Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Ian Foster

TheCup.us contributer that also works with MLS Digital to help produce highlight videos. May one day be a world-renowned physicist if he ever finishes his degree.

2020 US Open Cup suspended, future of 107th edition of tournament in question

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The Houston Dynamo lift the trophy after winning the 2018 US Open Cup title. Photo: Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo lift the trophy after winning the 2018 US Open Cup title. Photo: Houston Dynamo

Following the example of Major League Soccer (MLS), United Soccer League (USL), National Independent Soccer Association (NISA), the CONCACAF Champions League, and pretty much every major and minor sporting league in the region, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) announced today they would be temporarily suspending the 2020 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first round was scheduled to kick off on March 24, with the second round following two weeks later. Per the statement from USSF, there remains optimism that the tournament will be held in 2020, continuing the Open Cup’s run as the second-longest-running uninterrupted competition in the world (The Irish Cup was launched in 1881 and has never missed a year). The US Open Cup has carried on through multiple world wars, soccer wars, but it’s unclear if it will survive the coronavirus.

“Given the unique nature of the competition,” said the US Open Cup commissioner Paul Marstaller in USSF’s statement, “which encompasses clubs from multiple leagues that have suspended their seasons, we are taking this action and will look to determine future dates to allow the 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup to be played.”

What remains to be seen, however, is if this year’s Open Cup will still include MLS and USL sides. The Athletic’s Jeff Rueter reported yesterday that USL has already informed US Soccer that they intend to pull out.

The question remains, if the reporting is true that the USL may want to sit out the 2020 tournament, could Major League Soccer be far behind? The top two leagues make up nearly half of the entries in the 107th edition of the Open Cup. The USL Championship has 25 (US-based) teams in this year’s competition, while MLS has 23 (US-based) teams.

There’s no word on whether this suspension will impact those decisions. Both leagues would prefer to play a full schedule in front of fans, as much of their revenue derives from matchday income. Working with what is likely to be a highly-condensed schedule, the leagues are likely hoping to use what would have been the Open Cup dates for rescheduled matches.

As a tournament that’s been around for more than a century, the US Open Cup is no stranger to pandemics, but clearly this novel coronavirus is easily the most disruptive. 100 years ago, during the 1918/1919 edition of the tournament — then known as the National Challenge Cup — the Spanish Flu caused the postponement of a number of opening round games. There were also media reports of a few key players missing games due to the Hong Kong Flu in the late 1960s.

#USOC2020 ESSENTIALS

Click here to follow all 100 #USOC2020 teams on Twitter

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2020 US Open Cup Qualifying Schedule / Results
2020 US Open Cup Qualifying Round 1 Game-By-Game Review
2020 US Open Cup Qualifying Round 2 Game-By-Game Review
2020 US Open Cup Qualifying Win & You’re In Weekend Game-By-Game Review
2020 US Open Cup Qualifying Goalscoring Leaders

USL League Two champion Flint City Bucks sitting out 2020 US Open Cup after schedule ‘travesty’
Reading United AC declines 2020 US Open Cup entry due to ‘abhorrent’ schedule change, more teams to follow
Without college players available, 2020 US Open Cup schedule cripples NPSL, USL-2 teams

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2018 US Open Cup Round 4 review: Three USL clubs advance with MLS teams into the Round of 16

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Louisville City supporters cheer on their club during a 2-0 win over the New England Revolution in the Fourth Round of the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: EM Dash Photography | Louisville City FC
Louisville City supporters cheer on their club during a 2-0 win over the New England Revolution in the Fourth Round of the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: EM Dash Photography | Louisville City FC

Twenty US-based Major League Soccer clubs entered the Fourth Round of the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and by the time the dust settled, three teams from the United Soccer League joined 13 from the country’s top division in the Round of 16.

On Tuesday, June 5, the headline was clearly the defending USL champion Louisville City FC upsetting the New England Revolution. On Wednesday, Nashville SC dominated the Colorado Rapids and to close out the night, the Sacramento Republic stunned the four-time champion Seattle Sounders.

Elsewhere, the regional approach to the tournament continued to bring rivalry matchups to the tournament. The Chicago Fire met the Columbus Crew for what fans hope won’t be the last time, and they continued their unbeaten record against their Ohio rivals with a dramatic win in a penalty kick shootout.  The New York Red Bulls kept their rivals New York City FC winless in tournament play with a 4-0 beat down. Another tense battle between Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake saw the defending champions win on the road to keep their hopes of a rare repeat alive.

The three remaining Open Division teams all crashed out with Orlando City shutting out Miami United FC (NPSL), the Houston Dynamo (MLS) overwhelmed the NTX Rayados (USASA), 5-0, while FC Golden State Force (PDL) scored a goal but was knocked off by the Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS), 3-1.

The eight Round of 16 games are scattered over four different dates. The schedule and match details have been released and the potential matchups for the Quarterfinals are also available. (You can find them here).

Click below for links to our coverage and scroll down for a brief recap and links to the full match report for every game.

#USOC2018 coverage:
* 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup schedule, results
* 2018 US Open Cup statistical leaders
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Round 1 review
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Round 2 review
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Round 3 review

Qualifying
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying results
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Win & You’re In review
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Round 1 review
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Round 2 review

* Things you should know about the Fourth Round of the US Open Cup (Modern Era)

* Support TheCup.us: Special “TheCup.us” Del Rey City jerseys available for purchase
* Appreciate what we do at TheCup.us? Donate here
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Coming off a nightmare in league play that saw them lose veterans Haris Medunjanin and Alejandro Bedoya to red cards in the 18th minute in Atlanta, the Philadelphia Union feasted on bottom of the table USL competition Tuesday night in a 5-0 win in front of 3,565 fans in Chester, Pa.The Union got things started early when Jack Elliott scored off a corner kick from Medunjanin, who will serve his (at least) one game suspension for Friday’s league match. David Accam doubled the lead in the 27th minute after stepping up to take a penalty kick called on Kickers goalkeeper Trevor Spangenberg for taking down Cory Burke in the box. The goal was the sixth in Open Cup play for Accam and his first in all competitions for the Union. Anthony Fontana, an 18-year-old making his Open Cup debut, made it 3-0 on an unassisted flick from a tight angle and Marcus Epps tacked one more on with a lovely curling shot off an assist from Burke in first half stoppage time.Jay Simpson made it 5-0 shortly after coming off the bench for Burke in the 49th minute. The goal was the second in Open Cup play for Simpson, whose only goal in league play came in his second game for the Union in March 2017. The Kickers made a late push to get on the board, but hit woodwork one one chance and forced John McCarthy into his only save of the night on the other. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
The defending USL Cup champions claimed the club’s first upset of an MLS squad in a 3-2 win over New England Revolution on Tuesday night. Louisville fell behind early on a fifth minute goal from Revs’ rookie Mark Segbers but leveled the score six minutes later when Brian Ownby set up Oscar Jimenez.New England regained the lead on an own goal in the 26th minute, but Cameron Lancaster put the home side back on level ground before halftime with a 37th minute strike from outside the 18. Brian Ownby then capped off the upset with a 62nd minute stunner that delighted the partisan crowd of 5,000-plus at Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium at the University of Louisville.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
In front of a 3,000 plus crowd at the Soccerplex in Boyds, Maryland it was D.C. United advancing to the Fifth Round of the 2018 US Open Cup for the fourth straight year on PKs after finishing 1-1 after extra time.D.C. United dominated possession in the first half and in the 25th minute Ian Harkes, the homegrown player and son of US Soccer legend John Harkes, gave DC United a 1-0 lead when the ball bounced to him after Assad hit the post to put the ball in the back of the net.Dane Kelly nearly doubled the lead in the 47th minute but NCFC keeper Alex Tambakis came up with a huge save. In the 83rd minute, Marios Lomis got to a loose ball and buried the shot for the equalizer to tie the match 1-1. Lomis’ goal was his third straight in this year’s competition.

Scoreless in extra time, United keeper David Ousted made a crucial save in the penalty shootout on Kyle Bekker’s penalty in the second round and after both teams missed a kick in the Fourth Round, D.C. sealed it in the fifth when Bruno Miranda converted to secure D.C.’s place in the Round of 16.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
Richard Sanchez of the Chicago Fire won the goalkeeper battle, propelling his team to the Round of 16 after 11 shootout rounds. In fact, the deciding round of the penalty kick shootout round were between the two opposing goalkeepers: Sanchez and the Crew’s Logan Ketterer, who was making his professional debut. Wednesday night’s first game was perhaps its most exciting, and not just because of the shootout. First-half goals by Columbus’s Cristian Martinez and Chicago’s Nemanja Nikolic sent the game to extra time, where Nikolic scored again what looked to be the winner in the 109th minute. The Crew struck back five minutes later behind Adam Jahn, leading to the epic penalty kick tilt where only three players (Crew goalkeeper Logan Ketterer and defender Hector Jimenez for the Crew, and Nikolic for the Fire) missed their spot kicks. If it was indeed the last US Open Cup game for the Crew in Columbus, it was at least a memorable one.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
New York City remain winless in Open Cup play after another 4-0 drubbing at the hands of the rival New York Red Bulls. The Red Bulls jumped ahead early behind Vincent Bezecourt’s 2nd-minute strike and never looked back, although it took a minor miracle and a goalline clearance to keep David Villa off the board late in the first half. Aaron Long doubled the lead seven minutes into the second half, and Daniel Royer salted the wounds with goals in the 87th and 89th minutes.New York City has accomplished a lot in coach Patrick Vieira’s tenure. But with rumors swirling around his exit, it appears Open Cup success won’t be one of them. Meanwhile, the Red Bulls will move on to take on the Philadelphia Union in the Round of 16.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
As the only amateur side to actually host an MLS team, there was a little more hope than usual for a Cal FC moment. Those hopes were dashed, however, after a Stefano Pinho goal in the 37th minute, and then extinguished when Dillon Powers put in Orlando’s second goal eight minutes into the second frame. PC concluded the damage with a strike to make it 3-0 in the 62nd minute.Orlando City will enter the Round of 16 as the lone remaining Florida team when they travel to DC United.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
Atlanta United showed no mercy to their former USL affiliate, routing the Charleston Battery 3-0 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia. Andrew Carleton scored his first goal with Atlanta and the first goal of the game in the 14th minute, doing so against the side he played for last year. A Skylar Thomas foul brought Atlanta to the spot, where Ezequiel Barco buried the penalty to make it 2-0 just after the halftime break. Romario Williams, leading scorer for Charleston last year, sealed the deal for Atlanta in the 64th minute.Atlanta will move on to host the Chicago Fire in the ROund of 16.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
FC Cincinnati’s run to the semifinals last year was one of the more magical in recent Open Cup history. Lightning would not strike twice, however, as Minnesota United advanced 3-1 on penalties after a 0-0 120-minute draw.  While last year’s scoreless draw between Cincinnati and Chicago was thrilling, involving multiple saves by then-Cincinnati goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt, this was one was far cagier and wanting for chances. And while Cincinnati largely controlled possession, Minnesota had the better of the few chances that arose, forcing Cincinnati goalkeeper Spencer Richey into four saves.However, it was Minnesota goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth who would be the hero, saving two penalties, including Nazmi Albadawi’s last kick of the shootout. Minnesota moves on to Houston in the Round of 16, and Cincinnati will get their chance at revenge in next year’s MLS regular season.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
It’s not often that a USL team makes an MLS team, especially one bringing a first-choice lineup, look like an amateur team. But after 90 minutes, the Colorado Rapids let in two goals and couldn’t even muster a shot on Nashville’s goal. The Rapids did turn a shot on their own goal, which is where Nashville’s first goal came from in the 39th minute by way of Michael Azira. Nashville SC clinched the club’s first win over an MLS side in their first try when Ropapa Mensah slammed home a 79th minute tally.Colorado’s record against Division 2 teams falls to 6-8-0, while Nashville will move on to Louisville in the Round of 16.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
While the scoreline says 5-0 to the Houston Dynamo, this was not a typical MLS vs. amateur match. It took the Houston Dynamo 55 minutes to break down Eduardo Cortes, who put up nine saves, and the NTX Rayados. From then on, the floodgates opened, with Memo Rodriguez and Aldo Quintanilla managing a brace each and Matias Zaldivar scoring Houston’s 4th late in the match. But the Rayados showed life before then, especially in the first half when Mohamed Sesay forced Chris Seitz into a couple of saves in the 23rd and 27th minute.The Dynamo move on to host Minnesota United in the Round of 16.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
San Antonio FC remains winless against MLS competition as they dropped a narrow 1-0 decision at home to FC Dallas. Dallas’s goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer was forced into a few critical saves in the first half, particularly as the half wound down. Maurer parried away a tricky Owayne Omar Gordon effort just before the halftime whistle. Another San Antonio attack midway through the first half needed a goalline clearance. Shortly after the break, Tesho Akindele provided the game’s only goal and Dallas never looked back.FC Dallas moves on to the Round of 16, where they’ll hope to unseat the defending Open Cup champions, Sporting Kansas City.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
USOC KC-RSL
Sporting Kansas City already has qualification for next year’s CONCACAF Champions’ League wrapped up by virtue of winning last year’s Open Cup. On Wednesday, however, they played as if their spot in the league was on the line, as they won convincingly over Real Salt Lake in Utah. After a strong first ten minutes by the home side, RSL had trouble getting much going in the game, directing just two shots on target. Johnny Russell broke through for the visitors in the 47th minute and Kharlton Belmar made it 2-0 and iced the game in the 74th minute.Sporting Kansas City moves on to the Round of 16, where they’ll welcome FC Dallas to Children’s Mercy Park.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
USOC FFC-LAFC
LAFC cruised in this battle of teams that didn’t exist a year ago, although it took 53 minutes for the home side to finally break through the Fresno defenses. Diego Rossi touched home Dejan Jakovic’s effort to open the scoring, and Latif Blessing slotted home the second just three minutes later to put the game out of reach. Fresno’s lone chance could have altered the game, but Agstin Cazarez missed an open net in the 48th minute.LAFC moves on in their maiden Open Cup voyage to take on the Sacramento Republic.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
USOC GSF-LAG
FC Golden State Force arguably had the best showing of all the fourth-round amateur sides, scoring a goal and remaining just a goal behind until the 85th minute. It looked like the Galaxy would run away with this early, with Bradford Jamieson scoring in just the 15th minute and Ariel Lassiter scoring a spectacular scissor-kick goal in the 37th to double the lead. But the Force were unfazed, pulling one back just after halftime behind Pedro Fonseca. However, Lassiter’s second tally iced the game in the 85th minute.The Galaxy move on to take on the Portland Timbers in the Round of 16, while FC Golden State will enjoy the bonus for advancing the farthest of all amateur teams while taking out the most pro teams.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
USOC SJE-PDX
Despite playing in the same league, the San Jose Earthquakes weren’t much match for the Portland Timbers on Wednesday night. Jeremy Ebobisse opened the scoring for the Timbers in the 28th minute, and Portland never looked back. The Earthquakes registered just one shot on target, which did not include a missed sitter by Quincy Amarikwa in the second half. Dairon Asprilla doubled the hosts’ advantage in the 66th minute to put the Quakes away.With league form tanking, the Quakes sent largely a first-choice lineup. But it wasn’t enough to overcome the Timbers’ reserve-heavy lineup, who now move on to host the Galaxy in the Round of 16.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
USOC SEA-SAC
The Seattle Sounders have had a lot of success in the Open Cup in their history. But they didn’t show it on Wednesday night as they fell 2-1 in extra time to the Sacramento Republic. Sacramento dominated most of the game, going ahead on a 55th minute strike by Cameron Iwasa. They continued to pepper Sounders goalkeeper Bryan Meredith with shots until Harry Shipp found a fluke equalizer in stoppage time. But Sacramento continued on their way, netting a goal by way of Jure Matjasic in the 115th minute.Sacramento moves on to Los Angeles, where they’ll face Los Angeles Football Club in the Round of 16.[+] FULL MATCH REPORT

2018 US Open Cup Round 2: North Carolina FC blank Lansdowne Bhoys to remain perfect vs. amateurs

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Players from North Carolina FC and Lansdowne Bhoys FC battle for the ball in their 2018 US Open Cup match. Photo: Rob Kinnan, NCFC
Players from North Carolina FC and Lansdowne Bhoys FC battle for the ball in their 2018 US Open Cup match. Photo: Rob Kinnan, NCFC

In their relatively storied Open Cup history, North Carolina FC (nee the RailHawks) had never lost to an amateur team. That run continued as they routed Lansdowne Bhoys 3-0 on Wednesday night behind goals from Connor Tobin, Marios Lomis, and Bernhard Luxbacher.

The rout started early at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary as NCFC pushed forward right from the kickoff, earning themselves a corner kick in the first minute. Kyle Bekker’s ball glanced off the head of Austin da Luz and snuck through to Connor Tobin, who smashed home a rare goal for the centerback.

Lansdowne didn’t generate much work for NCFC goalkeeper Austin Guerrero in the first half–their best chance was a scuffed touch behind the backline. Lansdowne goalkeeper Abdoukarim Danso (brother of NCFC centerback Futty Danso) had to work to avoid a 2-0 deficit, on the other hand. He got fingertip to a Andre Fortune shot that hit the post in the 26th minute, fought off a near own goal in the 30th minute, and pushed another shot off the post in the 42nd.

In the 44th minute, however, the hosts broke through after a smart throw-in down the line played Fortune behind the Lansdowne line. Lomis easily powered his cross home to double the advantage before the halftime whistle.

Abdoukarim Danso’s heroics once again went unrewarded in the second half, as just a minute after an amazing one-on-one save on Lomis, Luxbacher put home the third. In the 74th minute, Kyle Bekker found Luxbacher with a looping ball behind the backline. One touch put Luxbacher behind Abdoukarim Danso and, having struggled with his shot all game, the Swiss midfielder decided to simply escort the ball into the net.

With the win, North Carolina FC improves to 7-0-0 all-time against amateur teams in this tournament. They advance to the Third Round where they will host the Ocean City Nor’easters of the PDL on Tuesday, May 22.

2018 US Open Cup just got more rewarding: USSF announces changes, format, dates and team entries

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2016-usoc-logo-724-wideThe United States Soccer Federation (USSF) released its 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Finalists’ Handbook this week (download it here). The 105th edition of the competition will feature 94 teams and is scheduled to kick off May 9. The tournament features a Modern Era record 33 different states represented and a record 37 different state associations.

Of the 94 teams, 52 of them are amateur clubs (20 PDL, 19 NPSL, 13 Open Division) and 42 are professional teams from Major League Soccer (Division 1) and the United Soccer League (Division 2). The North American Soccer League recently announced the cancellation of the 2018 season and for the second year in a row, there will not be a Division 3 pro league taking part in the Open Cup.

The First Round will feature all 52 amateur clubs with the 26 winners advancing to Round 2 (May 16) where they will be joined by all 22 United Soccer League clubs. Defending champion Sporting Kansas City and the rest of the Major League Soccer clubs will join the competition in the Fourth Round (June 4-5), where they will be joined by 12 Third Round winners.

The draw for the tournament is scheduled to take place on April 4.

Near the beginning of the handbook, USSF outlined all the changes they’re making from the previous year.

But which changes are the most significant?

Sporting Kansas City celebrates after defeating the New York Red Bulls 2-1 in the 2017 US Open Cup Final. Photo: Bob Larson
Sporting Kansas City celebrates after defeating the New York Red Bulls 2-1 in the 2017 US Open Cup Final. Photo: Bob Larson

Prize Money

For the first time since 2013, USSF has upped the prize money. The champion will now get $300,000, the runner-up will get $100,000, and the team that advances the furthest from each division will get $25,000 (up from $250k, $60k, and $15k, respectively).

While the top two increases aren’t all that significant ($50,000 is less than a minimum-salary MLS player earns), an additional $10,000 for the lower-league teams is. It represents perhaps an additional trip to an amateur tournament or an extra summer camp coach or two.

Moreover, the first prize money increase in five years could portend additional investment in a new era for USSF.

Travel Expenses

In an effort to prevent last year’s messy Christos FC situation, where the Baltimore-based amateur team had to crowd-fund their Third Round trip to Chicago, the USSF has dramatically revamped their travel expense policy for the Open Cup.

From the First Round through to the Semifinals, USSF plans to reimburse teams for up to $12,000 on travel expenses per away game. These reimbursements, according to USSF, will be paid a maximum of 75 days after the game. Further, USSF instructs teams to use an airfare service that would bill USSF directly. That would massively defray upfront costs for amateur teams.

Increased Regionalization

Perhaps as a result of USSF agreeing to take on more travel expenses, they’re prioritizing geographic proximity in every round.

In prior years, a PDL team, for example, would never be matched up with a fellow PDL team in the First Round. This year, under certain geographical conditions, that could change. Fans could potentially see, for example, PDL Conference rivals Myrtle Beach Mutiny and Charlotte Eagles play each other in the First Round on account of the nearest non-PDL amateur team would come from Maryland and Florida.

Proximity is emphasized from the First Round all the way through the Semifinals, meaning fans could see more regional matchups that are more common in recent years like the Sounders against the Timbers (the most common rivalry in the Modern Era with seven meetings). This is all for the sake of minimizing travel costs.

Schedule Flexibility

Christos FC pose for a team photo after their 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match against Phoenix SC. Photo: Christos FC
Christos FC pose for a team photo after their 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match against Phoenix SC. Photo: Christos FC

Starting in the Third Round, the Open Cup may allow hosting teams to change dates. This could help alleviate a common problem in the lower leagues where home venues cannot be secured two months in advance (this led to the forfeiture of the San Diego Flash in 2013) or on short notice.

Other changes include the freedom for tournament organizers to make changes to set match dates outside of the predetermined schedule, making alterations to the process of filing a protest and the enforcement of penalties for teams forfeiting or withdrawing from matches. Read about them all here.

2018 US Open Cup entries

Major League Soccer (Div. 1 professional – 20 teams)
Atlanta United FC, Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew SC, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Los Angeles FC, Los Angeles Galaxy, Minnesota United FC, New England Revolution, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, Orlando City SC, Philadelphia Union, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC, Sporting Kansas City

All US-based MLS teams automatically qualify for the US Open Cup

United Soccer League (Div. 2 professional – 22 teams)
Charleston Battery, Charlotte Independence, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, FC Cincinnati, Fresno FC, Indy Eleven, Las Vegas Lights FC, Louisville City FC, Nashville SC, North Carolina FC, Oklahoma City Energy FC, Orange County SC, Penn FC (formerly Harrisburg City Islanders), Phoenix Rising FC, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Reno 1868 FC, Richmond Kickers, Sacramento Republic FC, Saint Louis FC, San Antonio FC, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Tulsa Roughnecks FC

All US-based USL teams automatically qualify for the US Open Cup

Premier Development League (Div. 4 amateur – Open Division National – 20 teams)
Charlotte Eagles, FC Golden State Force, FC Miami City, FC Tucson, Lakeland Tropics, Long Island Rough Riders, Michigan Bucks, Mississippi Brilla, Myrtle Beach Mutiny, New York Red Bulls U-23s, Ocean City Nor’easters, OKC Energy U-23s, Portland Timbers U23s, Reading United AC, San Francisco City FC, Seacoast United Phantoms, SIMA Aguilas, South Georgia Tormenta FC, The Village SC, Western Mass Pioneers

PDL determines their US Open Cup entries based on 2017 league results (DETAILS)

National Premier Soccer League (Div. 4 amateur – Open Division National – 19 teams)
AFC Ann Arbor, Brooklyn Italians, CD Aguiluchos USA, Dakota Fusion FC, Detroit City FC, Duluth FC, Elm City Express, Erie Commodores, FC Arizona, FC Motown (merged with Clarkstown SC Eagles), FC Wichita, Fort Worth Vaqueros, Inter Nashville FC, Kingston Stockade FC, Kitsap Soccer Club, Miami United FC, Midland-Odesssa FC, New Orleans Jesters, Orange County FC

NPSL determines their US Open Cup entries based on 2017 league results (DETAILS)

Open Division Local Qualifiers (Div. 4 amateur – 13 teams)
Azteca FC (Colorado)
Christos FC (Maryland)
FC Denver (Colorado)
FC Kendall (Florida)
Kendall Wanderers (Massachusetts)
La Maquina (California South)
Lansdowne Bhoys (New York East)
Los Angeles Wolves FC (California South)
NTX Rayados (Texas North)
Red Force FC (Florida)
Rochester River Dogz (New York West)
Santa Ana Winds FC (California South)
Sporting AZ FC (Arizona)

Open Division Local Qualifiers are determined based on the results of a qualifying tournament (DETAILS).

NOTE: El Farolito qualified for the tournament but was disqualified for switching leagues during the competition. 

As has been the case in past tournaments, professional teams that are “majority-owned or having their player roster materially controlled by a higher-level professional club” are no longer eligible for the tournament. This includes the following teams:

ATL UTD 2 (USL)
Bethlehem Steel FC (USL)
LA Galaxy II (USL)
New York Red Bulls II (USL)
Portland Timbers II (USL)
Real Monarchs SLC (USL)
Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (USL)
Seattle Sounders FC 2 (USL)
Swope Park Rangers (USL)

The following pairs of teams (amateur clubs and their parent club) will not be allowed to play each other until the Final:

1. New York Red Bulls (MLS) / New York Red Bulls U-23s (PDL)
2. Oklahoma City Energy FC (USL) / OKC Energy U-23s (PDL)
3. Portland Timbers (MLS) / Portland Timbers U-23s (PDL)

And finally, the San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) are not allowed to play against Reno 1868 FC of the USL (unless they both reach the Final) to, as the handbook states, “to prevent the possibility of a team who receives material technical support from another club from playing that side.”

2018 US Open Cup dates (subject to change)

April 4: 2018 US Open Cup First Round pairings and Second Round possible matchups announced
May 9: First Round
May 16: Second Round
May 23: Third Round
May 24: Fourth Round Draw
June 6: Fourth Round
June 7: Round of 16 Draw
June 20: Round of 16
July 18: Quarterfinals
July 19: Draw to determine hosts for Semifinals & Final
Aug. 8: Semifinals
Sept. 26: Final

NOTE: Any game in the Fourth Round, Round of 16, Quarterfinal Round and Semifinal Round where one of the participants has a league game the following Friday will be moved up a day (exception to this is when the team’s opponent is scheduled for a league game the preceding Sunday; in this case, the provisions elsewhere in the Open Cup Handbook to resolve such an issue prevail). Also, any game chosen by U.S. Soccer to be broadcast nationally is subject to being moved up a day. The Commissioner shall have the authority to set outside of the confirmed schedule the date for any match if such a change is in the best interests of the tournament.

El Farolito, 1993 US Open Cup champions, disqualified from 2018 tournament

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el-farolito-logo-bigThe 1993 US Open Cup Champions will not get a chance at a second title this year as El Farolito, a San Francisco-based amateur club, has been disqualified on account of moving leagues. After decades of thriving in the famed San Francisco Soccer Football League (SFSFL), El Farolito decided to take its talents to the continually-growing National Premier Soccer League (NPSL).

Minneapolis City SC suffered a similar fate last year as they transitioned from the Premier League of American to the NPSL. However, while last year’s Minneapolis City disqualification resulted from a miscommunication, El Farolito seems like they knew exactly what they were getting into.

“Yes, we understand the rule and it is unfortunate that we, like other amateurs clubs in the past years, have been eliminated,” Santiago Lopez, El Farolito general manager and head coach told TheCup.us.

After qualifying in 2017 for the first time since the club won the tournament under the name CD Mexico in 1993, El Farolito will miss out on the competition due to the rule spelled out in this year’s Open Cup Handbook. Section 202c1i reads: “To remain eligible throughout the tournament, a team must remain a playing member in good standing within its club/league competition, starting from the Open Division entry deadline (which was last summer) and continuing until the Open Cup Final for the competition year.”

Some teams have gotten around this rule by keeping a team in their previous league while also playing in their new league. For example, Boca Raton FC continued to compete in the American Premier Soccer League to maintain their Open Cup eligibility when they joined the NPSL.

This was a non-starter for El Farolito.

A undated team photo of El Farolito
An undated team photo of El Farolito

“SFSFL is one of the toughest amateur leagues in the country and having two clubs at the same time is extremely difficult,” Lopez said. “The President decided to just focus on NPSL.”

Further, that regulation would have forced the Open Cup team to continue in the SFSFL, meaning El Farolito would either have to field two teams or play their first team twice each weekend.

So while the regulation is clear, the purpose behind the regulation is less so. TheCup.us reached out to USSF for comment but received no response as of Thursday morning. Lopez implied that the regulation existed to prevent teams from qualifying and simply moving to unsanctioned leagues to focus on the Open Cup and other tournaments.

Further complicating matters is that, according to Lopez, El Farolito didn’t yet know whether they’d be accepted into NPSL once the Open Cup Qualifying deadline rolled around. But that uncertainty didn’t deter the former champions from applying for, and eventually winning three games in, the open division qualifying tournament.

“We wanted to play and show everyone we are an Open Cup team,” Lopez said.

Which NPSL teams will qualify for 2018 US Open Cup?

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Detroit City FC, and their rabid fanbase, have qualified for the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
Detroit City FC, and their rabid fanbase, have qualified for the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

UPDATE (1/29): As first reported by Magic City Soccer and confirmed by TheCup.us, Sunshine Conference champions Miami Fusion have folded. Due to the NPSL’s Open Cup classification rules that prioritize representation from each conference, Miami United, previously 28th on this list, are most likely to take that spot.

With the National Premier Soccer League’s (NPSL) season over, we now have a solid idea as to who, and who may not, qualify for next year’s Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

This definitive list is constructed with the help of US Soccer’s 2018 US Open Cup Handbook, which can be downloaded here. There are a couple things worth noting before we get started.

The first is likely berths available. NPSL has been sending teams to the Open Cup as a national league since 2011, when four teams (Brooklyn Italians, Chattanooga FC, Hollywood United Hitmen, and Madison 56ers) were awarded entry. Prior to that, dating back to 2003, the league had to qualify through the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). The number of NPSL bids has increased every single year since then, reaching a peak last year wtih 18 entries. If that number holds true, US Soccer will likely accept at least 18 NPSL teams, and possibly more.

The second is influence from other leagues. An eight-team third-division pro league (National Independent Soccer Association) is scheduled to begin play next year and it’s possible they could take up space NPSL teams might otherwise occupy. However, the number of eligible USL teams ballooned to 21 in 2015 after a number of MLS teams added reserve teams to the league (the MLS-owned reserve teams were banned from the tournament the following year). Despite the increase in the number of pro teams, it did not affect the NPSL’s number of entries.

One thing that definitely won’t eat into the NPSL’s bids, according to the 2018 handbook, is the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL). They will not, according to US Soccer, be afforded national league status, meaning their teams will have to once again traverse the regional open division qualifying process.

Finally, one NPSL division—the Northeast’s Mid-Atlantic Division—seemingly shot itself in the foot this year by staying at four teams after the Myrtle Beach Mutiny jumped ship and joined the Premier Development League (PDL). The result was that those teams played just six regular season games, rendering them ineligible for the Open Cup (bylaws state you must play at least ten regular season games within your registered league).

That nearly precipitated an awkward situation when that division’s champion, the winless Legacy 76, found themselves a win away from the NPSL’s quarterfinals. Had they beaten the Elm City Express, they technically would have played ten NPSL games in total, giving organizers a headache. The Express ultimaetly brushed them aside, 4-0 to avoid a potential mess.

NPSL’s CLASSIFICATION RULES

With that out of the way, let’s get into NPSL’s classification rules. NPSL’s 92 Open Cup-eligible teams are divided among four conferences: South (which has 29 teams), Midwest (23), Northeast, and West (20 each). Open Cup bids are thus somewhat staggered—for example, the South would get a sixth team into the tournament before any other region gets a fifth.

That means that individual rankings beyond 1-8 are reserved for particular Conferences. No. 9 will always be a team from the South, No. 14 from the Midwest, and so on. One complication is that, since the Northeast and West have an identical number of eligible teams, they “share” rankings. So for example, No. 11 and No. 12 belong as a pair to the third-rated teams from the Northeast and West. The higher ranking then goes to the team with the higher points per game (ppg).

NPSL ranks largely by points per game, but prioritizes at least one Open Cup bid for every division. So when you read down the below list in the future and take into account teams folding, declaring themselves ineligible, or changing leagues, it’s important to consider both their conference and division. For example (and this is purely hypothetical), if the Erie Commodores (currently at No. 14) decide to make a run at Peter Wilt’s NISA, you wouldn’t go “next team up” down the list like you would with the PDL. You wouldn’t even pull the next Midwestern team (in this case the Dakota Fusion), since Erie are currently the lone representatives of the East Division. You’d have to pull the next team from the East, which in this case would be the unlisted Dayton Dynamo.

That’s that. Beyond the Final Four, who will almost certainly qualify, regardless of the final number of entries the league is awarded, teams are ranked by NPSL’s criteria as laid out in the 2018 handbook, with information relevant to that ranking listed in the parentheses:

WHO’S IN? 

1. Elm City Express (NPSL Semifinalist, Northeast Conference-Atlantic Blue Division)
Appearance: 1st

elm-city-expressThe Elm City Express, based in New Haven, Conn., are yet another brand new team earning Open Cup qualification in their first attempt.

The Express ran through the Atlantic Blue Division in their debut season, compiling a 9-1-2 record that earned them the No. 1 seed in the Northeast Conference going into the playoffs. They made good on that seed, shutting out both TSF FC and the overmatched Legacy 76 at home to reach the Conference Final. There, they defeated the Clarkstown Eagles 3-1 to reach the NPSL Semifinals, where they swept through CD Aguiluchos and Midland-Odessa by a combined score of 7-0 to claim the NPSL title in their first season.

2. Midland-Odessa FC (NPSL Semifinalist, South Conference-Lone Star Division)
Appearance: 2nd (2015 as PDL team)
Best Open Cup Finish: 2015 Round 2 (3-1 loss vs OKC Energy of USL)
Notable Open Cup Win: 3-1 win vs. Tulsa Athletic (NPSL) in 2015 First Round

Midland-Odessa_FCHad they not switched from the PDL to the NPSL prior to the 2017 season, we’d be seeing the newly-rebranded Midland-Odessa FC in the US Open Cup for the third time in four years. Still, they seem to be wearing the league switch well, winning the Lone Star Championship after taking down Dutch Lions FC and Shreveport Rafters FC (who upset the Fort Worth Vaqueros in Round 1). A 1-0 win away to FC Wichita in the South Conference Semifinals is what pushed Midland-Odessa from the Open Cup bubble into automatic qualification. They kept their playoff run going with a 1-0 win over Inter Nashville in the regional final, before traveling to the Motor City to take on Detroit City FC in the NPSL Final Four. They beat Detroit City on penalties before succumbing 5-0 to Elm Cith Express in the final.

The Texas club will see their second Open Cup in their tenth season of existence. Their previous run went reasonably well, overcoming Tulsa Athletic (NPSL)  3-1 at home before succumbing to the USL’s OKC Energy by the same scoreline.

 

3. Detroit City FC (NPSL Semifinalist, Midwest Conference-Great Lakes Division)
Appearance: 4th
Best Open Cup Finish: 2016 Second Round (Drew 1-1 at Louisville City of USL, Lost 3-1 in PKs)

Detroit City FC goalkeeper Evan Louro gets ready for a PK attempt from the Michigan Bucks during the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: Jon DeBoer | DCFC
Detroit City FC goalkeeper Evan Louro gets ready for a PK attempt from the Michigan Bucks during the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: Jon DeBoer | DCFC

The rambunctious Detroit City FC supporters will get to see “Le Rouge” in the Open Cup for the fourth time in five years. Detroit City qualified in style this year. After a slow start to the season, they ended up with nine wins in their 14 league games to ensure they’d at least be in the NPSL’s top 14. But they didn’t stop there, twice scoring five goals in playoff games against Dakota Fusion and Duluth FC to reach the Midwest Final against Great Lakes rival AFC Ann Arbor where they prevailed at home, 3-2. They advanced to the NPSL Semifinals where they dropped a penalty decision to Midland-Odessa FC on Aug. 5.

While Detroit City’s first two Open Cup runs ended in disappointment, including a 3-0 thumping against local rival Michigan Bucks (PDL), their third saw them overcome the Bucks in penalty kicks after a scoreless draw to advance to the Second Round for the first time in club history. They would remain undefeated in that 2016 tournament, heartbreakingly succumbing to USL’s Louisville City in penalty kicks. The club is still seeking its first victory in the tournament (matches that end in penalty kicks are officially listed as a draw), but they will have plenty of supporters behind them to try to accomplish that first win.

4. CD Aguiluchos USA (NPSL Semifinalist, West Conference-Golden Gate Division)
Appearance: 3rd (2014, 2016)
Best Open Cup Finish: 2016 Round 2 (5-0 loss at Sacramento Republic of USL)
Notable Open Cup Win: 3-0 win at San Francisco City FC (US Club Soccer) in 2016 Round 1

cd-aguiluchos-2016-logoThe ambitious CD Aguiluchos USA out of Oakland, Calif. will be making their third Open Cup appearance after running riot over the Golden Gate Division and crushing Sonoma County Sol 4-0 in the Division Final. After a 4-2 win over Kitsap SC in the regional semifinal, they edged Orange County FC 1-0 to earn a spot in the Final Four, where they lost 2-0 to eventual champions Elm City Express.

The club has yet to host an Open Cup game, going 1-2 on the road in their short Open Cup history. Their first appearance in 2014 ended abruptly with a 2-1 loss to the Ventura County Fusion (PDL), but they improved on that two years later when they traveled across the bay to rout San Francisco City FC 3-0 when City was an up-and-coming team out of US Club Soccer. Unfortunately, they ended up being swept away by the Sacramento Republic 5-0, a team that would end up as the USL’s Western Conference top seed in 2016.

5. Inter Nashville FC (NPSL Quarterfinalist, South Conference-Southeast Division)
Appearance: 1st

Inter Nashville qualifies for the Open Cup in truly their first season of existence. Not only did Inter Nashville have to make it through the incredibly competitive Southeast Division, they had to win four playoff games on the road. A loss at any stage before the Eastern Conference Final would have dropped them from the qualifying list altogether.

But that didn’t happen. They first traveled across the state to Chattanooga to nab a win against Open Cup regular Chattanooga FC in Finley Stadium. They then went down to New Orleans to take down the Knoxville Force and the previously-unbeaten New Orleans Jesters in consecutive days to earn the Southeast crown. As if that wasn’t enough, they earned their spot in the South Conference Final with a 1-0 upset of the 11-1-0 Sunshine champion Miami Fusion. Their playoff run would end with a 1-0 loss to Midland-Odessa FC in the quarterfinals.

6. AFC Ann Arbor (NPSL Quarterfinalist, Midwest Conference-Great Lakes Division)
Appearance: 2nd (2017)
Best Open Cup Finish: 2017 First Round (1-0 loss at Michigan Bucks of PDL)

AFC Ann Arbor barely snuck into the 2017 US Open Cup after Indy Eleven withdrew their NPSL team from consideration. They will need no such circumstance next year for 2018, as the third-year club (second year in the NPSL) that shares a town with the University of Michigan qualified directly to the Midwest Conference Semifinals after a remarkable 12-1-1 regular season. A 1-0 semifinal win over the Dayton Dynamo probably wasn’t even necessary for Open Cup qualification, but it did propel them from 14th into the top eight. Their playoff run came to end in the regional final when they lost 3-2 on the road to their Great Lake Division rival Detroit City FC.

They’ll look to improve on their inaugural Open Cup run, which ended with a narrow 1-0 loss in the opening round to amateur powerhouse Michigan Bucks (PDL). A chance at revenge in next year’s first round is possible—the Michigan Bucks will also qualify—but not given as Detroit City FC will also enter the Michigan Open Cup fray.

7. Orange County FC (NPSL Quarterfinalist, West Conference-Southwest Division)
Appearance: 1st

While technically an NPSL expansion team, this amateur team coached by U.S. Men’s National Team legend Paul Caligiuri (he scored the goal against Trinidad and Tobago that sent the U.S. to the 1990 World Cup) had been kicking about the SoCal Premier League since 2009.

However, having never even applied to participate in the local qualifying tournaments, this will be Orange County FC’s first involvement in the Open Cup. They got here by upsetting unbeaten FC Arizona on the road by a score of 2-0 to take the Southwest Division championship. Their playoff run would end one game shy of the final four, losing to CD Aguiluchos USA, 1-0.

8. Clarkstown SC Eagles (NPSL Quarterfinalist, Northeast Conference-Keystone Division)
Appearance: 3rd (2016, 2017)
Best Open Cup Finish: First Round (2016, 2017)

The Eagles out of Clarkstown, New York will be looking for their first Open Cup win next year as a Keystone championship and a 6-3 Eastern Conference Semifinal win over Kingston Stockade propelled them into their third consecutive Open Cup berth.

There’s no shame in losing on the road to perrennial Open Cup power Reading United, as Clarkstown did in this year’s first round. They may still be kicking themselves for their 2016 performance however, as a win over Reading would have earned them a matchup against the NASL’s New York Cosmos. Still, making the Open Cup three times running is no small feat.

9. FC Wichita (South Conference-Heartland Division, 2.5 ppg)
Appearance: 3rd (2016, 2017)
Best Finish: 2017 Round 2 (4-3 AET loss vs. Saint Louis FC)
Notable Win: 1-0 (AET) win vs. Azteca FC (USSSA) in 2017 First Round

FC Wichita will enjoy their third consecutive Open Cup appearance after narrowly losing one of the year’s most entertaining games in their 4-3 extra time loss to Saint Louis FC. The regular season was not anywhere near as dramatic for the Kansas club, as they secured the regular-season Heartland championship by a full nine points.

10. Duluth FC (Midwest Conference-North Division Champion, 2 ppg)
Appearance: 1st

Thanks to the Minnesota Thunder, Minnesota Stars and Minnesota United FC, the Land of 10,000 Lakes is no stranger to the US Open Cup. However, an amateur team from the state has never qualified for the tournament in the Modern Era (1995-present).

That will change when Duluth FC enters the first round next year. They earned the No. 3 seed in the Midwest (a region that, thanks in large part to all the new Minnesota teams, now has the second-most Open Cup-eligible teams in NPSL instead of the fewest) after a 9-2 shellacking of the Sioux Falls Thunder on the final day of the regular season clinched the North regular season title.

This was Duluth FC’s third year of existence but their first in the NPSL and it went pretty well, reaching the Midwest Semifinals before falling 5-2 on the road to Detroit City FC.

11. Kitsap SC (West Conference-Northwest Division Champion, 2 ppg)
Appearance: 7th (2009-12, 2015-16 – all as PDL club)
Best Finish: 2016 Round 4 (2-0 loss at Seattle Sounders FC of MLS)
Notable Win: 3-1 win at Sacramento Republic (USL) in 2016 Third Round

The Seattle Sounders and the Kitsap Pumas squared off in the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: JaneGPhotography.com
The Seattle Sounders and the Kitsap Pumas squared off in the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: JaneGPhotography.com

For years, the Kitsap Pumas dominated the Northwestern region of the PDL, even winning the whole thing in 2011, before making the move to NPSL this year. The dominance continues, as Kitsap SC (they dropped the ‘Pumas’ moniker when they moved) won the Northwest Division with a game to spare when they took down FCM Portland 1-0 at home. Roy Lassiter’s men then beat Portland again in the playoffs before falling to CD Aguiluchos in the Western Semifinals.

The club from Bremerton, Washington is one of the few in NPSL who have managed to beat a pro team in the Open Cup – though they of course were in the PDL at the time. The 2016 Third Round win over Sacramento was truly one of the year’s more shocking results, as the Republic would end the USL season as the top team in the Western Conference. Kitsap is also one of NPSL’s more experienced Open Cup teams as they have double the Open Cup appearances as the next closest likely qualifier (6 to Detroit City FC’s 3).

12. Kingston Stockade (Northeast Conference-Atlantic White Division, 1.83 ppg)
Appearance: 1st

The club in upstate New York, run by Foursquare founder Dennis Crowley, has certainly made a lot of noise at their home games and has earned a lot of attention in the American Soccer world. Next year, they’ll get to do the same in the US Open Cup.

After an opening-game loss to Hartford City, Stockade got hot, winning seven of their next eight games. They built up enough of a lead to withstand a season-ending two-game losing streak and hold on to the Atlantic White Division title. Their playoff run ended in the Conference Semifinals with a 6-3 loss to Clarkstown but the season overall was likely enough to be invited to their first-ever Open Cup.

13. Miami United (South Conference-Sunshine Division, 1.83 ppg)
Appearance: 3rd (2015, 2017)
Best Finish: Round 2 (2015: 1-0 loss at Charleston Battery, 2017: 2-1 loss vs Jacksonville Armada)
Notable Win: 2-1 win vs Boca Raton FC, 2017 1st Round

Miami United’s Open Cup dreams were thought over after the Fusion ran through NPSL’s Sunshine Division, which only sends one team to the NPSL playoffs. However, with the Fusion dropping out, Miami United will look to make their third Open Cup appearance in four years.

Although they have yet to topple a pro team, they’re one of the few NPSL teams with consistently good first-round results. They knocked off SW Florida Adrenaline (PDL) in the 2015 first round before beating Sunshine Division rivals Boca Raton FC in last year’s opening round (they had qualified through Open Qualifying and kept a team in the American Premier Soccer League).

14. Erie Commodores (Midwest Conference-East Division, 1.75 ppg, +1 Regular-Season Goal-Differential over Dayton Dynamo)

Appearance: 1st

A two-goal win early in the season against the Dayton Dynamo ended up making all the difference between making the Open Cup and not. Erie and Dayton split the first NPSL tiebreaker (head-to-head points) but Erie narrowly edged out Dayton on the second (head-to-head goal differential). This leaves the Dynamo, who would go on to beat Erie on the road in the playoffs before a 1-0 loss to Ann Arbor, completely out of the Open Cup picture.

Such is the cruel world of NPSL Open Cup qualification. Either way, Erie will enjoy their first-ever Open Cup berth in 10 seasons of existence. The Commodores bossed the early days of the NPSL, when Open Cup slots were few and far between. However, this is not the club’s first time qualifying for the tournament. After winning the Great Lakes Division title in 2012, the Erie Admirals (as they were known then), earned a spot in the 2013 US Open Cup, but declined the invitation, citing financial and player availability challenges.

15. New Orleans Jesters (South Conference-Southeast Division, 2.33 ppg)
Appearance: 1st

The Jesters have been New Orleans’ soccer team since 2003. And after a dominating season in a tough NPSL division that included Chattanooga FC, Knoxville Force, and eventual quarterfinalist Inter Nashville, they’ll likely be heading to their first-ever US Open Cup.

After an undefeated 8-0-4 regular season, the Jesters were chosen to host the Southeast Division Finals. While a loss to Inter Nashville dashed automatic qualifying dreams, the team’s impressive regular season was likely enough to secure an Open Cup berth.

By qualifying, the Jesters would become just the second amateur club from Louisiana to qualify for the US Open Cup in the Modern Era (1995-present), joining CD Motagua of New Orleans who made their debut in 2016.

16. FC Arizona (West Conference-Southwest Division, 2.5 ppg)
Appearance: 1st

Much like the Jesters, FC Arizona tumbled down the qualification list despite an undefeated regular season after an untimely playoff loss. Unlike the Jesters, FC Arizona finds itself here in its very first season of existence.

And what a start. They typically play more regular season games out West (16 compared to 10-14 in most divisions) but that didn’t matter to FC Arizona. They won 12 times and drew the other four to finish alongside FC Wichita with the second-most points per game in the entire NPSL. And unless the Open Cup committee reduces the number of NPSL teams for the first time ever, Aidan Davison’s squad from Mesa will reap those rewards in the tournament next year.

17. Brooklyn Italians (Northeast Conference-Atlantic Blue Division, 2.33 ppg)
Appearance: 7th in Modern Era (2010-15)
Best Finish: 1979, 1991 US Open Cup Champions

The Brooklyn Italians opened the 2014 US Open Cup with a 4-2 road win over the PDL's Jersey Express. Photo: Bob Larson
The Brooklyn Italians opened the 2014 US Open Cup with a 4-2 road win over the PDL’s Jersey Express. Photo: Bob Larson

The old Brooklyn club likely clinched a 2018 berth on the heels of a 9-2-1 season that ended abruptly in the playoffs at the hands of TSF FC, a club that dates back to the early 1990s. The Italians’ regular season performance might be enough to send them back to the tournament for the first time since 2015.

It’s impressive in American Soccer that a club can exist for 68 years and still be relevant in the nation’s oldest cup competition. The Italians were founded back in 1949 and have won the tournament twice (1979, 1991). This would be the seventh appearance in the Open Cup for Brooklyn in the Modern Era (1995-present) after the club rattled off an NPSL record six straight appearances from 2010-15.

18. Fort Worth Vaqueros (South Conference-Lone Star Division, 2.2 ppg)
Appearance: 1st

Nick Stavrou’s Vaqueros narrowly clinched the Lone Star regular season title, beating out two rivals, Midland-Odessa FC and Dutch Lions FC, by a single point. However, they wouldn’t get the chance to face either in the divisional playoffs as they were taken out by the No. 4 seed Shreveport Rafters.

That loss nearly cost them dearly, as did Midland-Odessa’s run to the quarterfinals (ensuring they would finish no higher than fifth in the Southern pecking order). But still, US Soccer has yet to take Open Cup berths from the NPSL so it’s likely that the four-year-old club will enjoy its first Open Cup next season.

19. Dakota Fusion (Midwest Conference-North Division, 1.93 ppg)
20. New Jersey Copa FC (Northeast Conference-Keystone Division, 2.3 ppg)
21. Riverside Coras (West Conference-Southwest Division, 2.19 ppg)
22. Dutch Lions FC (South Conference-Lone Star Division, 2.1 ppg)
23. Minneapolis City SC (Midwest Conference-North Division, 1.79 ppg, 8 wins)
24. Knoxville Force (South Conference-Southeast Division, 1.92 ppg)
25. Albion SC (West Conference-Southwest Division, 2.13 ppg)
26. West Chester United (Northeast Conference-Keystone Division, 2 ppg)
27. Med City FC (Midwest Conference-North Division, 1.79 ppg, 7 wins)
28. Chattanooga FC (South Conference-Southeast Division, 1.83 ppg)
29. TSF FC (Northeast Conference-Atlantic Blue Division, 1.92 ppg)
30. FCM Portland (West Conference-Northwest Division, 1.8 ppg)

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: GPS Omens earns first-ever win in rematch with GPS Portland Phoenix

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GPS Omens logo

GPS Omens, of the Bay State Soccer League, took down GPS Portland Phoenix of the PDL, 2-0, to advance to the Second Round of the 2017 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. It was the second-ever Open Cup meeting between these two members of the Global Premier Soccer organization and Omens made good on avenging their 2-0 loss to Portland in the 2013 Second Round.

Jake Johnson opened up the affair early with a 2nd minute strike to give Omens the 1-0 lead at Memorial Park in Portland, Maine. But it was Ben Shuleva, centerback for the Omens, who really shone on the night.

Omens found themselves a set piece opportunity in the 25th minute of a relatively dominant first half. Shuleva came up from the backline and headed in the insurance goal.

Shuleva and Zach Abdu-Glass, the goalkeeper for Omens, kept the door shut on Portland despite ever mounting pressure on the visitors’ goal. Portland pounded four of their five shots at the Omens goal, but Abdu-Glass saved four of them to preserve the shutout.

“This game is historically a tough one for us as we have very little lead in time,” said Portland coach Craig Fannan after the match. “We were a little naive in the first half and got punished for it. We continued to push, never gave up and can count ourselves unlucky not to get back into the game.”

After their first win in Open Cup history, GPS Omens has a Boston derby to look forward to as they take on Boston City FC in the Second Round.

2017 US Open Cup Round 2: North Carolina FC dominate Carolina Dynamo in first trip to Greensboro

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North Carolina FC logo

The last time these two teams met in 2013, former UNC-Greensboro standout and Montreal Impact draftee Hakan Ilhan put a scare into the then-RailHawks before the NASL team pulled away at the end. This game between the Carolina Dynamo and North Carolina FC was not that close, as NCFC hammered the Dynamo 6-1 in North Carolina’s first-ever trip to MacPherson Stadium in Brown’s Summit, North Carolina.

Though the final scoreline wasn’t kind to a Dynamo team made up mostly of college players from the Triangle and Triad, the amateur side could feel relatively good about the opening quarter of the game. Danny Elliott was the one true menace to the NCFC backline, making his presence known early when his 4th minute endline cross merited a quick reaction from NCFC CB Andre Fortune. Elliott ran at the backline again in the 22nd minute but his cutback was cut out by Fortune.

That said, the experienced frontline of Matt Fondy, Tiyi Shipalane, and Brian Shriver generated most of the first half’s chances. They broke through in the 27th minute, as Shriver finished a deft sequence in the Dynamo box that included a Fondy lay-off and a Shipalane dummy.

With weekend NASL league games sandwiching the Open Cup game, North Carolina would have been forgiven for playing a reserve squad in Greensboro. Indeed, some reserves and prospects, like Fortune and goalkeeper Macklin Robinson, started. But the inclusion of Shipalane, Shriver, Fondy, and CB Connor Tobin signaled the seriousness with which NCFC takes the Open Cup.

Dynamo centerback Rashid Tetteh delayed the second goal for six minutes when he cleared a Kareem Moses shot off the line. But Fondy doubled the lead in the 37th minute with a calmly slotted ball past Dynamo keeper Ryan Cretens after a nearly 40-yard wide-open run.

Fondy did his best Shipalane impression in the 40th minute by making a darting run to the endline before laying it off to Shipalane himself for the easy blast to put NCFC up 3-0.

Even up 3-0, NCFC were relentless. The rare Dynamo opportunity came in the form of an Elliott counter. Sometimes it was a solo effort, like in the 43rd minute where Elliott had Fortune dead to rights, only to cut the wrong direction and into Tobin. Sometimes he had help, like in the 45th minute when Nicholas Adamczyk’s cross had to be dealt with by Tobin. Either way, the Dynamo likely didn’t complete more than ten passes in the NCFC half during the first 45 minutes.

It was at halftime that the sizable Raleigh contingent finally got to Macpherson Stadium. Already up comfortably, NCFC treated the loud Oak City Supporters to a fine second all the same. Halftime substitute Billy Schuller collected a Cretens miscue in the 47th minute to put North Carolina up 4-0. Ten minutes later, Jonathan Orlando made it five after a skillful feed from Shipalane.

“You’re still better than Charlotte,” chanted the visiting supporters, referencing the extra-time smackdown North Carolina laid on the Charlotte Independence in last year’s Open Cup third round. Elliott, presumably taking those words in stride, set up Dynamo’s only moment of joy in the 74th minute. But what a joy it was, as first-half substitute Justin Shear thundered home a volley from Elliott’s curling cross that made its way around NCFC defender James Marcelin. It was a goal worthy of goal-of-the-tournament recognition.

Schuller capped off the scoring in the 85th minute, slotting home Shriver’s pass to make it 6-1. North Carolina FC moves on to host the Independence for the third consecutive year on May 31.

Christos FC reaches Third Round of US Open Cup but why are they asking you for money?

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christosfc-new-logoUPDATED (5/23): Christos FC met its $7,500 fundraising goal in just three days

After pulling off a surprising upset in the Second Round of the 2017 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, Christos FC, an amateur club from Baltimore, are heading to Round 3. Now, they are asking for help to get there.

A 1-0 win over the USL’s Richmond Kickers earned Christos a Third Round date with the Premier Development League’s Chicago FC United. As a club self-described as a “true” amateur team where not a single player or coach is paid, money can be a little hard to come by at times. As a result, a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the cost to make the more than 700-mile trip to Chicago.

However, the US Open Cup isn’t necessarily the sole motivator for this call. According to Jody Haislip, founder of Christos FC, those expenses are also going toward travel to the Hank Steinbrecher Cup, an annual competition that serves as sort of a “cup winners cup” for amateur soccer. Each year, it features the champion of the Premier Development League (PDL), National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the USASA National Amateur Cup, and the previous Hank Steinbrecher Cup winner. Christos qualified as the winner of last year’s Amateur Cup.

“I know that one of the guys created the page and it looks like it’s just for the Open Cup game,” Haislip told TheCup.us. “But it’s also to help out with the Hank Steinbrecher Cup that we leave for the following day after Chicago.”

This year, the Hank Steinbrecher Cup is being hosted by the defending NPSL champion AFC Cleveland.

Christos FC is no stranger to such expenses, after having competed in and won both the Werner Fricker Cup and the Amateur Cup last year. But while those are outings likely planned weeks and months in advance, Christos have only two weeks to figure out how to take their team from Baltimore to Chicago for the US Open Cup.

Christos FC (yellow) played a strong defensive game in a 1-0 upset road win over the Richmond Kickers (USL) in the Second Round of the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: Jessica Stone Hendricks Photography
Christos FC (yellow) played a strong defensive game in a 1-0 upset road win over the Richmond Kickers (USL) in the Second Round of the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: Jessica Stone Hendricks Photography

“Of course US Soccer is providing us money for the Open Cup but we have to front the expenses to then be reimbursed,” Haislip said.

But still, even without the other amateur national competition, Christos and other amateur teams are often put in a somewhat difficult travel situation in these early rounds. The first few rounds are usually played on consecutive weeks, making any lengthy travel very expensive with less than a week’s notice. The U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) does reimburse some of the travel costs, but fronting the money isn’t always easy for a small club.

The USSF reimburses up to $10-11,000 to teams (depending on the round) for travel expenses. Which is often enough to cover the expenses, but it depends on how far the trip is. Having to book flights for 18 players, plus coaches or any other staff, in less than two week’s notice is going to be expensive. Then a team has to pay for transportation once they arrive at their destination, you have meals to pay for and hotels to stay in. All of that adds up.

But regardless of how much the bill ends up being for the entire trip, the biggest challenge for amateur teams like Christos FC is that they have to pay for everything up front, and according to multiple teams who have competed in the last couple of years, the reimbursement funds usually don’t arrive until after the tournament is over.

Christos FC has a busy itinerary ahead of them at the end of the month. The plan is for the team to fly out of Baltimore on Tuesday, May 30 to Chicago. They will arrive in Chicago on Tuesday evening. The game will take place on Wednesday evening. Thursday morning they fly back to Baltimore. Then, they will drive about six hours to Cleveland where they will play a game on Friday and a game on Saturday.

For now, they’re well on their way to Chicago. Thanks to a swell of support on social media, which was sparked, in large part, to a generous donation from New York Red Bulls midfielder Sacha Kljestan.

At the time of this being published, the campaign had raised more than $6,800 of the $7,500 goal.

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: Carolina Dynamo return to Round 2 for second time in a decade

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Carolina DynamoThe stage is set for an all-North Carolina battle as Carolina Dynamo of the PDL dispatched Legacy 76 (NPSL) 2-1 to advance to the Second Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Mamadee Nyepon, a player who grew up in the Greensboro United youth system, scored the winning goal for the Dynamo in the 57th minute.

The Dynamo went up early in the 13th minute, as Shane Mecham turned on a ball at the corner of the box and smashed it into the bottom corner, leaving Legacy goalkeeper David Phillips helpless.

The goal opened up the game as Legacy started to put together possession and even a few chances. As the clock wound into the 20th minute, Legacy put in two dangerous crosses. James Grace, Legacy’s dangerous attacking midfielder, made it to the endline but couldn’t find anyone with a cross before a corner narrowly missed the head of Henry Gotay.

The game continued at a comfortable pace for Dynamo, as midfielder Daniel Elliott sent a shot just over the bar in the 28th minute. The pace was not so comfortable for Legacy, as they made an early sub in the 30th minute, bringing on Justin Burrell for Gotay.

Early subbing wasn’t a bad strategy against a Dynamo team operating with just a 4-man bench. But it didn’t have much pay off in the first half, as Dynamo continued to generate the majority of the danger. Nyepon first showed his aggressive touch as he jumped on a poor back pass from Ryan Flesch in the 36th minute, only for Phillips to deny the near-post effort.

Things started to come together for Legacy at the end of the first half, as Grace was brought down on the edge of the box. The equalizer nearly came then, but James Lee’s free kick skipped just wide.

The equalizer did come six minutes after the restart, as halftime substitute Max Poelker roofed a wonderful endline pass from Marcel Berry. It was the culmination of a rough night from Dynamo left back Samuel Orisatoki, who played multiple awkward back passes to goalkeeper Ryan Cretens that required attention.

Despite the turn in the run of play, Nyepon got his winner in the 56th minute. He collected and fired a ball from the top of the box past Phillips into the bottom corner. But perhaps the more impressive play was the assist, as Ebe Kudolo evaded a Legacy defender with a spin.

The game then became very disjointed for the next 30 minutes, which was no accident. “I think as we re-took the lead, the guys slowed it down,” said Dynamo Head Coach Tony Falvino. “We didn’t want to be chasing the game, especially short numbers with many of our guys still coming out of exams. We had to be smart about how to play defensively.”

Between cramps and stoppages, Legacy never really got back into the flow of game. They did still manage to create two more chances though: One in the 87th minute where Poelker’s wide-angle shot was easily saved by Cretens, and a final 94th minute diving desperate header by Phillips, the goalkeeper. Alas, the ref blew his whistle as the header went wide, preserving another Open Cup win for the Dynamo.

“The first half was big for us as we had to shake off the rust,” said Carolina Head Coach Tony Falvino of his team that was playing its first competitive game of the season. “I thought we were lively in the first half, the second half was a little bit different.”

The Dynamo will host an NASL team for the first time in their history in the Open Cup next Wednesday.

“For our guys,” said Dynamo General manager Scott Zapko, “it’s a chance to play against the pros, and that’s where they want to be ultimately.”

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