2025 US Open Cup

2025 US Open Cup Round 5: Jordan Farr of D.C. United voted TheCup.us Player of Round

June 10, 2025 by Justin Nunez

Graphic: Phil Naegely | Photo: D.C. United

When Jordan Farr stepped in goal for his first cap as a Major League Soccer player, little did he know it would go on to become one of the most memorable moments in D.C. United’s rich history.

As extra time neared its final minutes in D.C. United’s Fifth Round US Open Cup match against Charlotte FC, Farr entered the game as a last-minute sub and went on to save four out of five penalties to send DC United into the quarterfinals and earning him TheCup.us Player of the Round honors for the Round of 16.

Farr became the first player in the US Open Cup’s Modern Era to make four saves in a PK shootout to send United into the Quarterfinals with a 2-1 win after a 3-3 draw.

TheCup.us 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) from TheCup.us’ Patreon team.

Farr earned more than half of the first place votes to distance himself from Anthony Markanich of Minnesota United FC (MLS) who scored two late goals to help his club complete a comeback win over St. Louis CITY SC. San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. finished third for his 120-minute shutout win over the Portland Timbers FC.

Record-Breaking Ending

Normally, as the backup goalkeeper, Farr would only be making an appearance in the event of injury. But in this moment, it was part of the plan all along.

Shared D.C. United head coach Troy Lesesne, “We knew going into this that if we went to penalties and we had a substitution left, we wanted him to be in that situation so he could do what he did tonight.”

Since signing his first professional contract in 2018, Farr’s profile had grown to legendary status in the second division of US Soccer thanks in large part to clutch saves in moments just like this one.

Growing up in Salem, Oregon, Farr first made a name for himself playing college soccer locally at Corban University, a school whose teams compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), which caters to smaller colleges across the U.S. It was there that he earned a host of conference and league awards, while also reaching number two on the NAIA All-Time Career Shutouts List.

Upon graduation, he signed with USL Championship’s Indy Eleven and took hold of the starting goalkeeper spot by his third year, which is when his professional highlight reel started to grow. Thanks to his success at Indy Eleven, Farr was acquired by San Antonio FC through an emergency loan deal in anticipation of the 2021 USL Championship playoffs. The next year, Farr joined San Antonio on a permanent deal and became the USL Championship Goalkeeper of the Year while helping the team secure its first title in the club’s history. Following a second successful season with San Antonio, Farr signed with the Tampa Bay Rowdies where he became known for his many game-saving moments, none greater than when he saved two penalties in a shootout to help his side beat Detroit City FC and advance to the playoff quarterfinals.

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Still though, Farr had yet to be tested at the Major League Soccer level.

So when the first Charlotte FC player stepped up to the penalty spot, few knew what to expect. But it soon became apparent that Farr was the calmest person inside Audi Field. As the first kick was struck, Farr dove to his right with outstretched arms and parried the shot away before it had the chance to hit the side netting of the goal.

Then came the second shot. Another save. And another. And another.

For the fans in attendance, it was a moment they’ll never forget. But for Farr, it was business as usual.

“As a keeper, you have to love moments like this,” Farr said. “I said to myself, you’ve done this before and you just have to trust your gut. I’m blessed I was able to be in this position for my team.”

His heroic shootout performance was the first time in the US Open Cup’s Modern Era that a goalkeeper saved four out of five penalties. And to do so after spending the majority of the game on the bench is another feat all unto itself.

The practice of subbing in a goalkeeper just for the penalty kick shootout is pretty rare in the US Open Cup as well. It has only happened five times.

The first two times that it happened both involved D.C. United in 1997. In both instances, head coach Bruce Arena replaced Scott Garlick with Tom Presthus. In the Third Round, Presthus made three saves to deny the A-League’s (Div. 2 pro) Hershey Wildcats a shot at an upset. However, in the 1997 Final, Presthus and United fell short, with a 5-3 loss to the Dallas Burn (now FC Dallas) after a scoreless draw.

The Philadelphia Union also subbed in a goalkeeper in a championship game when they sent in John McCarthy to replace Andre Blake in the 2025 US Open Cup Final. They would lose to Sporting Kansas City 7-6 after a 1-1 draw.

Two years later, the gamble paid off for amateur side Anahuac FC edged Sonoma County Sol (NPSL) 5-4 after trading a goal each in regulation. Christopher Valentin would replace Angel Octavio Alvarez.

The last time it happened was in the Third Round of the 2022 US Open Cup when the now defunct Rochester New York FC (MLS NEXT Pro) took six rounds to prevail against FC Motown (NPSL) 4-3 following a 2-2 draw.

Jordan Farr of D.C. United celebrates with his teammates after defeating Charlotte FC 2-1 in a penalty kick shootout in the Fifth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: D.C. United

Outside of the US Open Cup, only a select-few goalkeepers around the world have come off the bench to help their teams in penalties in a high-profile situation. During the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul was subbed on in the 120^th minute and saved two out of five penalties to help the Netherlands beat Costa Rica in the Quarterfinals. Similarly, during the 2021 UEFA Super Cup Final, Chelsea FC brought on backup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in the 119^th minute for penalties against Spanish side Villareal, and the club won the shootout 6-5 thanks to two saves from Arrizabalaga.

2025 US Open Cup Round 5: Who should be voted TheCup.us Player of the Round?

May 22, 2025 by TheCup.us Staff

The Fifth Round (Round of 16) of the 110th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is complete. There were a number of impressive individual performances over the round’s eight games. But which one was the best?

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):

Player, Team (League)

Osman Bukari, Austin FC (MLS)

Bukari started and played 70 minutes, scored on a penalty kick in the 6th minute and assisted on another goal in Austin FC’s 3-1 home win over the Houston Dynamo FC (MLS).

Hugo Cuypers, Chicago Fire FC (MLS)

Started, played 70 minutes, scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal in the 69th minute in a 3-1 road win over the New England Revolution (MLS).

Bruno Damiani , Philadelphia Union (MLS)

Damiani started and played 66 minutes, scored Union’s first goal in the 18th minute from a penalty kick, and assisted on Union’s third goal in Philadelphia’s 4-1 home win over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL-C).

Earl Edwards Jr., San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)

Edwards Jr. started and played all 120 minutes, keeping a clean sheet while making 5 saves from 14 shots in San Jose’s 1-0 extra time home win over the Portland Timbers FC (MLS)

Jordan Farr, D.C. United (MLS)

Came on as a substitute goalkeeper in the 119th minute and saved four of Charlotte FC’s five attempts in the penalty shootout in D.C. United’s 2-1 PK shootout win after a 2-2 draw at home over Charlotte FC (MLS). It was the first time in the Modern Era that a goalkeeper made four saves in a penalty shootout.

Emil Forsberg, New York Red Bulls (MLS)

Entered the match in the 65th minute, replacing goalscorer Mohamed Sofo. Then scored the game-tying penalty kick in second half stoppage time. After a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes, Forsberg converted his penalty kick attempt in the fifth round of the shootout to beat FC Dallas (MLS), 4-3.

AJ Marcucci, New York Red Bulls (MLS)

Started and played all 120 minutes, allowed two goals but made two critical saves off four shots on target. Made a game-winning save in Round 5 of New York’s 4-3 PK shootout win over FC Dallas (MLS) after a 2-2 draw at home.

Anthony Markanich , Minnesota United FC (MLS)

Markanich started and played all 90 minutes, scoring goals in the 85th and 88th minutes in Minnesota United’s 3–2 come-from-behind home win over St. Louis CITY SC (MLS).

Wyatt Meyer, Nashville SC (MLS)

Started, played 90 minutes and scored the game-winning goal (his first career goal) in the 79th minute in a 3-2 road win over Orlando City SC (MLS).

2025 US Open Cup Round 5: Red Bulls use “cup magic” to score late equalizer, beat FC Dallas in PKs

May 22, 2025 by Michael Battista

Anthony Marcucci (purple) of the New York Red Bulls celebrates after winning a PK shootout 4-3 over FC Dallas in the Fifth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: John Perdicaro — AJ Marcucci of the New York Red Bulls celebrates after winning a PK shootout 4-3 over FC Dallas in the Fifth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: John Perdicaro

On a night at Sports Illustrated Stadium that felt more like a First Round game in terms of weather, with cold wind and rain coming down on Harrison, N.J., as opposed to a Round of 16 match – the drama certainly wasn’t on ice. The New York Red Bulls, buoyed by a mix of young players and experienced veterans, clawed back against FC Dallas twice to force extra time.

Two-time DFB-Pokal winner Emil Forsberg scored a stoppage time free kick to tie the game at 2-2, before penalty kicks were needed to decide a winner. In the fifth round, MLS newcomer Pedrinho saw his attempt saved by goalkeeper A.J. Marcucci to secure the win; 4-3.

“Super excited that we were able to come out with the win. The (stoppage time goal) – I mean, that’s just cup magic right there,” midfielder and team captain Daniel Edelman said with a laugh. “Emil (Forsberg) doing what he does and then the whole group just staying together. It shows a lot about our character.”

The loss means that New York’s on-going winning-streak against FC Dallas remains intact. In all competitions, the Red Bulls have not lost to Dallas in ten games dating back to 2012. The last Dallas was able to get a win away from home in the series? That dates back to 2006 at Giants Stadium.

With the win, New York advances to the US Open Cup Quarterfinals for only the second time since the club’s run to the 2017 tournament final. Overall, this marks the tenth time the Red Bulls or MetroStars have reached the Elite Eight.

On Wednesday night, the New York Red Bulls rotated much of its squad for the match. The team’s top two goal scorers, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Emil Forsberg, who have accounted for 12 goals in the league season, both started on the bench. As did regular goalkeeper Carlos Coronel. Instead, the offense was composed of Mohammed Sofo, who scored a brace last round, the young Polish international Wiktor Bogacz, and Wike Carmona. A.J. Marcucci suited up for his third ever start with the first team in goal.

On the other side, despite having a similar record and just as many games this month, FC Dallas’ lineup was strong – resembling what he used against Houston Dynamo last weekend. The team’s leading goalscorers, Peter Musa, Anderson Julio, and Luciano Acosta, all suited up in the Starting XI.

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

Red Bulls head coach Sandro Schwarz says he and his group were trying to prepare for all types of scenarios in terms of who they’d be facing, but Acosta’s inclusion was always the big question.

“We said we have to prepare that they are playing with the best guys, with the best players in their starting lineup,” Schwarz said. “But of course we were also thinking about ‘we are not sure that Acosta is playing’. But he played. And this is good. At the end, it’s good for us. We can see the young guys, how they compete against them – and it was very well.”

This season New York has had two major issues, looking threatening in the final third and closing out games. The former reared its head early on Wednesday night. The home side controlled the ball but failed to find many clinical chances on goal. A bad turnover by Dallas keeper Maarten Paes gave the ball to Mohammed Sofo near the edge of the box. He slung a shot just over the crossbar in the 24th minute.

The visitors began to find ways to do more with little in terms of possession time. Dallas was able to pass the ball around the RBNY box whenever it was at the end of the field. That only allowed for one shot in the first half, but it was a big one. A long pass was one touched by Peter Musa to a nearby Bernard Kamungo. Kamungo ran into the box on the left side and went opposite netting for the game’s opening goal.

For their part, the Red Bulls nearly responded immediately when another bad giveaway allowed Wiktor Bogacz to send a shot just wide right of the goal.

Of note, referee Alyssa Nichols began to make her own presence known in the game at this point. Multiple calls throughout the night were questioned by both teams. One example was a New York attack that was called off in the 31st minute when the official whistled for a handball against New York, after Sofo chested the ball.

Anthony Marcucci (purple) of the New York Red Bulls celebrates with his teammates after winning a PK shootout 4-3 over FC Dallas in the Fifth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: John Perdicaro

At the half, with one Dallas making changes, New York’s attack jumped gear. It went from two shots overall in the first half to ten, including two on target, in the second half. Peter Stroud skied a shot just over the crossbar early on to signify that change.

The game’s dam broke in the 62nd minute when a Daniel Edelman shot in the box was blocked by a Dallas defender. Sofo jumped on the rebound and slotted in a game tying goal, his third of the competition, which is tied for the tournament lead. That goal marked his last act of the game as the Red Bulls made a triple sub to bring in regular starters Choupo-Moting, Emil Forsberg, and Cameron Harper.

“It was important because, you know, at that moment, like we needed a goal to come back (into) the game, to change the momentum of the game,” Sofo said when asked about the score. “And, yeah, very happy to get that goal. Because after that, we started believing even more.”

That belief didn’t come without challenges. In the 72nd minute, Dallas was pushing for an equalizer. Two back-to-back required saves from the Pennsylvania native: Musa from point blank and Kamunga from distance off a rebound. But Dallas was able to break through in the 76th minute when Kamungo was involved in yet another goal.

He found Luciano Acosta with a pass and the former MLS MVP walked through the New York backline to score for the visitor’s second lead of the night. It looked as though RBNY’s second issue of not being able to close out games was coming up once again.

Time was running out on New York before last year’s major signing made an impact. Emil Forsberg, the big import from RB Leipzig, stepped up as his team was awarded a late free kick just outside the Dallas box. With over half of the four stoppage time minutes played, his attempt hit off the body of Dallas midfielder Ramiro to tie the game at 2-2.

“Emil (Forsberg) is very important player for us,” Coach Schwarz said of his team’s usual captain, though he wasn’t wearing the band tonight. “And then what I said he’s always feeling the responsibility for the whole group.”

Anthony Marcucci of the New York Red Bulls makes a save in the PK shootout against FC Dallas in the Fifth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: John Perdicaro

The game was sent to extra time, with a relatively quiet opening 15 minutes. The second extra time half was all but normal. In the 110th minute, a long pass to Choupo-Moting was headed down towards a running Forsberg on net. The midfielder was swung around by Ramiro, and crashed into Paes. Initially, referee Nichols just called for a free kick – despite pleass for DOGSO (Denying an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity). It took nearly three minutes for the fourth official to chime in and inform her to card Ramiro with a straight red, bringing Dallas down to ten players.

“The refereeing … I dunno. It is what it is. You gotta deal with it in the Open Cup,” Edelman said, clawing for any sort of words that wouldn’t get him in trouble. “I dunno if I can comment, I don’t wanna make a bad comment.” He at least laughed at the end.

The game found itself in a shootout. Both team’s leading scorers started off in front of the South Ward, the three sections for RBNY’s supporters groups. Choupo-Moting converted his Round 1 attempt, while Acosta tried to Panenka but it hit off the crossbar.

It was a perfect round 2, but in the third round New York’s Wiki Carmona saw his attempt saved. Logan Farrington converted into the top left corner to tie the shootout back up at two each. Another set of conversions in the fourth round essentially set-up sudden death. Forsberg calmly sent his fifth round attempt into the lower left side, meaning Dallas needed to score. Pedrinho’s attempt to the right center was stopped by Marcucci and gave New York the win, 4-3 on PKs after a 2-2 draw.

Coach Schwarz said after the game that he was happy his young goalkeeper, who returned from a European loan ahead of this season, was able to have that moment. Something he earned.

“I’m very proud of him that he had this special and very important moment in the US Open Cup. It’s a great goalkeeper which we have,” Schwarz said “And it’s good to see him now in this important spot that he’s on the highest level.”

The Red Bulls will now face the Philadelphia Union in July’s Quarterfinals, an I-95 derby for two teams still looking to win their first major knockout trophies.

Scoring Summary

28’ – FC Dallas – Bernard Kamungo (Petar Musa)
63’ – New York Red Bulls – Mohammed Sofo
77’ – FC Dallas – Luciano Acosta (Bernard Kamungo)
90+3 – New York Red Bulls – Emil Forsberg

Penalty Kick Summary:

RBNY – Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (convert, bottom right)
FCD – Luciano Acosta (miss, crossbar)
RBNY – Noah Eile (convert, bottom right)
FCD – Shaq Moore (convert, bottom left)
RBNY – Wiki Carmona (saved, bottom left)
FCD – Logan Farrington (convert, top left)
RBNY – Daniel Edelman (convert, left side netting)
FCD – Marco Farfan (convert, middle)
RBNY – Emil Forsberg (convert, bottom left)
FCD – Pedrinho (saved, bottom right)

Lineups

New York Red Bulls: A.J. Marcucci (GK); Raheem Edwards (Omar Valencia, 101’), Noah Eile, Sean Nealis, Kyle Duncan (Alexander Hack, 85’), Daniel Edelman ©, Peter Stroud (Ronald Donkor, 85’), Dennis Gjengaar (Cameron Harper, 64’), Wiki Carmona, Mohammed Sofo (Emil Forsberg, 64’), Wiktor Bogacz (Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, 64’)

Unused subs: Carlos Coronel (GK)

Manager: Sandro Schwarz

FC Dallas: Maarten Paes (GK); Nolan Norris (Marco Farfan, 65’), Lalas Abubakar, Osaze Urhoghide, Shaq Moore, Ramiro, Kaick Ferreira (Pedrinho, 105’), Luciano Acosta ©, Bernard Kamungo (Sebastian Ibeagha, 81’), Anderson Julio (Paxton Pomykal, 65’), Petar Musa (Logan Farrington, 91’)

Unused subs: Michael Collodi (GK), Katiego Ntsabeleng

Manager: Eric Quill

Yellow Cards

Ramiro, FC Dallas 26’

Nolan Norris, FC Dallas 38’

Alexander Hack, New York Red Bulls 91’

Raheem Edwards, New York Red Bulls 98’

Red Cards

Ramiro, FC Dallas 113’

Attendance: 3,724

Referee: Alyssa Nichols

AR1: Thomas Felice

AR2: Christian Little

4th Official: Luis Diego Arroyo

2025 US Open Cup Round 5: Austin FC “happy and motivated” after 3-1 win over Houston Dynamo

May 22, 2025 by Laura Gallo

Ilie Sanchez of Austin FC celebrates after scoring a goal against the Houston Dynamo in the Fifth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Laura Gallo

Austin FC made history Wednesday night, reaching the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Quarterfinals for the first time after a 3–1 win over in-state rivals Houston Dynamo FC at a roaring Q2 Stadium. Under coach Nico Estévez, Austin controlled most of the game and fed off the crowd’s energy, full of chants and excitement.

The breakthrough came in the 29th minute when Brandon Vázquez finished off a perfect cross from Jon Gallagher with a clever flick and a powerful shot to the far post. That goal marked Vázquez’s fifth in five matches and his third of this year’s Open Cup, which ties him for the tournament lead. .

After the match, Vázquez said, “Yeah, incredible — another ball in the net. Winning is what matters most. We’re happy and motivated. The group knows what we can do, and even when things aren’t perfect, our quality shows. If we keep this up, I think we’ll do well.”

Gallagher added insight on the team’s success: “Sticking to the game plan from the first minute and having the right mentality helped us. Being more direct and playing in strings worked well, especially with Brandon up front and Bukari creating one-on-one chances, even if not every pass paid off. We got good territory and controlled the game.”

Captain Ilie Sánchez notched his first goal for Austin off a low cross from Osman Bukari just after halftime. Sánchez told the media, “We take Open Cup games exactly as they are—playoffs. You win, you advance. You lose, you’re out.”

Bukari earned man of the match honors, scoring a penalty at 56-minute mark and assisting Sánchez’s goal shortly after. Despite recent criticism and rumors about his future with Austin FC, Bukari said he was unaware of the chatter and proved his value tonight with a strong performance.

Brandon Vazquez and Ilie Sanchez of Austin FC celebrate after scoring a goal against the Houston Dynamo in the Fifth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Laura Gallo

The match was physical, with nine fouls called in the first 40 minutes. Houston held 59% possession in the first half and took seven shots but failed to test Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver with a shot on target.

Houston pulled one back in the 70th minute through Ezequiel Ponce, assisted by Franco Escobar, but Austin held firm.

The closing minutes grew intense as Houston pushed forward, putting Austin’s defense under pressure. In the 91st minute, Houston’s Brooklyn Raines received a second yellow card and was sent off. Just two minutes later, Austin’s Julio Cascante was shown a straight red card for a controversial challenge that stirred reactions from the crowd and sidelines. Cascante will now miss the club’s Quarterfinal match in July on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes.

2025 US Open Cup Round 5: Jordan Farr makes PK shootout history as D.C. United survives Charlotte FC

May 22, 2025 by Justin Nunez

Jordan Farr of D.C. United makes a save in the PK shootout against Charlotte FC in the Fifth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: D.C. United

On a cold, rainy night in the nation’s capital, DC United outdueled Charlotte FC in a game that will go down as one of the most memorable in DC United’s long US Open Cup history.

The home team secured a penalty shootout win thanks to a heroic performance from goalkeeper Jordan Farr, who was subbed on in the final minutes with the score tied at 3-3 to serve as a penalty specialist. Farr saved four of Charlotte’s penalties and DC United converted on two of its own to win the shootout 2-1. With the result, DC United advances to the Cup Quarterfinals and Farr becomes the first goalkeeper in tournament history to make four saves in a penalty shootout.

Farr, who joined DC United earlier in the year and had yet to make an appearance for the club before this match, has a long history of penalty saves during his time as goalkeeper in the USL Championship. In fact, it is these moments that he seems to thrive on.

“We knew that if we got into this type of situation, has an excellent track record,” DC United head coach Troy Lesesne said.

Despite not warming up properly, Farr started off the shootout just as his team and he expected. After Aaron Herrera put DC United up 1-0, Farr saved the first shot he faced. He followed that up with a save on the second shot and before the home fans knew it, DC United was up 2-0 and appeared to be sailing into the quarterfinals.

The shootout turned tense though when Charlotte goalkeeper David Bingham matched Farr’s performance by saving three consecutive shots in a row. Going into the fifth and final shot, both goalkeepers had saved three shots each but DC United was up 2-1. All Farr had to do was save the final kick for DC United to secure the victory.

“He’s one of the most humble people that you will ever meet, but before he went in, Jordan said to me, ‘meet me at the corner flag’” Lesesne said. “That was his way of saying we’re going to win it. He’s just that confident in that situation.”

When the fifth shot for Charlotte left the foot of Liel Abada, Farr was already outstretched in the perfect position to make the save. After parrying the ball to safety, Farr turned to the DC United supporters then jumped into the arms of his teammates racing over to congratulate him.

With the win, DC United returns to the US Open Cup Quarterfinals for the first time since 2013. The team awaits the official draw later this week to find out who it will play when the next round takes place July 8-9.

For the 5,179 fans that braved the weather to watch the Round of 16 match, the game had everything – highlight-reel goals, late equalizers, and a goalkeeper performance for the ages.

Jordan Farr of D.C. United celebrates with his teammates after beating Charlotte FC in a PK shootout in the Fifth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: D.C. United

With the rain pouring down from the start, both teams spent the early minutes adjusting to the slippery conditions. Each team was able to find opportunities by pressing hard on the opposing defenses and forcing one another into mistakes.

The first moment of magic struck in the 17th minute when DC United was attacking through the right flank. Herrera received a pass along the touchline and drove forward before serving in a low cross into the box. It skipped along the wet grass and dropped perfectly between the Charlotte defense where DC United leftback David Schnegg was waiting. Without hesitation, the Austrian struck the oncoming ball off the volley and sent a rocket of a shot into the roof of the goal, giving DC United the early 1-0 lead.

Still down 1-0 at the half, Charlotte came out for the second 45 minutes on its front foot. The aggressive play paid off with two goals in the span of four minutes. First, in the 58^th, Patrick Agyemang received the ball 40 yards from goal and dribbled through the DC United defense before slotting the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal to make it 1-1. Then, less than four minutes later, Bill Tuiloma headed home an inswinging corner kick that was sent in from Eryk Williamson.

Charlotte FC appeared on their way to victory until DC United did what DC United usually does in Open Cup matches. With the match in the dying minutes of regular time, DC United continued to put the pressure on in search for the equalizer. In the 86^th minute, they were rewarded with a goal from Garrison Tubbs to tie it at 2-2.

In extra time, the away side got on top early through a goal by Charlotte’s Tyger Smalls just five minutes into the start of play. However, that lead was short lived as DC United rallied back yet again to tie things up at 3-3 thanks to an opportunistic goal by youngster Jackson Hopkins. Charlotte’s Tim Ream struggled to clear a deflected cross in the 104^th minute and the ball fell to Hopkins who confidently slotted it home from a difficult angle.

With the game all but certain to go to a penalty shootout, there was still one more twist to come. Just minutes before the final whistle, DC United made its final sub of the night – bringing in Farr at goalkeeper. “This was an unbelievable performance,” Lesesne said.

2025 US Open Cup Round 5: Markanich’s late goals gives Minnesota United comeback win over St. Louis CITY

May 22, 2025 by Ashle Lynn Paige

Minnesota United defender Anthony Markanich (13) celebrates after scoring the game winning goal during the 2025 US Open Cup Round of 16 match against St. Louis CITY. Photo: Steffenhagen Photography - Northland Soccer Journal — Minnesota United defender Anthony Markanich (13) celebrates after scoring the game winning goal during the 2025 US Open Cup Round of 16 match against St. Louis CITY. Photo: Steffenhagen Photography – Northland Soccer Journal

Minnesota United FC and St. Louis City SC faced off on Wednesday night in one of the most dramatic games of the US Open Cup that did not end in penalties or extra time. After the Loons scored an early goal, they coasted for the remainder of the first half. St. Louis came roaring back in the second half with two goals and looked poised to take home a victory and their first win over an MLS side since March 15. At the end of the night it was two late goals from Minnesota wingback Anthony Markanich that made the difference and sent the Loons to the Quarterfinals.

Both clubs entered the contest with completely different philosophies on resting players and starting lineups. MNUFC brought in a hefty seven changes from Saturday’s showing against St. Louis. City only swapped out three players from their lineup in the 3-0 blowout loss to Minnesota United.

“Well, we’ve got a small squad. I’m conscious of how the summer months went last year, and I want to make sure that we’re very disciplined in making changes where we need to make changes, and we keep what is the biggest focus in mind,” said Minnesota manager Eric Ramsey.

Early on it appeared that Ramsey’s style was winning out as the Loons started out once again dominating St. Louis as they had on Saturday night. Just 10 minutes into the showing Julian Gressel sent in a cross that Kelvin Yeboah touched home with a no-look back heel, breaking an eight match scoreless streak for Yeboah.

“It’s always good to contribute for the team, so I’m glad that we ended up winning the game,” Yeboah said following the match.

A few yellow cards later, with one going to St. Louis City’s Chris Durkin and one to Minnesota’s Carlos Harvey, the match appeared for a few fleeting moments to be heading into extremely chippy territory. Outside an objectively bad tackle in the 42nd minute which ended in a yellow card to Markanich, that never ended up happening.

The Loons continued dominating the first half getting multiple chances, including forcing St. Louis goalkeeper Roman Bürki to make a huge diving save to keep the match at 1-0 Minnesota. When the halftime whistle sounded the Loons and St. Louis each had six shots but only Minnesota had any on target.

At the start of the second half each side made a few changes, hoping to have the second half go their way. Eric Ramsey brought on DJ Taylor and Michael Boxall to replace Nicolás Romero & Carlos Harvey for MNUFC, while Olof Mellberg brough Akil Watts on to replace Jannes Horn. From there the tide swung rapidly in favour of St. Louis City.

Ten minutes into the second half St. Louis finally got a shot on target and scored as Marcel Hartel headed home a cross sent in from Timo Baumgartl. Eleven minutes after that first goal, from near the eighteen Hartel sent in a cross to the far side of the six yard box, where João Klauss hammered home a header past Wessel Speel to give St. Louis a 2-1 lead with 25 minutes to play.

“We wanted to be a little bit more direct, have more bodies in the middle, and for the crosses and for the second balls,” said St. Louis City manager Olof Mellberg. “I thought that worked well. And again, a really nice couple of goals, and we had a really good period at that time.”

From there on the match was entirely in control by St. Louis City and even four more substitutions by Minnesota didn’t appear to give them any sort of control on the match. St. Louis had countered with four substitutions of their own and while the Loons would end up holding an advantage in shots, shots on target, and corners; late into the match it appeared all for naught as St. Louis was well on their way to a victory and a spot in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Quarterfinals.

A missed shot for St. Louis from Cedric Teuchert in the 84th minute ended up being their undoing. One minute later Kelvin Yeboah broke open and struck a hard shot forcing Roman Bürki to make a huge save to keep the lead for St. Louis. In the 85th Anthony Markanich scored to get the Loons their first goal since 10 minutes into the match and level the match at two-all.

Tani Oluwaseyi of Minnesota United dribbles around St. Louis CITY goalkeeper Roman Bürki in the Fifth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Tim McLaughlin - Northland Soccer Journal — Tani Oluwaseyi of Minnesota United dribbles around St. Louis CITY goalkeeper Roman Bürki in the Fifth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Tim McLaughlin – Northland Soccer Journal

With extra time staring everyone in the face, Minnesota United and St. Louis put themselves into overdrive. Tani Oluwaseyi scorched the St. Louis defense and sent a hard shot on goal that easily beat Bürki, but with inches to spare before it crossed the line, Joshua Yaro kicked the ball out of touch.

The ensuing corner was sent in from Joaquín Pereyra and was immediately headed home by Anthony Markanich, earning himself a brace and what ended up being the match winning goal.

“It was awesome, especially with a brace. I think that was my first time professionally, and since I was a little kid, that I scored a brace, Markanich said. “I definitely didn’t want to go to overtime. I was tired, so happy.”

After the goal St. Louis managed only one more chance at goal before the final whistle sounded, with Marcel Hartel missing a shot he took from outside the box, five minutes into stoppage time.

With the win, Minnesota United advances to the Quarter-Finals for only the second time in club history. The last time they did that was in 2019 where they ultimately landed in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final, falling to Atlanta United in that championship final.

2025 US Open Cup Round 5: Confidence in young players pays off as Nashville SC overcomes Orlando City

May 22, 2025 by Christian Gomez

Wyatt Meyer (28) of Nashville SC celebrates with his teammates after scoring a 79th minute goal against Orlando City SC in the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Nashville SC

Wyatt Meyer’s late goal capped a back-and-forth match as Nashville SC defeated Orlando City 3-2 on a sweltering Wednesday night at Inter&Co Stadium to advance to the Quarterfinals of the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

With both sides level on points in the MLS Eastern Conference entering the match, Nashville opted to rotate its squad heavily, leaving Hany Mukhtar and Josh Bauer out while starting several younger players. That gamble paid off as the visitors outlasted an Orlando team coming off a rivalry win just days earlier against Inter Miami.

“We build confidence in the group by doing what we say. We say we have confidence in young players, we say that we’re gonna play young players.” said Nashville head coach BJ Callaghan. “They couldn’t have stepped on a bigger field tonight against a really good team, and they performed.”

Right from the kick off, both teams had a chance to get on the board early with a barrage of attacking phases. Nashville showed signs of carelessness while in possession, which if timed perfectly, could give Orlando a chance to break the deadlock.

The first real dangerous chance of the night came from Nashville’s Chris Applewhite. His header attempt from the a corner kick rang off the top right corner of the net.

Orlando saw this as a warning shot and took the initiative. On the next possession, a switch initiated by Dagur Thorhallsson found its way to Alexander Freeman. The right-back rushed down the wing and passed it over to Marco Pasalic. Pasalic laced it from outside the 18-yard box and score a goal of the week worthy contender.

Nashville needed to find a response quick, as Orlando showed in its previous Open Cup match against the Rowdies that it can suffocate its foes quickly. Within the final third, Ahmed Qasem made a lovely run inside the box, using some skill to get away from Orlando’s defenders. He teed it up for MLS & Open Cup stalwart, Teal Bunbury, who was within the six-yard box and tipped the ball into the net to open Nashville’s account.

The hydration break tempered the pace of the match, as both teams attempted to pace themselves after an intense first 30 minutes. Nashville was on a seemingly innocuous passage of play when Matthew Corcoran passed it over to Qasem, who was just outside the 18. Qasem proceeded to test his luck by sending a grounded shot towards the net. It caught Orlando’s keeper, Pedro Gallese, off guard as the ball curved into the net and gave Nashville the 2-1 lead going into halftime.

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The second half started with only one change, as Bauer entered the game for Nashville. Now shooting towards The Ruckus & Iron Lion Firm, Orlando looked to equalize with their supporters backing them. On an attacking phase, Nashville’s defense over marked Orlando’s Ramiro Enrique. The ball was able to find its way to the wing, where Pasalic made a run. Enrique slotted it into a open pocket of space left by Nashville’s backline, opening a clear passing lane. Pasalic recognized the run and layed it off to Enrique, who blasted it into the net, leveling things up at 2-2 before the 60th minute.

With 30 minutes to go, both teams needed to rely on the strength of their roster to see the game through. Orlando saw the introduction of Ivan Angulo & Luis Muriel, as they looked to continue the momentum on attack while Jacob Shaffelburg came in to help support Nashville’s attack. Physicality picked up as both teams received a yellow card, Matthew Corcoran for Nashville & Alex Freeman for Orlando. An errand ball to the lower extremities of Applewhite brought about the final hydration break.

After the hydration break, 15 minutes remained and it was all to play for. Both teams did not want to enter extra time with the current situation of match congestion. Nashville started off with possession and kept it for the first few minutes as they tried to get back into a flow. Eventually, they started pushing into the final third and create opportunities.

Qasem found himself again on the ball on the right wing and did a great job battling Ivan Angulo as he was able to tip the ball over to Patrick Yazbek. In what was the move of the night, Yazbek made a backheel pass to Meyer, who was just outside the box as he struck it perfectly into the back of the net for his first career goal to give his team a 3-2 lead.

Meyer revealed after the win that he was not feeling well, which must have been torture in the humidity of Florida.

“I’m gonna be completely honest, I was suffering out there,” he said. “I kind of came into the game under the weather, but all the boys on the team were so encouraging and told me ‘Wyatt, you’re gonna have to dig deep and it’s a little hot but just get through it and grind for these guys.”

After that goal, Orlando went full attack for the remainder of the game. Duncan McGuire made his introduction to the game as an attacking minded sub, but unfortunately the decision to send out a relatively same squad for the weekend was starting to affect them. Multiple players seemed fatigued as attacking sequences fell flat.

Ultimately, Meyer’s shot was the final blow which advanced Nashville into the quarterfinals of this year’s Open Cup. The trust in the kids paid off for Nashville.

“When you get your number called, and you’re able to get on the field, show what you’re capable of and the players represented themselves well,” said assistant coach Michael Nsien.

2025 US Open Cup Round 5 Review: First all-MLS Quarterfinal field since 2015 complete

May 22, 2025 by TheCup.us Staff

Graphic: Phil Naegely | Photo: Matt Ralph - Philadelphia Soccer Now — Graphic: Phil Naegely | Photo: Matt Ralph – Philadelphia Soccer Now

For the first time in a decade all eight of the teams left in the Quarterfinals will be from Major League Soccer.

The Philadelphia Union dispatched the USL Championship’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds by the score of 4-1. The Riverhounds were the last remaining lower division club in the competition.

Aside from convincing 3-1 wins by Austin FC (over the Houston Dynamo) and the Chicago Fire FC (over the New England Revolution), the rest of the Round of 16 was full of drama. Two games went to penalty kicks and the other three were one-goal games.

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The draw for the Quarterfinals will take place on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. ET and broadcast live on CBS Sports Golazo. The Round of Eight is scheduled to take place the week of July 8-9.

Below you will find a brief recap of all eight games with links to the full match report.

TUESDAY, MAY 20

New England Revolution (MLS)
1:3
Chicago Fire FC (MLS)

By Alex Campbell

The Chicago Fire took another step toward what they hope will be an MLS-record fifth US Open Cup title on Tuesday night in Providence, Rhode Island at the home of the Providence College Friars with a 3-1 win over the New England Revolution. An own goal by New England’s Eric Klein, volley from a rebound off the crossbar by Hugo Cuypers, a spectacular solo effort by substitute Philip Zinckernagel, and a consolation own goal via the Fire’s Justin Reynolds provided the scoring in what went from a slog to a comfortable win.

Chicago made only one lineup change from their 4-0 Round of 32 victory of Detroit City of the USL Championship, while the Revolution XI included just one player who had started an MLS match this season. That quality discrepancy eventually played out on the pitch, and the winningest team in USOC history are into Thursday’s quarterfinal draw.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT

San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
1:0
Portland Timbers FC (MLS)
After Extra Time

By Favian Renkel

Jack Skahan delivered a dramatic late winner to lift the San Jose Earthquakes past their Round of 16 opponent in the U.S. Open Cup, securing a 1-0 victory and a place in the Quarterfinals. Skahan found the back of the net in the dying minutes, capitalizing on a rare chance in an otherwise tight and physical match. His goal not only sealed the win but also marked one of the most important moments of the Earthquakes’ season so far.

The Quakes came into the match leading MLS with goal scored with 29 on the season. Even without Chicho Arango and Josef Martínez available for the match, the Quakes still found a way to get the job done. San Jose will now await the draw for their Quarterfinal opponent. The Quakes have never lifted the U.S. Open Cup but are now just one win away from matching their best runs in the tournament, having reached the Semifinals in both 2004 and 2017.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21

New York Red Bulls (MLS)
2:2
FC Dallas (MLS)
New York advances, 4-3 on penalty kicks

By Adam Uthe

It wasn’t pretty, but the New York Red Bulls won the penalty shootout to advance past FC Dallas and into the 2025 US Open Cup Quarterfinals. The home side fell behind not once, but twice in the first 90 minutes before Emil Forsberg tied it up in stoppage time and then went on to score the winner in penalties.

The Red Bulls dominated possession early on, but it was Dallas who got on the scoreboard first. Bernard Kamungo scored via an assist from Petar Musa in the 28th minute on Dallas’ first (and only) real chance up to that point. New York continued to generate touches inside of Dallas’ penalty area but they couldn’t convert said chances into a single shot on target and the visitors took their lead into halftime.

The second half played out mostly the same way, with New York applying more pressure and eventually they were rewarded for their effort. In the 63rd minute, Mohammed Sofo pounced on a loose ball in the box and converted his shot to level the score at 1-1. Dallas fought their way back into the match and in the 77th minute, Lucho Acosta (after receiving a pass from Kamungo) split two defenders in the box with a brilliant heel flick before burying his shot to make it 2-1 Dallas. It looked like Dallas was headed for a victory, but then Emil Forbserg’s free kick in stoppage time took a kind deflection off the Dallas wall and the two sides were forced to play an additional 30 minutes.

There was some brief controversy in extra time as the referee gave a free kick just on the edge of the box that, after at least three minutes of time elapsed, eventually resulted in a red card for Dallas midfielder Ramiro. This time, Forsberg’s free kick was saved and eventually penalties were needed to decide everything. New York converted four out of five while Dallas could only get three and the hosts progressed to their 10th Open Cup quarterfinal appearance in club history.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT

D.C. United (MLS)
3:3
Charlotte FC (MLS)
D.C. United advances, 2-1 on penalty kicks

By Becca Mitchum

A dramatic penalty shootout cleared the way for D.C. United’s next step in the Open Cup after 120 minutes of play resulted in three goals for each team. David Schnegg opened up the scoring in the 17th minute, but two quick goals by Charlotte FC’s Patrick Agyemang and Bill Tuiloma, in the 58th and 61st minute respectively, kept the game competitive. A tying goal by DCU’s Garrison Tubbs ensured extra time. Then each team scored another, with Tyger Smalls scoring for the Crown in the 95th, and DCU drawing level once again in the 104th minute with a goal from Jackson Hopkins.

An uncommon goalkeeper substitute in the 119th minute proved to be the right choice as Jordan Farr managed to save four out of Charlotte’s five shots, and D.C. United converting two shots against Charlotte’s goalkeeper David Bingham. This is the first 2-1 PK result in the Modern Era of the US Open Cup, and D.C. United advances past the Round of 16 for the first time since their Open Cup run in 2013.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Minnesota United FC (MLS)
3:2
St. Louis CITY SC (MLS)

By Tim Thomas

A chaotic back and forth match in the rain saw Minnesota United defeat St. Louis CITY SC by a score of 3-2.

Minnesota got out to a quick start with a 10th minute goal by Kelvin Yeboah. Marcel Hartel would even it up for CITY in the 55th minute and João Klauss would give them the lead with a 65th minute header. In a cruel twist of fate for CITY, the hero of the game for Minnesota would be former St. Louis player Anthony Markanich who scored a pair of goals in the span of three minutes.

The victory marks the second time Minnesota has advanced to the Round of Eight, with the last time coming in 2019 when they reached the Open Cup Final.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Orlando City SC (MLS)
2:3
Nashville SC (MLS)

By Connor Bunnell

It was an absolute roller coaster ride in the theme park capital of the world, as Nashville SC beat Orlando City 3-2 in the Lions’ house.

The scoring started in the 17th minute when Alexander Freeman supplied a ball that Marco Pašalić launched from distance, putting Orlando in front. However, they would only enjoy that lead for six minutes, as Teal Bunbury went for his ninth career Open Cup goal, but made Rodrigo Schlegel own-goal it instead. That was fine by the Coyotes, who completed the comeback in the 40th thanks to an incisive Matt Corcoran pass and a roller to the far post from Ahmed Qasem.

That left the Lions down by halftime, but certainly not out. Once again, Pašalić got involved, this time providing the assist as Ramiro Enrique scored for the second time in as many rounds. That put things back level at the 58-minute mark, and from there, anything was possible. However, not long after a crucial non-call for what City believed was a handball in Nashville’s penalty box, Patrick Yazbek passed the ball back with street soccer flair to rookie defender Wyatt Meyer, who unleashed a wicked curler to score his first professional goal and retake the lead for the boys in gold. Orlando fought furiously for the rest of the match to try and send it to extra time and created several good chances along the way, but it was all for naught. Nashville withstood the final storm, avenging their loss to Orlando in 2022’s Open Cup to make a grand return to the Quarterfinals.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Philadelphia Union (MLS)
4:1
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL-C)

By Zoe Schaedle

And then there were none. The Philadelphia Union eliminated the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, the last of the USL Championship teams remaining in the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The Union coached by Bradley Carnell, advanced to the Quarterfinals with a 4-1 win over the Riverhounds.

Union’s Bruno Damiani, the 23-year-old transfer from Nacional, opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a penalty kick from a hand ball in the box. The Uruguayan forward slotted a left-footed finish down the middle over the outstretched arms of Riverhounds keeper Eric Dick.

The Union enjoyed possession in the midfield against Pittsburgh’s defense-heavy lineup. Brothers Quinn Sullivan and Cavan Sullivan led the Union in quick counter attacks resulting in the Union’s second goal by Indiana Vassilev in the 46th minute to conclude the first half.

Philadelphia came out sharp to start the second half with Danley Jean Jacques finding the back of the net in the 54th minute from a Damiani assist, making it a 3-0 game. However, Riverhounds substitute Jorge Garcia gave Pittsburgh some hope with a right footed shot from outside the box only one minute after entering the match for teammate Bertin Jacquesson.

The Union quelled any hope of a comeback with a solo goal by substitute Jovan Lukic in the 86th minute. The 23-year-old midfielder who joined the Union in February demonstrated composure, weaving through Riverhounds defenders to slot the ball in the bottom left corner.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Austin FC (MLS)
3:1
Houston Dynamo FC (MLS)

By Zach Stein

Austin FC clinched their first-ever quarterfinal appearance in a heated 3-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo that included 22 total fouls. The first half was back-and-forth and relatively drama-free, with the lone goal coming from Brandon Vazquez as he opened the scoring for Austin with a near-post shot in the 29th minute.

In the 52nd minute, a penalty kick was awarded as Houston’s Franco Escobar was called for handball on a slide tackle. Copa Tejas tempers began to flare up quickly, and Osman Bukari dispatched the penalty to give Austin a 2-0 lead. Eight minutes later, a Bukari pass found Ilie Sanchez on the other end of the five-yard box, who scored his first Austin FC goal. Fouls became frequent as Escobar was shown the first yellow card of the match in the 67th minute, but he made up for it and his earlier handball by assisting Ezequiel Ponce as Houston clawed one back to make it 3-1.

Despite both teams earning plenty of set-piece opportunities, no more goals were scored. Yet the drama didn’t stop there as Dynamos midfielder Brooklyn Raines was shown his second yellow in the first minute of stoppage time, shortly followed by a straight red to Austin’s Julio Cascante in the game’s final minutes.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT

2025 US Open Cup Round 5: Philadelphia Union “stay on the gas”, end Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ Cup run

May 21, 2025 by Phil Naegely

Philadelphia Union players celebrate after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the Fifth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Matt Ralph - Philadelphia Soccer Now — Philadelphia Union players celebrate after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the Fifth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Matt Ralph – Philadelphia Soccer Now

On an unseasonably cold, wet, and windy night at Subaru Park, the Philadelphia Union (MLS) pressured the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL-C) early and often, coming away with a 4-1 win in front of their home crowd.

With the win, Philadelphia advances to the US Open Cup Quarterfinals for the first time since 2018 and the sixth time in club history (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2025). The win also extends the Union’s home unbeaten streak to 13 games, the fourth-longest such streak in the Modern Era (1995-present). Philadelphia’s last home loss was in the 2014 US Open Cup Final against the Seattle Sounders.

After Thursday’s draw, Philadelphia will host the New York Red Bulls in the Quarterfinals the week of July 8-9.

“When we play at Subaru Park, we control the game,” head coach Bradley Carnell said. “It’s important to stay on the gas and prevent the opponent from controlling the game’s pace.”

The Union did just that on Wednesday night against the Riverhounds.

“We knew from the last time we played Indy that these games are no walkovers,” Carnell said about his team’s performance against Pittsburgh. “We wanted to set ourselves a chance and make sure in the stretch that we are in that we got the job done.”

Philadelphia earned an early penalty kick in the 14th minute when TheCup.us Round 4 Player of the Round Roberto Ydrach’s hand contacted the ball inside the box. Bruno Damiani stepped up to the mark, burying the ball into the back of the net and putting the hosts up early.

Pittsburgh looked to have an equalizing chance of its own, but Danny Griffin’s shot off a corner kick went wide of the net. The Hounds’ two attempts late in the first half were stymied by Union keeper Andrew Rick who dove to stop Griffin’s attempt off a set piece before falling on Bertin Jacquesson’s follow up chance.

The traveling Pittsburgh fans:
— Jonathan Tannenwald (@jtannenwald.bsky.social) 2025-05-21T23:41:47.526Z

Off a quick counter attack of their own, the Union doubled their lead. In extra time Indiana Vassilev slotted home a Quinn Sullivan pass, giving the hosts some breathing room heading into the break.

A nice string of passes and sustained possession paid off for the hosts in the second half. Danley Jean Jacques fired home Damiani’s well-placed pass from inside the box, giving the home side a 3-0 lead in the 54th minute.

Jorge Garcia curled a ball into the right upper 90 of the net, capitalizing on a nice feed from Antoine Williams and putting Pittsburgh on the scoreboard.

Cavan Sullivan, who would have become the youngest goal scorer in known US Open Cup history, had a dangerous shot go wide left as the Union continued to press aggressively in the second half. It was also the first time that he and his brother Quinn both started for the Union in the same game.

Jovan Lukic added a late second-half insurance goal for Philadelphia to secure the dominant win at home.

The Sons of Ben and other Union faithful brought the noise and passion all night long and Union coach Carnell thanked the fans post-game for supporting the club in the conditions, “First I’d like to thank the fans. It’s never easy coming to Chester when it’s raining and miserable. Credit to the fans who came out. We really appreciate that.”

2025 US Open Cup Round 5: Jack Skahan’s OT winner sends San Jose Earthquakes past Timbers

May 21, 2025 by Connor Bunnell

Jack Skahan (center) of the San Jose Earthquakes celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against the Portland Timbers in the Fifth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: San Jose Earthquakes - ISI Photos — Jack Skahan (center) of the San Jose Earthquakes celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against the Portland Timbers in the Fifth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: San Jose Earthquakes – ISI Photos

It was a classic case of “Open Cup After Dark” in the Bay Area at Paypal Park on Tuesday night, as the San Jose Earthquakes bested the Portland Timbers 1-0 in extra time.

The opening minutes set the tone for a fast and fluid game in the Round of 32 match in the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, with Portland choosing a direct and physical approach and taking the first shot of the night. However, San Jose soon established themselves as the team with the bulk of possession and control of the game’s flow. Time after time, they got into threatening areas and made noise, particularly in the area directly to the right of the box.

However, once it was time to finish their plate, the Quakes proved squeamish eaters. Despite taking ten shots to Portland’s five in the opening 45, only Carlos Espinoza’s attempt in the 30th came close enough to force Maxime Crépeau’s hand. The other nine all sailed harmlessly wide and/or into the stands. Meanwhile, on the other end, only Ariel Lassiter could put his shots on target, and Earthquakes captain and goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. thwarted both attempts, ensuring things went scoreless into halftime.

Upon returning from the break, the Quakes came out guns blazing, and their accuracy had certainly improved. In just over ten minutes, they made Crépeau spring into action for a save three times. Much of San Jose’s confidence and willingness to challenge up front stemmed from knowing how stellar they were in defense. Center back Daniel Munie, in particular, was on fire all night, making clearances and winning duels for possession practically every time his team needed him to.

The Timbers, on the other hand, seemed more desperate by the minute despite doing a decent job keeping a lid on the incoming attack. While the fouls certainly flew both ways, Portland gave away more of them, and that behavior came to a head in the 86th minute. With Espinoza on the run and heading for the right side of the box, Kamal Miller brought the Quakes’ all-time assists leader down right at the edge of the penalty box.

The refs’ decision on it managed to anger both sides of the aisle — so many Timbers swarmed and argued it wasn’t a foul that two got yellow cards for arguing, while Bruce Arena and the home crowd were livid when it turned out to be a free kick and not a penalty.

Espinoza’s ensuing shot went straight to Crépeau, as a group of children in the crowd chanted “Ref, you suck!” in the aftermath. After 90 minutes plus six more minutes of stoppage time, the scoreless duel officially needed extra time to settle it.

The next 15 minutes were, from a possession perspective, San Jose’s most dominant run, as they kept the ball for 65% of that half. However, it seemed that no matter what the Quakes did, they just couldn’t thwart the Quebecker in net, as Crépeau came up with saves number six and seven of the night. By the time of his eighth in the second half of extra time, the possibility of penalty kicks was looking more like a certainty.

However, in the final five minutes, the Earthquakes finally made true headway when Mark-Anthony Kaye made an interception deep in Timbers territory and dished it to Preston Judd, who made his run toward the box, then sent a through ball to the left side where Kaye could meet it. The Canadian took his first touch, lured Crépeau forward, then fired towards the far post. After that, Jack Skahan applied the finishing touch, and the north end’s Seismic Union and south end’s San Jose Ultras, who’d each spent the night drumming and chanting with no regard for each other, united with all the home fans in between to send up one big scream of joy. Finally, after all that toil, San Jose had their goal.

“Preston did a really good job to hold the ball up,” Kaye told reporters after the match, “and I realized that if I made a run for it, he’d play me into the box. My first touch took me a little wide, but I knew that if I (could) just get the ball into the area, my teammate would put it in. I’m happy for Jack, that he was able to score. He’s been working really hard, and guys like that deserve the spotlight.”

With just a few minutes to respond, and many of those precious seconds eaten up by San Jose’s attempts to double their advantage, Portland scrambled to try and send it to penalties. Despite putting up some decent long balls, their last shot courtesy of Ian Smith went harmlessly into Edwards Jr.’s hands.

Upon the final whistle, the Earthquakes clinched their first trip to the Open Cup quarterfinals since 2017. It also extended San Jose’s home winning streak in the competition to eight games, which is tied for the fifth longest streak of the Modern Era (1995-present). The Quakes’ last home loss in the Open Cup was a 1-0 loss to the LA Galaxy in Fifth Round in 2015. The Galaxy’s head coach that night? Bruce Arena.

Head coach Bruce Arena was candid about the significance of reaching this stage.

“When I was with the LA Galaxy,” Arena said, “ … our goal was to win the MLS Cup and/or Supporters’ Shield. That’s where that club . This club is not there. This club has not achieved much over the last X number of years, however you want to define that, and I think this is an important competition to start getting back to winning ways and being a club that’s more respected competitively.”

With this result, the Earthquakes are now undefeated in their last six matches across all competitions. This also marks their first Open Cup win over the Timbers since 2005, when the latter were still playing in the USL. San Jose’s next Cup match will take place on July 8 or 9 when they host Austin FC.