Tim Thomas

2026 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Marcel Hartel of St. Louis CITY SC voted TheCup.us Player of Round

May 29, 2026 by Tim Thomas

Graphic: Frank Lanham | Photo: St. Louis CITY SC

After a performance where he went a full 120 minutes, scored a brace that accounted for all his team’s goals, and converted his shootout attempt, Marcel Hartel of St. Louis CITY SC has been awarded TheCup.us Player of the Round for the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Quarterfinals. He was a key factor in the Mound City club finishing with a 2-2 draw against the Houston Dynamo and advancing 4-2 in the PK shootout.

Hartel is the first-ever player from St. Louis CITY SC to receive the award, beating out teammate Ben Lundt and Brian Ojeda of Orlando City SC for the honor.

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Lundt was the breakout hero of the match, coming off the bench in the 26^th minute for injured starting goalkeeper Roman Bürki, he secured the first ever shootout win in club history. However, Lundt would not have been able to take a staring role with his heroics without the yeoman’s work put in by Hartel. That work secured Hartel the votes to win.

TheCup.us Player of the Round is voted on by TheCup.us staff, a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters and select backers (those that pledge $10 or more) from TheCup.us’ Patreon team.

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Hartel’s first goal would come in the first half as the result of some chaos in the box. A long cross was played in by CITY’s Chris Durkin. The ball bounced off three different players before it fell to Hartel, who swiftly deposited the ball into the back of the net and put St. Louis up 1-0.

The remainder of the first half would see St. Louis lose its starting goalkeeper/captain in Bürki, then lose the lead and fall behind 2-1. Hartel was handed the captain’s armband at the half and tasked with leading his team in a come-from-behind victory.

“I appreciate that I got the captain band I’m very proud,” Hartel said after the game. “First, I am very sad for Roman that he had to go out with an injury. But then I was very proud to be captain.”

Hartel would soon get his chance. In the 49^th minute, CITY’s Sergio Cordova was pulled down in the box by Houston’s Agustin Resch.

With the game in the balance, Hartel was called upon to take the penalty kick and tie the game. Hartel stepped up and scored with a determined single-mindedness.

“Try to help the team,” said Hartel. “Just one thing in my head score the goal, take the 2-2, and go for the next one.”

Hartel’s goal would tie the match at 2-2 and that scoreline would hold through the rest of regulation and the 30 minutes of added extra time.

The game proceeded to shootouts, where Hartel would be called upon to make a second attempt against a goalkeeper who had already faced him from the spot earlier. Hartel was not concerned about the possibility that Houston’s Jonathan Bond was prepared for revenge.

Marcel Hartel of St. Louis CITY SC celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against the Houston Dynamo in the Quarterfinals of the 2026 US Open Cup. Photo: St. Louis CITY SC

“I guess that the other goalkeeper looks at how we are shooting if penalties are coming up. Probably he saw me before as well, but I saw him too,” said Hartel.

It was of no concern, as Hartel beat Bond for the second time on the night and St. Louis beat Houston in the shootout 4-2.

This competition has gone better for Hartel than his previous experience in the DFB-Pokal his home country Germany’s version of the Open Cup.

2026 TheCup.us Player of the Round winners
R1 – Ben Fall – Asheville City
R2 – Joshua Yoder – FC Naples
R3 – Denis Krioutchenkov – One Knoxville
R16 – Maxi Moralez – NYCFC

TheCup.us award winners 2006-2025

“We went also to the quarterfinals, and I missed two pens in a row in the penalty shootout” he said.

Hartel is just the second German-born player to win the award, joining Phoenix Rising goalkeeper Peter Rakovsky who won the award last year in the Third Round.

With a Player of the Round Award in hand and a better Quarterfinals experience than his previous one, Marcel Hartel will look to repeat his performance in the Semifinals against the Colorado Rapids on Sept. 16 in Commerce City, CO.

2026 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Ben Lundt comes off bench to help St. Louis CITY eliminate Houston in PKs

May 20, 2026 by Tim Thomas

After an early injury to St. Louis CITY SC starting goalkeeper Roman Bürki, the day was saved by backup keeper Ben Lundt as CITY advanced over the Houston Dynamo 4-2 in a penalty shootout. After 120 minutes of heated back-and-forth play ended all square 2-2.

In a game that often felt like a bout between heavyweight fighters, in no small part because of a combined ten yellow cards including two assessed to the benches, Lundt would come away the hero and help send his club to its first Semifinal appearance in the club’s short history.

“I’m more proud of being the guy to step in when there’s an opportunity,” Lundt said. “I don’t really try to judge myself on one performance. It doesn’t really matter how it could have went today bad game, good game doesn’t really matter. I am proud that I show up every single day in training.”

St. Louis came out swinging, battering the Houston defense and keeping the pressure on early. CITY would hit paydirt with a pinball play in the 9th minute. An audacious cross field pass by Chris Durkin bounced off Houston defender Felipe Andrade, CITY defender Tomas Totland, and Houston goalkeeper Jonathan Bond before it landed at the feet of Marcel Hartel.

Hartel slammed it home to give CITY an early 1-0 lead.

The lead would not last as Houston struck back with the help of a little luck. After receiving a back pass from Durkin, CITY keeper Roman Bürki attempted to play the ball out. As he was handling the ball in the box Bürki slipped and fell leaving the ball unattended. Houston Dynamo player Mateusz Bogusz was there to collect the loose change and deposit it back into the net to bring the scoreline even and score his second goal of the tournament.

Things began to snowball from there for CITY. After having to retreat and defend an intercepted pass out of the back Bürki signaled to the bench that he needed help. It would be the end of the night for Bürki and Lundt was called into action. While unfortunate, it seemed that the injury to Bürki did not come as a complete surprise.

“We knew he had something lingering for the past day or two. He knows his body, he’s a good pro. He’s been doing it for years now. He thought, we thought he could go through the game. He felt like a little something a little bit in the warmup and he wanted to try,” St. Louis CITY coach Yoann Damet said. “We’ll see, we’ll evaluate him and see where he’s at.”

With their starting keeper and captain out of the match, CITY began to waver as Houston gained momentum. The Dynamo began to push more aggressively on the beleaguered hometown team; it came to a head in the 42nd minute.

A short corner kick found its way to Houston midfielder Artur via Jack McGlynn. Artur struck it from well outside the box. The ball traveled through some traffic and beat a diving Lundt to the far corner giving Houston the lead.

“It’s been over a year since I played my last game for CITY and that is a long time,” said Lundt. “So, it was tough for me to come in. First shot was a goal. I don’t think I looked great on it. But that’s my job to play the game and see what the game gives me.”

St. Louis wouldn’t let the lead last for long in the second half. At the 49th minute Conrad Wallem delivered a pass to Sergio Cordova who was pulled down in the box by Houston’s Agustin Resch.

After the requisite wailing and gnashing of teeth that comes with any foul in the box Marcel Hartel stepped up to take the kick. He drove home the game tying goal and secured himself a brace for the evening.

BIG BEN!!!! 🧤 pic.twitter.com/zzkgYF54Ce
— St Louis CITY SC (@stlCITYsc) May 20, 2026

The final minutes of regulation would see quality chances for both sides. CITY’s Simon Becher had a point-blank shot saved by goalkeeper Jonathan Bond. While Guilherme nearly won it for Houston with a free kick that banged off the woodwork. In the end, 90 minutes was not enough to decide the game.

Extra time got off to a cracking start with Lundt making a leaping save with his right arm outstretched over his body in the 103rd minute. The game almost did not make it to the penalty shootout without some heroics from St. Louis’ Dante Polvara.

In the 105th minute Houston had a lone player on a breakaway. Lundt attempted to come out and make a play but was dribbled around. It was one Houston player and a seemingly wide-open CITY net.

The end of the game was in sight until Polvara came flying in to make a sliding save.

St. Louis CITY SC players celebrate after winning the PK shootout against the Houston Dynamo in the Quarterfinals of the 2026 US Open Cup. Photo: St. Louis CITY SC

“It speaks to the mindset of the guy. I think I said that earlier in the season. In those moments it’s more unconscious than conscious,” Damet said. “When you keep going and you don’t stop. You are speaking about one split second of still believing. Running, sprinting, and making the tackle. It goes a lot with something unconscious and the belief the guys have and how much they care about the team.”

Polvara’s split second of still believing made it so that Lundt could repay that faith in the net. The game would be decided from the spot and Lundt would have to stand tall.

Lundt’s first save would be on the first shot he faced. Leaping to his left Lundt stopped a shot by Houston’s Guilherme. The second shot was a replay of the first. Lundt saved Héctor Herrara’s attempt with a diving save to the keeper’s left. All the CITY SC shooters converted on their opportunities.

Just like that, St. Louis had won and Lundt had written himself into the history books as the first keeper in the club’s short history to win a penalty shootout.

St. Louis CITY SC players celebrate with their fans after winning the PK shootout against the Houston Dynamo in the Quarterfinals of the 2026 US Open Cup. Photo: St. Louis CITY SC

“Feels great, we’ve been talking in the locker room with the coaching staff about a lot of new firsts. Beating LAFC for the first time. Going to Colorado and getting a result. So many firsts, the club is young. But again, to be part of this and in general being part of this group is great,” Lundt said.

This is the first time in the Modern Era that a St. Louis team has advanced to the Semifinals of the US Open Cup. The last local team to make it into the Quarterfinals was Saint Louis FC of the United Soccer League when they upset FC Cincinnati in 2019. The last Mound City club to reach the Semifinals was Busch SC who would go on to win the US Open Cup in 1988.

In a coming full circle moment that Cincinnati team was coached by none other than current CITY coach Yoann Damet. Before the commencement of the match with Houston, CITY honored Sam Fink the man who struck down Damet’s Cincinnati team with a towering stoppage time header. The moment served as a way to remember past Open Cup glory and honor a player who was synonymous with Saint Louis FC.

Sam Fink of Saint Louis FC celebrates his goal against FC Cincinnati in a Round of 16 match in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Saint Louis FC

“When I was a pro I always dreamed of putting on a CITY shirt and stepping foot on that field. Falling short of that dream was something that I really struggled with for a while after retiring,” said Fink, who was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round during that Cup run. “To pull on a CITY shirt with my name on it and walk onto that field in a completely different capacity felt like a beautiful closure to a missed dream that once hurt quite deep. Extreme gratitude is the only work I can come up with to explain tonight. Gratitude to the club for including me, gratitude to the supporters for keeping memories like my Open Cup goal alive, and gratitude for every person and teammate along my journey that is just as deserving as me to be honored tonight.”

In September, St. Louis CITY SC will play the winner of the San Jose Earthquakes and Colorado Rapids match. If San Jose wins, CITY will host the match, but if the Rapids win, St. Louis will have to travel to Colorado.

Where Sam Fink and St. Louis FC fell short in the Quarterfinals, they can now pass the torch on to the next generation. That generation will carry it into uncharted territory for modern St. Louis teams. St. Louis is onto the semifinals.

2026 US Open Cup Round 3: St. Louis CITY falls short of tacos in shutout of FC Tulsa

April 16, 2026 by Tim Thomas

Tomas Ostrak of St. Louis CITY SC celebrates after scoring a goal against FC Tulsa in the Third Round of the 2026 US Open Cup. Photo: St. Louis CITY SC

St. Louis CITY SC scored 20 minutes in, then added three more goals to take down USL Championship side FC Tulsa 4-0 in Wednesday’s Round of 32 matchup in the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup at Energizer Park.

After beating San Antonio FC and Little Rock Rangers in the first two rounds of the Open Cup; FC Tulsa made its first trip to St. Louis since defeating now-defunct Saint Louis FC in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Attempting to keep the dream alive in their third consecutive road match in Open Cup play, Tulsa did not shy away from CITY, playing aggressively and getting a handful of set pieces in the first half.

“We played a very good team in Tulsa that came out with a plan, that went all in, that was brave,” said CITY coach Yoann Damet. “So, credit to them in the way they approached that game and the way they made it difficult for us.”

St. Louis took advantage of the hard-charging Tulsa players by applying pressure early and often whenever Tulsa touched the ball. Eventually the game would break in CITY’s favor.

“I think that comes with just our core of our team,” Mykhi Joyner said. “We always want to be aggressive, and we want to be on the front foot of the defense. Just trying to be more aggressive than them and then take the ball in their final third and punish them.”

Sang-Bin Jeong used fancy footwork to dribble through the Tulsa defense in the 20th minute. Getting near the touch line and leaving more than a few Tulsa defenders wondering if their shoes were untied. Sang-Bin put the ball into the box where it went from Tomas Totland to the feet of a wide-open Marcel Hartel.

Hartel drove it into the upper 90 to give CITY a lead that would never be challenged.

As the first half rolled on, St. Louis would score one of the more unique goals in its young history. St. Louis CITY keeper Roman Bürki played a deep long ball forward. It looped across the field clearing the Tulsa line, the ball then took a large bounce and found the head of Sang-Bin who put it over FC Tulsa keeper Dane Jacomen.

It was the soccer equivalent of a “Hail Mary” pass in football.

“This was actually planned,” Hartel said. “We knew that they play man-to-man and when we saw in the buildup that they are coming man-to-man, that we attract them with eight guys a bit deeper and then Roman shoots it behind the line. It worked perfectly.”

Oddly enough this marked the second time in two days a St. Louis netminder assisted on a goal. St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington had an assist in a 7-5 victory the night before in the NHL.

St. Louis didn’t let off the gas heading into the half. In the first minute of first half stoppage time Hartel put a shot off the post.

Coming out of the break, CITY picked up where they left off. Forcing FC Tulsa goalkeeper Jacomen to make a diving save, the momentum from which almost carried him with the ball into the back of the net. An embarrassing goal was avoided when Jacomen kept the ball in front of the line and pushed it out to a friendly player.

St. Louis would not be denied additional goals. In the 61st minute, Joyner and Hartel lined up over a free kick for CITY. Joyner stepped up and drove a clean strike around the wall for the third goal of the game. It would have been a safe bet to assume that veteran player Hartel would take the shot, but a last second decision meant that the young Joyner got a chance.

“I was very confident to shoot from this position,” said Hartel. “Then I laid the ball on the ground, and I saw the goalkeeper was cheating a bit too much in my opinion. And then Mykhi (Joyner) asked me to shoot.”

“I saw the wall kind of tucked over a little too far and the goalie’s placement as well. I kinda saw his feet to the left more, the goalie’s left, so I asked ,” added Joyner.

A game that started off quite physical got even more so as the CITY lead grew and Tulsa felt the walls closing in on them. In the 65th minute, Lucas Stauffer dug the Tulsa hole deeper when he was shown a straight red after he pulled a CITY player down by the jersey in a denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity.

The final nail in the coffin would come from Tomáš Ostrák, who struck an absolute rocket from well outside the penalty area to give St. Louis their fourth and final goal. It was Ostrák’s first game back with CITY after suffering an injury in the preseason.

“It was awesome. I was very happy that I received a chance from the coach. It was big privilege to jump in this game. I am very happy that I scored my first goal and that I helped my team advance to the next round,” said Ostrák.

As the end of the game drew near and the result was not in doubt the fans could smell blood in the water. In the 85th minute, a chant of “We want tacos” rang out from the supporter section. The chant is a reference to a partnership the St. Louis Blues have with local bar Hotshots, wherein if the Blues score five goals tacos cost only one dollar the next day. This marked the second soccer/hockey crossover of the evening.

While the fans didn’t get a fifth goal and the subsequent discount tacos, they did get a shout out from coach Damet after the game. Because of an incoming severe weather alert, CITY was not able to do their tradition of walking around the stadium and clapping for the fans.

“I just wanted to mention the fans tonight, thank the fans that came out tonight for the game. It was great to see a lot of them out and supporting the team. We didn’t get a chance to do a round on the pitch because of the weather,” Damet said.

In what could be seen as a statement of intent, St. Louis CITY SC sent out a lineup consisting of primarily regular players. They also notably started their primary keeper Burki as opposed to backup Ben Lundt, who has served as an Open Cup keeper for CITY in years past. With a resounding win and lineup that showed their resolve CITY looks to make a deep run in the Open Cup this year.

“We want to show that we take it serious, that we want to go to the next round. It’s five games to win, to get a trophy and today was the first step,” said Hartel.

St. Louis will get a chance to prove their seriousness in two weeks when they travel north on I-55 to the “Windy City” and take on the Chicago Fire in the Round of 16.

2026 US Open Cup Round 1: Union Omaha dominate first-timers BOHFS St. Louis

March 19, 2026 by Tim Thomas

Missed opportunities and unmarked men were the order of the day as BOHFS St. Louis was soundly defeated by Union Omaha 8-0. Despite their best efforts there was not much BOHFS could do to stop the USL League One juggernauts in the Round 1 defeat of the 2026 US Open Cup.

This was the first Open Cup appearance for BOHFS in the slightly over one year history of the team. They were also the first St. Louis area amateur team to appear in the tournament since the beginning of the Modern Era. To note this historic moment for both BOHFS and the city, soccer players from previous St. Louis area Open Cup champions were brought out and recognized before the match commenced.

That would be the end of the festivities as far as BOHFS were concerned. From practically the first kick it was off to the races for Union Omaha.

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Barely 10 minutes had ticked off when Omaha first found the net. A deft pass found Gabriel Cabral unmarked in the BOHFS box which he converted for the opening goal.

The second goal was much the same as the first. With Sami Guediri unmarked in the box he took a crack at goal that was stopped by BOHFS keeper Liam Gibbs. Gibbs couldn’t corral the ball and it fell at Guediri’s feet. From there it was academic as Guediri slammed home the second goal.

“As the game goes, if you find the space you exploit it,” Guediri said.

Next up in the conga-line of goalscorers for Union Omaha was Dylan Borczak. A field switching pass bounced off a BOHFS defender to an open Borczak who proceeded to knock the ball down and put it in with a half-volley.

All in all, BOHFS did not seem overmatched by Omaha in the first half. There were some BOHFS chances and the Omaha goals were mostly up to mental errors by the hometown team. Going into the locker the score was a reasonable 3-0.

Then the flood gates opened as Union Omaha poured the goals in during the second half. It started almost immediately as Edrey Caceres powered a ball past Gibbs.

Second half substitutions by Omaha skipper Vincenzo Candella truly turned things on their head. As three of the five goals that occurred after the 70^th minute were scored by second-half substitutions.

“I think we’re a squad that has great depth. I trust the guys that are starting the game or coming off the bench,” Candella said, “You see that this year we built a squad that is 20 deep. We trust every guy to perform at a very high level.”

Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a "Champions" shirt, honoring the five clubs from the pre-Modern Era (1914-1994) to win four or more US Open Cup titles. Visit THECUP.US SHOP — Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a “Champions” shirt, honoring the five clubs from the pre-Modern Era (1914-1994) to win four or more US Open Cup titles. Visit THECUP.US SHOP

A 69^th minute substitute, Sergio Ors-Navarro made an impact immediately scoring a goal on a well-struck ball that was deflected into the net in the 72^nd minute.

“I saw a lane on the far post, but it got deflected and I’m fortunate that it went in,” Ors-Navarro said.

It wouldn’t take long for Ors-Navarro to score again as he banged home a far-post goal in the 74^th minute securing the brace.

“Feels great.” he said, “I was wanting to help the team as much as possible. High energy coming in to score a couple goals.”

The next sub to score a goal was Ors-Navarro’s fellow 69^th minute substitute Pato Botello-Faz who made the score 7-0 in the 81^st minute after catching the BOHFS keeper flat footed on a strike from the top of the box.

The final goal came in the 90^th minute by Samuel Owasu was nothing but window dressing to cap off a decisive rout to move Union Omaha into Round 2.

The Owls of Union Omaha are begging to make St. Louis their regular roost for Open Cup games. This was the third time in four years they have come to the Gateway City. The previous two occasions, dropping decisions to MLS foes St. Louis CITY SC. The victory means they are one step closer to again returning to face CITY when MLS teams join in Round 3. But, that wasn’t on the mind of Candella.

“Well see, we take it round by round, game by game. With a league game on Sunday we’ll see what happens moving forward,” he said. “We come with the same approach. It doesn’t matter if it’s a team from the Midwest Premier League or a team from MLS, we’re going to try to compete and we’re going to try to win.”

2026 US Open Cup Qualifying: BOHFS St. Louis makes history with thrilling win over Chicago House

November 25, 2025 by Tim Thomas

BOHFS St. Louis celebrates after defeating Chicago House 3-2 in the final round of the 2026 US Open Cup qualifying tournament. Photo: BOHFS St. Louis

A new chapter was written in the St. Louis vs Chicago rivalry Sunday at St. Mary’s High School on the city’s south side. In front of a raucous crowd that featured a strong contingent of Chicago traveling fans, BOHFS St. Louis (MWPL) won a 3-2 thriller over Chicago House (MWPL) in a 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup qualifier.

With the win, BOHFS St. Louis becomes the first amateur team from the Gateway City to qualify for the Open Cup in the tournament’s Modern Era (1995-present).

BOHFS scored in the 31^st minute and seemed to be cruising for the first half. Until a 40^th minute goal by Chicago House drew the game even. BOHFS wasted no time responding and quickly followed with a 42^nd minute goal.

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A 54^th minute goal by Elliot Goodwin seemingly had the game sealed for St. Louis. Chicago would not be quieted as a stoppage time goal by Ricardo Avalos filled the waning minutes with tension. In the end, Goodwin’s goal would stand as the winner.

“Credit to everybody that wore a white shirt today. Everybody put 100% in and those are the results you can get when you work hard,” Goodwin said.

Despite both teams playing in the Midwest Premier League, they have never faced each other. St. Louis plays in the Gateway Conference South Division and Chicago plays in the Heartland Conference Division 1. Chicago House has an Open Cup pedigree, having qualified for the tournament twice, whereas BOHFS is in its inaugural season.

“We really didn’t know what to expect,” Goodwin said, “we knew they were going to be good, we knew they were going to be organized.”

BOHFS came out on the front foot with physical play keeping the ball in the House end early. In the 20^th minute, House strung together a pair of solid chances off corner kicks, which swung the momentum in their favor. From the early moments, this Open Cup Amateur Qualifying game had all the atmosphere of a championship.

“It was a little chippy,” BOHFS Founder/Coach Alen Bradaric said. “It was like a final. So, you expect all of that stuff. Lots of talking from the benches.”

Then, against the run of play, Michael Utley muscled the ball off a House defender in the Chicago third. Utley pushed by and drove home the opening goal.

BOHFS kept the pressure on House searching for a second goal. With BOHFS pushing numbers forward, they were caught off guard by a smooth House counterattack.

As House players moved forward, two BOHFS players ran into each other and a BOHFS defender slipped in the box, clearing the way for Avalos to score in the 40^th minute.

The draw wouldn’t last long. A mere two minutes later BOHFS was given a free kick. The ball was struck well towards the far corner of the House net. There it found the foot of Brian Bement, who scored off a volley.

“Set pieces are huge in the game. They can win you games or lose you games and you just gotta stay switched on at all times,” Goodwin said.

BOHFS carried the first half momentum into the second half pressing House early. A slick pass by Liam Collins sprung Goodwin for a breakaway goal.

The play had all the signifiers of the kind of goal that can be scored when two players are familiar with each other. For Collins and Goodwin, the connection they’ve built goes back years.

“He was actually my college coach,” Goodwin said, “he was an assistant coach when I was playing in college. So, I’ve known Liam for a long time.”

With a 3-1 lead, BOHFS began to make substitutions in an effort to park the bus and stitch up the victory. But, Chicago would not go quietly into that good night.

House began throwing players forward and putting pressure on the BOHFS defense. A 68^th minute shot off a long throw-in forced BOHFS goalkeeper, Liam Gibbs, to make a diving save.

Reminiscing an epic U.S. Open Cup Qualifying match…

BOHFS St. Louis advanced to their first ever Open Cup invitation after beating Chicago House AC 3-2. It was their first time competing in the Qualifying Rounds, and now they'll see the tournament proper in March. pic.twitter.com/B9rMGZXDUe
— Midwest Premier League (@midwestpl) November 24, 2025

In the dying minutes of the game Avalos scored again for House. With the score now 3-2, the ending would be nerve wracking as House frantically whipped the ball into the BOHFS box, including a free kick chance in which Gibbs would once again have to come up big in goal for St. Louis.

In the end it was to no avail, BOHFS St. Louis came away with a victory and the fans went away getting every penny worth from a $6 ticket.

BOHFS generally recruits from an older and more experienced player pool. The quick response to the first Chicago goal and the strong effort to close out the match showed the benefits of the roster constructed by Bradaric.

“I don’t want to put too many restrictions and this and that. Just play freely,” Bradaric said. “It’s like you guys have so much experience, you read the game so well, enjoy it when we have it.”

This was the first home match BOHFS hosted during the Open Cup qualifying games. Their previous two matches were played in Kansas City and Omaha. Now that they have qualified, the opportunity to host a professional team looms large.

“We’re just grateful to be in it and we’re happy. If they send us to Alaska, it is what it is. We’ll go,” Bradaric said.

This marks BOHFS St. Louis’ first ever qualification to the Open Cup. For Bradaric, the team he founded is entering uncharted waters that will pose greater challenges. But that is no reason for him to worry.

“Eleven months ago, we weren’t even a team,” he said.

2025 US Open Cup: Ricardo Jerez of Chattanooga Red Wolves voted TheCup.us Lower Division Player of Tournament

November 1, 2025 by Tim Thomas

Graphic: Phil Naegely | Photo: Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

After a performance that came to symbolize the oddities and excitement of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, Ricardo Jerez of the Chattanooga Red Wolves has been voted TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament. Jerez is only the third goalkeeper to win the award and the first since Mitch Hildebrandt won it in 2017 playing for, at that time USL side, FC Cincinnati.

Jerez started in every match of the tournament for the Red Wolves, playing for over 400 minutes. During this time, he would set an Open Cup record and lead his team farther than they had ever gone. This performance earned him a runaway victory in the voting over second place finisher Juan Carlos Obregon Jr. of Westchester SC (USL1) and third place finisher Osaze De Rosario of the Tacoma Defiance (MLSNP).

The Player of the Tournament award is voted on by TheCup.us staff, a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters and select backers (those that pledge $10 or more) from TheCup.us’ Patreon team.

The path to glory is rarely ever an easy one, and it certainly started off rocky for Jerez. In his first match of the tournament, against the New Jersey Alliance (UPSL), the Red Wolves got a red card in the 36^th minute. Jerez, and the rest of the Red Wolves were feeling the pressure as the amateurs from New Jersey took a lead into halftime.

“I remember that five minutes after we got the red card, we conceded a goal,” Jerez told TheCup.us. “So, at the halftime we were 1-0 down and one player down it was so hard that time in the locker room, because we had the pressure to win because we were the higher-level team.”

Things got so dicey for the Red Wolves that backup goalkeeper Jason Smith would have to come in and play the field as an injury substitution and play defense.

Jerez held strong. After playing over 80 minutes down a man, the game was tied 2-2. It would have to be settled with a penalty kick shootout. A goal by backup keeper Smith and a Jerez stop on a Konrad Rodzen shot would help Chattanooga grab the 4-2 win and avoid a First Round “cupset”.

The Second Round would see Jerez and the Red Wolves face their crosstown rivals, Chattanooga FC (MLSNP). In what was one of the most highly-anticipated matches of the tournament, Jerez would again have to step up.

“I remember that all the city was talking about it, the atmosphere was incredible,” said Jerez. “I even remember that CFC social media and fans spent making fun of us, and saying that Chattanooga is blue and all those things. Even the mayor of the city posted some things supporting CFC.”

The game itself lived up to the hype. Over 12,000 fans showed up for what was a chippy and heated affair. It was, by far, the best attended game of the entire round. In a game that once again went the full 120 minutes, Jerez had two saves in a 1-1 draw.

In the penalty shootout Jerez made a key save against Daniel Mangarov, and the Chattanooga Red Wolves would go on to win 5-4. An exclamation point was put on the victory with a college football-style flag planting by Red Wolves fans in the Chattanooga FC home turf.

“That night, we simply proved, that Chattanooga is Red and we are the best team in the city.”

Traveling west for a Third Round matchup against the Las Vegas Lights (USL-C), Jerez would find himself making Open Cup history. During the match Jerez would end up making seven saves in a 2-2 draw. Yet again, the Red Wolves would have to win it from the spot.

The shootout got off to a positive start for Jerez as he saved the Lights’ first attempt by Christian Pinzón, who scored the equalizer earlier that evening. Las Vegas would level the score when Ualefi had his shot saved. After both teams took care of business in the next two rounds, the game would be decided in Round 5 when Jerez saved an attempt by Gennaro Nigro. The Red Wolves would advance 4-3.

Not only did Jerez become the first player to win three straight penalty shootouts in a tournament, but only one goalkeeper in the Modern Era (1995-present) has ever won four shootouts in a career (Tim Melia).

In his historic run of victories the seasoned vet never let the pressure get the best of him.

“I have been playing as a professional for 20 years, through all my years as a professional I have played a lot of PK shootouts some of them I won, some of them I lost,” said Jerez. “But I tried to learn from each one. I have learned that in those moments, composure is the most important thing at that moment, and the goalkeeper who keeps their composure is the one who can help his team with important saves.”

The Fourth Round would see the Cinderella story end for the Red Wolves. In their first ever appearance against Major League Soccer opponents, they would fall 1-0 against Nashville SC, the team that would eventually win the tournament. It is the farthest the Chattanooga Red Wolves have ever gone in the Open Cup, besting their 2024 Third Round finish.

For Jerez, it was a cup run to remember.

“The experience to play in the Fourth Round against an MLS team, was amazing, everybody in the team enjoyed every single second on the pitch that day in Nashville, and makes us feel proud that we compete every second against the champions of the US Open Cup 2025.”

The Red Wolves record-setting run was done entirely as the visiting team and rests in large part to the heroics of one man, Ricardo Jerez. Though like any veteran Jerez is quick to push the spotlight from himself and give all the credit to his teammates.

“It’s such an honor for me to get the (TheCup.us Player of the Tournament) award,” said Jerez. “We were very effective in every shootout. We showed to everybody that, mentally, we are a very strong team, because in the PK shootout we stayed calm when all the pressure came, and not everyone can deal with that pressure in those moments.”

2026 US Open Cup Qualifying Round 2: Rulings made in Doxa FCW, Sharktopus FC protests

October 23, 2025 by Tim Thomas

A screenshot of the moments before the first goal of the game between Lansdowne Yonkers FC and Doxa FCW.

The rulings have come down from on high. Both protests regarding games from the Second Qualifying Round for the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup were resolved by the United States Soccer Federation. Doxa FCW have seen their protest denied. While Sharktopus FC will live to fight another day.

Doxa FCW’s claim that the referees failed to inspect the netting on the goal which led to a goal was rejected. Therefore a 2-1 loss to Lansdowne Yonkers will stand. However, a replay was ordered for the game between Sharktopus FC and Bellevue Athletic after a perceived conflict of interest was discovered. Sharktopus FC learned after the game that the referee in charge of the match had recently played for a team in the Bellevue Athletic organization. The date of the replay has not been announced.

If you ever wondered why referees seem to examine and tug at the netting on the goal prior to a match or before the start of the second half this is why. During the Oct. 12 match between Doxa FCW and Lansdowne Yonkers a goal was scored through the side of the net.

In the fifth minute of play, Ali Dawha of Lansdowne took a shot toward the Doxa net. Giuliano Santucci, the Doxa goalkeeper, made a diving attempt to his left but the curving shot went by Santucci’s outstretched hand. It’s at this point things get strange, much like a ghost passing through a wall, video of the play shows the ball going through the side of the netting an into the goal. Astute soccer observers will note that traditionally goals are scored through the front of the net, not the sides.

Doxa immediately took umbrage to the non-standard manner in which Lansdowne scored. A roughly ten-minute argument ensued. During the fracas the Doxa coach received a red card. After the match a protest was immediately filed with the USSF.

On October 16 Doxa FCW reposted a video on both the team’s Instagram and Facebook account from goalkeeper Santucci’s company GSS Sport Training. In the video, Santucci claims he showed the referee the issue with the net before the match started. He states the referee acknowledged his complaints and did nothing.

In the end, the federation ruling was made in favor of Lansdowne Yonkers. The goal will stand, the match will not be replayed, and Lansdowne will advance to the Third Qualifying Round. There they will take on the New York Renegades FC in a Nov. 1 match at SUSA Orlin & Cohen Sports Complex.

In a statement issued by US Soccer to Doxa FCW and obtained by Michael Battista at Hudson River Blue, the federation claimed it could not overturn the ruling. This is because with no video review for games played at this level a referee’s decision is final based on Law 5 which states:

“The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final.”

On the very same night in which Doxa and Lansdowne were having their disagreement in New York, another dispute was brewing in a match on the opposite side of the country.

The starting lineup for Sharktopus FC pose for a team photo prior to their 2026 US Open Cup Qualifying match against Bellevue Athletic FC. Photo; Sharktopus FC

Sharktopus FC was hosting Bellevue Athletic FC at Jefferson Playfield in Seattle. The match was an entertaining back and forth affair that eventually ended in a 4-3 extra time victory for Bellevue.

There was just one problem.

Head referee Alex Wolbert had previously played for Bellevue Athletic and had recently been playing for their reserve side Bellevue Athletic 2. As of the writing of this article he was listed online on the Bellevue Athletic 2 roster.

Sharktopus FC quickly filed a protest with the federation.

The assignment of Wolbert seems to have had minimal effect on the game, both yellow cards issued went against Bellevue. Even the appearance of any impropriety in a game can be damaging. With that in mind yesterday, US Soccer ruled in favor of Sharktopus FC.

In a statement, the USSF reiterated that Wolbert himself is not at fault for the ruling.

“The Panel wants to be clear for the record that its decision does not reflect any evidence or belief that any party attempted to influence the competition, nor should the decision be viewed as a referendum of the on-field performance of the match officials during the match in question.”

This means Sharktopus FC is back from the dead and Bellevue Athletic FC must slay the beast for a second time.

“We’re grateful to US Soccer for their swift and thoughtful review of our protest and for upholding the principles of fairness that make the US Open Cup so special,” Sharktopus player/coach/general manager Leo Ohannesian told TheCup.us. “We also want to thank Bellevue Athletic and all parties involved for their cooperation throughout this process. We recognize how difficult it is to schedule a replay this time of year in Seattle, with limited field availability and tight calendars, but both clubs are actively working with organizers to find a solution. Our hope is that this decision not only ensures a fair outcome for this match but also helps strengthen transparency and assignment processes for teams of all levels in future competitions.”

Shortly after the USSF announced its decision, Bellevue Athletic announced that they would be appealing the decision.

While no firm details have been released yet the match will be played before the Third Qualifying Round begins on Nov. 1.