Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

2024 US Open Cup

2024 US Open Cup Round 4: Doratiotto’s OT winner sends Phoenix Rising past North Carolina FC, into Round of 16

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Players from Phoenix Rising FC (left) and North Carolina FC battle for the ball in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Greg NG
Players from Phoenix Rising FC (left) and North Carolina FC battle for the ball in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Greg NG

With one strike, Giulio Doratiotto made history for himself and his club.

The 19-year-old product of Juventus’ academy subbed on for Phoenix Rising FC at the beginning of the first period of extra time against North Carolina FC in the Fourth Round of the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Then, in the 110th minute, Doratiotto cut through the teeth of NCFC’s defense to gain positioning in the penalty area. Once there, a feed from Erickson Gallardo found his left foot, which rocketed the ball between two defenders and NCFC’s keeper for the go-ahead score.

Doratiotto ripped his shirt off in celebration, earning a yellow card — but it didn’t matter. Rising’s defense held strong for the final 10 minutes and left WakeMed Soccer Park victorious after notching a 2-1 win over North Carolina FC in front of an announced crowd of 822 fans on a cool Wednesday night.

“It feels amazing,” Doratiotto said. “I was waiting for that moment. I’m so happy to have the team get a win.” 

The goal was Doratiotto’s first professional score, and the result gives Phoenix its first trip in the club’s 10-year history to the Round of 16 in the Open Cup. Rising will face the winners of the Seattle Sounders and Louisville City FC on May 21 or 22.

“We won a tough away game,” Rising coach Danny Stone said. “To be in the last 16 in obviously an exciting thing… And now, honestly, the attention turns to fast recovery. The credit goes to the players who fought very, very hard in a game tonight and, in the end, I think deserve to come away with a victory.”

North Carolina FC is now winless in its last four matches across all competitions. The club has not advanced to the Open Cup Round of 16 since 2014, when it was one of two lower division sides to make the quarterfinals.

“A lot of effort was given this evening,” NCFC coach John Bradford said. “The details, in terms of an early goal that has no business being defended the way we defended it and allowing it to come in, changes the game. We anticipated it being a physical match and it was. We’ve got to be able to keep our heads a bit better and don’t let the referee make decisions that can go either way, but ultimately go a way that didn’t help us.”

The game featured 12 yellow cards in all. North Carolina outshot Phoenix 20-14, but only put two of those attempts on target in the defeat.

The match was a weird one on multiple levels. It included a weather delay, a late change to the starting lineup, three players being sent off, and two periods of added time. Most of the game was played 10-versus-10, then NCFC saw a second player get a second yellow in added time.

It kicked off 26 minutes later than originally scheduled due to inclement weather in the area. Shortly after the opening kick, Phoenix struck first as Juan Carlos Azocar found the back of the net in the ninth minute. It marked the first goal for the 28-year-old Venezuelan midfielder in a Phoenix kit – he signed with the club this past offseason after spending the last three seasons with various USL Championship clubs  while on loan from Deportivo La Guaira.

Gabriel Torres wasn’t officially credited with an assist, but he created the goal-scoring opportunity for Rising by beating his defender along the left edge of the box and crossing the ball, where it took two bounces before Azocar fired an off-balance, left-footed shot into the roof of the net. Shortly after the goal, NCFC defender Paco Craig was given a yellow card for pushing Azocar, trying to stop him from celebrating and causing a bit of a kerfuffle. 

Azocar wasn’t originally in the starting lineup. He was a late addition for Phoenix after Edgardo Rito was a last-minute scratch upon suffering an apparent injury during warmups, a team spokesperson said. Azocar was promoted to the starting lineup in his place, while Jose Hernandez was added to the bench.

The match changed in a dramatic way in the 24th minute when Phoenix was forced to play the remainder of it with 10 men after defender Laurence Wyke earned his second yellow card and was sent off for a reckless tackle from behind at midfield on NCFC’s Oalex Anderson. Wyke had earned his first yellow in the seventh minute for a previous bad foul.

“Manage the emotions,” Stone said. “There can be a lot of different outcomes and eventualities and situations that we have to deal with …. When these things happen, it’s not a shock for anybody.”

Over the next 16 minutes, NCFC failed to capitalize on its advantage, and in the 40th minute, the game was made even again. Craig was given his second yellow after getting tangled up with a Phoenix forward Remi Cabral in the midfield, stopping his progress on an attack.

“I think (playing 10-on-10) favors a brave team, to try to have the ball,” Stone said. “The physical component of the game becomes a bit more prevalent.”

NCFC struggled with putting together meaningful scoring chances. Then, finally, in the 80th minute, Louis Perez fired in a corner kick from the left side, and Justin Malou spun to meet the ball with his right heel, guiding it into the net with flair for the equalizer. It was the first goal in an NCFC uniform for Malou – a 25-year-old Clemson University product who won a national championship with the Tigers in WakeMed Soccer Park in 2021.

“That was the message, just stay the course and try to get a goal,” Bradford said.

Picking up a great feed from Mohamed Traore, Azocar had the chance to notch the go-ahead goal for Phoenix in the 88th minute but put a chip attempt over the crossbar.In extra time, NCFC lost another player when defender Ezra Armstrong picked up his second yellow card for a hard foul in the 94th minute.

2024 US Open Cup Round 4: MD Myers completes hat trick with late OT winner as Charleston Battery beats Tormenta FC

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MD Myers of the Charleston Battery celebrates after scoring a goal against the South Georgia Tormenta FC in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Wade Wimberly - TheCup.us
MD Myers of the Charleston Battery celebrates after scoring a goal against the South Georgia Tormenta FC in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Wade Wimberly – TheCup.us

Both teams knew the assignment entering Wednesday night’s 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Round of 32 match at Patriots Point just across the Cooper River from downtown Charleston: Win and host Atlanta United in the Round of 16.

The Charleston Battery would take care of business in front of their home fans with a 3-2 extra time win over the South Georgia Tormenta FC. All of the scoring would come from one man: MD Myers, the club’s offseason signing who came over from NYCFC II of MLS NEXT Pro.

With that extra motivation in mind, both teams stood toe-to-toe and traded jabs in the midfield over the first 15 minutes of the match looking for an advantage. The Battery used a high-press and suffocating midfield pressure to squeeze the ball away from Tormenta higher and higher up the field.  All this pressure paid off in the 22nd minute as MD Myers looked to deliver a knockout blow as he stole the ball from the Tormenta goalkeeper and went on a dribbling, slalom run around the penalty box evading both goalkeeper and defenders alike before he put the ball into the empty through a crowd for the 1-0 lead.

The goal, however, didn’t seem to impact either team’s pattern of play or urgency in the match. The visitors regained their shape after the goal allowed and counterpunched via the quick counterattack to climb their way back into the match. Tormenta’s Pedro Fonseca collected a through ball right up the middle of the field and then went on a solo run to the top of the box where he buried a shot to even the game at 1-1 in the 40th minute. Again, the goal didn’t seem to impact either team’s mindset or urgency as they seemed very committed to their game plan. 

Just when it looked like the match would go to the half knotted at 1-1, it was a quick Battery combination up the left flank in first-half stoppage time that quickly circulated the ball forward before it was floated into the box where Myers rose first and rose highest to nod the ball into the near post to give the hosts a 2-1 advantage at the break.

The second half opened just like the first half with both teams trading jabs in the midfield and then after several attack-minded substitutes were made by both teams, the game really opened up. The USL Championship and Battery leading score Nick Markanich was slotted in on a breakaway 1-v-1 versus Tormenta keeper Drew Romig in the 80th minute forcing a spectacular double save to preserve the score line. The Battery had been looking to put the game away with increased pressure on the Tormenta goal and then totally against the run play the visitors broke down the right flank as Niall Watson outpaced the Battery defense to slide ball across the goal mouth where Gabriel Rodriguez turned in the low cross to level things at 2-2.

As the game went to extra time, it was the Battery who came out the strongest throwing everything forward as they delivered ball after ball into the Tormenta box looking for the knockout blow. One last cross in the final seconds of the first extra time forced a point-blank reaction save out of Romig in the 105th minute to keep the score knotted 2 to 2.

As the second half of extra time was set to expire, the Battery made one final push dumping everything they had into the attack that created a scramble inside the Tormenta goalmouth that fell neatly to Myers who made no mistake as he rifled the ball through the crowded box for the knockout blow, a hat trick and the 3-2 Battery victory.

Myers becomes just the third Battery player to score a hat trick in Open Cup play. He joins Darren Spicer, who scored three against the ACS New Stars in the opening round of 2008, and Heviel Cordoves who scored his hat trick against the Panama City Pirates in the Second Round of the 2014 tournament. Cordoves’ trio of goals was scored nearly 10 years to the day.

Charleston will now host the Alonso Division final in the Round of 16 as Atlanta United visits the Point on Tuesday, May 22 or Wednesday, May 23. The last time the Battery hosted Atlanta in the USOC was the 2019 Tropical Storm match at MUSC Stadium on Daniel Island that was not played due to poor pitch conditions.  That fixture was flipped to a closed-door meeting in Kennesaw a few days later that Atlanta won before going on to win the 2019 US Open Cup title.

2024 US Open Cup Round 4: Loudoun United goes coast-to-coast, beats Orange County SC, 2-1

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Photo by Orange County SC

Loudoun United FC is into the Fifth Round of the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first time in its history.

The-Red-and-White used a pair of finishes by forward Wesley Leggett and a second-half penalty save from goalkeeper Dane Jacomen to guide them to a 2-1 win over Orange County SC at Championship Soccer Stadium in Irvine, Calif.

“We made some very good saves,” Loudoun head coach Ryan Martin said. “Big clearances, big blocks — and those little moments win and lose games and our guys made enough big plays to win us the game.”

There wasn’t a bigger play than Jacomen’s save on Orange County defender Markus Nakkim from the spot which came during the game’s most eventful period that featured an OC equalizer, a Loudoun go-ahead goal, and a foul in the box within five minutes.

Orange County started the game on the front-foot and enjoyed most of the ball’s possession throughout the first 45 minutes.

OC head coach Morten Karlsen, though, said his team wasted 45 minutes by failing to create solid opportunities with the lion’s share of ball retention in the opponent’s attack.

Midway through the first half, OC’s ineffective offense allowed Loudoun’s counter-attack to land the first haymaker. 

Against the run of play, Leggett picked up a pass at the center circle from midfielder Kalil ElMedkhar before dashing beyond two defenders and reaching the inside of the box to curl his attempt beyond OC goalkeeper Colin Shutler’s reach.

The exceptional run and finish from Leggett put the visitors in front at halftime and forced Karlsen to reach into his bench and make two substitutions before the second half

The hosts found it difficult to pierce through the Loudoun backline and ended the half without a shot on goal.

“We want to be one of the best defensive teams in the league,” Martin said. “We showed it tonight that we’re on that path.”

Replaced at halftime for OC was former Major League Soccer striker Ethan Zubak who, according to Karlsen, was a “tactical sub, performance sub.”

Cameroonian striker Thomas Amang replaced the former LA Galaxy and Nashville SC frontman and the former needed just 17 minutes to get his team-leading fourth goal of the season and equalize.

Amang tapped home from close range after wingers Bryce Jamison and Christian Sorto connected from a cross to set up the game-tying goal.

Moments later, Leggett collected his second via a defensive mishap to extinguish any momentum gathered from Amang’s goal.

“The equalizer was well deserved,” Karlsen said. “Then on our way to build momentum, we give away a goal.

“I don’t think we did ourselves any favors today in terms of winning the game.”

Leggett took advantage of OC center backs Ashton Miles and Nakkim’s failure to clear a tame pass into the box which was met by the forward with aplomb before he set himself up to beat Shutler for the second time.

Ninety seconds later, the hosts had a road back into the game when Loudoun midfield substitute Florian Valot took down OC midfielder Cameron Dunbar in the box for a penalty kick.

Nakkim, who got his first start of the season after a spell on the injured list, stepped up and had his attempt to the left saved by Jacomen.

“I was locked in on the penalty taker,” Jacomen said about his mentality during Nakkim’s attempt. “Not really feeling much pressure in the situation, just trying to do my job and help us get three points.”

It’s the second time a saved penalty by Jacomen carried Loudoun United onto the next round in this tournament. The goalkeeper’s penalty shootout save in the visitor’s third round match lifted them beyond the Richmond Kickers.

Loudoun United will travel again in the Round of 16 which is set to take place on May 21 or 22 — the winner between Los Angeles FC and Las Vegas Lights FC on Wednesday will host the Virginians.

“The guys showed that they belonged,” Martin said. “Whoever we get, it’s an honor to play in this so we’ll just keep pushing forward.”

2024 US Open Cup Round 4: Danny Vitiello leads Sacramento Republic to shutout win over Monterey Bay

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Kieran Phillips of the Sacramento Republic celebrates after scoring a goal against Monterey Bay FC in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Sacramento Republic FC
Kieran Phillips of the Sacramento Republic celebrates after scoring a goal against Monterey Bay FC in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Sacramento Republic FC

Behind two first half goals spanning across just four minutes, Sacramento Republic FC advanced to the Round of 16 of the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Tuesday night with a 2-0 win over USL Championship rival Monterey Bay FC. Republic FC Manager Mark Briggs pushed his career winning percentage to .714 in the Open Cup, which is the third highest in the Modern Era (1995-present).

With the win, Republic FC move their all-time home record in the competition to 19-2-1 (1-1 in penalty shootouts) and will next host MLS side San Jose Earthquakes, who they knocked out of the tournament in 2022 as part of their historic run to the Open Cup Final.

The Quails broke through in the 27th minute when left back Dami Viader crossed in a ball from just outside the box on the left side, which was inadvertently deflected by Monterey Bay FC defender Kai Greene straight into the back of the net to make it 1-0.

Four minutes later (31st minute), Huddersfield Town loanee Kieran Phillips notched his third goal in four matches across all competitions on a lovely through ball from Rafa Jauregui, who earned his first career assist.

From that point on, Republic FC goalkeeper Danny Vitiello made a number of clearances and big saves (four total on the night), including right before halftime and in the 88th minute, denying Monterey Bay forward Tristan Trager from breaking up Vitiello’s clean sheet.

Listening to Briggs following the match, it’s clear Republic FC are once again prioritizing the Open Cup as much as USL play, and in turn, honoring the history of the tournament.

“I think I’m fortunate that I have a squad that allows us to compete on both fronts,” said Briggs.. But the Open Cup – look, we’ve got a special history with the Open Cup. Not just in 2022 but even before I was the coach. The club’s done extremely well in the Open Cup, so it’s competition that we respect and we want to do well in, and this year is no different. Now obviously we’re coming up against a San Jose team that we’ve faced many times in the past and it’ll be a really difficult night and a difficult game, but a great opportunity for our community, our city to show what Sacramento is all about.”

The match featured a number of new faces to the tournament, but none more exciting than 16 year-old Republic FC defender and academy standout Chibi Ukaegbu, who played in his first professional match after signing a contract last November. He learned last Friday that he was going to be in the XI on Tuesday. He was nervous, but absolutely ready.

“It felt great,” said Ukaegbu. “It’s something I’ve been training for for a long time, and to get this the opportunity felt great in front of all the fans.”

2024 US Open Cup Round 4: San Jose debutants lead Earthquakes to narrow win over Oakland Roots

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19-year-old Emi Ochoa made his professional debut for the San Jose Earthquakes against the Oakland Roots in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: San Jose Earthquakes
19-year-old Emi Ochoa made his professional debut for the San Jose Earthquakes against the Oakland Roots in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: San Jose Earthquakes

The San Jose Earthquakes were on a mission as they faced off against local rivals in the US Open Cup, aiming to break a troubling pattern of elimination. With past defeats haunting them, notably against Monterey Bay FC in 2023 and the Sacramento Republic in 2022, the Quakes sought to rewrite their recent narrative that they can not get past USL teams in the US Open Cup.

San Jose took the first step toward bouncing back from those recent disappointing losses with a narrow 1-0 win over the Oakland Roots of the USL Championship on Tuesday night.

Tensions ran high between the two clubs, each vying for the title of the Bay Area’s true representative. At PayPal Park, fans made their sentiments known by donning “#SellTheTeam” merchandise, a pointed commentary on the shared ownership between the Earthquakes and the Oakland A’s, both helmed by John Fisher. With the Oakland A’s relocating to Las Vegas, the stakes were higher than ever. For the city of Oakland, victory over Fisher’s Earthquakes would signify more than just progress in the US Open Cup; it would symbolize a triumph over a figure widely disliked in the community and mark the first win in their head-to-head encounters.

Head coach Luchi Gonzalez hinted at lineup changes after their last game versus LAFC, and true to his word, rotations were made, including the introduction of their high-profile 7 million dollar Designated Player, Hernan Lopez. A younger side was put out there as there are many talent young players on this team.

For example, Emi Ochoa, the Mexican American goalkeeper, made his first start for the Quakes at just 19 years old. Emi was not the only Quake to get his first start; new Designated Player Hernan Lopez was right there with him, looking to make the Quakes fan base infatuated with his play already.

However, the match didn’t unfold seamlessly for the Quakes. Despite the presence of Hernan Lopez in the lineup, the team appeared disjointed, struggling to find their rhythm. It became evident that familiarity with Lopez’s style was still a work in progress.

At halftime, a strategic substitution saw Ousseni Bouda replace Lopez, much to the surprise of some fans. This would prove to be the crucial change that Luchi Gonzalez needed in his side. Emi Ochoa pulled off a crucial save to maintain the deadlock at 0-0, as this match could have spiraled if the 19-year-old didn’t come up big. Their constant pressure in the second half paid off when they breached the Roots’ defense in the 73rd minute, for a great scoring opportunity, only to be called off due to offside.

However, just three minutes later, Ousseni Bouda seized the opportunity, slotting home a goal in the 76th minute to break the deadlock at PayPal Park. The visiting crowd, previously boisterous, fell silent as their Open Cup hopes dwindled. The goal was assisted by Niko Tsakiris, the 18-year-old notched his first assist for the senior team and also demonstrated the ability to perform on the big stage at such a young age. The Roots’ woes compounded in the 82nd minute when Johnny Lopez received a red card for elbowing Ousseni Bouda, the goalscorer, in the face. The match then descended into a stalemate as the Quakes bunkered down to protect their lead, ultimately getting the victory.

With the Quakes having progressed to the Round of 16 in the US Open Cup, their next challenge awaits as they prepare to face the Sacramento Republic. The upcoming matches are scheduled for Tuesday, May 21, through Wednesday, May 22.

Following the game, Ousseni Bouda addressed the media, expressing his desire for a larger role within the team. This was a perfect opportunity for Ousseni and he took it. If Bouda can string a couple of good performances in the US Open Cup, it will force Luchi Gonzalez hand into giving him more playing time. This tournament holds significant importance for young players like Ousseni Bouda, Emi Ochoa, and Hernan Lopez, each at different stages of their careers, all striving to leave their mark on the team.

Not only does this tournament serves as a platform for MLS players to showcase their talents to their coaching staff, but it also lets players from lower leagues showcase their emerging talents and prove themselves capable to the world. It’s all part of the beauty of the US Open Cup.

2024 US Open Cup Round 4: Logan Farrington’s first pro goal gives FC Dallas narrow win over Memphis 901

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Logan Farrington of FC Dallas celebrates after scoring a goal against Memphis 901 FC in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: FC Dallas
Logan Farrington of FC Dallas celebrates after scoring a goal against Memphis 901 FC in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: FC Dallas

Logan Farrington’s first professional goal proved to be enough to help hosts FC Dallas take down USL Championship side Memphis 901 FC to advance to the Round of 16 of the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Farrington came off the bench in the second half and provided the ultimate spark as he got on the end of a Jesus Ferreira free kick and made the most of his chance.

Farrington was thrilled to make his mark on the tournament, but also tempered expectations after the match.

“It’s fantastic being able to score my first goal in this tournament and feeling the warmth and support of our fans after the goal. It’s amazing but it’s only the first step and we have more challenges ahead of us.”

It was the 37th US Open Cup win for FC Dallas in club history, which moves them into a tie for third place in the tournament’s Modern Era (1995-present) with the Seattle Sounders FC (who play on Wednesday night) and the LA Galaxy who did not enter the competition this year.

Dallas set the tone early, earning a corner kick in just the second minute. Katlego Ntsabeleng had arguably the best chance of the half in the 13th minute, but his point blank shot inside the box was deflected out for a corner; which Dallas failed to capitalize on.

Memphis came back with their best chance in the 22nd minute when Marlon Dos Santos Prezeres found himself in space inside the Dallas penalty box but his shot went over the crossbar.

Frustration began to set in for the home side as Dallas picked up back-to-back yellow cards in the 41st and 43rd minutes. Dallas finally picked up their first shot on goal in first half stoppage time, but Nkosi Tafari’s header was hit right at Memphis goalkeeper Tyler Deric.

Dallas wasted no time applying pressure in the second half, earning a corner kick in the 49th minute. Three minutes later, Petar Musa found himself 1-on-1 with Deric, but his chip went over the bar. Memphis responded immediately with a close range shot from Luiz Fernando Nascimento that went just wide of the goal. Both sides made multiple substitutions to try and shake things up in the 65th minute and the visitors from Memphis were able to quickly earn a corner kick, but ultimately couldn’t convert.

Dallas finally broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute. Ferreira whipped in a free kick towards the back post and Farrington needed just one touch to settle the ball and fire past the keeper for the goal. Memphis immediately came back to force back-to-back corner kicks at the other end but could not take advantage. Dallas maintained their hold over the game and Musa managed to conjure multiple shots on goal in the final 10 minutes, but failed to double his team’s advantage. In the end it wouldn’t matter though, as Dallas secured the 1-0 win to move on to the next round.

Dallas head coach Nico Estevez commended his team’s adjustments at halftime to help turn the tide.

“I think the adjustments we made at halftime, offensively and defensively, helped us to be more of a threat and aggressive. At the end, we couldn’t score more goals, and this is why it’s very important to score the first goal. It was late for us, but I think we gained good experience and now we have to recover and get ready for Austin (next league match).”

Dallas will hit the road in the Round of 16 to take on the winner of Birmingham Legion and Tampa Bay Rowdies.

2024 US Open Cup Round 4: Detroit City FC rallies to force OT, wins PK shootout to oust defending champ Houston Dynamo

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Detroit City FC players celebrate in the locker room after defeating the Houston Dynamo 10-9 in a PK shootout after a 3-3 draw in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Detroit City FC
Detroit City FC players celebrate in the locker room after defeating the Houston Dynamo 10-9 in a PK shootout after a 3-3 draw in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Detroit City FC
Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a "We Want The Cup" shirt in your team's colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP
Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a “We Want The Cup” shirt in your team’s colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP

The Detroit City FC shocked the defending Lamar Hunt US Open Cup champion winning on penalty kicks (10-9) on Tuesday night in Houston after a 3-3 draw.

The Round of 32 match was one for the ages as the Houston Dynamo FC blew leads late not once, but twice as Detroit would not go away.

Detroit heads to the Round of 16 for the first time in franchise history, and is the first Michigan club to reach that far since 2012 (Michigan Bucks).

Griffin Dorsey who made name for himself and secured a starting 11 spot because of his play in the 2023 US Open Cup opened the scoring in 2024. Flashing to the near post on a corner kick, Dorsey tapped home for the early lead in the sixth minute of play. Dynamo captain Hector Herrera earned the assist in front of an announced crowd of 7,549 at Houston’s Shell Energy Stadium.

Just past the half hour mark, Latif Blessing doubled the Houston advantage and the men in orange appeared to have all the momentum going their way but Detroit had other things in mind.

Le Rouge defender Ryan Williams scored with a banger from distance (30 yards) to cut the deficit in half just before halftime setting up a crazy freewheeling goalscoring second half.

As La Naranja has been prone to do, they surrendered the equalizer to Detroit City FC forward Yazeed Matthews with 15 minutes remaining in the match. DCFC returned the favor giving the lead right back as Houston midfielder Coco Carrasquilla found some space cutting to his left and delivering a scorcher less then two minutes later that gave Houston a 3-2 lead.


The Dynamo though could not accept the gift giving up the equalizer in the 83rd minute to Maxi Rodriguez making regulation and nine minutes of stoppage time not enough to settle this one.

Extra time was not enough either and after 120 minutes of grueling in a match that started with a game time temperature of 85 degrees and humidity in the upper 80s, the game went to a shootout.

DCFC goalkeeper Carlos Saldana who faced a barrage of 28 shots in the first 120 minutes was the hero, stopping a critical shot attempt and scoring a goal of his own. The teams were even after two rounds, but then Houston netminder Andrew Tarbell saved the third Detroit attempt taken by Ben Morris to give Houston the lead. They would carry that lead to the fifth round, where DCFC goalkeeper Carlos Saldaña would make his own save, stopping Ibrahim Aliyu. Michael Bryant would convert his attempt to lead to sudden death, where five more rounds of consecutive makes by both sides led to the keepers facing off. Tarbell’s attempt went sailing over the crossbar, which left open the door for Saldaña to win it for the lower division side. Win it he did, placing it just to Tarbell’s left with pace to send Detroit City FC to the Round of 16 for the first time in their 13-year history. It also marks the second year in a row, and only the fourth time in the Modern Era (1995-present) that the defending champions were one-and-done.

Playing their third road match in a week, the white and rouge weathered a storm of 14 Houston corner kicks on their first ever trip to an MLS Stadium. They lost everywhere on the stat sheet but where it mattered most adding the Houston Dynamo FC as their latest conquest. Houston returns to MLS action Saturday night on the road at Sporting Kansas City.

DCFC awaits the winner of the Indy Eleven/San Antonio match for the Round of 16 in two weeks.

2024 US Open Cup Round 4: Atlanta United takes over in 2nd half, blanks Charlotte Independence

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Daniel Rios of Atlanta United celebrates after scoring a goal against Charlotte Independence in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Wade Wimberly - TheCup.us
Daniel Rios of Atlanta United celebrates after scoring a goal against Charlotte Independence in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Wade Wimberly – TheCup.us

USL League One side Charlotte Independence traveled down to Fifth/Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia for some Open Cup “Action at the Fraction” against Atlanta United on Tuesday evening. After a slow start in the first half, United’s offense kicked in during the second half with a brace from Nick Firmino and a goal from Daniel Rios as Atlanta won 3-0. It was the 2019 US Open Cup champs’ first tournament win since 2022.

The two sides kicked off in beautiful weather in front of an announced crowd of 2,522.

A heavily rotated Atlanta United squad faced an early setback in the eighth minute as the recovering center back Stian Gregersen was forced off due to a concussion protocol concern. His replacement was Noah Cobb, a product of Atlanta’s academy and one who’s seen significant first team minutes recently.

The first half progressed rather quietly, save for a couple of dangerous free kick opportunities in favor of Charlotte, but tons of possession and half-chances by the Five Stripes. However, Atlanta United found themselves fortunate due to the absence of video review when Ronald Hernandez brought down Obregon Jr. just inside the box in the 38th minute. Despite the close call, the referee signaled for a free kick rather than awarding a penalty.

Ashton Gordon of Atlanta United FC (right) dribbles the ball against Fabrice Ngah of the Charlotte Independence in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Wade Wimberly - TheCup.us
Ashton Gordon of Atlanta United FC (right) dribbles the ball against Fabrice Ngah of the Charlotte Independence in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Wade Wimberly – TheCup.us

Though they dominated possession and generated numerous chances, Atlanta United struggled to convert their superiority into goals, a recurring theme in recent matches. Atlanta enjoyed 67% possession in the first half and took nine shots compared to Charlotte’s three, but they failed to find the breakthrough goal.

The defensive setup of Charlotte’s back five and low block presented significant challenges for Atlanta’s forwards, who struggled with clinical finishing in the final third.

Charlotte, for their part, seemed content to absorb all the pressure and try and strike on a counter. A slippery pitch caused multiple players to lose their footing, and Charlotte nearly took advantage early on after an Atlanta corner was played out to midfield. The last defender slipped, leaving Charlotte in a 1v1 vs keeper Josh Cohen, but the Independence weren’t urgent enough to set up the shot in time.

It wasn’t until the 52nd minute that the deadlock was broken, with Firmino putting the Five Stripes ahead after a well-executed cut-back and assist from Matt Edwards.

The momentum continued to favor Atlanta United as they made substitutions in the 63rd minute, bringing on Brooks Lennon and Caleb Wiley for Edwards and Ashton Gordon.

In the 70th minute, Wiley and keeper Josh Cohen played a crucial role in doubling the lead. A goal kick was taken by Cohen, looking to find Daniel Rios, who held off a Charlotte defender so the ball cleared over both of them. Meanwhile, an on-running Wiley snagged the ball and dribbled to the end line before providing an assist for Firmino’s second goal of the night.

Following the second goal, Atlanta United made two more changes, bringing on Bartosz Slisz and Xande Silva for Luke Brennan and Dax McCarty in the 71st minute. The hosts effectively sealed the victory in the 85th minute when Silva’s run down the flank culminated in a low cross to Rios, who slotted home the third goal of the night.

Atlanta United will now move on in the Open Cup to face either South Georgia Tormenta or Charleston Battery, and Charlotte Independence returns to league play against Forward Madison on Saturday.

2024 US Open Cup Round 4 Review: Two MLS teams fall, including defending champs, 10-goal thriller, Div. 3 prize money

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us open cup 2024 fourth round recap image
Photo by Ed Thompson (Pittsburgh Soccer Now) | Graphic by Phil Naegely

The Fourth Round of the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is in the books with the 109th edition of the tournament is down to 16 teams.

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Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a “We Want The Cup” shirt in your team’s colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP

The best game of the seven on the menu on Tuesday night (and by a wide margin) was Detroit City FC (USL Championship) coming back to force extra time and winning an 11-round PK shootout to eliminate the defending champion Houston Dynamo FC on the road. Elsewhere, FC Tulsa traveled to Pittsburgh and edged the Riverhounds, and Loudoun United FC made the cross-country trip to beat Orange County SC.

On Wednesday night, five of the nine matches went to extra time but the biggest “cupset” happened in regulation as New Mexico United knocked off Real Salt Lake. Elsewhere, the Tampa Bay Rowdies blew a 4-0 lead at home to the Birmingham Legion FC but survived with a pair of goals in extra time to advance to the Round of 16. When the dust settled on the Fourth Round, only one Division 3 team remained as NYCFC II (MLS NEXT Pro) edged the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 1-0 to earn $25,000 in prize money

The winners of the Fourth Round will advance to matchups in the Round of 16 that were arranged during the Fourth Round draw.

You can find the schedule and results for Round 4 and the potential Round of 16 matchups here and the goalscoring leaders here. You can find a review of every Round 1 game HERE and the Round 2 games HERE and the Round 3 games HERE. .

If you want to watch any of the Round 4 games again, you can find all of the video embedded here.

You can find a brief recap of all 16 games below with a link to the full match report (with video highlights) when available:

Tuesday, May 7

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL-C)
0:1
FC Tulsa (USL-C) 

BY: Jordan Beech

FC Tulsa left it late, but emerged victorious, 1-0, on the road at Highmark Stadium against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Phillip Goodrum supplied the match’s only goal on the evening in the 88th minute..

Though Tulsa enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, they only managed four shots on frame to test Gabriel Perrotta. While Perrotta was equal to the task initially, Goodrum’s right-footed effort off Alexander Dalou’s pass managed to get past the Riverhounds netminder.

The win sees FC Tulsa punch their ticket to the Round of 16 for the first time in eight Open Cup appearances. It is also the Green Country outfit’s first-ever road win and first win over a Division 2 side in tournament action. {FULL MATCH REPORT}

Atlanta United FC (MLS)
3:0
Charlotte Independence (USL-1) 

BY: Jordan Beech

A trio of second-half goals powered Atlanta United FC past Charlotte Independence and into the Round of 16 for the first time since they won it all back in 2019. Nicolas Firmino led the way with a brace for United.

The Independence did well to keep the score knotted at 0-0 through the first half, but fell away under Atlanta’s onslaught in the second frame. Firmino opened the scoring in the 52nd minute through Matthew Edwards’ assist before doubling his tally in the 71st minute thanks to Caleb Wiley’s helper. Daniel Rios put the finishing touches on the match in the 85th off an assist from Xande Silva.

Atlanta United moves to 8-6-1 overall in the Open Cup with the win on Tuesday night. This was their seventh home win in the competition. {FULL MATCH REPORT}

Houston Dynamo FC (MLS)
3:3
Detroit City FC (USL-C) 
Detroit City advances, 10-9 in penalty kicks

BY: Tavio Palazzolo

A wild match that had six goals and an 11-round penalty shootout saw USL Championship side Detroit City FC knock out the defending US Open Cup champions Houston Dynamo 10-9 on penalties after a 3-3 draw. Detroit came back from deficits twice in regulation as well as once in the shootout to best the MLS side at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston.

Houston took control early in the match with a 6th minute goal by Griffin Dorsey, then doubled their lead in the 31st minute on a goal by Latif Blessing. Le Rouge would stun the crowd with an absolute banger by Ryan Williams in the 41st minute to keep Detroit within one at the break. A pair of goals scored just two minutes apart saw Yazeed Matthews slide a ball from the right side past Dynamo goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell to tie the match at 2-2, with Coco Carrasquilla quickly regaining the lead for the home side, putting away a shot from outside the box while surrounded by six Detroit City players. The second equalizer for Detroit came courtesy of perennial Open Cup hero Maxi Rodriguez in the 83rd minute.

Extra time did not settle the score, so the game carried on to a penalty shootout that went the distance. The teams were even after two rounds, but then Tarbell saved the third Detroit attempt, taken by Ben Morris, to give Houston the lead. They would carry that lead to the fifth round, where DCFC goalkeeper Carlos Saldaña would make his own save, stopping Ibrahim Aliyu. Michael Bryant would convert his attempt to lead to sudden death, where five more rounds of consecutive makes by both sides led to the keepers facing off. Tarbell’s attempt went sailing over the crossbar, which left open the door for Saldaña to win it for the lower division side. Win it he did, placing it just to Tarbell’s left with pace to send Detroit City FC to the Round of 16 for the first time in their 13-year history. It also marks the second year in a row, and only the fourth time in the Modern Era (1995-present) that the defending champions were one-and-done. {FULL MATCH REPORT}

FC Dallas (MLS
1:0
Memphis 901 FC (USL-C) 

BY: Rob Krauss

FC Dallas used the quick thinking from Jesus Feirerra and a goal by Logan Ferrington in the 73rd minute to overcome a surprisingly stout Memphis defense to move Dallas into the Round of 16 for the first time since 2019. The Dallas captain took a free kick without requesting a 10 yard walk off, surprising the Memphis defenders, who appeared to be waiting for a whistle, Ferrington, unmarked, finished the rest from 7 yards out.

While Memphis did absorb pressure in the first half, Dallas had few clear chances and Memphis found a few half-chances going forward on the counter. The 43rd minute saw a controversial yellow card issued to FC Dallas midfielder Patrickson Delgado, when Memphis’ Dylan Borczack sidestepped Delgado’s two-footed, studs up challenge, with the visitors wondering why he didn’t see red After the break, Memphis 901 FC’s manager Stephen Glass’ gamble to use the same lineup that scored four goals only three days before in league play seemed to catch up with them as a seemingly fatigued Memphis side started to give up more chances, offering less going forward. Memphis goalkeeper Tyler Deric kept his side in the game for the duration making four-three spectacular-saves.. His Dallas counterpart, Maarten Paes, was never challenged.

FC Dallas hopes this victory can jumpstart a slow MLS start where the currently sit at 13 in the west while beginning a run in a tournament they’ve won as recently as 2016. They will play another USL Championship side, the Tampa Bay Rowdies, in the Round of 16. {FULL MATCH REPORT}

San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
1:0
Oakland Roots SC (USL-C) 

BY: Jordan Beech

With under a quarter of an hour remaining in the match, Ousseni Bouda summoned a little bit of magic to lift the San Jose Earthquakes over Oakland Roots SC, 1-0.

Knotted up at 0-0 and with extra time beckoning, Bouda made his mark. The attacking midfielder, picked up a pass from Niko Tsakiris in the middle of the park, made it past a defender and then fired a low shot from outside the box off the post and in at the 76th minute. Johnny Rodriguez picked up a red card six minutes later, giving San Jose a man advantage as the host salted the match away.

San Jose is 10-5-2 in home Open Cup contests, as well as 10-3-2 against Division 2 opposition. The Earthquakes will face Sacramento Republic FC in the Round of 16. {FULL MATCH REPORT}

Orange County SC (USL-C)
1:2
Loudoun United FC (USL-C) 

BY: Jordan Beech

In a battle of east versus west, Loudoun United FC came away victorious over the hosts from Irvine, Calif. dropping Orange County SC, 2-1 on Tuesday night. Wesley Leggett did the heavy lifting on the night, scoring a goal on either side of Orange County’s lone tally.

Leggett got off the mark quickly, putting the finishing touches on a fast break off Kalil ElMedkhar’s assist in the 22nd minute to send Loudon into halftime with the lead. Orange County’s Thomas Amang connected with Christian Sorto to draw level seven minutes into the second half, but Leggett restored the goal advantage just two minutes later, in the 64th. Gavin Turner provided the assist on Leggett’s second goal.

Securing their first-ever road win in Open Cup play, Loudon United has punched their ticket to the club’s debut appearance in the Round of 16. They’ll move on to play Los Angeles FC of MLS in two weeks’ time. {FULL MATCH REPORT}

Sacramento Republic FC (USL-C)
2:0
Monterey Bay FC (USL-C) 

BY: Jordan Beech

Sacramento Republic FC defended their home turf, triumphing, 2-0, over visiting Monterey Bay FC and into the Round of 16. It is the third year in a row that Sacramento has been one of the last 16 teams standing.

Both goals came in the first half, with an own goal by Monterey Bay gifting the hosts a 1-0 lead in just the 27th minute. Kieran Phillips doubled the advantage four minutes later, with Rafael Jauregui picking up the assist off a through ball to break the visitors’ defense.

One of the most consistent USL teams in Open Cup play, Sacramento is now 21-7-2 in tournament play including a sterling 7-0-0 record against their Division 2 peers. Sacramento will take on the San Jose Earthquakes in the next round. {FULL MATCH REPORT}

Wednesday, May 8

Charleston Battery (USL-C)
3:2
South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL-1) 
After Extra Time

BY: Jordan Beech

It took an extra 30 minutes, but Charleston Battery eventually got past a South Georgia Tormenta side that was one of just two remaining USL League One teams in the 2024 US Open Cup. Charleston won the match 3-2 with a goal in the 122nd minute that completed MD Myers’ hat trick

Myers opened up the scoring with an unassisted effort in the 21st minute. Tormenta’s Pedro Fonseca drew the visitors level off a through ball from Philip Spengler in the 40th minute before Myers headed home off Josh Drack’s service in the third minute of first-half stoppage to make the score 2-1.

South Georgia forced extra time thanks to Gabriel Rodriguez’s goal in the 83rd minute. After 30 scoreless minutes, Myers finally called game with an unassisted effort in the 122nd minute.

The win sends the Battery into the Round of 16 for the first time since 2013 – the club’s 11th appearance as one of the final 16 teams in the tournament. {FULL MATCH REPORT}

North Carolina FC (USL-C)
1:2
Phoenix Rising FC (USL-C) 
After Extra Time

BY: Jordan Beech

Phoenix Rising FC outlasted North Carolina FC, 2-1, in a match that saw three red cards and extra time. Both teams played a man down from the 40th minute on, with North Carolina eventually dropping to nine men for the final 26 minutes.

Juan Azocar got the heated match under way with a goal inside the opening 10 minutes of play for Phoenix before his team went down to 10 men in the 24th minute following a second yellow on Laurence Wyke. Paco Cragi picked up a second yellow for North Carolina in the 40th minute to level the playing field.

North Carolina managed to pull level on the scoreboard in the 80th minute off a Louis Perez corner. Perez’s corner fell to Justin Malou, who finished it from inside the six. Following a quick break for extra time, Ezra Armstrong picked up his second yellow in the 94th minute. Phoenix took advantage in the 111th minute as Giulio Doratiotto connected with Erickson Gallardo’s service to send Rising into the next round.

This is Phoenix’s first time moving past the Fourth Round in the club’s ninth overall appearance. The Rising are now 8-6-2 overall in Cup competition. {FULL MATCH REPORT}

Indy Eleven (USL-C)
2:0
San Antonio FC (USL-C) 

By: Jordan Beech

A flurry of goals in the opening 10 minutes helped Indy Eleven pull past San Antonio FC on Wednesday night and into the Round of 16. Hunter Sulte posted six saves to preserve the clean sheet.

The match had barely started before Augustine WIlliams placed a right-footed effort into the back of San Antonio’s goal in the second minute. Jack Blake doubled the advantage in the 10th minute off an assist from Aedan Stanley as the defense stood tall the rest of the way.

This is Indy’s first time advancing out of the Fourth Round in the club’s ninth all-time appearance in the Cup. They will take on giant-slaying Detroit City FC the week of May 21-22. {FULL MATCH REPORT}

Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL-C)
6:4
Birmingham Legion FC (USL-C) 
After Extra Time

BY: Jordan Beech

In a match that had it all, Tampa Bay Rowdies stood tall in a 6-4 win over Birmingham Legion FC after extra time. Cal Jennings led the way for the Rowdies with a hat trick on the night.

The Rowdies jumped on Birmingham early, going up 3-0 after the first 45 minutes of play through Damian Rivera and a brace by Cal Jennings. Jennings finished up his hat trick in the 79th minute, sure that he’d iced the match at 4-0, but a stunning collapse by the Rowdies saw Birmingham score four goals from the 82nd minute to the sixth minute of second-half stoppage. Enzo Martinez and Kobe Hernandez-Foster each scored one, while Tyler Pasher tallied twice deep into stoppage.

In the first half of extra time, Manuel Arteaga scored what would prove to be the matchwinner in the 101st minute. Manuel Arteaga secured an insurance goal in the 109th minute to see Tampa Bay through, but what should have been a celebratory atmosphere was slightly marred by the sending off of Arteaga in the 123rd minute.

In what is already the club’s best-ever performance in the Open Cup, Tampa Bay will now head to the Round of 16 for the first-time ever. The Rowdies previous best finish was the Third Round in 2011. {FULL MATCH REPORT}

NYCFC II (MLSNP)
1:0
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL-C) 

BY: Jordan Beech

An early strike by Jonathan Jimenez was all that was necessary to see NYCFC II past visiting Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. The MLS NEXT Pro side is now a perfect 4-0-0 in Cup play in its debut tournament.

Jimenez scored an unassisted effort in only the sixth minute of play to put the host side up 1-0. New York managed just one other shot on goal for the match, while Tomas Romero turned away three Switchbacks shots to preserve the lead and the clean sheet.

By the time the night was over, NYCFC II learned that they are the last Division 3 club left standing, which means they will be awarded $25,000 in prize money. Next up, they will play New Mexico United, in two weeks in the Round of 16. {FULL MATCH REPORT}

Union Omaha (USL-1)
1:2
Sporting Kansas City (MLS) 
After Extra Time

BY: Jordan Beech

Union Omaha gave Sporting Kansas City all it could handle on the night, but Tyler Pulido played savior for the MLS outfit, scoring in the 120th minute to send the four-time Open Cup champions through.

Lagos Kunga gave the USL League One side a first-half lead in the 32nd minute, striking a left-footed effort past John Pulskamp. Unfortunately for Omaha, SKC scored in the 48th minute to draw level courtesy of Marinos Tzionis. The left winger would go on to assist on Pulido’s matchwinner in extra time.

Sporting KC, one of the titans of the Open Cup in the Modern Era, is headed to its 21st Round of 16 appearance, and their second in the last three years. {FULL MATCH REPORT}

New Mexico United (USL-C)
4:2
Real Salt Lake (MLS) 

BY: Sean Walker

Real Salt Lake’s run in the 2024 edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup was significantly shorter than a year ago.

Zico Bailey scored a first-half brace in a minute’s time, and New Mexico United eliminated last year’s Open Cup semifinalists, 4-2 at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Nicky Hernandez scored what amounted to the match-winning goal as New Mexico took a 3-1 lead at halftime before the hosts added another goal from Jacobo Reyes to seal it with five minutes left in regulation.

Diego Luna and Fidel Barajas Jr. each scored for RSL. {FULL MATCH REPORT}

Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
2:2
Louisville City FC (USL-C) 
Seattle Sounders advance, 5-4 on penalty kicks

BY: Josh Hakala

The Seattle Sounders appeared to be cruising after building a 2-0 lead over the visiting Louisville City (USL-C). But Louisville City scored two goals after the 66th minute, including an 89th minute equalizer to send the match into extra time. In the end, the Sounders would survive a penalty kick shootout by the score of 5-4 as the four-time Open Cup champions advance to the Round of 16.

Paul Rothrock opened the scoring for Seattle in the 41st minute, and by the time Danny Musovski added a second in the 63rd minute, most fans at the Starfire Soccer Complex felt like the MLS side were on their way to the Round of 16. Four minutes after Musovski’s goal, Louisville City received a penalty kick and Sean Totsch converted it for his sixth career tournament goal. Jorge González would send the match into extra time with the late equalizer.

The penalty kick shootout would ultimately be decided by Sounders goalkeeper Andy Thomas who, in addition to two saves, he would score the deciding PK to send Seattle to the Round of 16 for the first time since 2017. While the Sounders have lifted the cup four times, the competition has not been kind in recent years. They entered this year’s tournament having been “one-and-done” in four of the last five years and haven’t reached the Quarterfinals since 2016. {FULL MATCH REPORT}

Las Vegas Lights FC (USL-C)
1:3
Los Angeles FC (MLS) 

BY: Jordan Beech

A back-and-forth affair saw Los Angeles FC nose past Las Vegas Lights FC, 3-1, and into the Round of 16 of the US Open Cup on Wednesday night. All three goals were scored in the second half.

Following a scoreless opening half, Los Angeles finally broke through thanks to Kei Kamara’s 47th minute goal. The striker rose highest to meet Timothy TIllman’s corner, nodding home to the bottom left corner. Shawn Smart would answer with a header nine minutes later to draw the match level.

Unfortunately for the USL Championship side, LAFC’s Cristian Olivera then scored an unassisted goal in the 70th minute to send the visitors through before finishing his brace with a dagger in the first minute of second-half stoppage.

LAFC will go on to play host to Loudon United FC in the Round of 16. It’s the Angelenos’ third-straight appearance in the Round of 16 in only five Open Cup appearances overall. {FULL MATCH REPORT}

2024 US Open Cup Round 4: FC Tulsa into Round of 16 for first time after late winner at Pittsburgh

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Phillip Goodrum of FC Tulsa (left) battles for the ball against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Ed Thompson - Pittsburgh Soccer Now
Phillip Goodrum of FC Tulsa (left) battles for the ball against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Ed Thompson – Pittsburgh Soccer Now

On an unexpectedly pleasant Tuesday evening at Highmark Stadium, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds played host to fellow USL Championship side FC Tulsa in the former’s 2024 U.S. Open Cup debut, but the visitors advanced to the Round of 16 and a date against the winner of USL League One’s Union Omaha and MLS side Sporting Kansas City.

Phillip Goodrum scored the game-winning goal, taking a throw-in that landed near his feet before the always-dangerous forward neatly placed the ball through traffic and inside the back post to give Tulsa the 1-0 win in the 88th minute.

It’s the first time FC Tulsa advanced past the Fourth Round of the Open Cup in team history. After six unsuccessful attempts, it marked the first time the club had won a game on the road in the tournament.

While the weather thankfully avoided a dreary forecast, it was a tough first half for both sides that featured heavily rotated lineups. Each squad, many members of whom were making their starting debuts in 2024, took a healthy amount of time to feel each other out, with some scattered chances few and far between and unconverted by either side.

The Riverhounds largely had the better of the chances, primarily coming from the play of forward EJ Johnson along the left wing. His first opportunity would come in the 5th minute, as a shot from the left wing seemed an easy save for Tulsa goalkeeper Joey Roggeveen, but slipped through his legs and very fortunately went wide of the net.

Johnson would continue to apply the pressure, generating another pair of chances in the 20th and 25th minute. The first came as his run behind the defense was found from midfield. Johnson ran towards the byline and fired in a dangerous cross that unfortunately beat everyone, including his onrushing teammates.

His second would come in similar fashion, with a more concentrated run straight towards goal and right at the last line of Tulsa’s defense. He’d generate a bit of space for his left foot, but would ultimately fire wide of the goal. That counter would also generate the first yellow of the night for Tulsa’s Rashid Tetteh for dragging down Babacar Diene and stopping his run cynically.

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Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a “We Want The Cup” shirt in your team’s colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP

Tulsa’s best chance would come just prior to half, as a missed interception by Pittsburgh’s Jackson Walti left the midfield badly exposed. The numerically advantaged Tulsa attack was able to generate a shot, but it was blocked by a well-positioned Hounds defense and went out for a corner – taken and cleared as the whistle blew.

The second half started much like the first, slowly and with difficulty, but it was Tulsa who found the first substantial chance this time. A corner just prior to the hour mark was placed nicely into the box and headed home by Milo Yosef for the visitors, but the assistant referee was quick to raise the flag and wave the goal off for offsides.

The Hounds responded quickly, substituting on usual starters Junior Etou and Danny Griffin, who rapidly changed the pace of play. The fresh legs generated several turnovers and key passes, leading to multiple chances in the box for their teammates — specifically with potential chances for Langston Blackstock and Bradley Sample blocked by Tulsa defenders.

Despite several late flurries and a lot of stoppage time, the Hounds found themselves unable to answer back, and the Riverhounds faithful watched their run come to an end in much quicker fashion than their 2023 effort. They now prepare for a league rematch with Tulsa on the road Saturday.

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