16 Matches played across two days. For easy navigation, click on the day of the week to scroll automatically to that day’s slate of matches. Also, highlights are available after each match day as well to look back at each game’s greatest moments.
Tuesday, April 2
Wednesday, April 3
After an entertaining 31 games in addition to one forfeit in the First Round, the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Second Round features 16 matches played across two days, six on Tuesday, April 2 and 10 on Wednesday, April 3.
Move over United States men’s national team; there might be a new Snow Clasico to remember after this week’s US Open Cup action. A Spring snowstorm is forecasted in Vermont, while windy, rainy severe weather is possible across much of the Eastern Seaboard.
The Second Round match winners will advance to face 16 USL Championship Teams who enter in the Third Round.
You can find the schedule for Round 2 here and the goalscoring leaders here. You can find a review of every Round 1 games HERE. The draw for Round 3 will take place once the Second Round is complete.
TheCup.us will have reporters at every Round 2 game and will be providing live updates on X (Twitter), @USOpenCup.
As a reminder all Second Round matches stream for free on US Soccer’s website. We will provide links to the live streams as they become available.
TUESDAY, APRIL 2
Richmond Kickers (USL-1) vs. Maryland Bobcats (NISA)
City Stadium – Richmond, VA
7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO (YouTube)
One of two Open Cup Champions in the First Round, the Kickers make their 19th straight appearance. Aside from their Championship win in 1995, Richmond has one Semifinal appearance (2011) and three trips to the Quarterfinals (2001, 2004, 2007) on their Open Cup resume. Since that Semifinal run in 2011, the Kickers have advanced to a third game just four times and have faced MLS opposition seven times without success.
In the First Round Richmond exorcized the demons from when they lost to Christos in 2017 at City Stadium in Richmond with a 1-0 triumph over the same foes at the same venue. Adrian Billhardt’s goal in first half stoppage time was enough to stop the upstart amateurs from Baltimore. Heading into the second round, the Bobcats will be Richmond’s first Division 3 opponents since 2011, when the Kickers defeated the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on USL Pro 4-1. The Kickers have never lost an Open Cup game to Division 3 opposition, the closest coming in the 1995 Final when they beat the El Paso Patriots on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
The Kickers are looking to bounce back from a very disappointing 2023 season, which saw them finish second to last in the 12-team USL League One. The Kickers are 0-2 early in the League One season, losing to Spokane (2-1) and South Georgia (3-1).
The Maryland Bobcats got their start as an amateur club in the Washington D.C. area as World Class Premier Elite, winning the 2018 Spring Season in both the Washington Premier League and Maryland Major Soccer League. WCPE nearly made it into the 2019 Open Cup, falling in the final round of qualifying to amateur side Virginia United on penalties. The team moved to the UPSL in 2019, and later that year took on the name Maryland Bobcats, and in 2020 made the move to NISA as a professional team.
In the First Round, Maryland won their first Open Cup game in their short history, topping West Chester United 2-0 on the strength of a brace from Darwin Espinal. In league play, Maryland finished with an 11-3-10 record last season. The Bobcats’ season came to an end in the quarterfinals of the NISA championship. The Bobcats have yet to play a league game since the start of the 2024 NISA season has been postponed until April.
Richmond Kickers (USL-1)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
24th US Open Cup appearance (1995, 1997, 2000-2002, 2004-2023)
Overall: 35-21-4 (2-2 PK)
Home: 28-8-1 (0-1)
vs. Div. 3: 8-0-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: 1995 US Open Cup champions
Maryland Bobcats FC (NISA)
How they qualified: Automatic bid
3rd US Open Cup appearance (2022-23)
Overall: 2-2-0
Away: 1-2-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: Third Round (2023)
Charlotte Independence (USL-1) vs. South Carolina United Heat (UPSL)
American Legion Memorial Stadium – Charlotte, NC
7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO (YouTube)
Charlotte has the second longest Open Cup history of all the USL League One teams with seven appearances. The club’s high point was a run to the Fifth Round in 2015, when they upset the New England Revolution 1-0 in the Fourth Round. The Independence fell short of reaching the Quarterfinals, dropping a 3-1 decision to the Chicago Fire. Captain Jorge Herrera was voted Player of the Round by TheCup.us for his performance against New England. Charlotte has outright lost only one Open Cup game in seven played against amateur competition, a 3-1 loss to the Ocean City Nor’easters in the 2018 Second Round. The next year in the same round Charlotte were ousted by Florida Soccer Soldiers on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
Charlotte advanced to the Second Round with a 2-0 win over amateur side Vereinigung Erzgebirge (USL of Pennsylvania). After a scoreless opening half Omar Ciss and Kharlton Belmar each scored a goal and assisted on the other. The win over VE brings Charlotte’s Open Cup record versus amateur clubs to 5-2-1, the lone draw ending in a PK tiebreaker loss.
MORE: As ‘soccer city’ grows, Charlotte Independence begins Year 10 with coach who never left
The South Carolina United Heat are not to be confused with South Carolina United Bantams of USL League Two. After two qualifying attempts in 2022 and 2023 fell frustratingly short at the last step, South Carolina United Heat finally managed to clear the final hurdle and claim an Open Cup berth. In 2022 SCU were forced to forfeit their final qualifying game due to positive COVID-19 tests throughout the team. In 2023, the Heat were minutes away from an Open Cup spot when Club de Lyon converted a penalty kick in second half stoppage time and then won it in extra time. SCU were runners-up for the UPSL 2022 Spring championship. In the past six Spring & Fall UPSL seasons, the Heat have amassed a 51-3-5 record.
SCU Heat had one of the more dramatic upsets of the First Round, defeating Crown Legacy FC of MLS NEXT Pro 1-0. After the Legacy missed a penalty kick in the 88th minute, SCU were awarded a spot kick of their own in stoppage time. Wilterlynd Inalien just beat Legacy GK Chituru Odunze with his shot to the lower right corner.
Charlotte Independence (USL-1)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
7th US Open Cup appearance (2015-19, 2022-23)
Overall: 7-6-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 2-2-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Amateurs: 5-2-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Fifth Round (2015)
South Carolina United Heat (UPSL)
How they qualified: Open Division Local Qualifying tournament (defeated Tennessee Tempo FC 4-2 in final round)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 1-0-0
Best finish: N/A
NYCFC II (MLS NEXT Pro) vs. New York Red Bulls II (MLS NEXT Pro)
Belson Stadium – Queens, NY
7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
The reserve version of the Hudson River Derby finds its way to the Open Cup for the first time. NYCFC II won two of the three games the teams played each other in last season, and the clubs will meet again at Belson Stadium on April 10 in a league game. NYCFC II are 1-1 in the early 2023 season, the win coming via penalties as MLS NEXT Pro uses PK shootouts if a match ends in a draw. New York Red Bulls II are 3-0 in MLSNP play, Roald Mitchell scoring three of the team’s six goals so far.
Both teams had simple paths through the First Round. Red Bulls II “hammered” the Hudson Valley Hammers (USL-2) 5-1. Five different players scored for the baby Bulls as they peppered the amateurs with 29 shots. NYCFC II task wasn’t much harder as they cruised past FC Motown (NPSL) 3-0. Three players shared the scoring duties and NYCFC outshot Motown 34-4.
After years of having loose affiliations with USL clubs, New York City FC finally fielded their own reserve team with the formation of MLS NEXT Pro in 2021. NYCFC II’s first season saw them miss the playoffs by a single point. Forward MD Myers finished 2023 in a three-way tie atop the league’s goalscoring chart with 19 goals, before moving on and signing with the Charleston Battery of the USL Championship.
In 2015 when the Red Bulls II were part of the United Soccer League, MLS affiliated reserve teams were allowed to play in the Open Cup. That year the Red Bulls II lost their only Open Cup game 1-0 to the PDL’s Jersey Express. Unlike this year, the reserve teams did not replace their parent MLS clubs in the tournament in 2015.
Red Bulls II played in the USL Championship from 2015-2022, winning the league title in 2016. Red Bulls II left the USL Championship in 2023 with the remaining MLS reserve teams to play in MLS NEXT Pro.
New York City FC II (MLS Next Pro)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
New York Red Bulls II (MLS Next Pro)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
2nd US Open Cup appearance (2015)
Overall: 1-1-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: Second Round (2015)
Lubbock Matadors (NPSL) vs. FORO SC (UPSL)
LCU Soccer Field – Lubbock, TX
8:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
The lone amateur vs. amateur game in the Second Round features two teams who had dramatic wins over their pro opponents in the First Round. Down to 10 men from the 81st minute onwards, FORO FC managed to take a 1-1 draw to extra time. After going down 2-1, second half sub Kyle Bennett scored in extra time stoppage time to send the game to penalties. Bennett then converted the winning spot kick to send FORO to the second round. As a result, Bennett was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round.
The Matadors also needed extra time heroics against NISA’s Arizona Monsoon in their 2-1 victory. With seven minutes remaining, Salvador Martinez tied the game for Lubbock. Tied 1-1 in extra time, and both teams playing a man down due to red cards, Toufik Najem scored in the 119th minute to send the sellout crowd of 2,258 at Lubbock Christian University’s LCU Field into a frenzy.
On July 15, 2023, 5,842 fans saw the Matadors play Brownsville NPSL at Lubbock’s Cooper Pirate Stadium, ranking among the top ten in single-game attendance figures in NPSL history, and the club averaged around 4,000 for six home games in the 2023 season. Head coach Paul Gilbert was named NPSL Coach of the Year for the 2023 season.
MORE: Matadors Fighting Strong: Meet Lubbock, TX’s International Brigade
FORO SC are making their US Open Cup debut in 2024 after punching their ticket through the Open Division Local qualifying tournament. They defeated a pair of fellow UPSL sides to qualify starting with a 2-0 win over Tenfifteen FC. In Round 2, Athletic Katy FC forfeited and then FORO clinched their first Open Cup berth with a 4-0 home win over Alamo City SC. FORO won the 2021 UPSL Fall season playoffs with a 1-0 win over Chicago Nation FC. In 2023, FORO SC finished second to 2022 Open qualifier D’Feeter Kicks in the UPSL Texas North division. In the Fall season FORO reached the UPSL final four, losing to eventual champion Chiriaco FC, 2-1
Lubbock Matadors SC (NPSL)
How they qualified: Finished 11-0-1 in NPSL Lone Star Conference
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Amateur: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
FORO SC (UPSL)
How they qualified: Open Division Local qualifying (defeated Alamo City Soccer Club 4-0 in final round)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Amateur: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
MNUFC2 (MLS Next Pro) vs. Michigan Stars FC (NISA)
Allianz Field – St. Paul, MN
8:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
The Twosies will be looking to continue the run of Minnesotan lower-division pro sides that includes Minnesota Stars run in 2012 which included upsetting MLS side Real Salt Lake. MNUFC 2 barely missed the playoffs in 2023, finishing at 43 points with Houston Dynamo 2, but losing out on tiebreakers. MNUFC2 have gotten off to 0-2 start in the young MLS NEXT Pro season, with losses to LAFC (4-1) and Real Monarchs (2-1).
MMUFC2’s performance in the First Round was a stark contrast to their league form, defeating Chicago House AC (USASA/Midwest Prem. League) 3-0. Jordan Adebayo-Smith tallied a second half hat-trick to deny the windy city amateurs a chance at duplicating their run to the Third Round in 2023. Adebayo-Smith finished second in the voting for TheCup.us Player of the Round.
MNUFC are off to an 0-2 start in the new MLS Next Pro season and have a league game scheduled versus Houston Dynamo 2 just two days after their Open Cup game.
The Michigan Stars, the 2022 NISA champions, nearly made it two league titles in a row, but were upset in the championship game by Flower City Union. The club got its start in 1998 as the Windsor Spartans FC in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Moving to the Metro Detroit area in 2013 the team joined the NPSL, and in 2019 made the move to the newly-formed NISA.
While MNUFC2 had it relatively easy in the First Round, The Stars found themselves in a fight with the NPSL’s Steel City FC, squeaking out a 1-0 victory. Niels Lellouch got the winning goal with seven minutes remaining in the game. Goalkeeper Tatenda Mikurva kept Steel City out of his goal with six saves from 16 shots faced. It was the first Open Cup win in Stars history in their third attempt.
Two of the Stars’ three Open Cup games have come against professional opponents, both in the Second Round against USL Championship teams. In 2022 they fell to former NISA rivals Detroit City FC 2-0, and in 2023 the Stars took Indy Eleven to extra time before falling 3-1. Like the rest of their league-mates, the Stars have yet to begin league play as NISA pushed the start of the season back two weeks.
MNUFC2 (MLS NEXT Pro)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Home: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Michigan Stars FC (NISA)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
3rd US Open Cup appearance (2022-23)
Overall: 1-2-0
Away: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: Second Round (2022, 2023)
El Farolito (NPSL) vs. Central Valley Fuego FC (USL-1)
University of California Merced – Bobcat Field – Merced, CA
10:30 pm ET
LIVE VIDEO (YouTube)
To novice Open Cup followers, they are known as “the burrito joint team”, but those in the know are aware of El Farolito’s history in the Open Cup.
El Farolito is one of two former Open Cup champions among the first round entrants (Richmond Kickers the other in 1995), having won the US Open Cup in 1993 (under the name CD Mexico). The club also reached the Final of the 1991 National Amateur Cup. El Farolito competed in the San Francisco Soccer Football League and California Premier Soccer Association for most of their existence before switching to the NPSL in 2018. In fact, El Farolito would have been making their fourth Open Cup appearance this year instead of their third but were disqualified in 2018 for switching leagues in the middle of the competition. (The club was the subject of TheCup.us’s “Meet the Underdogs” series back in 2017.)
Second half goals from Jhohann Yabur and Dembor Benson erased a 1-0 halftime deficit and El Farolito held on the rest of the way for a 2-1 upset win over Timbers2 in the First Round.
Last season, El Farolito finished second in the NPSL, and topping the table in the Golden Gate conference with a 9-0-1 record. They would fall short in the postseason with a loss to Crossfire Red in the West regional final. El Farolito’s NPSL season has already started, with the club holding a 1-0-1 record.
MORE: San Francisco Originals El Farolito: High Hopes Forged in Former Glory
Central Valley have struggled in their two seasons in USL League One, missing the playoffs both years and finishing last in 2023. During the offseason Central Valley hired former U.S. Men’s National Team defender Jermaine Jones as head coach. After winning their opening game of the League One season, the Fuego have lost two in a row.
Central Valley opened the 2023 tournament with a 2-1 over a game FC Folsom (UPSL), Folsom held on to a 1-1 draw until Shavon Brown’s goal in the 82nd minute gave the win to the pros. Before this year, all three of Central Valley’s previous Open Cup games had been against USL Championship teams. Their lone win was a 4-1 upset at home vs. El Paso Locomotive in the Second Round, and Villyan Bijev was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round after scoring two goals in the win. The Fuego pushed Monterrey Bay to extra time in 2023 before falling 3-1.
El Farolito SC (NPSL)
How they qualified: Finished 9-0-1 in NPSL Golden Gate Conference
3rd US Open Cup appearances (2017, 2023)
Overall: 3-2-1 (0-1 PK)
Away: 2-1-0
vs. Div. 3: 1-0-0
Best finish: 1993 US Open Cup champions (as “CD Mexico”)
Central Valley Fuego FC (USL-1)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
3rd US Open Cup appearances (2022-23)
Overall: 2-2-0
Home: 1-1-0
vs. Amateurs: 1-0-0
Best finish: Third Round (2022)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3
Miami United FC (USSSA/USSSL) vs. Club de Lyon FC (NISA)
UPSL Stadium (Broward College-South Campus); Pembroke Pines, FL
6 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
For the fifth time out of six Open Cup appearances, Miami United advanced past their opening game, knocking off MLS NEXT Pro’s Chattanooga FC 1-0 on Jhon Pajoy’s stunning free kick from 30 yards out in the 12th minute. The win over Chattanooga was Miami United’s first over a professional club, going winless in their previous four attempts. (NOTE: In 2018, United beat two NPSL teams Miami FC 2 and Jacksonville Armada FC who were part of amateur leagues, but were featured paid players)
Miami United are making their third consecutive appearance in the Open Cup, bringing their total to six overall. The previous four times Miami United qualified through their NPSL club while in 2023 and 2024 it was their National Soccer League (NSL) team navigating Open Division Local qualifying. The NSL rebranded this past offseason, changing its name to the United States Soccer League. Miami United won the USSL South Florida Elite division by beating 2022 Open Cup qualifier City Soccer FC 1-0 in a playoff final. Miami United then captured the USSL Elite Florida championship on March 23, scoring twice in the final three minutes to beat FC America CFL Spurs 2-1.
Their most successful stint came in 2018 when they reached the Fourth Round (just 17 amateur teams have done it in the Modern Era) after defeating , Miami FC 2 and Jacksonville Armada to earn a game with Orlando City SC of MLS, which they lost 3-0.
MORE: USSSA has representation in US Open Cup for 10th year in a row
Club de Lyon won its first ever Open Cup game in dramatic fashion, thanks to 38-year old veteran Juan “Burrito” Martinez. The former Velez Sarsfield and Real Salt Lake striker scored CDL’s opening goal , then nodded home the game winner in the 90th minute for a 3-2 win over 2023 UPSL Spring champions AS Frenzi. Previously, Club de Lyon’s only Open Cup game was a 2-1 extra time loss to San Antonio FC (USL Championship) in the Second Round of last year’s competition.
Just as Irvine Zeta did this year, Club de Lyon initially qualified for last year’s tournament through the Open Division Local tournament, and then announced its entry of a professional team in NISA, leading to a pro and amateur club competing under the same name. Originally founded as Orlando Lions RFC in 2021, the club changed its name when it joined NISA Nation in 2022. In its initial season in NISA, Club de Lyon missed out on the playoffs by five points.
Miami United FC (USSSA / United States Soccer League)
How they qualified: Open Division Local Qualifying (defeated City Soccer FC 3-1 in final round)
6th US Open Cup appearance (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 7-4-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 4-2-0
vs. Div. 3: 1-1-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2018)
Club de Lyon (NISA)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
2nd US Open Cup appearance (2023)
Overall: 1-1-0
Away: 1-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 1-0-0
Best finish: Second Round (2023)
South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL-1) vs. Savannah Clovers FC (NISA)
Tormenta Stadium – Statesboro, GA
7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
Tormenta advanced to the Second Round via a 1-0 win over Open Division qualifier FC America CFL Spurs. Nick Akoto’s goal in the 5th minute held up the rest of the way as South Georgia won their first Open Cup match played against amateur competition.
South Georgia Tormenta FC (or just Tormenta FC) started as an amateur club in the PDL (USL League Two) in 2016. After three seasons they turned pro to join the newly created USL League One, although they still maintain a team in USL-2. Tormenta won the 2022 League One championship, defeating the Chattanooga Red Wolves SC 2-1 in the Final. Tormenta finished an agonizing one-point shy of reaching the USL League One playoffs in 2023. Tormenta FC are off to a sluggish start to the new season, sitting at 1-2-1.
Tormenta have made three appearances in the Open Cup, with their best run coming in 2022 when they upset a pair of USL Championship teams (Charleston 1-0 & Birmingham 2-0) to reach the Third Round where they dropped a 3-1 decision to Inter Miami. Tormenta have only played one Open Cup game against Division 3 opposition, a 1-0 loss to the Greensville Triumph in Tormenta’s Open Cup debut in 2019. Wednesday’s game marks just the third time in the Modern Era (1995-present) that an Open Cup game has featured an all-Georgia matchup. In 2012 the NASL’s Atlanta Silverbacks defeated the NPSL’s Georgia Revolution 1-0 in the Second Round. The two teams met again the following year in the same round, with the Silverbacks winning 3-2.
MORE: South Georgia Tormenta FC 2024 season preview
The Savannah Clovers started in 2016 as a UPSL club, and as the team continued to grow successfully on the field, it was decided to turn the team professional and join NISA in 2022. The club is owned and operated by its supporters. The Clovers made their US Open Cup debut last year, falling 4-1 on the road to the Charleston Battery (USL-C). The Clovers won their first Open Cup game with 2-0 win over Brave SC (formerly The Villages SC) of USL League Two. Roddy Green and Vlad Jokic scored unassisted first half goals.
Savannah’s initial foray into NISA did not go as well as they would have liked, finishing 8th in the nine-team circuit. Like the other NISA teams, Savannah is opening their season with the Open Cup, as the opening weekend for their league was pushed back by two weeks. (MORE on the Savannah Clovers here)
South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL-1)
How they qualified: Automatic bid
4th US Open Cup appearance (2019, 2022-23)
Overall: 4-3-0
Home: 2-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-1-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2022)
Savannah Clovers FC (NISA)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
2nd US Open Cup appearance (2023, 2024)
Overall: 1-1-0
Away: 1-1-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: Second Round (2023)
One Knoxville SC vs. Greenville Triumph SC
Regal Stadium – Knoxville, TN
7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
One Knoxville began as an amateur team in USL League Two with the intent to eventually move to League One. After registering a 11-1-2 record and reaching the League Two Quarterfinals in the 2022 season, One Knoxville made the move to League One for 2023. The club had a fairly successful debut season, finishing five points from reaching the playoffs. Sean Lewis won the League One Golden Glove for best goalkeeper, registering eight shutouts and maintaining a 1.04 goals against average. Knoxville are off to a fantastic start to the new League One season, holding a 3-0-0 record.
One Knoxville advanced to the Second Round with a 2-0 win over USL League Two’s Ashville City SC. Rodolfo Castro Jr. and Callum Johnson first half goals held up despite Knoxville going down a man in the 61st minute due to a red card to defender Jalen Crisler. One Knoxville also gained possession of the hiking boot-shaped trophy for winning the Smokey Mountain Series. One Knoxville has just one other Open Cup game under their belt, a 2-1 extra time loss to Memphis 901 FC.
MORE: One Knoxville SC (2024 season preview)
The Greenville Triumph have been one of the more successful clubs in USL League One. In its five years in the league, Greenville have made the playoffs every year, finishing as championship runners-up in 2018 and 2021, and winning the title in 2020. Only one of Greenville’s six Open Cup games have been away from home, and that came last year with a cross-country trip to face USL Championship club Phoenix Rising in the Second Round.
Greenville reached the Second Round with a chippy 1-0 win over South Carolina United Bantams of USL League Two. Leonardo Castro’s goal just before halftime was enough for the pros in a game that saw 36 fouls and seven yellow cards between the two teams. Greenville is off to a 2-0-1 start in USL League One, including a 3-2 victory over Lexington Sporting Club, in which they overcame a 2-0 deficit to win on a Lexington own goal deep into second half stoppage time.
MORE: New Greenville Triumph coach looks for seamless transition at the top
One Knoxville SC (USL-1)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
2nd US Open Cup appearances (2023)
Overall: 1-1-0
Home: 0-1-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: Second Round (2023)
Greenville Triumph SC (USL-1)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
4th US Open Cup appearance (2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 3-3-0
Away: 1-1-0
vs. Div. 3: 1-0-0
Best finish: Third Round (2022)
Vermont Green FC vs. Carolina Core FC
Virtue Field – Burlington, VT
7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
The Vermont Green are the second team from the Green Mountain State to appear in the US Open Cup proper (Vermont Voltage in 2014 the other). The club was recognized as USL League Two Organization of the Year and has built a strong following. Vermont has already sold out their allotment of 1,300 season tickets for the 2024 season. Last year, they finished with a 10-1-3 record, but missed out on the postseason. They are one of two USL League Two qualifiers (Northern Virginia FC the other) to miss the 2023 playoffs.
In the First Round, Vermont became the first team to host an Open Cup game in the state, and it sure was memorable. A packed house of 2,500 at Burlington’s Virtue Field saw the home side hold on for a 4-3 upset win over Lexington Sporting Club of USL League One. Vermont jumped out to a 3-1 halftime lead, and Jake Ashford’s goal five minutes into the second half pushed the lead to 4-1. Lexington fought back, Cameron Lancaster’s brace cutting the lead to one with 12 minutes remaining, bjut Vermont was able to hold on for the win that brought praise from Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders
MORE: Vermont Green FC & the Lullaby of Burlington
The Carolina Core are one of two independent MLS NEXT Pro teams, along with Chattanooga FC. Former U.S. Men’s National team defender and D.C. United standout Eddie Pope serves as the Chief Sporting Director, and his USMNT teammate Roy Lassiter serves as the club’s head coach.
Carolina overcame a 2-1 halftime deficit to knock off Northern Virginia FC of USL League Two 3-2. David Polanco began the comeback with a goal five minutes into the second half, and then assisted on Joshua Rodriguez’s game winner in the 81st minute.
Carolina are 1-2-0 in the early stages of the MLS NEXT Pro season, with the one win coming from a PK shootout tiebreaker.
MORE: Carolina Core Soccer Team Ready To Kick Off Season
MORE: Roy Lassiter up to challenge of building Carolina Core
Vermont Green FC (USL-2)
How they qualified: Finished 10-1-3 in USL-2 Northeast Division
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 1-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Carolina Core FC (MLS NEXT Pro)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-1-0
Best finish: N/A
Apotheos FC vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
Silverbacks Park Stadium – Atlanta, GA
7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
In just their second year of existence, Apotheos FC have put themselves on the map as a team to watch. After winning the NPSL Southeast Conference with a 6-1-3 record, Apotheos won five games to reach the NPSL National Championship game against fellow Open Cup qualifier Tulsa Athletic. Apotheos appeared to have the championship in hand when Junior Sandoval scored with 10 minutes remaining. Chris Taylor then tied the game for Tulsa in stoppage time and the championship was eventually decided by penalty kicks. Each team converted their first five attempts, and Apotheos finally missed in round nine to open the door for Tulsa to win the shootout 8-7. Club founders Anthony Catalano and Dale Hughes also operate Apotheos Roastery in the Atlanta area. The name apotheos is derived from “apotheosis,” a word that suggests elevating something to its most divine form.
Apotheos FC had their Open Cup debut pushed back a couple weeks when their first round opponents, NISA’s Georgia Lions, were forced to forfeit.
In the First Round, Chattanooga won their first Open cup game in four attempts, but they had to earn it as the Red Wolves needed extra time to defeat Brockton FC United (UPSL) 4-2. Just as Chattanooga appeared to be closing out a 2-0 win, Brockton scored in the 89th minute and stoppage time to tie the game 2-2 and force extra time. As the game seemed destined for penalties, second half substitute Ropapa Mensah scored in the 116th minute, then again hear the final whistle. The one amateur team the Red Wolves have faced was their very first Open Cup game in 2019, as they where upset 3-0 by South Georgia Tormenta FC 2, the reserve club of their league rivals.
Chattanooga’s time in USL League One has been up and down, missing the playoffs in 2019 and 2020 followed by reaching the semifinals (2021) and the Final in 2022 then crashing to 10th place in 2023. Their 2024 season is off to a slow start, the lone result being a 1-0 loss to Lexington, as their first two home games have been postponed. The Red Wolves also suffered a loss in court recently. A decision was handed down by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board in favor of Arkansas State University, who previously issued a cease-and-desist order to the Chattanooga Red Wolves, asserting its exclusive rights to the Red Wolves name and logo. The Chattanooga Red Wolves have filed an appeal to the ruling.
Apotheos FC (NPSL)
How they qualified: Finished 6-1-3 in NPSL Southeast Conference
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Home: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL-1)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
4th US Open Cup appearance (2019, 2022-23)
Overall: 1-3-0
Away: 0-2-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-1-0
Best finish: Second Round (2022, 2023)
Chicago Fire FC II vs. Forward Madison FC
SeatGeek Stadium – Bridgeview, IL
8 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
Forward Madison will be looking for a bit of Open Cup revenge over the city of Chicago, as last year they were ousted by amateur side Chicago House AC 3-2 in extra time. Forward Madison has won just once out of three attempts against fellow professional opponents, a 3-0 upset of USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive in 2019. Madison just snuck into the League One playoffs in 2023, edging Tormenta FC by one point.
Forward is the state motto of Wisconsin, and the flamingo in their logo represents the official bird of the city of Madison, a flamingo lawn ornament. Returning goalkeeper Bernd Schipmann was second in the league in 2023 with 12 clean sheets, but his performance could not overcome only 38 goals scored by the club, second to last in the league. The flamingos are off to a positive start in 2024, holding a 1-2-0 record and coming off a dominating 3-0 win over Central Valley Fuego on March 30.
Chicago Fire II will have to go a long way to match their parent club’s Open up success. Last year the Fire reached the Quarterfinals, and the absence of the Fire in 2024 will delay by another year their chance at winning a fifth Open Cup title to join Bethlehem Steel, Maccabee AC and the Fall River Marksmen with five. The Fire II have played just two games in the young MLS NEXT Pro season, both 1-1 draws. They both go down as wins as MLSNP uses PK shootouts to decide drawn games. Three players (Goalkeeper Spencer Richey, Javier Cassas and Wyatt Omsberg) who took the field for the Fire II in the First Round also played in Open Cup matches for the senior Fire in 2023. In fact, Richey started all four of the Fire’s 2023 Open Cup game in goal.
Chicago Fire FC II (MLS NEXT Pro)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Forward Madison FC (USL League One)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
4th US Open Cup appearance (2019, 2022-23)
Overall: 4-3-0
Away: 2-1-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: Third Round (2019, 2022)
Union Omaha vs. Des Moines Menace
Al F. Caniglia Field – Omaha, NE
8:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
Making their third appearance in the Open Cup, Union Omaha has a high bar to duplicate their best showing in the tournament. In 2022 the Owls knocked off two MLS clubs (Chicago Fire & Minnesota United) to reach the Quarterfinals. The run ended with a 6-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City, but the scoreline did not diminish Omaha’s feat of becoming the first team from Nebraska to reach the Quarterfinals and the first third division team to do so since 2013. Omaha saw their cup run end abruptly last year with a 5-1 loss to St. Louis City in front of a third-round record crowd of 22,423 fans in St. Louis.
Union finished the 2023 USL League season in first place but were upset by the Charlotte Independence in the playoff semifinals on penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw. Dominic Casciato was named USL League One Coach of the Year for the 2023 season. During the offseason, Omaha signed Victor “PC” Giro, a midfielder who spent the last three seasons with San Antonio FC, and defender Mechack Jérôme, a veteran who has made 78 appearances for the Haitian National Team. Departing are Noe Meza, JP Scearce, Joe Brito and Luis Gil. The four players combined for 25 of Omaha’s 64 goals in all competitions in 2023. Gil also had nine assists, good for second in USL League One. Omaha are currently riding a 15 match unbeaten streak that stretches back to last season.
In the First Round Omaha had a relatively easy time defeating the Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2) 4-0. After being held to a 1-0 lead at the half, the floodgates opened after halftime and Omaha scored three more times, including Joe Gallardo completing a hat trick and getting strong support for TheCup.us Player of the Round honors.
MORE: Union Omaha owners, city officials announce soccer stadium plans
Appearing in their fourth Open Cup in a row, the Des Moines Menace are one of the great lower league upset darlings of the Open Cup. The Menace have 14 Open Cup wins (15 if you include the times they entered as an Open Division Local team), and eight upsets of professional opponents, both of which are the second most among all amateur teams in the Modern Era (1995-present). Only the Flint City Bucks (15 wins, 10 pro upsets) have more in both categories. The Menace have missed out on just three Open Cup tournaments since 2010, and of the three amateur clubs in this year’s field with 10+ appearances, Des Moines are the only ones not to have played as a professional club. The Menace are currently on a nine-season streak of finishing either first or second in their division in USL League Two.
The recruiting drive continues for the Menace. After securing the services of veterans Sacha Kljestan, Brian Rowe and Euan Holden for their First Round game, Des Moines have enticed former LA Galaxy defender AJ De la Garza (11 previous Open Cup appearances) and Sporting Kansas City legend Roger Espinoza (23 Open Cup appearances, 3 US Open Cup titles, FA Cup winner in 2013) to join the team for their Second Round game.
After making headlines signing Kljestan and Holden, the Menace then played in an “instant classic”, tying Capo (NISA) FC 2-2, the advancing on PKs. Kickoff was delayed 40 minutes due to a high school lacrosse game using the field. Kljestan then proved worth by assisting on the opening goal for the Menace in the 53rd minute. Parker Scalzo tied it for Capo 13 minutes later, In extra time, Leroy Enzugusi put the Menace back in front in the 117th minute, only to see Scalzo score his second goal for Capo in the 12oth minute. In penalties, after each team made their first four kicks, Kljestan converted for Des Moines and Scalzo sent his attempt over the bar. Kljestan finished third in the voting for TheCup.us Player of the Round.
The Menace have advanced past their opening game in 14 of their 14 appearances. 2005 was Des Moines most successful run, defeating two pro teams (Charleston Battery 3-2, Atlanta Silverbacks 5-1), setting up a meeting with the Kansas City Wizards (Sporting KC) in the Fourth Round, which the Menace lost 6-1. They would meet the Wizards again in the 2006 Third Round, narrowly losing 2-1 on a 90th minute goal.
Omaha and Des Moines have one previous meeting in Open Cup play, In Omaha’s very first cup game in the 2022 Second Round, they defeated the Menace 2-1
MORE: Des Moines menacing the big boys since 1994
Union Omaha (USL-1)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
3rd US Open Cup appearance (2022-23)
Overall: 5-2-1 (1-0 PK)
home: 3-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 1-0-0
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2022)
Des Moines Menace (USL-2)
How they qualified: Finished in 10-0-2 in USL-2 Heartland Division
14th US Open Cup appearance (2002-03, 2005-06, 2010, 2012-13, 2015-2017, 2019, 2022-23)
Overall: 8-6-4 (4-1 PK)
Away: 6-6-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 2-3-2 (2-0 PK)
Best finish: Fourth Round (2005)
Colorado Rapids 2 vs. Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC
Dicks Sporting Goods Park – Commerce City, CO
9:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
Rapids 2 will look to match what their parent club has done just once since 1999, advance past their second game in the tournament. The MLS Rapids won their first two Open Cup games in 2023, the first time in 17 tries they accomplished that feat.
This is not the first time that a reserve team of the Colorado Rapids has competed in the US Open Cup. The Boulder Rapids Reserve, who played in the PDL (USL League Two), participated in the 2004 Open Cup. The team, led by up-and-coming goalkeeper Luis Robles and a few other future pros, reached the Third Round before losing to the Minnesota Thunder 2-1 in sudden death extra time.
Fast forward to last season, the Rapids 2 finished first in the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference, nine points clear of second place Tacoma Defiance, but were eliminated in the Conference Final by eventual champions Austin FC II. Rémi Cabral’s (on loan to Phoenix Rising) 19 goals were good for a three-way tie atop the league leaders, and midfielder Marlon Vargas led the league in assists with 10 and Yosuke Hanya finished right behind him with nine.
The reserve Rapids have a 1-2-0 record in MLS NEXT Pro play. Marlon Vargas has accounted for four of the five Rapids goals.
Northern Colorado cruised past Tulsa Athletic (NPSL) 4-1 in the First Round, getting goals from four different players and outshooting their amateur opponents 24-8. The Rapids 2 also had an easy time in the First Round, cruising past Denver’s Azteca FC (USSSA/Colorado Premier League) 3-0
The Hailstorm will have a huge hole to fill on offense as Trevor Amann, who set the USL League One single season record with 23 goals scored in 2023. He departed for the Sacramento Republic. The team will also be without league assists leader Arthur Rogers, who signed with FC Tulsa. One player who is staying put is goalkeeper Lalo Delgado, who posted a league high 13 clean sheets. The Hailstorm have also added a couple of young international players to their roster. 21-year old midfielder Brahima Ouattara is currently part of the Ivory Coast U-23 team, and 21-year-old MF Real Gill has earned six caps with Trinidad & Tobago.
Northern Colorado’s best Open Cup performance came in 2022, when they knocked off in-state rivals Colorado Springs Switchbacks 1-0 in extra time in the Second Round, and then upset Real Salt Lake 1-0 in the Third round, scoring on their only shot on goal. The run ended with a 2-0 defeat to fellow USL League One upstarts Union Omaha. Northern Colorado has yet to play at home in the Open Cup, and three of their previous six Open Cup games have been against another team from Colorado. The Hailstorm faced the Rapids MLS side last year in the Third Round, losing 3-1. Three players on this year’s Rapids 2 roster played in that game (Michael Edwards, Marlon Vargas and Darren Yapi).
In league play, the Hailstorm are coming off a successful 2023 campaign where they finished three points shy of the regular season championship (3rd overall) and reached the league semifinals, falling to eventual champion North Carolina FC. The club is 1-0-1 in the early goings of the 2024 League One season.
MORE: Are Northern Colorado Hailstorm better without Amann, Rogers, and Cornwall? They think so
Colorado Rapids 2 (MLS NEXT Pro)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (USL-1)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
3rd US Open Cup appearance (2022-23)
Overall: 4-2-0
Away: 4-2-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2022)
Ventura County FC vs. Irvine Zeta FC
Dignity Health Sports Park Track & Field Stadium – Carson, CA
10:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
You can’t blame Ventura County FC for doing a double-take when their Second Round opponents were announced. If you weren’t looking closely, you would think they already played Irvine Zeta in the First Round but it was Zeta’s reserve team from the UPSL that Ventura defeated 2-1. Just as NISA’s Club de Lyon did last year, Irvine Zeta initially qualified through the Open Division Local qualifiers, then later made a move to field a professional team in NISA, whose clubs are granted automatic entry into the US Open Cup. The Irvine Zeta senior team defeated 2023 National Amateur Cup champions SC MesoAmerica 1-0 in a tight contest to advance to the Second Round.
Ventura County FC, formerly known as LA Galaxy II (or “Los Dos”) have history in the US Open Cup dating back to 2014 and 2015. Back then, MLS reserve teams playing in the USL were granted entry into the Open Cup for those seasons. In 2014, LAG II reached the Third Round, where they fell to amateur club PSA Elite on penalties. The following year, they lost their opening game to Ventura County Fusion 2-1. The Galaxy II played in the USL Championship until 2022, when MLS NEXT Pro was started. Galaxy II finished the 2023 season last in the Western Conference, allowing a league high 74 goals in 28 games.
VCFC are 3-0 in the new MLS NEXT Pro season, their latest result a 5-2 thumping of the Tacoma Defiance on Mar. 31.
Irvine Zeta will be the first professional opponent in Ventura County’s limited Open Cup history. Ironically, Ventra County FC’s last Open Cup opponent in 2015 was the Ventura County Fusion of the PDL (USL-2). The then-Galaxy II lost 2-1 to the Fusion in second half stoppage time. Current CF Montreal forward Ariel Lassiter scored the lone goal for Galaxy II on a PK.
Led by club president Cary Lyu, Irvine Zeta are the first Chinese-founded professional club in the United States. Due to NISA pushing the start of their season back two weeks, Irvine Zeta, along with league-mates Arizona Monsoon and Capo FC, joined the 2022 Northern Colorado Hailstorm (USL-1) by playing their first-ever match in the Open Cup
Ventura County FC (MLS NEXT Pro)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
3rd US Open Cup appearance (2014-15)
Overall: 2-1-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 2-1-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 1-1-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Third Round (2014)
Irvine Zeta FC (NISA)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Spokane Velocity FC vs. LA Force
ONE Spokane Stadium – Spokane, WA
10:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
The city of Spokane returned to the Open Cup for the first time since 2004, when the Spokane Shadow the PDL (now USL League Two) dropped a first round game to the Sacramento Knights (USASA/NPSL). The team’s name and crest reference the Spokane River, which runs through the city. The club also has a team in the USL W League, the Spokane Zephyr FC, set for their debut season as well in 2024.
The Velocity have signed midfielder and former MLS player Luis Gil, whose nine assists with Union Omaha was good for second in USL League One in 2023. Also joining the Velocity is midfielder Andre Lewis, who has appeared in 100 games with the Colorado Springs Switchbacks and Hartford Athletic from 2020-2023. Up front Spokane will feature forward Romain Métanire, who logged 77 games with Minnesota United from 2019-2022, and has 27 caps for Madagascar. Spokane are off to a 2-2-0 start in USL League One play.
Spokane travelled to Seattle for the First Round, where an Andre Lewis goal seven minutes deep into second half stoppage time gave Spokane a 1-0 win and spoiled Ballard FC’s dream of upsetting the rookie professional club.
The LA Force finished third in the 2023 NISA season but were bounced from the playoffs by eventual champions Flower City Union 4-2. The Force have played just two Open Cup matches in their history, both Second Round losses to USL Championship teams. In 2022 the Force lost to Orange County SC 5-2, and in 2023 Las Vegas Lights bested them by a 4-0 scoreline. Due to the fact NISA pushed the start of the league back two weeks, the LA Force are opening their season in the Open Cup. LA managed to get by a pesky Redlands FC (USL L2) 2-1, with the winning goal not coming until the 84th minute from Jose Montes de Oca.
Spokane Velocity (USL-1)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
LA Force FC (NISA)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
3rd US Open Cup appearance (2022-23)
Overall: 1-2-0
Away: 0-2-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: Second Round (2022, 2023)
It doesn’t get more clutch than scoring an equalizer in stoppage time of extra time, but that’s exactly what FORO SC’s Kyle Bennett did in the Dallas-based amateur side’s First Round match in the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The goal sent their road game against reigning MLS NEXT Pro champs Austin FC II into extra time, tied at 2-2. And then the 6 feet, 3 inch tall forward outdid himself and sealed the win by converting from the spot on FORO’s fifth and final attempt of the shootout.
Bennett’s performance was enough to earn him TheCup.us Player of the Round honors for the First Round of the 109th edition of the US Open Cup.
The Player of the Round 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) of TheCup.us’ Patreon team. Bennett was the top vote getter, edging Jordan Adebayo-Smith of MNUFC2 (MLS NEXT Pro) and third place finisher Sacha Kljestan of Des Moines Menace (USL-2).
Bennett – a second half substitute – knew his size could be the difference but he would have to wait to make his impact on the game. First, he had to redeem himself after missing an excellent opportunity to put FORO ahead towards the end of the second half. In the 80th minute, Bennett intercepted a poor Austin FC II throw-in near midfield and was clear on goal but failed to beat the onrushing keeper from the edge of the penalty area. Mere moments later (81st min.), FORO went down to 10 men and things were not looking good for the visitors from Dallas.
“I just let it go”, Bennett said of the crucial miss, praising his teammates for lifting each other up and keeping everyone’s confidence at a high level.
Bennett and his teammates went on to force extra time. And that’s when things got interesting.
The hosts went up 2-1 with a goal in the 105th minute and the pros looked headed for a victory to advance. But in the waning seconds of stoppage time in the second period of extra time, FORO threw everyone they had forward and a last gasp cross managed to find Bennett’s head to put the ball in the back of the net. Penalty kicks were up next.
“It was just at the right height and I was in the right spot,” said Bennett of the equalizing goal.
In the shootout, both sides converted three of their first four chances. Then FORO goalkeeper Gonzalo Martinez came up with a massive save on Austin FC II’s fifth attempt by Ervin Torres and that set the stage for Bennett to play the hero a second time. He converted his attempt into the top right corner of the net to send the United Premier Soccer League side into Round 2 in the club’s tournament debut.
Bennett finds himself in good form with FORO after a few false starts early in his semi-professional career. After leaving local youth powerhouse Dallas Texans at 19, he received several offers from Division 3 college programs but decided he wanted to go straight to work instead. Two years later, he was approached by UPSL side Dallas Dynamo about playing for them and, after bouncing around the local scene with several teams, he began to make a name for himself as a proven goalscorer.
Then, in early 2023, FORO head coach Michel Garbini recruited him to join FORO’s quest to qualify for the 2024 US Open Cup. Bennett, however, broke his metatarsal in August and found himself unable to continue. But Garbini told Bennett his spot on the roster was safe if Bennett could get himself back into playing shape – which he managed to do. His services, however, were not required for FORO’s 4-0 victory over Alamo City SC that clinched their spot in the 2024 tournament.
Bennett, however, is still hungry for more and thinks he has another gear, even after such an impressive performance in Round 1.
“It feels like I’m really close to that next level.”
FORO FC will head west to Lubbock, Texas in Round 2 to take on NPSL side Lubbock Matadors on Tuesday, April 2.
A penalty shot just minutes into match was not enough to stop Ventura County FC from being victorious, 2-1, over Irvine Zeta II in the First Round of the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
The comeback was the first win for the newly-named MLS NEXT Pro side, formerly known as LA Galaxy II.
“We created a lot of chances. we controlled the game,” VCFC head coach Matt Taylor said. “ gave an early PK. Outside of that, if you score five or six more tonight, you feel like it’s a complete night.”
The first few minutes of half showed each team were eager to be the first on the board. Possession bounced back and forth between both teams with close opportunities after each offensive push.
However, in the 8th minute, a foul inside the goalie box would issue a penalty shot for Irvine Zeta II. Daniel Baumgartner would make the penalty and put his team in the lead 1-0.
After trailing behind so early into the match, it was evident Ventura County began to put more aggressiveness in their offensive plays.
It would pay off in the 11th minute. Ventura County would have a corner kick and in the mist of the play, a minor error by a Irvine Zeta II player where they tried to deflect the ball out of the goal ended up the other direction. An own goal would be awarded to Ventura County’s Joseph Barry and put the game at a tie, 1-1.
With the game even with plenty of time left, both teams relied heavily on the intensity of the match for motivation to be conceded the next goal. However, right when the match seemed to be headed to the halftime break tied at 1-1, Ventura County would find the go-ahead goal.
Irvine took a throw-in on their side of midfield and lost possession and it ended up at the feet of Isaiah Parente who slotted a pass to Sean Karani in the center of the field. Karani took a couple of touches and fired a shot near the top of the 18 yard line. His low-driving shot would beat the keeper to give his team the lead.
The second half proved to be unlucky for Ventura County. Numerous attempts at goal would either be shy of the goal by hitting the post or be deflected by the keeper or defense. Ventura County outshot Irvine 26-8 with an 8-4 edge in shots on goal over Irvine Zeta II by the end of the match.
“I think when you look at it, we didn’t give up much,” Taylor said, “We were organized.”
The 109th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup started off with a bang and a plethora of the chaos we all know and love in this competition. Amateur teams, who made it through the grind of qualifying rounds in the fall, competed against professional teams in Round 1 of the tournament proper. 32 teams advanced to the next round, seven of those being upstart amateurs and one team advancing by forfeit. There were many players whose performances stood out among all of the fun and exciting games in the first round.
Since 2006, TheCup.us has set out to honor the best individual performance of each round.
The award is voted on by TheCup.us staff, a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters, and select backers from TheCup.us’ Patreon. If you’d like to vote in this, or upcoming rounds, consider pledging $10 or more and help us continue to cover the US Open Cup and research its long history. If you did have a vote, which player do YOU think should win?
Here are the finalists (in alphabetical order):
Jordan Adebayo-Smith – MNUFC2 (MLS Next Pro)
Adebayo-Smith scored every one of MNUFC2’s goals in their 3-0 road win over Chicago House AC (USASA/Midwest Premier League). He scored all three goals in the second half and completed his hat trick in thrilling fashion in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Kharlton Belmar – Charlotte Independence (USL League One)
Belmar was the definition of an impact substitute, coming into the game in the 62nd minute and assisting on the winning goal ten minutes later. He then scored in the 86th minute to seal the 2-0 road win over Vereinigung Erzgebirge (USASA/United Soccer League of Pa.).
Kyle Bennett – FORO SC (UPSL)
Late game heroics put another impact substitute on the list. Kyle Bennett came into the game in the 71st minute, ten minutes before his team went down to ten men right before extra time while tied. Bennett scored the equalizing goal in stoppage time of the second extra time period, scoring the winning penalty in a 4-3 shootout win (after a 2-2 draw) on the road against Austin FC II (MLS NEXT Pro).
Christian Chaney – Forward Madison (USL League One)
Chaney scored two goals for Forward Madison starting with a goal in the ninth minute. He then scored an insurance goal in the 53rd minute as they easily defended home turf against Duluth FC (NPSL), 2-0.
Darwin Espinal – Maryland Bobcats (NISA)
Darwin Espinal scored a brace in their 2-0 road win over West Chester United (NPSL). An early goal in the eighth minute set the tone for the game, completing his brace in the 57th minute to seal the win.
Joe Gallardo – Union Omaha (USL League One)
Joe Gallardo scored all but one of Union Omaha’s goals in a lopsided 4-0 win over Western Mass Pioneers (USL League Two). His hat trick bookended the match, scoring the first and last two goals of the game.
Johan Garibay – One Knoxville SC (USL League One)
Johan Garibay faced 17 shots and made six saves, preserving the clean sheet in a 2-0 road win over Asheville City (USL League Two) while playing with ten men for the final 29 minutes of the game.
Sacha Kljestan – Des Moines Menace (USL League Two)
Despite not having played in a competitive match in 18 months, the 38-year-old Sacha Kljestan played all 120 minutes of the match, assisting on the opening goal in the 53rd minute and converting the winning penalty in the shootout in Des Moines’ 2-2 road draw and 5-4 PK shootout win over Capistrano FC (NISA).
Juan Manuel Martínez – Club de Lyon FC (NISA)
In Club de Lyon’s 3-2 road win over AS Frenzi (UPSL), Juan Manual Martinez scored a goal in the 23rd minute and later completed his brace with the game-winner in the 90th minute.
Ropapa Mensah – Chattanooga Red Wolves (USL League One)
In his team’s 4-2 extra time road win against Brockton FC United (UPSL), Ropapa Mensah came off the bench in the 59th minute, making a difference with two extra time goals with his team playing shorthanded late throughout the end of the second half and all of extra time.
Tatenda Mkuruva – Michigan Stars (NISA)
Tatenda Mkuruva kept a clean sheet, facing 16 shots and making six saves in Michigan Stars’ tight 1-0 road win at Steel City FC (NPSL).
David Polanco – Carolina Core FC (MLS Next Pro)
In the Carolina Core FC’s 3-2 home win over Northern Virginia FC (USL-2), David Polanco scored the game-tying goal in the 50th minute before assisting on the game-winning goal in the 82nd minute.
Click on the scores below for match reports
All Times Eastern / All future dates subject to change
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| League Abbreviation Key | ||||
| Colorado Premier League (CPL) | Liga Deportiva Morazan (LDM) | Major League Soccer (MLS) | Maryland Super Soccer League (MSSL) | Midwest Premier League (MWPL) |
| MLS NEXT Pro (MLSNP) | National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) | National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) | United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) | United Soccer League of Pennsylvania (USLPA) |
| United States Soccer League (USSL) | USL Championship (USL-C) | USL League One (USL-1) | USL League Two (USL-2) | |
| Goals | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four Goals | |||||
| Stefano Pinho | Birmingham Legion FC | USL-C | |||
| Dembor Benson | El Farolito | NPSL | |||
| Jonathan Jimenez | NYCFC II | MLSNP | |||
| Three Goals | |||||
| Nick Firmino | Atlanta United FC | MLS | |||
| MD Myers | Charleston Battery | USL-C | |||
| Augustine Williams | Indy Eleven | USL-C | |||
| Cristian Olivera | Los Angeles FC | MLS | |||
| Darwin Espinal | Maryland Bobcats | NISA | |||
| Jordan Adebayo-Smith | MNFUC2 | MLSNP | |||
| Taylor Calheira | NYCFC II | MLSNP | |||
| Kieran Phillips | Sacramento Republic FC | USL-C | |||
| Cal Jennings | Tampa Bay Rowdies | USL-C | |||
| Joe Gallardo | Union Omaha | USL-1 | |||
| Two Goals | |||||
| Tyler Pasher | Birmingham Legion FC | USL-C | |||
| Parker Scalzo | Capo FC | NISA | |||
| Josuha Rodriguez | Carolina Core | MLSNP | |||
| Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. | Charlotte Independence | USL-2 | |||
| Ropapa Mensah | Chattanooga Red Wolves | USL-1 | |||
| David Poreba | Chicago Fire FC II | MLSNP | |||
| Juan Manuel Martínez | Club de Lyon | NISA | |||
| Leroy Enzugusi | Des Moines Menace | USL-2 | |||
| Maxi Rodriguez | Detroit City FC | USL-C | |||
| Logan Farrington | FC Dallas | MLS | |||
| Christian Chaney | Forward Madison FC | USL-1 | |||
| Lyam MacKinnon | Greenville Triumph SC | USL-1 | |||
| George Almeida | Irvine Zeta FC | NISA | |||
| Cameron Lancaster | Lexington Sporting Club | USL-1 | |||
| Kei Kamara | Los Angeles FC | MLS | |||
| Timothy Tillman | Los Angeles FC | MLS | |||
| Wesley Leggett | Loudoun United | USL-C | |||
| Jorge González | Louisville City FC | USL-C | |||
| Sean Totsch | Louisville City FC | USL-C | |||
| Salvador Martinez | Lubbock Matadors SC | NPSL | |||
| Shuma Sasaki | Lubbock Matadors SC | NPSL | |||
| Nighte Pickering | Memphis 901 FC | USL-C | |||
| Luis Pedro Leite Da Silva | Miami FC | USL-C | |||
| Jhon Pajoy | Miami United FC | USSSA | |||
| Jerry Ayon | Monterey Bay FC | USL-C | |||
| Zico Bailey | New Mexico United | USL-C | |||
| Mohammed Sofo | New York Red Bulls II | MLSNP | |||
| Mark Hernandez | Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC | USL-1 | |||
| Ethan Hoard | Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC | USL-1 | |||
| Máximo Carrizo | NYCFC II | MLSNP | |||
| Kempes Tekiela | One Knoxville SC | USL-1 | |||
| Dakota Barnathan | Richmond Kickers | USL-1 | |||
| Sebastian Herrera | Sacramento Republic FC | USL-C | |||
| Sebastián Vivas | South Georgia Tormenta | USL-1 | |||
| Andre Lewis | Spokane Velocity FC | USL-1 | |||
| Felipe Hernandez | Sporting Kansas City | MLS | |||
| Dany Rosero | Sporting Kansas City | MLS | |||
| Marinos Tzionis | Sporting Kansas City | MLS | |||
| Manuel Arteaga | Tampa Bay Rowdies | USL-C | |||
| Lagos Kunga | Union Omaha | USL-1 | |||
| One Goal | |||||
| Izsak Fierro | Arizona Monsoon FC | NISA | |||
| Jean Forestal | AS Frenzi | UPSL | |||
| Daniel Rios | Atlanta United FC | MLS | |||
| Salvatore Mazzaferro | Austin FC II | MLSNP | |||
| Sebastien Pineau | Austin FC II | MLSNP | |||
| Kobe Hernández-Foster | Birmingham Legion FC | USL-C | |||
| Enzo Martínez | Birmingham Legion FC | USL-C | |||
| Wuilito Fernandes | Brockton FC United | UPSL | |||
| Leonardo Teixeira | Brockton FC United | UPSL | |||
| Drake Hadeed | Carolina Core FC | MLSNP | |||
| Papa Ndoye | Carolina Core FC | MLSNP | |||
| David Polanco | Carolina Core FC | MLSNP | |||
| Shavon Brown | Central Valley Fuego FC | USL-1 | |||
| Jose Carrera-Garcia | Central Valley Fuego FC | USL-1 | |||
| Jason Ramos | Central Valley Fuego FC | USL-1 | |||
| Luis Álvarez | Charlotte Independence | USL-1 | |||
| Kharlton Belmar | Charlotte Independence | USL-1 | |||
| Omar Ciss | Charlotte Independence | USL-1 | |||
| Tresor Mbuyu | Charlotte Independence | USL-1 | |||
| Leo Folla | Chattanooga Red Wolves | USL-1 | |||
| Omar Hernandez | Chattanooga Red Wolves | USL-1 | |||
| Stefan Lukic | Chattanooga Red Wolves | USL-1 | |||
| Chevone Marsh | Chattanooga Red Wolves | USL-1 | |||
| Ricky Ruiz | Chattanooga Red Wolves | USL-1 | |||
| Giovanni Granda | Chicago Fire FC II | MLSNP | |||
| Vitaliy Hlyut | Chicago Fire FC II | MLSNP | |||
| Michael Nesci | Chicago Fire FC II | MLSNP | |||
| Harold Osorio | Chicago Fire FC II | MLSNP | |||
| Jason Shokalook | Chicago Fire FC II | MLSNP | |||
| Kevin Miranda | Club de Lyon | NISA | |||
| Josh Belluz | Colorado Rapids 2 | MLSNP | |||
| Alec Diaz | Colorado Rapids 2 | MLSNP | |||
| Wayne Frederick | Colorado Rapids 2 | MLSNP | |||
| Daniel Garcia | Colorado Rapids 2 | MLSNP | |||
| Kimani Stewart-Baynes | Colorado Rapids 2 | MLSNP | |||
| Cyrus Harmon | Des Moines Menace | USL-2 | |||
| Yazeed Matthews | Detroit City FC | USL-C | |||
| Ryan Williams | Detroit City FC | USL-C | |||
| Jhohann Yabur | El Farolito SC | NPSL | |||
| Patrickson Delgado | FC Dallas | MLS | |||
| Petar Musa | FC Dallas | MLS | |||
| Moshi Wilondja | FC Folsom | UPSL | |||
| Phillip Goodrum | FC Tulsa | USL-C | |||
| Diogo Pacheco | FC Tulsa | USL-C | |||
| Milo Yosef | FC Tulsa | USL-C | |||
| Kyle Bennett | FORO SC | UPSL | |||
| Jonathan Sauceda | FORO SC | UPSL | |||
| Hayden Anderson | Greenville Triumph SC | USL-1 | |||
| Leonardo Castro | Greenville Triumph SC | USL-1 | |||
| Louis Herrera | Greenville Triumph SC | USL-1 | |||
| Deshane Beckford | Hartford Athletic | USL-C | |||
| Romario Williams | Hartford Athletic | USL-C | |||
| Latif Blessing | Houston Dynamo FC | MLS | |||
| Adalberto Carrasquilla | Houston Dynamo FC | MLS | |||
| Griffin Dorsey | Houston Dynamo FC | MLS | |||
| Israel Neto | Hudson Valley Hammers | USL-2 | |||
| Jack Blake | Indy Eleven | USL-C | |||
| Douglas Martínez | Indy Eleven | USL-C | |||
| Ben Ofeimu | Indy Eleven | USL-C | |||
| Rafael Espinoza | Irvine Zeta FC | NISA | |||
| Shinya Kadono | Irvine Zeta FC | NISA | |||
| Marcel Salceda | Irvine Zeta FC | NISA | |||
| Daniel Baumgartner | Irvine Zeta 2 | UPSL | |||
| Joel Quist | LA Force FC | NISA | |||
| Jose Montes de Oca | LA Force FC | NISA | |||
| Riki Alba | Las Vegas Lights FC | USL-C | |||
| Valentin Noel | Las Vegas Lights FC | USL-C | |||
| Shawn Smart | Las Vegas Lights FC | USL-C | |||
| Isaac Cano | Lexington Sporting Club | USL-1 | |||
| Tomas Angel | Los Angeles FC | MLS | |||
| Mateusz Bogusz | Los Angeles FC | MLS | |||
| Denis Bouanga | Los Angeles FC | MLS | |||
| Omar Campos | Los Angeles FC | MLS | |||
| Olivier Giroud | Los Angeles FC | MLS | |||
| David Martinez | Los Angeles FC | MLS | |||
| Wilson Harris | Louisville City FC | USL-C | |||
| Toufik Najem | Lubbock Matadors SC | NPSL | |||
| Abdul Kooistra | Maryland Bobcats FC | NISA | |||
| Alejo Melo Fernandez | Miami United FC | USSSA | |||
| Sacko Konate | Michigan Stars FC | NISA | |||
| Nels Lellouch | Michigan Stars FC | NISA | |||
| Hunter Olson | Michigan Stars FC | NISA | |||
| Mukwelle Akale | New Mexico United | USL-C | |||
| Daniel Bruce | New Mexico United | USL-C | |||
| Avionne Flanagan | New Mexico United | USL-C | |||
| Anthony Herbert | New Mexico United | USL-C | |||
| Nicky Hernandez | New Mexico United | USL-C | |||
| Greg Hurst | New Mexico United | USL-C | |||
| Talen Maples | New Mexico United | USL-C | |||
| Jacobo Reyes | New Mexico United | USL-C | |||
| Harry Swartz | New Mexico United | USL-C | |||
| Malick Dembele | New York Red Bulls II | MLSNP | |||
| Aiden Jarvis | New York Red Bulls II | MLSNP | |||
| Ibrahim Kasule | New York Red Bulls II | MLSNP | |||
| Serge Ngoma | New York Red Bulls II | MLSNP | |||
| Dylan Sullivan | New York Red Bulls II | MLSNP | |||
| Justin Malou | North Carolina FC | USL-C | |||
| Julian Placias | North Carolina FC | USL-C | |||
| David Garcia | Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC | USL-1 | |||
| Isidro Martínez | Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC | USL-1 | |||
| Lucky Opara | Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC | USL-1 | |||
| Irvin Parra | Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC | USL-1 | |||
| Alexander Abril | Northern Virginia FC | USL-2 | |||
| Noah Holmes | Northern Virginia FC | USL-2 | |||
| Andrew Baiera | NYCFC II | MLSNP | |||
| Malachi Jones | NYCFC II | MLSNP | |||
| Guillermo Diaz | Oakland Roots | USL-C | |||
| Ali Elmasnaouy | Oakland Roots | USL-C | |||
| Rodolfo Castro Jr. | One Knoxville | USL-1 | |||
| Callum Johnson | One Knoxville | USL-1 | |||
| Thomas Amang | Orange County SC | USL-C | |||
| Juan Carlos Azocar | Phoenix Rising FC | USL-C | |||
| Remi Cabral | Phoenix Rising FC | USL-C | |||
| Giulio Doratiotto | Phoenix Rising FC | USL-C | |||
| Fidel Barajas | Real Salt Lake | MLS | |||
| Diego Luna | Real Salt Lake | MLS | |||
| Ethan Kovach | Redlands FC | USL-2 | |||
| Clay Holstad | Rhode Island FC | USL-C | |||
| Conor McGlynn | Rhode Island FC | USL-C | |||
| Nathan Messer | Rhode Island FC | USL-C | |||
| Stephen Turnbull | Rhode Island FC | USL-C | |||
| Adrian Billhardt | Richmond Kickers | USL-1 | |||
| Chandler O'Dwyer | Richmond Kickers | USL-1 | |||
| Ryan Sierakowski | Richmond Kickers | USL-1 | |||
| Nil Vinyals | Richmond Kickers | USL-1 | |||
| Luis Rodrigues | Sacramento Republic FC | USL-C | |||
| Ousseni Bouda | San Jose Earthquakes | MLS | |||
| Cristian Espinoza | San Jose Earthquakes | MLS | |||
| Preston Judd | San Jose Earthquakes | MLS | |||
| Hernan Lopez | San Jose Earthquakes | MLS | |||
| Roddy Green | Savannah Clovers FC | NISA | |||
| Vlad Jokic | Savannah Clovers FC | NISA | |||
| Josh Atencio | Seattle Sounders FC | MLS | |||
| Kalani Kossa-Rienzi | Seattle Sounders FC | MLS | |||
| Jordan Morris | Seattle Sounders FC | MLS | |||
| Danny Musovski | Seattle Sounders FC | MLS | |||
| Alex Roldan | Seattle Sounders FC | MLS | |||
| Paul Rothrock | Seattle Sounders FC | MLS | |||
| Wilterlynd Inalien | South Carolina United Heat | UPSL | |||
| Nick Akoto | South Georgia Tormenta | USL-1 | |||
| Jake Dengler | South Georgia Tormenta | USL-1 | |||
| Conor Doyle | South Georgia Tormenta | USL-1 | |||
| Pedro Fonseca | South Georgia Tormenta | USL-1 | |||
| Joshua Ramos | South Georgia Tormenta | USL-1 | |||
| Gabriel Rodriguez | South Georgia Tormenta | USL-1 | |||
| Callum Stretch | South Georgia Tormenta | USL-1 | |||
| Niall Watson | South Georgia Tormenta | USL-1 | |||
| Austin Wehner | South Georgia Tormenta | USL-1 | |||
| Luis Gil | Spokane Velocity FC | USL-1 | |||
| Stephen Afrifa | Sporting Kansas City | MLS | |||
| William Agada | Sporting Kansas City | MLS | |||
| Alan Pulido | Sporting Kansas City | MLS | |||
| Johnny Russell | Sporting Kansas City | MLS | |||
| Erik Thommy | Sporting Kansas City | MLS | |||
| Joshua Perez | Tampa Bay Rowdies | USL-C | |||
| Damian Rivera | Tampa Bay Rowdies | USL-C | |||
| Keesean Ferdinand | Timbers2 | MLSNP | |||
| Riolan Mello | Tulsa Athletic | NPSL | |||
| Pedro Dolabella | Union Omaha | USL-1 | |||
| Steevan dos Santos | Union Omaha | USL-1 | |||
| Marco Milanese | Union Omaha | USL-1 | |||
| Sean Karani | Ventura County FC | MLSNP | |||
| Jake Ashford | Vermont Green FC | USL-2 | |||
| Zach Barrett | Vermont Green FC | USL-2 | |||
| Yaniv Bazini | Vermont Green FC | USL-2 | |||
| Jacob Labovitz | Vermont Green FC | USL-2 | |||
| Nick Lockermann | Vermont Green FC | USL-2 | |||
| Assists | |||||
| Three Assists | |||||
| Tyler Pasher | Birmingham Legion | USL-C | |||
| Denis Bouanga | Los Angeles FC | MLS | |||
| Pedro Fonseca | South Georgia Tormenta | USL-1 | |||
| Philip Spengler | South Georgia Tormenta | USL-1 | |||
| Two Assists | |||||
| Kobe Hernández-Foster | Birmingham Legion | USL-C | |||
| Sebastian Anderson | Colorado Rapids 2 | MLSNP | |||
| Jesus Ferreira | FC Dallas | MLS | |||
| Douglas Martinez | Indy Eleven | USL-C | |||
| Aedan Stanley | Indy Eleven | USL-C | |||
| Timothy Tillman | Los Angeles FC | MLS | |||
| Daniel Bruce | New Mexico United | USL-C | |||
| Marco Micaletto | New Mexico United | USL-C | |||
| Taylor Calheira | NYCFC II | MLSNP | |||
| Jonathan Jimenez | NYCFC II | MLSNP | |||
| Jack Gurr | Sacramento Republic FC | USL-C | |||
| Rafael Jauregui | Sacramento Republic FC | USL-C | |||
| Jake Davis | Sporting Kansas City | MLS | |||
| Blake Bodily | Tampa Bay Rowdies | USL-C | |||
| Josue Gomez | Union Omaha | USL-1 | |||
| One Assist | |||||
| Alex Tejera | Arizona Monsoon | NISA | |||
| Alexander Dollard | AS Frenzi | UPSL | |||
| Matt Edwards | Atlanta United FC | MLS | |||
| Daniel Rios | Atlanta United FC | MLS | |||
| Xande Silva | Atlanta United FC | MLS | |||
| Caleb Wiley | Atlanta United FC | MLS | |||
| Micah Burton | Austin FC II | MLSNP | |||
| Prosper Kasim | Birmingham Legion FC | USL-C | |||
| Mujeeb Murana | Birmingham Legion FC | USL-C | |||
| Joseano Tavares | Brockton FC United | UPSL | |||
| Meny Tavares | Brockton FC United | UPSL | |||
| Dylan Shockey | Capistrano FC | NISA | |||
| Alton West | Carolina Core FC | MLSNP | |||
| David Polanco | Carolina Core FC | MLSNP | |||
| Jose Carrera-Garcia | Central Valley Fuego FC | USL-1 | |||
| Ernesto Espinoza | Central Valley Fuego FC | USL-1 | |||
| Josh Drack | Charrleston Battery | USL-C | |||
| Luis Alvarez | Charlotte Independence | USL-2 | |||
| Kharlton Belmar | Charlotte Independence | USL-1 | |||
| Omar Ciss | Charlotte Independence | USL-1 | |||
| Omar Hernández | Chattanooga Red Wolves | USL-1 | |||
| Stefan Lukic | Chattanooga Red Wolves | USL-1 | |||
| Ricky Ruiz | Chattanooga Red Wolves | USL-1 | |||
| Michael Nesci | Chicago Fire FC II | MLSNP | |||
| David Poreba | Chicago Fire FC II | MLSNP | |||
| Lamonth Rochester | Chicago Fire FC II | MLSNP | |||
| Jason Shokalook | Chicago Fire FC II | MLSNP | |||
| Ivan Arenas | Club de Lyon | NISA | |||
| Ryan Heron | Club de Lyon | NISA | |||
| Malik Thom | Club de Lyon | NISA | |||
| Wayne Frederick | Colorado Rapids 2 | MLSNP | |||
| Marlon Vargas | Colorado Rapids 2 | MLSNP | |||
| Sacha Klejstan | Des Moines Menace | USL-2 | |||
| Bradan Allen | Des Moines Menace | USL-2 | |||
| Devon Amoo-Mensah | Detroit City FC | USL-C | |||
| Stephen Carroll | Detroit City FC | USL-C | |||
| Ali Coote | Detroit City FC | USL-C | |||
| Judas Higuera | El Farolito SC | NPSL | |||
| Jonathan Valdivia | El Farolito SC | NPSL | |||
| Jhohann Yabur | El Farolito SC | NPSL | |||
| Herbert Endeley | FC Dallas | MLS | |||
| Asier Illarramendi | FC Dallas | MLS | |||
| Dalton Pando | FC Folsom | UPSL | |||
| Alexander Dalou | FC Tulsa | USL-C | |||
| Lethabo Kedijang | FORO SC | UPSL | |||
| Juan Ramírez | FORO SC | UPSL | |||
| Jake Fuderer | Forward Madison FC | USL-1 | |||
| Ferrety Sousa | Forward Madison FC | USL-1 | |||
| Leonardo Castro | Greenville Triumph SC | USL-1 | |||
| Lyam MacKinnon | Greenville Triumph SC | USL-1 | |||
| Ben Zakowski | Greenville Triumph SC | USL-1 | |||
| Romario Williams | Hartford Athletic | USL-C | |||
| Amine Bassi | Houston Dynamo FC | MLS | |||
| Hector Herrera | Houston Dynamo FC | MLS | |||
| Gabriel Segal | Houston Dynamo FC | MLS | |||
| Antonio La Gamba | Hudson Valley Hammers | USL-2 | |||
| Edson Alvarado | Irvine Zeta FC | NISA | |||
| Darren Amaya | Irvine Zeta FC | NISA | |||
| Edgardo Artero | Irvine Zeta FC | NISA | |||
| Oscar Cervantes | Irvine Zeta FC | NISA | |||
| Dante Brigida | LA Force FC | NISA | |||
| Joel Quist | LA Force FC | NISA | |||
| Solomon Asante | Las Vegas Lights FC | USL-C | |||
| Edison Azcona | Las Vegas Lights FC | USL-C | |||
| Nico Brown | Lexington Sporting Club | USL-1 | |||
| Modesto Menez | Lexington Sporting Club | USL-1 | |||
| Mateusz Bogusz | Los Angeles FC | MLS | |||
| Aaron Long | Los Angeles FC | MLS | |||
| Tommy McCabe | Los Angeles FC | MLS | |||
| Cristiain Olivera | Los Angeles FC | MLS | |||
| Kahlil ElMedkhar | Loudoun United | USL-C | |||
| Gavin Turner | Loudoun United | USL-C | |||
| Sam Gleadle | Louisville City FC | USL-C | |||
| Niall McCabe | Louisville City FC | USL-C | |||
| Jansen Wilson | Louisville City FC | USL-C | |||
| Douglas Appiah-Kubi | Lubbock Matadors SC | NPSL | |||
| Lucca Motta | Lubbock Matadors SC | NPSL | |||
| Shuma Sasaki | Lubbock Matadors SC | NPSL | |||
| Elijah Amo | Maryland Bobcats FC | NISA | |||
| Caleb Pritchett | Maryland Bobcats FC | NISA | |||
| Abdou Thiam | Maryland Bobcats FC | NISA | |||
| Dylan Borczak | Memphis 901 FC | USL-C | |||
| Emerson Hyndman | Memphis 901 FC | USL-C | |||
| Daltyn Knutson | Miami FC | USL-C | |||
| Frank Lopez | Miami FC | USL-C | |||
| Alejo Melo Fernandez | Miami United FC | USSSA | |||
| Josudar Serrano | Miami United FC | USSSA | |||
| Steven Juncaj | Michigan Stars FC | NISA | |||
| Elias McCloud | Michigan Stars FC | NISA | |||
| Daniel Wright | Michigan Stars FC | NISA | |||
| Dominic Mawing | MNFUC2 | MLSNP | |||
| Loic Mesanvi | MNFUC2 | MLSNP | |||
| Kage Romanshyn | MNFUC2 | MLSNP | |||
| Rafael Baca | Monterey Bay FC | USL-C | |||
| Jesus Enriquez | Monterey Bay FC | USL-C | |||
| Dayonn Harris | New Mexico United | USL-C | |||
| Nanan Houssou | New Mexico United | USL-C | |||
| Jacobo Reyes | New Mexico United | USL-C | |||
| Sergio Rivas | New Mexico United | USL-C | |||
| Roald Mitchell | New York Red Bulls II | MLSNP | |||
| Mohammed Sofo | New York Red Bulls II | MLSNP | |||
| Steven Sserwadda | New York Red Bulls II | MLSNP | |||
| Garrett McLaughlin | North Carolina FC | USL-C | |||
| Louis Perez | North Carolina FC | USL-C | |||
| McCain Clarke | Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC | USL-1 | |||
| Brecc Evans | Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC | USL-1 | |||
| Mark Hernandez | Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC | USL-1 | |||
| Ethan Hoard | Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC | USL-1 | |||
| Isidro Martinez | Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC | USL-1 | |||
| Lucky Opara | Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC | USL-1 | |||
| Noah Powder | Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC | USL-1 | |||
| Michael Medina | Northern Virginia FC | USL-2 | |||
| Jacob Arroyave | NYCFC II | MLSNP | |||
| Christian McFarlane | NYCFC II | MLSNP | |||
| Jake Rozhansky | NYCFC II | MLSNP | |||
| Ilya Alekseev | Oakland Roots SC | USL-C | |||
| Trayvone Reid | Oakland Roots SC | USL-C | |||
| Innocent Nshuti | One Knoxville SC | USL-1 | |||
| James Thomas | One Knoxville SC | USL-1 | |||
| Christian Sorto | Orange County SC | USL-C | |||
| Erickson Gallardo | Phoenix Rising FC | USL-C | |||
| Zavier Gozo | Real Salt Lake | MLS | |||
| Anderson Julio | Real Salt Lake | MLS | |||
| Omar Yehya | Redlands FC | USL-2 | |||
| Mark Doyle | Rhode Island FC | USL-C | |||
| Collin Smith | Rhode Island FC | USL-C | |||
| Adrian Billhardt | Richmond Kickers | USL-1 | |||
| Clement Blanc | Richmond Kickers | USL-1 | |||
| Nil Vinyals | Richmond Kickers | USL-1 | |||
| Cristian Parano | Sacramento Republic FC | USL-C | |||
| Luis Rodrigues | Sacramento Republic FC | USL-C | |||
| Preston Judd | San Jose Earthquakes | MLS | |||
| Benjamin Kikanovic | San Jose Earthquakes | MLS | |||
| Niko Tsakiris | San Jose Earthquakes | MLS | |||
| Reed Baker-Whiting | Seattle Sounders FC | MLS | |||
| Daniel Leyva | Seattle Sounders FC | MLS | |||
| Goergi Minoungou | Seattle Sounders FC | MLS | |||
| Danny Musovski | Seattle Sounders FC | MLS | |||
| Jackson Khoury | South Georgia Tormenta | USL-1 | |||
| Phillip Springer | South Georgia Tormenta | USL-1 | |||
| Niall Watson | South Georgia Tormenta | USL-1 | |||
| Stephen Afrifa | Sporting Kansas City | MLS | |||
| William Agada | Sporting Kansas City | MLS | |||
| Johnny Russell | Sporting Kansas City | MLS | |||
| Daniel Salloi | Sporting Kansas City | MLS | |||
| Marinos Tzionis | Sporting Kansas City | MLS | |||
| Remi Walter | Sporting Kansas City | MLS | |||
| Danny Cristostomo | Tampa Bay Rowdies | USL-C | |||
| Edie Munjoma | Tampa Bay Rowdies | USL-C | |||
| Damian Rivera | Tampa Bay Rowdies | USL-C | |||
| Mark Bronnik | Union Omaha | USL-1 | |||
| Pedro Dolabella | Union Omaha | USL-1 | |||
| Luca Mastrantonio | Union Omaha | USL-1 | |||
| Nortei Nortey | Union Omaha | USL-1 | |||
| Isaiah Parente | Ventura County FC | MLSNP | |||
| Yaniv Bazini | Vermont Green | USL-2 | |||
| Gerardo Castillo | Vermont Green | USL-2 | |||
| Nick Lockermann | Vermont Green | USL-2 |
It was all business for the Colorado Rapids 2 in Thursday’s Lamar Hunt US Open Cup First Round match against local amateur side, Azteca FC. The Rapids 2 waltzed to a 3-0 win at Dicks Sporting Goods Park in front of 1,042 fans.
Rapids 2 center backs Joshua Belluz, scoring in his professional debut, and Daniel Garcia tallied almost identical set-piece goals to put the home side up by two going into halftime. Alec Díaz capped off the scoring with a simple tap-in with less than a quarter of an hour to play.
“One of our big targets for us tonight was about performance. Performance and progressing,” said Rapids 2 head coach, Eric Bushey. “We’re not where we were. We’re not where we want to be at this early stage in the season. We’re still becoming a team. Tonight was a nice step in the right direction.”
Rapids 2 fielded a mixture of returning players from last year’s MLS NEXT Pro regular season champions and newly-acquired first team players Sebastian Anderson, Wayne Frederick and Kimani Stewart-Baynes, along with homegrown goalkeeper, Adam Beaudry. Beaudry recoded three saves to earn the clean sheet.
After a friendly first ten minutes, Anderson drifted from his spot on the right side to the middle of the park, beating several flailing Azteca defenders off the dribble, finding Díaz at the top of the penalty area. Díaz resulting shot was deflected for corner kick. Anderson’s driven pinpoint corner found an unmarked Belluz at the far post for his first professional goal.
“It was exactly how we drew it up,” Belluz said. “I knew going in if I got to my spot on time something good was happen.”
Azteca’s first opportunity of the game came in the 38th minute following prolonged possession in the Rapids’ defensive third. Aztecs captain, Oscar Montoya found himself with a little space, but scuffed his shot high and wide.
With moments left in the first half Anderson served up another superb corner, finding Garcia this time at the far post.
Sebi’s putting the ball on the platter, first and foremost, Bushey said. “The big men are getting in the box doing what they’re supposed to do. If you get service with attitude, with a bit of technique you got a good recipe.”
Rapids 2 made it 3-0 in the 63rd minute when Frederick cut through the Aztec defense, driving the ball across the six-yard box for an easy tap-in for Díaz.
The win puts the Rapids 2 through to the Second Round.
The fact that his side is representing the Rapids organization in the Open Cup is not lost on Bushey.
“On a local level, for our group and our players, I think it’s an awesome opportunity,” he said. “When it first came out that MLS wasn’t going to be in the Open Cup, I was disappointed by that. The best in our country should be represented. So, okay, there’s a hybrid component now. The event is worthy of the best soccer our country has to offer. But I’m excited for our program and to represent the club. In this event only, we are the Rapids, and it is something we take very seriously.”
It was a thrilling first ever Lamar Hunt US Open Cup game for the Lubbock Matadors as they hosted professional side Arizona Monsoon of NISA, who were also making their tournament debut. The Matadors fought hard, battling adversity, including giving up an early goal, but ultimately came back to beat Arizona in extra time, 2-1.
An announced sellout crowd of 2,258 packed LCU Field at Lubbock Christian University on a picture perfect afternoon in West Texas. According to TheCup.us records, it was the first time that the oldest tournament in American soccer took place in Lubbock.
The match was dominated early on by the Matadors. It was reported before the match that Arizona had only traveled with 13 players, and it showed in the way they approached the game. As the first half developed, you could see Arizona growing into the game inch by inch.
This culminated in an amazing curling effort by Izsak Fierro in the 37th minute that landed perfectly in the top right corner, completely against the run of play. The Matadors had some smaller chances, but going into the half, they had a 1-0 deficit to come back from.
Talking about second half adjustments, Lubbock Matadors head coach Paul Gilbert talked about dropping players more into the central area to open up that attacking third for his team.
The second half began, and it was all Matadors from there. They were constantly knocking at the door of the Arizona goal, and overall, they were a much more dangerous team. Thirty-five minutes passed by, with chances occurring but nothing concrete for the home team. Then the game broke open for the Matadors as Arizona midfielder Giancarlo Canas-Jarquin was given a straight red for dangerous play when he stuck out his foot straight into the stomach of Lubbock foward Luke Jones.
From here, the attacks got more dangerous, with the Matadors having the man advantage. Then, in the 83rd minute, Shuma Sasaki whipped in a cross that was scored by Salvador Martinez. Coach Gilbert could not stop singing his praises for the Japanese winger calling him “unbelievable” and being grateful that he has joined the Matadors. With the game all tied up after regulation, the game went into extra time.
Early into extra time, it was now the Matadors who were on the receiving end of a red card, as Bruno Garcia was given his second yellow. This still did not stop the Matadors from attacking, as the fatigue from the Monsoon was clearly showing having already used up their lone substitute.
Time was winding down in the second half of extra time. It seemed all but certain that the game was heading for penalty kicks. Then, in the 118th minute, a brilliant move from Shuma Sasaki allowed him to slip a pass into Lucca Motta, who perfectly squared it to the hero of the night for Lubbock: Toufik Najem. Najem’s goal sent the packed stadium into a frenzy.
The referee would blow his whistle for full-time and Lubbock came away with a 2-1 victory.
“This Open Cup is so special, and we gotta keep this going in our country because it brings people together; it brings the soccer community together,” said Gilbert.
The Matadors will advance to the Second Round which will take place the week of April 2-3.
Carolina Core FC entered halftime of its debut 2024 US Open Cup match facing a 2-1 deficit, but CCFC wasn’t fazed in the slightest.
Hosting Northern Virginia FC in Greensboro, N.C., the Foxes fed off the raucous energy from its droves of supporters that filled UNCG Soccer Stadium to inspire a two-goal, second-half comeback.
CCFC’s 3-2 First Round win was earned by a heroic, 82nd minute goal from striker Joshua Rodriguez, who beat NoVa’s back line after midfielder David Polanco laced a silky smooth pass through the defense.
With a one-on-one with the keeper, Rodriguez didn’t think twice. He slipped the game-winner past and slotted it home, embracing his supporters in the stands with just minutes left on the clock to send his squad through to the next round.
Polanco, received the same kind of embrace from the Carolina Core fans when he scored the game-tying goal 32 minutes earlier. Just after an energizing halftime break, Polanco sparked his team and started the thrilling second half with a point blank shot propelled into the top left corner in the 50th minute after a rebound off the NoVa keeper.
“And the fans also having all this support is absolutely incredible,” said Polanco who played his college ball at NCAA Division 2 school Barry University (Fla.). “Finishing the first half, in the locker room, we were all fired up. We knew that we couldn’t let the fans down and it was just a team thing.”
Polanco and company’s relentless attack earned two second half goals for his team and kept the focus off of CCFC goalkeeper Alex Sutton for the final 45 minutes. An increased level of energy and focus after halftime resulted in a dominant second half for the foxes, one that was formed from their refusal to give up.
“I think the energy we bought in the second half really helped us, you know, turn that score back around, we’d been down before and came back,” said Carolina head coach Ray Lassiter, who despite a prolific pro career in MLS only scored one goal in 11 US Open Cup matches as a player. “And, you know, these guys are just resilient. They’re gonna keep on going. And, you know, we needed everybody involved in it to get it done.”
In addition to the final goal of the night, Carolina Core also nabbed the opener in the 18th minute after midfielder Drake Hadeed intercepted a pass and arced a shot from outside the box over the head of NoVa’s Bill Harris for a stunning goal.
However, while CCFC was firing shots left and right in the second half, and got out to a 1-0 lead early on, NoVa FC took over the contest with two goals within six minutes near the end of the first half.
Instead of CCFC doubling its lead, a goal from midfielder Facundo Canete was called back for offsides. Shortly after, NoVa took its shot and didn’t miss — the visitors were on the board thanks to a 34th minute score from forward Noah Holmes.
Minutes later, NoVa doubled down on Holmes’ score with a 40th minute strike from forward Alexander Abril that was assisted by defender Michael Medina. Once fed an expertly placed low cross from Medina, Abril smashed his score past Sutton for his team’s second goal in less than 10 minutes.
The visitors entered halftime with a 2-1 lead, but Polanco and his squad had other plans for the second half. Even despite some near misses from Carolina Core, the Foxes dominant attack in the latter 45 minutes prevailed, silencing NoVa’s attack and finding the net while doing so.
Ultimately, Polanco’s equalizer and Rodriguez’s go-ahead breakaway goal proved to be the difference for Carolina Core FC in the First Round of the 2024 US Open Cup’s first round for the Foxes.
Vereinigung Erzgebirge welcomed Charlotte Independence to Carin University in Langhorne, Pa. on Thursday night. The rain and wind stayed away, and cool temperatures gave the perfect playing conditions for Open Cup soccer. The match was Vereinigung Erzgebirge’s first time playing in the first round in 22 years (though they did qualify for the 2020 tournament, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic). In one of the most important matches in V.E.’s long history, which dates back to 1969, over 400 people showed up to support the club and its program.
However, despite being a scoreless game well into the second half, the Independence scored a pair of late goals to prevail, 2-0 and advance to the Second Round. It was a positive start for a Charlotte club that came into the game having been eliminated in five of their last six Open Cup games.
Photos: https://twitter.com/phlsoccernow/status/1770977008777847273
Vereinigung Erzgebirge’s best chance of the night came early in 5th minute of play. A corner kick fell to Chris Baker, who directed it onto the crossbar. It inspired the team as Baker immediately turned to the crowd to wave for more noise and support. Big chances would be few and far between for Vereinigung Erzgebirge. Meanwhile, their counterparts, Charlotte Independence, had a relentless attack for much of the night.
In the 17th minute, Tresor Mbuyu received the ball in midfield and charged at goal. He fired a shot from outside the area that rose above the crossbar. It was a warning for Vereinigung Erzgebirge: no matter how well they created and played, Charlotte could turn the match instantly.
The game intensified just before halftime as Vereinigung Erzgebirge striker Jaylon Weatherspoon went to meet a cross with his head but was clattered into by the on-rushing Charlotte goalkeeper Austin Pack. Moments later, Charlotte’s Omar Ciss appeared to body-check Vereinigung Erzgebirge’s former pro Antoine Hoppenot after the whistle had gone. This sudden coming together of players playing the ball and defending their teammates boiled into a shouting match, resulting in yellow cards for each side. Both teams went into halftime without any severe consequences.
The halftime score was 0-0, as this would be a game of tactics, creation, and who would blink first. Given the gulf in resources, funding, and experience between the two teams, it was incredible that the match had remained this close.
In the second half, Vereinigung Erzgebirge did their best to go for the win. However, as the match wore on, it was clear that Charlotte was the more fit of the two sides. In the 72nd minute, Kharlton Belmar received a pass at the top of the 18-yard box, and laid it off for Omar Ciss. He fired a low shot past Vereinigung Erzgebirge goalkeeper Steve Paul for the game’s first goal and a well-deserved Charlotte lead. For Belmar, it was his first Open Cup assist since 2018 when he was a member of Sporting Kansas City.
Vereinigung Erzgebirge would go for it all shortly afterward. They made three attacking-minded substitutions and went to three at the back as they chased a goal. It wouldn’t pan out for them, as Charlotte took advantage and sealed the win in the 86th minute. This time, Omar Ciss set up the assist as he sent in a cross, which Kharlton Belmar guided perfectly into the net. It was Belmar’s fourth career Open Cup goal for his fourth different professional club (Portland Timbers 2, Sporting Kansas City, Nashville SC).
The final score at full-time was 2-0 in favor of the visitors. After the match, head coach Mike Jefferies praised Vereinigung Erzgebirge for its professionalism and good nature.
“They’ve been fantastic,” Jeffries said, “I think they are a very proud club, and you can see that in how they handle themselves. They had a strong group today, and you can see that it’s a club the community is behind.”
Jeffries, who now has 13 career US Open Cup coaching wins (seven of them with Charlotte) was also pleased with the goal and the assist from Omar Ciss.
“This is his third year playing with us. We’re really pushing him to be more of a final third presence, and he showed up tonight.”
Vereinigung Erzgebirge head coach Rob Oldfield was sullen, but proud of his squad.
“We had them zero-zero at half,” said Oldfield. “We can’t ask for much better than that. It would have been nice if the shot that hit the crossbar had gone in, but nobody is kicking themselves. It was a well-played game by both sides.”
The dream for Vereinigung Erzgebirge may have ended, but they can look back on a historic night for their team, youth programs, and history. Meanwhile, Charlotte will focus on their Round 2 opponent and their return to league play.