After Union Omaha held off Flatirons FC in Golden, Colo. on Friday night, the First Round of the 2025 US Open Cup was officially complete. The First Round was action-packed, including six Cupsets, four matches decided after extra time, and three shootouts.
FORO SC set the tone on Tuesday night, claiming a 2-1 extra-time victory over USL League One, and Open Cup debutant, Texoma FC. That set the stage for a second night that saw four more amateur sides upend their professional counterparts.
Virginia Dream FC dropped the Richmond Kickers in the first upset of the night before a star-studded Des Moines Menace edged Sporting KC II. Little Rock Rangers then got in on the act, holding Birmingham Legion FC at arm’s length before 2024 Open Cup darlings El Farolito pulled off some magic in 2025 with a win over Real Monarchs SLC.
The three-time Open Cup champion New York Pancyprian Freedoms put an exclamation mark on the First Round with a shootout triumph over FC Cincinnati 2.
Overall, 10 different clubs earned their first-ever win in the tournament proper, including eight debutantes.
The USL League One led the way with 11 teams advancing to the next round, followed by seven apiece from the USL Championship and MLS Next Pro. The USL League Two and USASA each had two teams advance, while the NPSL and UPSL each had one team move on.
The First Round concludes on Friday when USL League Two’s Flatirons FC plays host to Union Omaha at 9 PM Eastern Time in Golden, Colorado. The game was originally scheduled for Thursday but it was delayed due to a blizzard in Omaha that caused travel issues for Union Omaha.
Below you find a brief recap of every game from Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights with links to the full match report as they become available:
Hartford Athletic (USL-C)
3:0
New York Shockers (NPSL)
by Connor Bunnell
The Open Cup season began in the Insurance Capital of the World as USL Championship side Hartford Athletic cruised to a 3-0 victory over Albany amateurs New York Shockers.
Right from the start, Hartford established a crushing chokehold on the ball and the overall flow, and that vice grip held from flag to flag. Not only did Athletic maintain just under 80% total possession, but the Shockers got just one shot off all night, matching the number of times the visitors changed goalkeepers. The hosts, on the other hand, had no such troubles. Last year’s Open Cup goal involvements leader Jonathan Jimenez picked up right where he left off with an early assist, and by night’s end, Michee Ngalina and Adewale Obalola each had a goal and an assist to their names.
The win moves Hartford to 4-4-0 all-time in Cup action, including a perfect 4-0-0 against amateur teams.
[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
Sarasota Paradise (USL-2)
1:2
FC Naples (USL-1)
by Jordan Beech
They left the scoring late, but a flurry of goals in the final 12 minutes, including a stoppage-time winner by Kevin O’Connor, saw FC Naples secure victory in their Open Cup debut.
Neither team was able to separate in the opening 45 minutes. Heading deep into the second half, it seemed that extra time would be necessary, but Karsen Henderlong put the visiting USL League One side up 1-0 in the 79th minute. Javier Salgado responded for the amateurs of USL League Two in the 88th minute before O’Connor tallied the matchwinner three minutes later.
FC Naples advances to take on Hartford Athletic in the Second Round in two weeks’ time.
[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
Miami FC (USL-C)
4:1
Naples United FC (NPSL)
by Jordan Beech
Miami FC was clinical in their First Round matchup, dispatching amateur side Naples United FC, 4-1, on Tuesday night. Francisco Bonfiglio led the way for the hosts, bagging a first-half brace.
Bonfiglio scored in the 41st minute and again in the first minute of stoppage time to put the debutants from Naples in a 2-0 hole heading into the interval. Allen Gavilanes made it 3-0 in the 66th before Tobias Zarate put the hosts up 4-0 in the 69th minute. Jorge Moreno notched an 83rd-minute consolation for Naples United.
Miami FC 9-6-1 all-time in Open Cup play, including a 6-2-0 mark against amateur sides. It’s the first time Miami’s won their Open Cup opening match since 2023.
[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
New Jersey Alliance (UPSL)
2:2
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL-1)
Chattanooga Red Wolves advance 4-2 on penalty kicks
By Jordan Beech
Despite being short-staffed and playing a man-down from the 37th minute on, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC snuck past the UPSL’s New Jersey Alliance, 5-4 in a penalty kick shootout after a 2-2 draw on Tuesday night. Matthew Bentley led the way for Chattanooga, bagging a second-half brace.
Gharett Morris received a red card in the 37th minute, putting the visitors at a disadvantage. Open Cup debutants New Jersey Alliance took advantage of the extra man, going up 1-0 in the first minute of stoppage time thanks to Marlon Preciado. In the second half, Bentley put the Red Wolves on top after goals in the 65th and 84th minutes, but Joel Quist leveled the score at the death to send the match to extra time.
Neither team could find the breakthrough, necessitating penalty kicks which included a successful conversion by Chattanooga backup keeper Jason Smith who played the final four minutes of extra time as a field player. Chattanooga advances to the Second Round for the second straight season as a result of the PK triumph.
[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
FC Motown (NPSL)
0:1
Westchester SC (USL-1)
by Tim Abbott
Westchester SC came into this match against the nominal but experienced amateurs of FC Motown against the backdrop of their first-ever match, a 1-1 draw against fellow cup side Greenville Triumph, and at the start of a five-match road trip. The two sides combined for one shot on goal between them in the opening 15 minutes and as the game settled down, it was Westchester on the attack and Motown on the counter. As the match continued, the few chances came from WSC as they outpossessed and outshot their hosts, but were comfortably repelled by an organized Motown defence.
Having failed to break through from open play, Westchester capitalized on a defensive miscue as a rash tackle on the lively Juan Obregon set up the same player to score the winner from a penalty kick, with only nine minutes to play.
[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
Asheville City SC (USL-2)
0:0
Greenville Triumph SC (USL-1)
Greenville Triumph advances 4-3 on penalty kicks
by Jason Herbert
In a battle for Tar Heel State supremacy, Greenville Triumph SC edged past their USL League Two counterparts in Asheville City SC, 4-3 in a penalty kick shootut after a scoreless draw on Tuesday night.
Despite a combined 24 shot attempts, only five were on frame through 120 minutes of action. Francois Djiba tallied three saves while his Greenville counterpart Seth Torman posted two saves. With no one able to break the deadlock, the match went to penalties where both keepers again saved one try apiece. Ultimately, Johnny Fenwick’s attempt that clanged off the crossbar on Asheville City’s fourth attempt was answered by a successful conversion by Sebastian Velazquez to finally determine a winner.
Greenville Triumph is now 4-4-1 (1-0 PK) overall in US Open Cup play and remain unbeaten against amateur sides in the tournament.
[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
West Chester United SC (USASA / USLPA)
2:3
Loudoun United FC (USL-C)
By Evan Konigsberg
Loudoun United got all it could handle from West Chester United, eventually dispatching their amateur hosts, 3-2, in the First Round of the 110th US Open Cup. Riley Bidois scored on either side of the interval to help lift the visitors from the USL Championship.
West Chester got on the board quickly thanks to Yassine Elkahloun’s 18th-minute penalty conversion, however, Bidois leveled the proceedings in 20 minutes later to send the match into halftime knotted at 1-1. Loudoun United quickly went up 3-1 in the second half through a Christian Sorto penalty and Bidois’ second of the evening before sweating out the final half-hour following Kenneth Roby’s tally in the 68th minute.
Loudoun United moves to 4-2-1 all-time in Open Cup competition, including just their second win on the road in the competition.
[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
Texoma FC (USL-1)
1:2
FORO SC (UPSL)
After Extra Time
By Adam Uthe
Bryan Padilla scored two goals 84 minutes apart to help visiting FORO SC secure a massive Cupset over professional side Texoma FC in extra time on a windy night in Sherman, Texas. First-half red cards to Ozzie Ramos and Nate Kopetsky saw both teams play with 10 men for the rest of the evening.
FORO got on the board early with a 15th-minute penalty conversion by Padilla, sending the amateurs into halftime nursing a 1-0 lead. Brandon McManus wasted little time in restoring parity, burying a shot in the 59th minute for the hosts. It took until the 99th minute for FORO to separate from their hosts as Padilla scored on the counter for what would prove to be the matchwinner.
FORO advanced past the First Round for the second time in as many appearances. Open Cup darlings a year ago, Tuesday night’s win moves them to 1-1-1 (1-0 PK) all-time in the competition as they advance to the Second Round for the second time in as many years.
Tulsa Athletic (UPSL)
0:1
FC Tulsa (USLC)
By Jordan Beech
FC Tulsa left it late but emerged 1-0 winners over Tulsa Athletic in the third Open Cup version of the Tulsa Derby in the last four years. Taylor Calheira converted a PK in the 85th minute to send FC Tulsa through to the Second Round.
Both teams battled winds gusting up to 40 mph making an aerial offensive hard to come by. Tulsa Athletic did well to stymy their USL-Championship visitors, with Jakub Grzesiak recording six saves on the evening. Unfortunately, Grzesiak wasn’t equal to Calheira’s PK attempt following a handball in the box by an A’s defender.
FC Tulsa are now 4-7-1 all-time in Cup play as a result of Tuesday night’s win, while also nosing ahead in the Tulsa Derby, 2-1-0. This is the second year in a row that Tulsa has advanced past their first match in the tournament.
AV ALTA FC (USL-1)
3:1
Ventura County Fusion (USL-2)
by Tim Thomas
AV ALTA FC opened the newly remodeled Lancaster Municipal Stadium in style with a commanding 3-1 victory over the Ventura County Fusion.
In a night of firsts it would be Jerry Desundes who etched himself in the history books by scoring AV ALTA’s first goal in any competition in the 28th minute of play. Ventura County would make it interesting in the 42nd minute after a long ball caught ALTA’s back line sleeping and led to a goal by Buba Fofanah. That lead wouldn’t last long as Desundes stepped up to the spot and drilled a penalty kick home at in the third minute of first half stoppage time. A goal for ALTA by Sebastian Cruz in the 52nd minute would put the game on ice.
This match not only marked AV ALTA’s first US Open Cup victory it was also the first victory for the club in any competition.
Ventura County FC (MLSNP)
7:0
Laguna United (UPSL)
by Connor Bunnell
In the single most lopsided match of the day, MLS NEXT Pro’s Ventura County FC absolutely whooped UPSL side Laguna United 7-0.
For about the first 20 percent of the match, it looked like it could be a competitive contest, but once LA Galaxy’s reserve side broke the deadlock, a flood of offense ensued, as Ventura County scored off of beautiful volleys, bizarre little dribbles, and everything in between. Cameroonian striker Aaron Bibout spearheaded the effort with the first hat trick of this year’s Cup, while Luis Müller put home one of his own immediately after wrapping up a trio of assists, making the German an instant frontrunner for the tournament’s top playmaker.
With this win, Los Dos are now 3-2-1 across all Open Cup appearances, as well as 2-1-0 since their rebrand as Ventura County FC last year.
[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19
Columbus Crew 2 (MLS NEXT Pro)
4:1
NY Renegades (UPSL)
By Jordan Beech
Brent Adu-Gyamfi led the way as Columbus Crew 2 cruised past NY Renegades, 4-1, on Wednesday night in First Round action. The match served as the Open Cup debut for both clubs.
Keesean Ferdinand drew first blood in the 44th minute before Adu-Gyamfi scored his first of two goals in the third minute of stoppage time to send Columbus into the break sporting a 2-0 advantage. Tristan Brown added a third goal in the 62nd minute before Adu-Gyamfi bagged his brace seven minutes later.
Jonathan Silveira scored for the visitors from the UPSL.
Columbus Crew 2 advances to the Second Round for the first time in club history as a result of Wednesday’s victory.
Chattanooga FC (MLS NEXT Pro)
1:0
Corpus Christi FC (USL-2)
After Extra Time
By Jordan Beech
Chattanooga FC got all they could handle as they played host to the amateurs of Corpus Christi FC. However, the MLS NEXT Pro side escaped the Cupset bid, scoring in the 112th minute through Markus Naglestad for the match’s lone goal.
A rough-and-tumble affair that saw nine yellow cards handed out, and neither team was able to find much joy through nearly 120 minutes of play. That all changed when Naglestad nodded home Milo Garvanian’s service from the left wing late for the win.
The win moves Chattanooga to 4-7-5 overall in Open Cup play. It’s the first time the MLS NEXT Pro side has won their opening-round match since 2023.
Appalachian FC (NPSL)
0:3
One Knoxville SC (USL-1)
By Jordan Beech
One Knoxville SC cruised in their First Round matchup against host Appalachian FC on Wednesday night, claiming a 3-0 win. Knoxville led from the 16th minute and largely held the amateurs from North Carolina at arm’s length the rest of the way.
Leo Santos, a full professional at just 18 years old, opened the affair in the 16th minute when he cleaned up a ball in Appalachian’s box. Carrying a 1-0 lead into the second half, Babacar Diene and Scott Mcleod tallied strikes of their own 11 minutes apart in the 63rd and 74th minutes to seal the match.
One Knoxville successfully advanced to the Second Round for a third straight year as a result of Wednesday night’s contest. Knoxville is now 2-2-0 overall in Open Cup action, with both wins coming on the road.
Richmond Kickers (USL-1)
1:3
Virginia Dream FC (USASA / VSSL)
By Tim Hotze
Capitalizing on set piece opportunities. Long balls. Hard pressing, and a goalkeeper making key saves in key moments. It’s the textbook method for defeating a higher-division opponent in the US Open Cup, but it paid off for Virginia Dream of the National Premier Soccer League who emerged with a 3-1 victory over the Richmond Kickers of USL League One. The game was the first-ever match in the tournament proper for Dream of Falls Church, Virginia, who were founded just three years ago and whose victory came in the same City Stadium in Richmond where the Kickers raised the championship banner after securing the 1995 US Open Cup title.
The game started off like a fantasy for the visitors, as forward Nicolas Likulia was hauled down in the box in the seventh minute, earning a penalty which he converted moments later. His team protected their lead through an increasingly strong onslaught from Richmond, but in the 36th minute, the Kickers had their equalizer when Michael Fitch cut in from the right side and laid off a short pass to James Vaugahn just outside of the box, who sent it across the goal and into the top-left corner of Joe Rice’s net, sending the two teams into the locker rooms level at half.
On the restart, it once again took Dream about seven minutes to find a goal, when an inswinging pass across a set piece was headed by Gnaoua Kossehasse across and then knocked in by Thomas Suchecki in the 53rd minute. Just seven minutes later, the NPSL side struck again when Leonardo Torres-Lopez saw off three Richmond defenders and got a pass to Akingbolahan Akinkoye who took a shot that deflected off goalkeeper Pabo Jara on its way to the net making it 3-1 for the visitors. Although Richmond would continue to dominate possession and had a few chances, Virginia stuck to their game plan and saw out the victory, advancing in their first-ever match of the Cup.
Inter Miami CF II (MLS Next Pro)
4:2
Miami United FC (UPSL)
by Connor Bunnell
In the big intercity clash of the day, MLS NEXT Pro’s Inter Miami CF II took a 4-2 win over UPSL side Miami United FC.
This Dále Derby was a tale of two halves, and the first half belonged to the amateurs, who took a 1-0 lead into the break thanks to a stunning free kick. However, Inter would catch United on the B-side as the Herons scored four unanswered, spearheaded by a brace from Yuval Cohen. Meanwhile, United’s Santiago Frean went from hero to zero, earning himself a backbreaking red card in the 74th minute. Though the amateurs fought valiantly and even pulled one back late, it wasn’t enough, and one of last year’s darlings became a one-and-done.
Thanks to their massive turnaround, Inter Miami II opens their Open Cup record with a win.
Sporting KC II (MLS NEXT Pro)
1:2
Des Moines Menace (USL-2)
By Tim Abbott
Des Moines Menace brought an experience-laden squad to the maelstrom of Swope Park, with a 15-year age gap between the average age of the two squads. But even with the aid of a wind gusting up to 45 mph at their backs, the home side failed to make their advantage count in the first half.
With the visitors gaining the wind advantage in the second half, it might have been expected that they would stroll away but neither team really asserted themselves and it took until near the hour mark for the deadlock to be broken, with a Sacha Kljestan penalty kick.
Their lead would only last five minutes, as SKCII loaded the box and Beckham Uderitz slotted home the equalizer. However, despite gaining more possession and shots than their visitors, it was Des Moines who move on, thanks to a second penalty — the last kick of the match for Kljestan, in the 74th minute after a quick counter by Leroy Enzugusi.
The win moves Des Moines to 15-14-4 overall in Open Cup action and is their third win over a Division 3 side. The win also secures the Menace’s passage to the Second Round for a third-straight tournament.
Lexington Sporting Club (USL-C)
5:0
Southern Indiana FC (UPSL)
By Jordan Beech
Five different players found the back of the net in Lexington Sport Club’s 5-0 romp of UPSL side Southern Indiana FC. The win is Lexington’s first in Open Cup play in their third appearance in the tournament.
Cory Burke bagged the opener in the 13th minute and the hosts never looked back, as Eliot Goldthorp made it 2-0 with a score in the 42nd minute.
Alfredo Midence, Lucas Stauffer, and Braudilio Rodrigues scored second-half goals to put the finishing touches on the outing.
Lexington moves to 1-2-0 all-time, notching their first win against an amateur side in Cup play. Their Second Round appearance matches their best-ever performance in 2023, though that year the Second Round was their first match of the tournament.
Little Rock Rangers (USL-2)
1:0
Birmingham Legion FC (USL-C)
By Jordan Beech
Caoimhin McConnell scored the lone goal of the match in the 48th minute as Little Rock Rangers claimed a Cupset over Birmingham Legion FC with a 1-0 win over the USL Championship side.
The Rangers’ defense was heroic all evening, weathering 13 shots from their professional counterparts. The amateurs from the River City allowed only three shots to test Tomasz Wroblewski — USL League Two’s reigning Golden Glove recipient who proved equal to the task each time.
Little Rock secured its first-ever win in the Open Cup in their second appearance all-time, sullying Birmingham’s perfect record against amateur competition in the process.
El Paso Locomotive (USL-C)
5:1
Harpos FC (USSSA/CPL)
By Tim Abbott
Locomotive entered this match after scoring four but only drawing their last game, and after 10 minutes of 0-0 they steadily took out their frustration. Roberto Avila opened the scoring at that point. Bryan Romero made it two off a corner in the 37th minute and repeated the trick to put the game to bed in first-half stoppage time.
Braden Fidelak had the unfortunate distinction of making it 4-0 with an own goal, and Gabi Torres made it 5-0 in the 59th minute. Harpos eventually broke through just four minutes later, with Baptiste Debuire finishing a Quinn Matulis cross. But the Coloradans could not make further inroads.
The win is El Paso’s first in Open Cup play in the club’s fifth appearance all-time. It’s also the first time El Paso has advanced past their initial match in the tournament in club history.
Real Monarchs (MLS NEXT Pro)
1:3
El Farolito (NPSL)
After Extra Time
by Connor Bunnell
In a triumphant return for everyone’s favorite San Francisco burrito chain, reigning NPSL champions El Farolito took a thrilling 3-1 victory in extra time over MLS NEXT Pro’s Real Monarchs.
It was a chilly and chippy contest in Utah, and the Burrito Boys took the early edge in the 18th minute when last year’s co-Golden Boot winner Dembor Benson scored his first of the new Cup campaign. But after a sluggish start for Real Salt Lake’s reserves, the Monarchs would assert themselves, replacing the empty-calories possession of the first half with genuine attacking menace. That peaked with an equalizer from Antonio Riquelme, but despite quality chances from both sides, neither could find the definitive answer in the initial 90.
As time ticked down and tempers flared, the Monarchs’ defenders lost their cool. First, Kobi Henry drew a second yellow card right as the first half of extra time was winding down, giving away the numbers advantage. Then, substitute Loic Adjalala proceeded to have a disaster day, nearly getting himself sent off and giving away an all-important penalty. Herlbert Soto, who’d been great all day long, stepped up to take the shot and scored it, putting El Farolito back in the lead, before a dagger from Erik Arias sealed the visitors’ cupset.
With this result, the 1993 Open Cup champions have now started back-to-back runs with a road win over an MLS NEXT Pro side. El Farolito also moved to 3-0 against Division III clubs and 5-3-1 overall since adopting their current name.
Monterey Bay (USL-C)
4:0
International San Francisco (USASA/SFSFL)
By A.D. Mosier
Monterey Bay made quick work of International San Francisco, cruising past the amateur side 4-0 at home to advance to Round Two.
San Francisco’s first touch on the ball came 90 seconds into the match when they had to pull the ball out of the back of the net after Mobi Fehr tapped in the opener from inside the six yard box off a low-driven cross from Alax Dixion on the left flank. .
Xavi Gnaulati doubled the lead in the 26th minute, beating his defender to a driven ball from Luke Ivanovic inside the six-yard box. Gnaulati bagged his second in identical fashion, but from Dixon on the left side this time in the second minute of first half added time.
Playing on cruise control for the majority of the second half, Monterey capped the night’s scoring in the 84th minute when Adrian Rebollar’s searching ball found the diving Illijah Paul head at close range.
As a result of the win, Monterey Bay advances to the Second Round for a third consecutive tournament. The club is now 4-2-1 all-time in Open Cup play.
Ballard FC (USL-2)
0:1
Spokane Velocity FC (USL-1)
After Extra Time
By Jordan Beech
Spokane couldn’t have left it any later, edging past USL League 2’s Ballard FC by a ricochet off the post in the 121st minute of play to punch their ticket to the Second Round for a second straight season. It’s the second-straight year Spokane has dispatched Ballard to advance in the Open Cup.
Neither team could find the key to unlock the opposing defense through the first 120 minutes of action. However, with the match in the 121st minute, and penalties seeming like a certainty, Neco Brett found Anuar Pelaez outside the box. Pelaez took his shot and saw it bang off the post and in for the win.
Ballard thought they’d drawn level in the 126th minute, but the goal was judged offside.
Spokane is now 3-1-0 all-time in Open Cup action, including a 2-1-0 record on the road.
LAFC 2 (MLS NEXT Pro)
7:1
FC Arizona (NPSL)
By Tim Thomas
Things started off poorly and got worse from there for FC Arizona as they lost on the road 7-1 against LAFC 2.
A mere 89 seconds into the match was all it took for LAFC 2 as Matt Evans notched the first goal of the game. From there, it was off to the races for the black and gold. Jude Terry at the tender age of 16 scored a brace, including his first professional goal in the 27th minute. Not to be outdone, Evans also secured a brace with a goal in the 65th minute.
Tommy Mihalic, Sebastian Nava and Kairo Walters also added goals in the 42nd, 83rd, and 92nd minutes respectively.
The lone FC Arizona goal was scored by Gabe Walters in the 59th minute.
This was LAFC 2’s debut match in the Open Cup and their first win. While FC Arizona remained winless in the tournament, they did secure their first-ever Open Cup goal.
THURSDAY, MARCH 20
Portland Hearts of Pine (USL-1)
4:0
CD Faialense (USASA / BSSL)
By Jordan Beech
A debut match, a debut win for Portland Hearts of Pine who romped past CD Faialense, 4-0, in the host’s first-ever match in club history. Azaad Liadi led the way for Hearts of Pine with a goal on either side of halftime.
A raucous home crowd didn’t have to wait long for Maine’s newest professional outfit to score their inaugural goal with Walter Varela hammering home the opener in just the 17th minute of action. Liadi then volleyed home his first in the 29th minute off excellent service from Titus Washington.
Liadi added his second of the match in the 62nd minute, cleaning up the trash in front of the goal following a Washington effort on a free kick. Nathan Messer then put the finishing touches on the match seven minutes later with an absolute screamer from a free kick 35 yards out.
In the first Open Cup match in Maine since 2017, Hearts of Pine became the first professional outfit from the state to win a match in the tournament with Thursday night’s result.
Long Island Rough Riders (USL-2)
2:3
Charlotte Independence (USL-1)
After Extra Time
By AD Mosier
In one of the most thrilling First Round games this year, USL League One’s Charlotte Independence scored two goals in extra time to overcome the USL League Two’s Long Island Rough Riders on a damp, foggy night on Long Island.
Rafael Jauregul tallied a brace for the visitors, including the 107th-minute game-winner to put Charlotte through to the second round.
The Rough Riders’ Jacon Woznicki opened scoring four minutes into the start of the second half, smashing home a knuckling right-footed blast from the top of the penalty area after his first attempt on goal was blocked.
Jauregui pulled the visiting professionals level in the 79th minute, beating Rough Rider goalkeeper Eryk Dymora to the ball at the top of the six-yard box to make things level, which is how they stayed into extra time.
Christian Chaney’s vicious volley from 12 yards out put the visitors into the lead in the 104th minute off a cross on the right flank from right back, Clay Dimick.
Charlotte’s lead lasted just over sixty seconds with Elias Khodri stunning right-footed volley through traffic drew the home side level moments before the end of the first half of extra time.
Jauregui tallied the winner in the 107th minute from inside the penalty area after the Rough Rider defense could not get the ball clear.
The win puts the Independence through to the Second Round for the eighth time in club history.
Forward Madison FC (USL-1)
5:1
Duluth FC (NPSL)
By Tim Abbott
Forward Madison finished with a fistful of goals and a comfortable score-line but the course of the match may have been very different had Duluth FC’s Alex Mihov not raised his hands into the face of Nico Brown for a straight red card and a long slog with ten men.
Ferrety Sousa broke through 5 minutes later and though the BlueGreens capitalized on a defensive miscue to briefly make it 1-1, further goals from Eddie Munjoma, John Murphy Jr and two from Juan Galindrez salted the win away for the hosts.
Thursday night’s win moves Forward Madison to 5-4-0 all-time, including a 4-1-0 mark against amateur teams in Cup play. The win moves the Flamingoes to the Second Round in consecutive years.
South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL-1)
3:0
Harbor City FC (UPSL)
By Connor Bunnell
For the fourth straight year, South Georgia Tormenta of USL League One started their Open Cup run with a win, comfortably beating Melbourne, Florida amateurs Harbor City, 3-0.
The home side was in control from the jump, taking the lead halfway through the first half and denying Harbor City the chance to even try and equalize. Though the Floridians would finally take a few cracks at leveling the score in the second half, Tormenta substitute Niall Reid-Stephen personally put the game out of reach by scoring two goals five minutes apart, the latter of which officially put things on ice.
While Harbor City’s Open Cup debut ended in deflating fashion, Tormenta moved to a triumphant 8-3-0 all-time in the competition, including a perfect 4-0-0 at home.
Carolina Core FC (MLS NEXT Pro)
4:2
Soda City FC (UPSL)
By Jordan Beech
Carolina Core claimed a 4-2 win over UPSL counterpart Soda City FC on Thursday evening to advance to the Second Round of the Open Cup for a second straight year. Josuha Rodriguez led the way with two goals scored 40 minutes apart.
Rodriguez opened the scoring in the 18th minute thanks to a penalty kick to send Carolina into halftime with a 1-0 lead. He then bagged his brace in the 58th minute. Facundo Canete and Jacob Evans added insurance goals that ultimately proved necessary in the 69th and 72nd minutes, respectively.
With the match seemingly well in hand, the amateurs from Soda City made it interesting at the end with goals from Lamar Thompson in the 79th minute and Fauf Salifu in the 83rd minute.
Carolina Core is now 3-1-0 all-time in the Open Cup, with all three wins coming at the expense of amateur teams.
FC Cincinnati 2 (MLS NEXT Pro)
0:0
NY Pancyprian Freedoms (USASA / EPSL)
NY Pancyprian Freedoms advance 5-4 on penalties
By Tyler Pilgrim
The legendary New York Pancyprian Freedoms, triple Open Cup champions from the early 80’s, traveled to northern Kentucky Thursday night to take on FC Cincinnati 2. New York, known for their energetic, pressing football, was content to sit back and let Cincinnati attempt to break them down through the course of the first half. Cincinnati maintained possession and played the majority of the first 45 minutes in Pancyprian’s defensive third, but they were unable to create any truly dangerous opportunities. Meanwhile, New York attempted to spring a few counters but they were quickly snuffed out by either Cincinnati’s defense or a lack of reinforcements assisting on the runs.
The second half started where the first left off, as Cincinnati created the best chance of the game with a simple cross into the box, but the ensuing header was well-defended and gobbled up by Pancyprian’s keeper, Josh Levine. The rest of the half was more of the same, with one last opportunity in regulation time by New York sliding sneakily just wide of the near post on a beautiful shot attempt. Extra time ensued, and despite a flurry of subs by both sides, Cincinnati continued to create the better chances but couldn’t find the back of the net. Extra time ended 0-0 and the match moved on to penalties.
The shootout took an early turn in favor of the home Cincinnati team as Luis Argudo of the Pancyprians skied his penalty chance in the second round. Cincinnati buried their next couple, even culminating in some celebratory dancing. The shimmy would be short-lived, however, as Brandon Kristel would miss his shot in the fifth round to draw the shootout back even. Jordan Bailon would then score his fifth for New York to send it to sudden death. Cincinnati’s William Kuisel then hit the bar on his attempt, leaving it for Pancyprian’s Jens Hoff to bury his shot to knock Cincinnati out of the Open Cup and win 5-4 on spot kicks.
Tacoma Defiance (MLS NEXT Pro)
3:1
Washington AC (USASA / SRATS)
By Tim Abbott
Washington Athletic Club made the trip to the hallowed ground of Starfire and took a shock 8th-minute lead as Kaito Yamada brought down WAC’s Lagos mere inches from the penalty area. With the wall forced to stand on the six-yard line, Nick O’Brien drove the free kick low and off the wall into the goal. Edson Charli equalized in the 37th minute for Defiance, chipping the ball in from an extremely acute angle.
It took only two minutes after the break for 2023 NPSL Golden Boot winner Yu Tsukanome to drift into space and finish neatly for Tacoma to claim the lead. Tsukanome made it 3-1 in the 71st minute to seal the win as the battery ran low for WAC.
Tacoma, who originally competed in the Open Cup under the Sounders 2 moniker, are now 3-1-0 all-time in the tournament.
Flatirons FC (USL-2)
1:2
Union Omaha (USL-1)
By Tim Abbott
Union Omaha traveled to the foothills of the Rockies and could have led in the 5th minute but a shot went just wide. Having dominated possession, the visitors took the lead in the 28th minute after the Flatirons goalkeeper could only clear a corner into the path of Aaron Gomez, who laced the ball past the prostrate keeper. Flatirons’ first shot on target came in the 37th minute, off a deflected long-distance shot, comfortably saved.
Flatirons started the second half on the front foot and in the 68th minute, Smith had a chance flash high. Nonetheless, Union doubled their lead after a handball in the penalty area and Gallardo dispatched the PK. It took until the 83rd minute for Shjon Andrews to spoil the Union clean sheet with a bullet header at the back post off a Tobi Osifodunrin free kick but the rally came short and Union move on.
[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
