Rapids 2 head coach, Eric Bushey. “We’re not where we were. We’re not where we want to be at this early stage in the season. We’re still becoming a team. Tonight was a nice step in the right direction.”

Burgundy suits them well ????

Rapids 2 forward Alec Díaz scores his first goal for the club while Rapids First Team midfielder Wayne Frederick sets him up with the assist. pic.twitter.com/KHbWCz8baU
— Colorado Rapids 2 (@Rapids_2) March 22, 2024

Rapids 2 fielded a mixture of returning players from last year’s MLS NEXT Pro regular season champions and newly-acquired first team players Sebastian Anderson, Wayne Frederick and Kimani Stewart-Baynes, along with homegrown goalkeeper, Adam Beaudry. Beaudry recoded three saves to earn the clean sheet.

After a friendly first ten minutes, Anderson drifted from his spot on the right side to the middle of the park, beating several flailing Azteca defenders off the dribble, finding Díaz at the top of the penalty area. Díaz resulting shot was deflected for corner kick. Anderson’s driven pinpoint corner found an unmarked Belluz at the far post for his first professional goal.

Big man in the box ????????

Daniel Garcia is unstoppable on the set piece service from Sebastian Anderson. pic.twitter.com/2HJvI7sBGn
— Colorado Rapids 2 (@Rapids_2) March 22, 2024

“It was exactly how we drew it up,” Belluz said. “I knew going in if I got to my spot on time something good was happen.”

Azteca’s first opportunity of the game came in the 38th minute following prolonged possession in the Rapids’ defensive third. Aztecs captain, Oscar Montoya found himself with a little space, but scuffed his shot high and wide.

✅ First Rapids 2 debut
✅ First professional debut
✅ First professional goal

It was a good night to be Josh Belluz! pic.twitter.com/FjN74s8oIx
— Colorado Rapids 2 (@Rapids_2) March 22, 2024

With moments left in the first half Anderson served up another superb corner, finding Garcia this time at the far post.

Sebi’s putting the ball on the platter, first and foremost, Bushey said. “The big men are getting in the box doing what they’re supposed to do. If you get service with attitude, with a bit of technique you got a good recipe.”

Rapids 2 made it 3-0 in the 63rd minute when Frederick cut through the Aztec defense, driving the ball across the six-yard box for an easy tap-in for Díaz.

The win puts the Rapids 2 through to the Second Round.

Mr. Clean (sheet) ????

Homegrown goalkeeper Adam Beaudry recorded a shutout in last night's @opencup match against Azteca FC. pic.twitter.com/GSOG5mzfUz
— Colorado Rapids 2 (@Rapids_2) March 22, 2024

The fact that his side is representing the Rapids organization in the Open Cup is not lost on Bushey.

“On a local level, for our group and our players, I think it’s an awesome opportunity,” he said. “When it first came out that MLS wasn’t going to be in the Open Cup, I was disappointed by that. The best in our country should be represented. So, okay, there’s a hybrid component now. The event is worthy of the best soccer our country has to offer. But I’m excited for our program and to represent the club. In this event only, we are the Rapids, and it is something we take very seriously.”