2025 US Open Cup

2025 US Open Cup Round 4: D.C. United needs OT to beat Charleston Battery in Coffee Pot Cup battle

May 7, 2025 by Justin Nunez

Jared Stroud of D.C. United avoids a tackle against the Charleston Battery in the Fourth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: D.C. United

The latest battle for the Coffee Pot Cup was settled late into the night on Tuesday in the nation’s capital when DC United outlasted the Charleston Battery in extra time by a score of 2-0.

The match, which proved to be an even contest between USL Championship club Charleston Battery and three-time U.S. Open Cup champions DC United, really started to open up as the clock ticked toward 90 minutes. In the closing minutes of the second half, with the score level at 0-0, both teams had opportunities to get a winner, but neither could convert their chances, which meant the tie would have to be settled through an additional 30 minutes of play.

In extra time, the deciding moment came in front of the home supporters when Randall Leal played a ball into DC United youngster, Jacob Murrell.

Murrell, the seventh overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, took the ball down 35 yards from goal and instead of waiting for his teammates to join in the attack, he cut the ball onto his left foot to open up a window of space between himself and the nearest defender. The rest, as they say, is history. Murrell curled a shot that sailed just inches from the outstretched goalkeeper’s hands before it rippled into the upper corner of the goal.

“The ball opened up and instinct just said, hit it and it flew in the top corner,” said Murrell. “I was happy to find the breakthrough.”

Seven minutes later, with Charleston playing higher up the field to find an equalizer, DC United scored its second goal through Jared Stroud and held on for the remainder of extra time to seal the victory.

With the win on Tuesday, DC United notched its thirty-sixth victory in the history of the U.S. Open Cup and is now tied for seventh in total wins among all teams in the modern era.

DC United will face Charlotte FC in the Round of 16 after Charlotte defeated North Carolina FC 4-1.

Shared DC United Head Coach Troy Lesesne after the win, “We knew it was going to be a tough match. We talked about coming into the match how we wanted to have the mentality of not taking any shortcuts. (Charleston) made it difficult on us and we had to dig in and be really disciplined.”

The Coffee Pot Cup is displayed at the 2025 US Open Cup match at Audi Field between D.C. United and the Charleston Battery. Photo: Jason Anderson

The first half was mostly a war of attrition, with both teams sticking to their strategies and finding tiny windows of opportunity. Charleston looked to build out from defense through its fullbacks, while DC United was content to let Charleston maintain possession and countered quickly through the middle. Each team showed flashes of promise but both defenses were well organized and neither side was able to pose a serious threat goal. The game remained 0-0 going into halftime.

Once the second half started, Charleston started to find pockets of space with long, cross-field balls sent in behind the DC United defense. The USL Championship club was gaining more confidence and appeared to go ahead 1-0 in the 57^th minute when a shot from Nanan Houssou, which appeared to be on target, was deflected into the net by a teammate standing in an offside position.

From that moment, the game began to open up for both teams. DC United tested Charleston goalkeeper Luis Zamudio a couple times midway through the second half, only for the former United goalkeeper to come up with a couple clutch saves.

The remainder of the second half was a nervy affair. Both teams had their chances as the game began to open up. As the clock ticked closer to 90 minutes, it became clear that it was going to take a special moment to break the 0-0 deadlock. Ultimately the game remained scoreless after two halves and the referee signaled for extra time.

That’s when Jacob Murrell scored a goal that the 6,781 fans in attendance will remember for a long time.

DC United’s Leal played a long pass into Murrell, who was occupying a hole in the Charleston defense about 35 yards out from goal. After receiving the pass, Murrell quickly pivoted and took three touches toward goal as defenders raced to get into position to prevent Murrell from advancing any farther. Instead of waiting for overlapping runs from his teammates, Murrell cut the ball back and fired a shot from outside the box that sailed past the two defenders in front of him and past the outstretched arms of Charleston’s goalkeeper. It was a perfectly placed shot from an improbable location on the field.

Now up 1-0, DC United could dictate play while Charleston was forced to take extra risks for the equalizer. Seven minutes after DC United broke the deadlock, Jared Stroud scored the second goal of the night to make it 2-0, which is how the game finished.

The victory means that DC United not only advances to the Fifth Round of the U.S. Open Cup, but the club retains the Coffee Pot Cup, one of the most unique trophies in all of U.S. soccer history.

2025 US Open Cup Round 4 Review: One lower division remains as MLS dominates Round of 32

May 7, 2025 by TheCup.us Staff

The Fourth Round of the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup had plenty of history in store by the time it ended on Wednesday night. From the Coffee Pot Cup battle between DC United and Charleston Battery to a match that featured five goals all scored in extra time, there was something unusual to find in every match. However, there was one bit of history that almost nobody could have predicted.

With 16 MLS teams entering this round against 16 lower league opponents, the potential for cupsets seemed great. However, for the first time in the Modern Era, only one non-MLS club will be featured in the Round of 16 of the 110th edition of the US Open Cup.

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The Pittsburgh Riverhounds managed to be the last lower league member standing (and earned the $50,000 Division 2 prize money). And while these results may appear that the magic of the cup has left the lower league teams, the round was still marked with high competition, great drama, and more than a handful of gutsy performances that prove the Open Cup is still no cakewalk for the top division teams. Four of the 16 matches went to extra time (one of those ending in penalties) and another six matches ended with only a one-goal margin of victory for the MLS clubs involved.

The “Empire” may have struck back this year, but the lower leagues continue to show that their force is strong.

The Riverhounds and the 15 MLS survivors now advance to face off the week of May 20-21 with spots in the Quarterfinals on the line.

You can find a brief recap of all 16 Fourth Round games with links to the full match report and video highlights (as they become available).

TUESDAY, MAY 6

DC United (MLS)
2:0
Charleston Battery (USL-C)
After Extra Time

By Connor Bunnell

The Round of 32 opened in our nation’s capital with an extra trophy on the line. In a rematch of the 2008 US Open Cup Final, MLS side and three-time Open Cup champions D.C. United bested the USL Championship’s Charleston Battery 2-0 in extra time to retain the Coffee Pot Cup.

Those who know this rare interdivisional derby had every reason to expect fireworks going in, and Charleston was the first to launch them, threatening for goals immediately and taking an early edge in possession over their MLS counterparts. D.C. soon found their footing, though, and in a back-and-forth first half, each side showed their stuff, but neither broke through for a score in the opening 45.

With the Coffee Pot Cup physically in the stadium by halftime, the two teams returned to the pitch hungry to make it theirs. Once again, the Battery threatened hard, getting their second disallowed goal for offsides in as many halves. For their part, United knocked furiously at the door and got multiple setpieces in dangerous territory, but couldn’t make anything of them. Add in some impressive saves from Charleston keeper Luis Zamudio and a painful stretch in the final minutes where the Eagles shot like they thought the goal was somewhere in the upper deck, and you have a recipe for this game going to extra time.

In the 96th minute, the dam finally broke, as D.C.’s Jacob Murrell got a pass from Randall Leal on the break and launched a curving missile from 25 yards out. Not satisfied with breaking the deadlock, the Eagles stayed on the hunt, turning a Battery free kick into a lightning-quick counter, with Jared Stroud poking it past a dumbstruck Zamudio to double the lead and Leal once again orchestrating things with an assist. Charleston’s Juan Torres copped a straight red in the second half of extra time, and that just about sealed it for the home side.

With their victory, DC United move to 36-16-7 all-time in the US Open Cup, as well as claiming a third straight Open Cup win in the Coffee Pot Cup rivalry.

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North Carolina FC (USL-C)
1:4
Charlotte FC (MLS)
After Extra Time

By Gracin Galbreath

In a stateside battle between two sides from North Carolina, it would be Charlotte FC who emerged victorious with a 4-1 win through extra time.

It would be a scoreless first half, with NCFC putting up a fair fight—both had two shots but the hosts were edged out in possession. In the second half, it was much of the same. A scoreless regulation would bring it to extra-time.

Once substitutes were introduced, the match exploded into life. In the 97th minute, Liel Abada would break the deadlock for Charlotte after slotting a cutback into the middle of the net. Their 1-0 lead would last only a minute, after Rafael Mentzingen scored a driven shot into the bottom corner. Patrick Agyemang restored a lead for Charlotte in the 104th minute. 2-1 became 3-1 with Petkovic’s strike, and then 4-1 with Vargas who joined the scoring.

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Nashville SC (MLS)
1:0
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL-1)

By Jordan Beech

Josh Bauer’s 18th-minute strike was all that was needed for Nashville SC to triumph over Chattanooga Red Wolves SC and advance to the Round of 16 on Wednesday night.

Nashville, largely unbothered by their Division 3 counterparts, advanced to the Round of 16 for the fourth time in club history, including the second time in three years. While Chattanooga’s time in the Cup is over, 2025 was the Red Wolves’ best showing to date in the tournament.

Nashville remains unbeaten in nine all-time home games (8-0-1, 0-1 PKs) in Open Cup competition

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Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL-C)
1:4
New York Red Bulls (MLS)

By Tim Thomas

A hard fought match on chilly and rainy night at over 6,000 feet above sea level would see the New York Red Bulls overtake the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, 4-1. A first half brace by Mohammed Sofo made all the difference in the match.

The first half did not see many chances for the Red Bulls but Sofo capitalized on both of them he was given, snagging a brace with goals in the 16th and 44th minutes. The second half saw an energized Switchbacks side come out swinging with plenty of chances. Ultimately, it would be New York who would cash in with a goal by Dennis Gjengaar in the 64th minute. Anthony Fontana would give the Switchbacks a fighting chance eight minutes later with a goal. It wouldn’t be enough for the hometown team as Sean Nealis would shut the door with a late Red Bulls goal.

This marked the first time the Colorado Springs Switchbacks had ever hosted an MLS team. The loss would drop Colorado Springs to 7-8-1 all time in the Cup and ensure that they will have to try again next year to make it past the Fourth Round. With the victory New York improves to 28-21-4 in Open Cup matches.

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Tacoma Defiance (MLSNP)
2:3
Portland Timbers FC (MLS)

By Andrew Repp

In a spirited Round of 32 match between Portland Timbers of MLS and their Cascadia hosts Tacoma Defiance of MLS NEXT Pro, Portland came out on top in a 3-2 thriller.

After a fairly even first half hour where the hosts arguably had the better of the few chances to be found, Timbers earned the breakthrough after winning a corner in the 33rd minute. Ariel Lassiter swung it in and Zac McGraw headed it in from close range to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Both sides remained aggressive but couldn’t test their respective opposing keepers for the rest of the half.

Defiance quickly got their equalizer just three minutes into the second half when Osaze De Rosario smashed home a Georgi Minoungou cross from the right from close range. They followed the exact same pattern two minutes later, when another Minoungou cross from the right was hammered in by halftime sub Yu Tsukanome to give the home side a 2-1 advantage. In both cases, Timbers keeper Maxime Crepeau could do nothing to stop the shots.

Following the second Tacoma goal, neither team was able to turn any of their half chances into another score until the 80th minute, when Ian Smith of the Timbers sent in a cross from the left that halftime sub Gage Guerra headed past Defiance goalkeeper Andy Thomas to tie the match at 2-2.

There was more back and forth action, but Timbers scored the winning goal after Cristhian Paredes won a penalty kick in the 2nd minute of added time. Kevin Kelsy stepped to the spot and smashed the ball inside the left post to give the visitors a 3-2 lead. Tacoma had one final chance off a corner but were unable to knock it in.

Tacoma’s dream Open Cup run comes to an end, while Portland’s could be just beginning as they move on to the Round of 16.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 7

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL-C)
1:0
New York City FC (MLS)

By Connor Bunnell

The first, and what proved to be the only, Cupset of the round over an MLS team, and it happened in style as the USL Championship’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC defeated New York City FC, 1-0.

In the early going, NYCFC established an overwhelming advantage in possession, a theme that would continue throughout the contest. While Pittsburgh were certainly capable of threatening when they had the ball, their chances were few and far between, while the Pigeons threatened their hosts time and time again, forcing Riverhounds goalie Eric Dick to earn his keep. However, in the 78th minute, City’s overwhelming momentum took a massive hit when defenseman Strahinja Tanasijević made a last man denial of a goal-scoring opportunity. That earned him a straight red and forced the visitors to try and survive with only ten men.

Even after that, New York continued to make menacing approaches, with multiple painful misses in front of Pittsburgh’s net, but the defining moment took place at the end of stoppage time, when Pittsburgh earned one last corner kick. Robbie Mertz launched it to the perfect spot, Beto Ydrach headed it in, and at the absolute death, the Riverhounds took the Cupset.

After this win, Pittsburgh are officially over .500 all-time in the Open Cup, with a record of 19-18-3. This is their third straight win over an MLS team.

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Rhode Island FC (USL-C)
1:2
New England Revolution (MLS)

By Zoe Schaedle

Despite enjoying majority of possession, Rhode Island FC fell to the New England Revolution in front of their home fans. The MLS side prevailed with a thrilling 2-1 win over the USL Championship team.

Coming off of a 2-0 road victory over Toronto FC, the Revs looked to counter quickly, attacking Rhode Island’s aggressive defensive press. Meanwhile, Rhode Island looked to win the ball back in the attacking half and target forwards Noah Fuson and Albert Dikwa. However, the Revs defense proved solid having already earned eight clean sheets this season. Defender Sands played a key role in locking down Rhode Island’s attacking threats in Fuson and Kwizera.

In the 38th minute, Revs Tomas Chancalay got the better of Rhode Island’s defense led by Centerback Frank Nodarse who had just returned from his suspension for a red card in the club’s last Cup game against Portland Hearts of Pine. The 26-year-old Argentinian midfielder slotted it past Rhode Island’s goalkeeper Jackson Lee off of a defensive breakdown.

The Revs spearheaded by Luis Diaz’s efforts down the right wing came out hot earning a corner to begin the second half. However, Rhode Island was far from finished, responding by testing New England’s goalkeeper Alex Bono with several shots from outside the box. The equalizer came in the 50th minute from a right footed finish at the top of the box by midfielder Maxi Rodriguez off of a cross from Fuson.

It appeared as if the game would go to extra time when New England’s 75th minute sub Cristiano Oliveira found the back of the net in the 88th minute. The goal was scored off of a rebound shot by teammate Gevork Diarbian who had entered the match for goalscorer Chancalay only a minute before.

Despite a hard fought effort by Rhode Island FC, the New England Revolution avoided “cupset” and advanced to the Round of 16 of the 2025 US Open Cup.

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Louisville City FC (USL-C)
0:1
Minnesota United (MLS)

By Ashle Paige

In the first-ever meeting between Louisville City FC and Minnesota United, the hosts from Kentucky dominated nearly the whole match. But in the end it was a single 65th minute strike from Minnesota’s Darius Randell that sent the Loons into the Round of 16.

Coming off a 3-0 thrashing of Austin FC in MLS play just days prior, MNUFC brought in nine players from their MLS NEXT Pro squad to fill out the matchday eighteen. Louisville only changed three players from their previous match against Lexington and from the outset took advantage of the youth and cup inexperience of most of the Minnesota roster. The Boys in Purple seemed to take the lead early on in the contest with a 7th minute goal from Ray Serrano. Ultimately the goal was called back for offside and both clubs settled in for a grinding match that saw no shots on target through the halfway mark.

The second half of play started in the same fashion as the first, with Louisville controlling the pace of play and getting the better of Minnesota. Just as it was in the first half the Loons gained more and more composure. A 65th minute goal from the visitors, when Sang Bin Jeong slipped a low cross across the box to 17 year-old Darius Randell who banged home the shot, was the only one of the night and ultimately sent Minnesota on to the second round.

Louisville did not give up and proceeded to pepper Minnesota United with shots and take even more control for the remaining 35 minutes of the match. In response MNUFC moved to a much more defensive formation to do everything they could to see out the match. 15 shots from Louisville later Minnesota handed LouCity their first loss of 2025 in any competition and set up a date with St. Louis City in the Round of 16.

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Philadelphia Union (MLS)
1:1
Indy Eleven (USL-C)
Philadelphia advances 5-4 on penalty kicks

By George Diamond

The Philadelphia Union needed a penalty kick shootout to get past Indy Eleven in a chippy but exciting game. A heavily rotated Union squad opened the scoring early. In the 6th minute, Alejandro Bedoya headed a ball home past Indy goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook off a pinpoint Olivier Mbaizo cross.

Budding young star, Cavan Sullivan, impressed during his first start for the club but was denied a first goal by Charles-Cook several times. On the whole, the Union dominated but were unable to get a second goal.

Shortly after halftime, Elvis Amoh equalizied with a slick backheel, putting the Eleven right back into action. Philly were forced to put on their starters. They peppered Indy’s goal, taking a whopping 33 shots in total, but were unable to find a go-ahead goal. On the other end of the pitch, Andrew Rick was called into action far less than his counterpart, but made several spectacular stops to prevent a cupset. Despite the Union pressure, Indy Eleven survived extra time and the game went to penalties. Former Union SuperDraft pick Aodhan Quinn saw his shot saved by Rick and Jovan Lukic went on to score the winning kick in the shootout, sending the fans at Subaru Park into raptures. The Union will advance to the Round of 16 where they will face the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in an intrastate matchup.

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Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL-C)
0:5
Orlando City SC (MLS)

By James Knowles

In a fixture known as much for the fireworks off the pitch as on it, the Tampa Bay Rowdies played host to Orlando City. After holding their own for the first thirty minutes or so, it seemed like the dam burst. In fact, it was 16-year-old academy product Gustavo Caraballo who benefitted most, scoring the first and second goals before a third from Ramiro Enrique effectively sealed the result before halftime.

After the break, both teams made a few subs. The visitors were able to take their foot off the gas while also putting the game out of reach with goals from Duncan McGuire and Dagur Thórhallsson. It finished that way after 90 minutes – or a little sooner for a number fans who were escorted out. Orlando City maintained its record in competitive games vs. the Rowdies and moves on to the Round of 16.

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Chicago Fire (MLS)
4:0
Detroit City FC (USL-C)

By Tim Hotze

Few cities in the country have longer or more storied histories in professional sports than Chicago and Detroit, but two pro teams from the two cities had never met in the Modern Era of the most historic trophy in the world’s largest sport until the Chicago Fire hosted Detroit City in Wednesday night’s US Open Cup Round of 32 matchup. Ultimately, the home side completed a routine and professional match against an overwhelmed lower-division opponent to the disappointment of their large contingent of traveling supporters, with Chicago finishing the night as 4-0 victors.

The match pitted a struggling Chicago Fire side, winless in their last six, against a Detroit City team undefeated in their last six games across all competitions, but it didn’t take long for the MLS team to make their mark when Maren Haile-Selassie managed to gain possession inside Detroit’s box in the fourth minute, sending the ball to Hugo Cuypers. From short distance, Cuypers cannoned the ball past Detroit goalkeeper Carlos Saldaña, who had no chance on the play. In the 35th minute, the Fire doubled their lead off an own goal by Detroit’s Darren Smith created by Chicago’s pressure in the box.

The Fire added a third in the 50th minute when Chicago’s Jonathan Bamba pulled Detroit’s defense to him creating time and space for Omari Glasgow, giving Guyana’s all-time scorer his first goal for Chicago’s first team after making his U.S. Open Cup debut last year with Chicago Fire II in MLS Next Pro. In the 71st minute, Brian Gutiérrez set up Maren Haile-Selassie for the Fire’s fourth and final goal of the evening. The goal gave the Swiss winger a three point night alongside his two assists on the night.

The Chicago Fire’s 4-0 victory sets up an all-MLS matchup in the Round of 16 against the New England Revolution and ends Detroit City’s hopes to build on their U.S. Open Cup performance last year where they eliminated the defending champion Houston Galaxy.

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St. Louis CITY FC (MLS)
2:0
Union Omaha (USL-1)

By Tim Abbott

An uneventful first half between the hosts and the Owls, with CITY reduced to pot shots from distance but Union not threatening from their low block.

The theme continued in the second half and the game was decided by another blast from distance, a dipping shot from 25 yards by CITY debutant Joey Zalinsky in the 68th minute, for his first ever professional goal. João Klauss added icing to the scoreline in the 86th minute. And thus ended the lofty aims of the Owls of Union Omaha to add another cupset to their extensive record.

CITY move on to play Minnesota United twice in a week – once in MLS and once in the Round of 16 of the Open Cup. Union Omaha does walk away with a $50,000 consolation prize as the Third Division team that advanced the furthest in the tournament (they edged Tacoma Defiance via a “regulation wins” tiebreaker)

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FC Dallas (MLS)
3:1
AV ALTA FC (USL-1)

By Julian Cardillo

FC Dallas opened their 2025 US Open Cup campaign with a 3-1 victory over AV ALTA FC, a USL League One entry from Southern California, in the Round of 32 at Toyota Stadium on Wednesday night.

Goals from Luciano Acosta, Kaick da silva Ferreira, and Bernard Kamungo powered Dallas to victory. That said, the slickest moment of the match — indeed, what may go down as the best goal in this year’s edition of the 110-year-old tournament — came in the 16th minute, when AV ALTA’s Osvaldo Rafael Lay Ayala found the back of the net with an effort from behind the midfield line; Ayala’s long-range stunner bounced over the head of Dallas goalkeeper Michael Collodi, who was off his line, before settling inside the goal.

Ayala’s goal served as a formidable response to Acosta’s opener, which was converted off a low cross from the right flank in the third minute. Kaick restored Dallas’ lead in the 42nd minute after being played in behind on the left edge of the box by Tsiki Ntsabeleng. Kamungo put the game out of reach by finishing a low cross from the left flank in the 71st minute.

FC Dallas, owners of the 1997 and 2016 U.S. Open Cup titles, play the New York Red Bulls in the Round of 16 on either May 20 or 21.

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Austin FC (MLS)
3:2
El Paso Locomotive FC (USL-C)

By A.D. Mosier

For 72 minutes, it looked like El Paso Locomotive FC was going to pull a Texas-sized Cupset in the first ever meeting between the two sides.

Leaning on a first-half brace by Beto Avila with just over a quarter of an hour to play, it looked like the lowly USL Championship side would slay the giants to the north. Then the Verde seemed to wake up, scoring three unanswered goals in the span of seven minutes to advance to stop the Locomotive’s hopes of advancing into the Round of 16 in its tracks.

Brandon Vasquez earned the hefty transfer fee Austin paid to bring him back north of the border bookending Austin’s scoring, along with Myrto Uzuni, whose 76th minute goal drew Austin level.

Moments after El Paso had goal called back for an obvious offside, Avila opened scoring in the 20th minute, beating two Austin defenders off the dribble inside the penalty area. Avila bagged his second on the night thanks to some dodgy defending, getting the rebound off a badly played ball off a defender and hitting the ball to the far post, where Austin goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland failed to make a routine save to his right.

It wasn’t until the final 20 minutes that Austin looked like the higher-budget team. Vasquez finally put the hosts on the scoreboard in the 73rd minute running onto a through-ball from Owen Wolff. Uzuni drew the hosts level three minutes later, slotting the ball to the far post from 18 yards after some deft post-up play by Vasquez. Then Vasquez put Austin in the lead with his head four minutes later, redirecting a Wolff cross to put Austin through to the Round of 16 for the second time in club history.

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Phoenix Rising FC (USL-C)
1:4
Houston Dynamo FC (MLS)
After Extra Time

By A.D. Mosier

It took 120 minutes, but the Houston Dynamo will move on to the Round off 16 thanks to a brilliant 99th minute goal by Jack McGlynn to break a 1-1 deadlock with Phoenix Rising. The 2023 Open Cup champions would go on to score three goals in extra time to advance to the Round of 16

Felipe Andrade put the Dynamo in the lead in the 17th minute, nodding home a 17th minute free kick from Nico Lodeiro.

Dariusz Formella pulled the home side level in the fourth minute of first-half added time from the penalty spot after a controversial call on Dynamo goalkeeper, Blake Gillingham, on Ihsan Sacko.

The second half was all Dynamo. Everyone at Phoenix Rising Stadium knew it was only a matter of time before the bending Rising back line would finally break.

Jack McGlynn put the visitors in the lead with a spectacular left-footed goal in the 99th minute. McGlynn entered the match in the 63rd minute as part of a Houston shift change that seized control of the match. After several near misses in regulation, McGlynn bagged the winner, curling his twenty-yard shot to the far post past a statuesque Patrick Rakovsky.

From there, the floodgates opened. Substitute Ezequiel Ponce iced the game in the 112th minute finishing a cross from Ondrej Linger from close range, followed by a fourth goal by Sebastian Kowalczyk three minutes later to put the Dynamo through to the Round of 16.

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San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
2:1
Sacramento Republic FC (USL-C)

By Tim Howerton

The San Jose Earthquakes started quickly as they defeated Sacramento Republic 2-1 on Wednesday night. The hosts dominated all phases of the match and, despite the scoreline, were never in danger of falling to their second division rivals.

Preston Judd found Amahl Pellegrino only 67 seconds into the match to start the scoring. Sacramento’s defense then found themselves on the back foot for the majority of the next 20 minutes, and were lucky not to be down even more. Pellegrino proved himself to be a major problem in the center and left of the box, but couldn’t complete three more early chances at increasing the San Jose lead.

After amassing only 18% possession in the first 25 minutes Sacramento started to find signs of life, began some good spells of possession and got in some dangerous positions. The attack was just a step too slow, however, and the defense found ways to constantly recover holding the USL Championship side to only one shot in the first half—which was well off target.

Just as the visitors thought they might escape to the locker room with their luck intact, Judd grabbed a goal of his own. His 43rd-minute strike, off an amazing flick on assist from 19-year-old Niko Tsakiris, set the halftime scoreline at 2-0.

The second half wasn’t quite action packed as San Jose was able to hold Sacramento at arms length for most of the half. The hosts had the more dangerous of chances, including three that Pellegrino will wish he could have slotted home, but Sacramento was able to build better momentum and possession going forward.

However, what was looking to be a professional performance to close out the second half could have proven to be very nervous for San Jose. Jamar Ricketts was shown a straight red card in the 83rd minute as his challenge from behind on Aaron Edwards was immediately deemed too dangerous.

Trevor Amann was able to get a consolation goal back for Sacramento in the 6th minute of stoppage time, but it would prove too little, too late as the USL Championship side bowed out of the tournament.

San Jose Earthquakes will now prepare to host Portland Timbers on either May 20th or 21st in the Round of 16.

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How a US Open Cup classic, locker room vandalism inspired fans to create Coffee Pot Cup

May 6, 2025 by Josh Hakala

Jim Gregory, president of Charleston Battery supporters group The Regiment (right), presents the Coffee Pot Cup to Sachin Shah after D.C. United's 2-0 win in the 2004 Carolina Challenge Cup. Photo: Mike Buytas — Jim Gregory, president of Charleston Battery supporters group The Regiment (right), presents the Coffee Pot Cup to Sachin Shah after D.C. United’s 2-0 win in the 2004 Carolina Challenge Cup. Photo: Mike Buytas

UPDATE (5/6/25 – 7:55pm ET) – The Coffee Pot Cup made its way to Audi Field for the Fourth Round match of the 2025 US Open Cup.

How do you like your Open Cup upsets? Lots of cream and sugar, or just plain black? On Aug. 4, 1999, D.C. United didn’t like the taste of the Charleston Battery’s upset brew and the events that followed gave birth to one of the oddest rivalries in American soccer: The Coffee Pot Cup.

It remains one of the greatest games of the US Open Cup’s Modern Era (1995-present), but what happened after the game gets more attention than the instant classic that took place on the field. The post-game chaos in the visitor’s locker room following the Battery’s dramatic 4-3 extra time win, led to American soccer’s first modern rivalry trophy.

When D.C. United hosts the Charleston Battery in the Fourth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup on Tuesday, the winner will not only advance to the Round of 16 but the fans in attendance could lift, and drink from, the Coffee Pot Cup. (If the Cup arrives at the stadium … more on that in a bit)

American Soccer in 1999

In 1999, the American soccer landscape looked much different than it does today. Major League Soccer was in its fourth season and was still on shaky ground financially. The league added the Chicago Fire and Miami Fusion in 1998 to increase to 12 teams, most of whom still played in tarped-off (American) football stadiums. Columbus would introduce the very first soccer specific stadium in MLS in 1999, now known as Historic Crew Stadium.

After limping through most of the 1990s with a roster of teams ranging from 5-8, the A-League, (formerly known as the American Professional Soccer League) merged with the USISL’s Select League in 1997 to expand to 24 teams. While the league tripled in size, many clubs still struggled financially.

The Open Cup was very different in 1999 as well. The three professional leagues, MLS, A-League and D3 Pro League only sent eight teams each into the tournament. The eight spots allotted to amateur clubs were split between the USASA and Premier Development League (now USL League Two) bringing the total tournament field to 32 teams.

The early years of the Open Cup with MLS involved created a rivalry between MLS and the A-League, spearheaded by the Rochester Raging Rhinos. Teams looking to prove their worth and players seeking attention for future MLS roster spots meant every MLS team had extra large targets on their backs. The Rhinos were one A-League club in particular who were constantly looking to prove they should be the next team to join MLS. The Rhinos regularly drew 10,000 plus for big home games, an exclamation mark in a league in which average attendance figures around 2-3,000 were considered great. Rochester staked their claim in the 1996 US Open Cup by knocking off the Tampa Bay Mutiny and the Colorado Rapids to reach the Open Cup Final, where they lost to D.C. United 3-0.

United vs. Battery

D.C. United were already two-time league champions and had reached the MLS Cup Final each of the league’s first three years (1996-1998). In addition, D.C. won the U.S. Open Cup in 1996 and reached the Final in 1997 (losing in PKs to the Dallas Burn). In 1998, United won the CONCACAF Champions Cup as well as the Copa Interamericana over Brazil’s Vasco da Gama. D.C. United truly were the giants in the early days of MLS.

The Charleston Battery were a few years older than D.C., getting their start in 1993 with the USISL (USL today), before joining the A-League after the merger.

Coming into the game, D.C. United were in a familiar position, first place in MLS Eastern Conference at 13-7, with last year’s trade acquisition Roy Lassiter leading the league in goal scoring with 15.

Charleston started the 1999 campaign by opening the new 5,000 seat Blackbaud Stadium, the first soccer-specific stadium built for a non-MLS club.

“We always knew Charleston wasn’t going to be an MLS market, but that never stopped us from aiming high,” said Battery president Nigel Cooper. “We just wanted to be the best we could be. Building the first privately-funded, soccer-specific facility in the U.S. was a huge point of pride. The Three Lions Club, packed with memorabilia and passion, was unique.”

The Battery were looking to rebound from a 11-15 finish in the 1998 season. It was just barely good enough to make the playoffs, but they suffered a 3-0 road loss to Rochester in the opening round. The Battery entered their matchup with D.C. with an 11-10 record in league play.

The Build-Up

While D.C. entered the ’99 Open Cup in the Third Round, Charleston started their inaugural entry in the tournament in the Second Round by hosting the D3 Pro League’s Wilmington Hammerheads. The Hammerheads, one of the strongest teams in their league, entered the game red hot. The Hammerheads were riding a 10-game winning streak on the strength of Ryan Walker, one of the league’s top goalscorers with 16.

While the Battery came away 2-1 winners, the going wasn’t easy. While the Battery were in control most of the way with a 2-0 lead through first half goals from Todd Miller (3rd minute) and Paul Conway (16th minute) they couldn’t seem to shake their D3 opponents. Wilmington stayed competitive throughout the second half, but their goal by Charles Panos in the 90th minute proved too little too late however, and Charleston began to prepare for the giants.

The next day’s sports section in the Charleston Post and Courier proclaimed, “Bring on the MLS”. It was called the biggest game in club history.

“We always felt we had a chance against MLS teams, much in the same way that lower level teams in the English Football League think they have a chance against Premier League teams in the cup competitions,” said Cooper. “There could always be an upset. The pressure was really on the MLS teams. They had to prove their superiority which wasn’t always the case. Many of our players felt they could go head-to-head with MLS.”

The Game

D.C. were playing the game shorthanded. United were missing four players (Jeff Agoos, Carlos Llamosa, Ritchie Williams and Ben Olsen) due to US National Team duty in the Confederations Cup. In addition, reigning MLS MVP Marco Etcheverry was ruled out due to a heel injury. Despite that, DCU still had a strong lineup full of stars with players like last year’s MLS MVP runner-up Jaime Moreno, and US internationals Roy Lassiter and Eddie Pope. Also, highly-touted 20-year-old prospect Chris Albright was coming off the bench.

Ivaylo Ilarionov of the Charleston Battery celebrates after scoring a goal against D.C. United in the Third Round of the 1999 US Open Cup. Photo: Charleston Battery

After falling short of winning a third straight MLS Cup title the year before, United were on a mission to regain the league title in 1999.

“I think we blamed some of the extra competitions that we were in for 1998 for the loss in the (MLS Cup) final,” said Eddie Pope, who battled injuries throughout the 1999 season. “I don’t think we saw the Open Cup as a priority but more so as a burden or a distraction. Sad but true at the time. The Open Cup just didn’t have the importance that it does now. Therefore, I think we were always looking past our opponents with our minds on MLS Cup. That ended up being a mistake.”

An announced crowd of 5,456 – which remains a Battery home US Open Cup attendance record to this day – packed Blackbaud Stadium on a humid Wednesday evening. That sold out stadium would witness one of the more memorable nights in the club’s history.

“(The game was) a rollercoaster of emotions,” said Cooper. “It was a total mix of nerves and excitement before the game. New stadium, record crowd, playing one of the top teams in MLS. Everyone felt the pressure.”

No one on the field that night was feeling more emotions than the Battery’s new Bulgarian midfielder Ivaylo Ilarionov. The Open Cup game was just a culmination of what was an emotional ride for him personally. In the last few weeks, he learned that his green card had been approved. Then, just two days before the game, his wife gave birth to their second child, a son named Martin.

“Sometimes before big games you have a lot of pressure, a lot of stress, but myself, personally, I had so much excitement in my head that I just wanted to go out and play,” said Ilarionov. “Players often overthink the game, but I was just focused on proving to myself and to everyone else that I belonged on that field (against the best team in MLS).”

Mike Burke of the Charleston Battery celebrates after scoring a goal against D.C. United in the Third Round of the 1999 US Open Cup. Photo: Charleston Battery

The Battery got off to a dream start. With just 12 minutes elapsed, Ilarionov delivered a cross from the left side, finding A-League All-Star Mike Burke in front of the goal, beating D.C. goalkeeper Tom Presthus to put the Battery up 1-0.

Just 12 minutes later, the Battery went up 2-0 on a solo effort from Dean Sewell, dribbling into the penalty area and beating Presthus with a shot that struck the underside of the crossbar and settled into the side netting.

Four minutes after Sewell’s goal, the Battery were awakened from their dream, as Jaime Moreno took a pass with his back towards the goal, swung around and floated a shot into the far post netting that was impossible for Battery goalkeeper Dusty Hudock to stop.

Charleston took a 2-1 lead into halftime, but United came out for the second half ready to put an end to the Battery’s “cupset” dreams.

“In the locker room (at halftime), there wasn’t a lot of talking. We were calm because we had nothing to lose against the MLS champions,” said Ilarionov. “We knew (D.C.) had the big stars, but we just went out in the second half and enjoyed it.”

“I remember the crowd because it was a packed house and it was loud,” said Hudock, who was selected for the A-League All-Star Game later that week. “I also remember the strikers we played against and how lethal they were.”

Roy Lassiter didn’t get his first shot of the game for United until the 56th minute when he headed a cross from A.J. Wood that was easily handled by Hudock.

Three minutes later, United would pull level on Chris Albright’s first professional goal, heading home a Jaime Moreno corner kick. Albright had come on as a sub for Diego Sonora eight minutes earlier.

“It was incredible,” said Albright. “At the time I was supposed to be something that I didn’t quite turn out to be. And so there was a lot of pressure on my signing and so there was certainly a microscope on me, like, is this kid any good? And to get that monkey off my back early on was fun.”

In the 84th minute the moment the Battery fans dreaded became reality, D.C. United took the lead for the first time. Jaime Moreno, who was involved in all three United goals, slipped a pass to A.J. Wood, who beat Hudock with a low shot at the post.

“Going up 2-0 early had us dreaming,” said Cooper, who took over as Charleston’s team president ahead of the 1999 season. “But then suddenly we’re down 3-2 and it felt like we’d lost a golden opportunity.”

For a moment it seemed like the MLS giants would survive the upset bid, but along came Ilarionov.

With just three minutes remaining, Ilarionov, who had been putting pressure on the United backline, took a pass from Rashad Miller, fought off a D.C. defender in the penalty area, and fired a shot past a charging Presthus to tie the game. Ilarionov celebrated by running to the sideline performing the “rocking the baby” in honor of the new addition to his family.

Golden goal extra time now awaited the teams. Instead of a full 30-minute extra time session, the match would end on the first goal scored by either team. On this night, it only took ten minutes to accomplish.

Ilarionov nearly ended the game minutes before that, as his 12-yard shot from a Derick Brownell pass went wide to the right of goal in the 97th minute.

Three minutes later, the dream became reality, as Dean Sewell found Ilarionov in the top corner of the penalty area. Virtually one-on-one with Presthus, Ilarionov beat the United ‘keeper with a well-placed left footed shot to send the Battery fans into a frenzy, and almost the entire Battery squad dog-piled Ilarionov in celebration. Once on his feet, Hudock picked Ilarionov up on his shoulders paraded around with Charleston’s new hero.

“I just couldn’t believe it was me that did it,” said Ilarionov. “But luckily for me, I was the one who got this golden opportunity, but it was a great team effort. Afterwards, I just had so many exciting things in my brain, with the goals, the win, my family, my new baby, it was overwhelming.”

For the fans in attendance, getting to witness a dramatic upset of that magnitude in their team’s new soccer-specific stadium, was special.

“I just remember the energy of the game was off the charts,” recalled TheCup.us contributor Forrest Wimberly who was in the stands at Blackbaud that night. “I’ve only been at a few matches in my life that matched that energy level. The fans were exhausted when it was all said and done. You just didn’t know what was gonna happen next and the way the Battery just hung around and then really put their stamp on the match really late to force extra time and then to get into the extra time and win it, it was just one of those magic cup moments.

“I probably would still rank this as the number one game I’ve attended all time,” added Wimberly.

For Ilarionov, as someone who was part of a CSKA Sofia (Bulgaria) team that beat Juventus 3-2 in the 1994-95 UEFA Cup, he says his heroics against D.C. United was the “top story” of his career.

After the win, Charleston was joined in the Quarterfinals by a pair of fellow A-League clubs: the Rochester Raging Rhinos and the Staten Island Vipers. (The Vipers beat the Metrostars – now New York Red Bulls – 3-2 in extra time.)

Charleston would advance to the Semifinals with a 2-1 win over the Vipers with a pair of early goals from Paul Conway (4’, 12’).

The Battery’s run would end in the Semifinals which was hosted in Virginia Beach, Va. as part of a doubleheader with the threat of Hurricane Dennis nearby. Charleston lost 3-0 to the Colorado Rapids in the first game, then the Rochester Rhinos would beat the Columbus Crew 3-2 on a 90th minute goal by Tim Hardy in the nightcap. The Rhinos would famously advance to the Final where they would become the only non-MLS team to lift the trophy in the Modern Era.

The Coffee Pot Cup

What happened in the D.C. United dressing room after the game would ensure the contest would be cemented in US soccer lore. Frustrated by the shock loss, some of the D.C. United players ripped shower heads out of the showers and smashed a pair of coffee pots. It was a moment that no doubt would have set today’s social media ablaze, but in 1999 “social media” was limited to chat rooms and message boards.

Attempts to confirm the players who committed the vandalism were fruitless. When asked about it, Eddie Pope and Chris Albright both said they didn’t remember the incident that happened 26 years ago.

The Battery sent United a bill for the damages and according to Cooper, the bill was paid.

Freddy Adu of D.C. United dribbles against Charleston Battery in the 2004 Carolina Challenge Cup at Blackbaud Stadium. Photo: Mike Buytas

The two teams would meet again the following year in the Second Round of the US Open Cup with D.C. getting revenge, 4-0. It was scoreless at the half, but United exploded with four second half goals, three of them scored by Raul Diaz Arce in a span of 17 minutes. Jaime Moreno also chipped in a goal and two assists.

In 2004, five years after the original “Coffee Pot” game, D.C. and Charleston were set to meet in the Battery’s inaugural Carolina Challenge Cup. Prior to the kickoff of the preseason tournament at Blackbaud Stadium, the supporters’ groups from both teams decided to have some fun with United’s destructive post-game behavior from that 1999 Open Cup classic.

On the BigSoccer.com message board, one of American soccer’s most popular online meeting places in the late 90s and into the 2000s, a thread was started called DC to play in the 1st Carolina Challenge Cup. The post announced the upcoming event and fans began talking trash and making travel plans.

The second response to that post was by a D.C. United fan with the user name “Sachin” who said “I’ll bring the coffeepots!”. That joke by Sachin Shah and the conversation that followed, led to the creation of the Coffee Pot Cup.

Shah, a Virginia native, had followed D.C. United since their inaugural season in 1996. He was an active member of the now-defunct La Norte supporters group and was even more active in Big Soccer’s online community.

He posted on Feb. 6, 2004: “Maybe the supporters of the DC-Charleston match should get a coffee urn as a ‘trophy’ for winning the match”

Shah took matters into his own hands. He looked at some traditional big box stores, like Walmart, but couldn’t find the right one. Finally, he decided to look on Ebay and his search came to an end.

He found a stainless steel coffee urn with a removable lid and a spigot to pour out whatever liquid is inside. It was estimated to hold about 13 pints of whatever beverage one can fill it with.

Final cost: $47

In the end, the name “Coffee Pot Cup” stuck and the rules were established by the members of both teams’ supporters groups. The losers would provide the drink of the winning team’s choice and fill up the urn. The winners would get first drinks.

When the two teams met on March 20, 2004 in the opening game of the Carolina Challenge Cup, D.C. came away with a 2-1 win. Teenage phenom Freddy Adu scored the opening goal in the 56th minute only to see Charleston’s Paul Conway equalize in the 75th. Another of United’s young up-and-coming players, Bobby Convey, scored the winning goal in the 83rd minute.

After the game, both fan groups gathered at the Three Lions Club, the pub located inside Blackbaud Stadium for the inaugural awarding of the Coffee Pot Cup. As the rules dictated, the Battery fans had to fill the cup with the beverage of the winning team’s choosing. In an act of sportsmanship, Battery president Nigel Cooper covered half of the cost of the Guinness that filled the urn. The United supporters got first drinks but by the end of the night, both supporters groups would refill and share the contents of the Cup.

2008 US Open Cup Final

DC United celebrates their 2008 US Open Cup title. Photo: BehindTheBadge.com

By far, the biggest game of the friendly rivalry came in 2008 when the Battery became just the second non-MLS club to make a run all the way to the Final. There they would face D.C. United at RFK Stadium.

The Battery made one of the most impressive Cup runs in recent history. The 2008 remains the only Modern Era team to reach the Final after starting the competition in the First Round. They advanced through five opponents, including eliminating two MLS teams (Houston Dynamo via PKs at home, 3-1 at FC Dallas), to reach the championship game.

Charleston Battery vs. D.C. United
(All games at Blackbaud Stadium unless noted)

1999 US Open Cup – Round 3 (8/4/99)
Charleston Battery 4:3 (AET) D.C. United

2000 US Open Cup – Round 2 (6/14/00)
Charleston Battery 0:4 D.C. United

2003 Friendly (3/23/03)
Charleston Battery 0:1 D.C. United

2004 Carolina Challenge Cup (3/20/04)
Charleston Battery 1:2 D.C. United

2005 Carolina Challenge Cup (3/23/05)
Charleston Battery 2:2 D.C. United

2006 Carolina Challenge Cup (3/25/06)
Charleston Battery 1:1 D.C. United

2008 US Open Cup Final (9/3/08)
D.C. United 2:1 Charleston Battery
Site: RFK Stadium (Washington D.C.)

2009 Carolina Challenge Cup (3/14/09)
Charleston Battery 0:2 D.C. United

2010 Carolina Challenge Cup (3/20/10)
Charleston Battery 0:2 D.C. United

2011 Carolina Challenge Cup (3/5/11)
Charleston Battery 1:2 D.C. United

2012 Carolina Challenge Cup (2/29/12)
Charleston Battery 1:3 D.C. United

2014 Carolina Challenge Cup (2/26/14)
Charleston Battery 1:1 D.C. United

United had three straight home games before hosting the Final with wins over the Rochester Rhinos (USL) and the Chicago Fire at the Maryland Soccerplex (Germantown, Md.) and a 3-1 win over the New England Revolution at RFK.

The Final started fast and furious with D.C.’s Luciano Emilio opening the scoring in the 4th minute, only to see Charleston’s Ian Fuller equalize in the 10th minute. The game-winning goal would happen in the 50th minute when Brazilian midfielder Fred scoring on a Clyde Simms pass. Charleston’s Dusty Hudock and D.C.’s Jaime Moreno were the only players who played in the Final and also played in that original Coffee Pot Game back in 1999.

The Return of the Coffee Pot Cup

D.C. United and the Charleston Battery have met eight times since that preseason game in 2004. United have had the best of the series, winning eight times and drawing three since the 1999 Open Cup game. Most of those games have been in the Battery’s Carolina Challenge Cup tournament. After the 2008 US Open Cup Final, the two met five of the next six years in the Carolina Challenge Cup (2009-12, 2014).

The last time they played for the Coffee Pot Cup was in 2014 when they finished in a 1-1 draw. Davy Arnaud opened the scoring for United in the 71st minute only to see Drew Ruggles equalize in the 90th minute.

Over time, since it was a fan-created trophy, it needed to live somewhere. So what better person for it to live with than a long time D.C. United fan who grew up near Charleston, S.C.

That caretaker, to this day, is Lonnie Hovis.

“It needed someone to keep and babysit it,” said Hovis, who was one of the few D.C. fans who attended the 1999 US Open Cup match at Blackbaud. “I was one of the first to hold it and I was also responsible for the plates showing the scores being updated later on. I may have been the first person to receive it, or it may just have been my willingness to be responsible for it after it almost got lost one time on a road trip.”

The plates Hovis refers to were added to the coffee urn that reflect the score of each game of the friendly rivalry.

“I didn’t put the first few on and they started to peel off because they were very rigid,” said Hovis. “I got new ones and had a local company replace the old plates with newer ones that were more flexible,” added Hovis.

Jim Gregory (right), president of The Regiment, the Charleston Battery supporters group, poses with the Coffee Pot Cup. Photo: Kim Gregory

On Tuesday, the Charleston Battery and D.C. United will meet for the 13th time in the Fourth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup and there’s a chance that the Coffee Pot Cup will not be in attendance.

At the time of this article being published the morning before the game, there was no plan in place.

“So far, no one has volunteered to meet me anywhere to pass off the (Coffee Pot) Cup so it can attend,” said Hovis, who lives near Winchester, Va., which is about a 90 minute drive away from the game. “Audi Field is too hard to get to and parking is too hard to find, and the Coffee Pot Cup is not easy to be carried on the Metro.”

At the time this article was originally published on Tuesday morning, Hovis was hoping that someone would come through to transport the Cup to the game so that the tradition could continue. Luckily, Stevan Fisher, a D.C. fan since the inaugural season and a Screaming Eagles member since 1998, answered the call. Fisher met Hovis halfway, received the Cup and delivered it to Screaming Eagles president Jimi Butler at the group’s pregame tailgate gathering.

“It’s pretty neat that the trophy still exists,” said Hovis. “ It seems to have fallen out of favor with the newer fans, since the teams haven’t played each other in quite a while and both teams have a newer crop of fans. Fewer of us older original fans, especially in D.C. So I am happy that it’s getting some attention this year.”

In the end, it’s a trophy created by the fans in an era when American soccer was seeking to establish traditions.

“The Coffee Pot Cup is awesome,” said Sachin Shah, reflecting on his Ebay purchase that is still in use more than two decades later. “It’s like the college football rivalry trophies. It’s an authentic, organic part of US Soccer. I’m thrilled to see it continuing on. Soccer has given me so much, so I’m happy to contribute a little bit back.”

Chuck Nolan Jr. significantly contributed to this article

2025 US Open Cup Round 4 Preview: 16 MLS vs. lower division matchups

May 5, 2025 by TheCup.us Staff

Photo by Mallory Neil | Graphic by Phil Naegely

The Fourth Round of the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is here. Sixteen games on the schedule over two days (May 6-7) and every game features a lower division team trying to pull off a cupset against a team from Major League Soccer. The winners will advance to the Round of 16.

Twelve USL Championship (Div. 2) clubs remain, along with teams from Division 3 (1 from MLS NEXT Pro, 3 from USL League One).

Tuesday’s action features five games: A Coffee Pot Cup battle, teams from North Carolina and Tennessee squaring off for state supremacy, another chapter in the Portland Timbers / Seattle Sounders rivalry (sort of), and the New York Red Bulls taking a trip to the mountains to take on the defending champs from the USL Championship.

On Wednesday, there are 11 games on tap including another chapter of the Sacramento Republic / San Jose Earthquakes rivalry, last year’s surprise Semifinalist Indy Eleven welcomes the Philadelphia Union back to the competition, and the cities of Chicago and Detroit add US Open Cup soccer to their rivalry resume.

Follow TheCup.us on Blue Sky @thecup.us and X (Twitter) @USOpenCup for live updates from our reporters who will be at every stadium and with every Fourth Round game being broadcast live on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Golazo, you can find links to those below.

D.C. United (MLS) vs. Charleston Battery (USL-C)
Audi Field – Washington, DC
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+

For the first time since the 2008 U.S. Open Cup Final, the Coffee Pot Cup will be featured in an official competition. For younger fans who may not be familiar with the Coffee Pot Cup, here is a quick history. In the Third Round of the 1999 US Open Cup, D.C. United visited the Charleston Battery and the A-League (now USL Championship) side scored a late equalizer to force extra time and scored a golden goal for a 4-3 win. The defeat upset United’s players so much that they caused damage to the visitors’ dressing room, ripping off showerheads and smashing coffee pots. The supporter groups of both clubs decided to have fun with the incident and created the “Coffee Pot Cup”, to be contested any time the clubs played.

While 10 of the 12 previous meetings were primarily in Charleston’s preseason Carolina Challenge Cup. Their last meeting in an official competition came in the 2008 Open Cup Final. Charleston eliminated two MLS clubs to become the second non-MLS to reach the Final (joining the Rochester Rhinos in 1996 and 1999), D.C. United would prevail, 2-1 at RFK Stadium.

How a US Open Cup classic, locker room vandalism inspired fans to create Coffee Pot Cup

A Charleston win would tie them with the Seattle Sounders and Rochester Rhinos for 2nd in the Modern Era with 39 Open Cup victories. D.C United isn’t far behind with 35.

The Battery are 1-9-3 all time on the road or at neutral venues against MLS teams, their lone win being a 3-1 triumph over FC Dallas in the 2008 Quarterfinals.

Charleston had an easy time in the Third Round defeating South Georgia Tormenta FC of USL League One 4-0. MD Myers, who scored a hat-trick in Charleston’s 3-2 extra time win over the Tormenta last year, repeated the feat with goals in first half stoppage time, the 52nd and 70th minute before being subbed out in the 73rd minute.

Charleston is currently riding a four-game winning streak in the USL Championship, scoring 11 goals in those four games. Cal Jennings leads the team with six goals (good for second among the league leaders.), and Juan Torres has four assists, tied for best in the league.

D.C. United is stuck in the bottom half of the MLS Eastern Conference at 3-5-3, having allowed a league high 23 goals. Christian Benteke leads the team with six of United’s 13 league goals, and David Schengg is tops with three assists. United is led by former Charleston Battery player and South Carolina native Troy Lesesne.

D.C. United
Major League Soccer | Washington, D.C.
24th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1996
Manager: Troy Lesesne
Overall: 35-16-7 (3-4 PK)
Home: 25-7-4 (1-3 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 11-2-3 (2-1 PK)
Best finish: Champion (1996, 2008, 2013)

With three Open Cup titles (1996, 2008, 2013), two additional Finals appearances (1997, 2009) and three Semifinal appearances (2001, 2003, 2006, 2010), D.C. United has one of the better Open Cup resumes. However, since the club’s 2013 US Open Cup title, success has been non-existent, as United have failed to advance past a second game in eight attempts. D.C’s MLS record is similar, after winning four MLS titles from 1996-2007 the well has run dry, including the current four-season drought of missing the playoffs.

Washington D.C.’s first known club to participate in the Open Cup was Heurich Brewers, who took part in the Maryland qualifying tournament for the 1937 Open Cup. It wouldn’t be until the late 1960s when teams from D.C. would become regulars in the tournament. Club Espana claimed the city’s lone pre-Modern Era title in 1987 via penalty kicks over Seattle’s Mitre Eagles, the first Open Cup title decided by penalties.

Charleston Battery
USL Championship | Charleston, SC
24th US Open Cup appearance (1996-2002, 2004-2019, 2022, 2024)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1993
Manager: Ben Pirmann
Overall: 37-19-8 (4-4 PK)
Home: 29-7-6 (2-4 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 8-2-0
Best finish: Final (2008)

Charleston has the most experience in the Open Cup among USL Championship clubs, having been founded in 1993 and making 23 previous Open Cup appearances. The Battery’s former home of Blackbaud Stadium/MUSC Health Stadium still holds the Modern Era mark for most Open Cup games hosted with 36, although that mark is threatened by Richmond’s City Stadium (35), and Cary, N.C.’s WakeMed Soccer Park (34).

The early years are where Charleston had the most success in the Open Cup. Between 1999-2009 the Battery reached the Quarterfinals three times (1999, 2004, 2007, 2008) the Semifinals twice (1999, 2008), and the Final in 2008. From 2010-2016, when they dropped to Division 3 status, they only advanced beyond a third game in the tournament once (2010). Since rejoining Division 2 (USL Championship), they have won their opening game six of the last seven years, and have advanced beyond the second game four times.

North Carolina FC (USL-C) vs. Charlotte FC (MLS)
First Horizon Stadium – Cary, NC
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+

After knocking off the Charlotte Independence in the Third Round, North Carolina FC now has to conquer another club from the Queen City, Charlotte FC, to advance to the Fifth Round and claim themselves Kings of Carolina.

North Carolina FC opened their 2025 Open Cup with a 3-1 win over the Charlotte Independence of USL League One. NCFC struck for the goals in the span of six minutes in the second half to overcome a 1-0 deficit, Rodrigo Da Costa scoring the final two.

At home NCFC has a 22-8-2 (1-1 PK) record, and a 5-6 record against teams visiting Cary. The last win at home over an MLS team was in 2014, a 1-0 extra time win over the LA Galaxy. North Carolina are also 5-1 all-time against teams from Charlotte.

Charlotte FC is off to a good start in league play at 6-4-1, though they have lost their last two games. Pep Biel is tiede for the team lead with three goals, and also has six assists. Wifried Zaha and Liel Abada also have three goals scored.

NCFC is 3-3-2 in the USL Championship, and have lost two of their last three league games. Evan Conway tops the team with three goals scored and Michael Maldonado is among the league leaders with three assists.

Charlotte FC
Major League Soccer | Charlotte, NC
3rd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2022
Manager: Dean Smith
Overall: 4-2-0
Home: 2-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-1-0
Best finish: Fifth Round (2022, 2023)

Charlotte FC has only played in two tournaments, but each time they won two games and lost on the road in the Fifth Round. In their last entry in 2023, they lost 1-0 to the Birmingham Legion FC (USL Championship). Last year, they didn’t enter the Open Cup.

Prior to the Modern Era, the city of Charlotte has had a limited Open Cup history. It’s limited to hosting the USASA Region III Finals in 1991. The Charlotte Eagles have had the best result in the Modern Era, reaching the Quarterfinals in 2012 as a member of USL Pro (Div. 3). The Charlotte Independence have had a couple of tournaments where they advanced three times in a single tournament (2015, 2024).

North Carolina FC
USL Championship | Cary, NC
16th US Open Cup appearance 2007-2010, 2012-2019, 2021-2024)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2006
Manager: John Bradford
Overall: 23-13-3 (1-2 PK)
Away: 1-5-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 8-2-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish; Semifinals (2007)

Known as the Carolina RailHawks until the 2017 season, NCFC return to the USL Championship after three seasons in USL League One, which they topped off by winning the league championship in 2023. After spending its first four years with the USL (2007-2010), the club left for the newly reformed NASL in 2011. NCFC returned to the USL in 2018.

The club’s greatest Open Cup success came in its rookie year in 2007, reaching the Semifinals, knocking off the Richmond Kickers and Chicago Fire before dropping a 2-1 extra time decision to eventual champs the New England Revolution. NCFC also reached the Quarterfinals in 2013 and 2014, eliminating Chivas USA (MLS) and the LA Galaxy each year.

Nashville SC (MLS) vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL-1)
GEODIS Park – Nashville, TN
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+

One of five teams remaining who started in the First Round, the Chattanooga Red Wolves face their first-ever MLS opponent in the Open Cup when they travel to GOEDIS Park to face Nashville SC.

Similarly, the Red Wolves will be Nashville’s first Open Cup opponent from Division 3, as Nashville make their return to Open Cup play after missing last year’s tournament.

To open the 2025 Open Cup, the Red Wolves avoided an upset by eliminating the UPSL’s New Jersey Alliance on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Matt Bentley scored both Red Wolves goals, the second coming with six minutes remaining. The Alliance would tie the game in second half stoppage time, and with no scoring in extra time the Red Wolves would convert all of their penalty kicks, while the amateurs missed two of theirs.

The Second Round saw the first-ever match between the Red Wolves and Chattanooga FC of MLS NEXT Pro. Played in front of over 12,000 at Finley Stadium, the teams battled to a 1-1 draw, and the Red Wolves came out on top in a penalty shootout.

The Third Round saw Chattanooga make a trip out to the desert, where they upset the Las Vegas Lights on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Zahir Vazquez gave the Red Wolves an early lead and Pedro Hernandez tied the game just after halftime with a penalty kick. Ricardo Jerez then saved the first and last Vegas penalty attempts to send Chattanooga onto the Fourth Round. It marked the first time in the tournament’s Modern Era that a team has not only played in three straight shootouts, but won all three.

Nashville are currently mid-table in MLS with a 5-4-2 record, and are 2-1-1 in their last four games. Sam Surridge leads the team with six goals and Hany Mukhtar is the top assist man with four.

The Red Wolves are off to a sluggish start in USL League One at 1-1-3. Matthew Bentley leads the offense with three goals.

Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
USL League One | Chattanooga, TN
5th US Open Cup appearance (2019, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2018
Manager: Scott Mackenzie
Overall: 2-4-2 (2-1-0 PK)
Away: 1-3-2 (2-0 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 0-3-0
Best finish: Third Round (2024)

Since reaching the USL League One Final in 2022, Chattanooga has spent two seasons near the bottom of the league standings. An 8-17-7 10th place finish in 2023 was followed by a drop to 11th and a 5-14-3 mark.

The Red Wolves’ 2024 Open Cup run gave fans a small glimmer of enjoyment in a dismal season. For the first time in four appearances the club advanced past their opening game. In the First Round, Chattanooga held off an upset bid from amateurs Brockton FC United (UPSL) with a 4-2 extra time win. Next up was a 1-0 road win over another amateur club Apotheos FC (NPSL). The run ended in the Third Round against Birmingham Legion FC, but not without a fight. The Red Wolves took the USL Championship club to extra time before falling 4-2, with Birmingham’s Stefano Pinho accounting for all four of the winners’ goals.

Nashville SC
Major League Soccer | Nashville, TN
5th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2018
Manager: B.J. Callaghan
Overall: 8-2-2 (0-2 PK) | 4-1-1 (0-1 PK) (MLS)
Home: 7-0-1 (0-1) | 3-0-0 (MLS)
vs. Div. 2: 1-1-0 | 1-0-0 (MLS)
Best finish: Fifth Round (2018, USL) | Quarterfinals (2022, MLS)

In their first year as a USL club in 2018, Nashville knocked off the Colorado Rapids on their way to the Fifth Round. Once joining MLS they reached the Quarterfinals in 2022 and made another three-game run in 2023 while starting a round earlier. Last year, Nashville SC did not enter the competition.

Last year, Nashville SC finished 9-16-9 and missed the MLS playoffs for the first time since joining the league in 2018.

The first notable club from the city of Nashville to participate in the Open Cup was the Nashville Blues in the late 1980s, though they didn’t have much success. In the Modern Era, the A-League’s Nashville Metros reached the Quarterfinals in 1997, upsetting the Kansas City Wizards (Sporting KC) 3-1 in the Third Round.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks (USL-C) vs. New York Red Bulls (MLS)
Weidner Field – Colorado Springs, CO
Kickoff: 9:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+

The New York Red Bulls return to the Open Cup with a trip to the mountains to face the Colorado Springs Switchbacks of the USL Championship.

The Red Bulls have not lost to a Division 2 team in the Red Bull era, with the last loss coming to the Rochester Raging Rhinos in 2005. This game will also be the furthest the Red Bulls will have traveled for an Open Cup game, the previous longest trip was to Kansas City, Kansas for the 2017 Final. The Red Bulls are the first MLS team to visit Colorado Springs in Open Cup play.

The defending USL Championship champs Colorado Springs kicked off their 2025 Open Cup with a hard fought 3-2 extra time victory over One Knoxville of USL League One. After falling behind 1-0 after just two minutes, Steven Echevarria and Marco Micaletto gave the Switchbacks the lead in the second half. One Knoxville then tied the game a minute later. In the 104th minute Anthony Fontana, who assisted on Micalotto’s goal, put Colorado Springs on top for good.

The Red Bulls are currently playing .500 soccer in MLS with a 4-4-3 record. Eric Choupo-Moting leads the team with four goals, and Omar Valencia, who played in the 2024 Open Cup with NYRB II, has four assists.

The Switchbacks have just one win so far in the USL Championship, and are 1-3-4. Justin Dhillon ranks among the league goalscoring leaders with five.

New York Red Bulls
Major League Soccer | Harrison, NJ
24th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1996
Manager: Sandro Schwarz
Overall: 27-21-4 (2-2)
Away: 13-14-1 (1-0)
vs. Div. 2: 8-5-0
Best finish: Final (2003, 2017)

As the MetroStars, the club reached the Semifinals three times (1997, 1998, 2000) and made one appearance in the Final (2003). After rebranding as the New York Red Bulls, another deep run did not come until a return to the Final in 2017. Then 2022 saw the club make another Semifinal run.

In MLS play, the Red Bulls have yet to win a championship, reaching the MLS Cup Final twice (2008, 2024) and winning the Supporters Shield three times (2013, 2015, 2018). The 1923 Final between Scullin Steel and Paterson FC was played at Harrison Field, where a parking garage now stands near Sports Illustrated Stadium.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks
USL Championship | Colorado Springs, CO
9th US Open Cup appearance (2015-2019, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2014
Manager: James Chambers
Overall: 7-7-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 6-3-0
vs. Div. 3: 2-3-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2015, 2016)

Colorado Springs began play in 2014. The name Switchback refers to a type of path that follows a zig-zag pattern up a steep stretch of terrain such as a hill or mountainside. The club has generally been middle of the road as far as success in the USL Championship, having made the playoffs three straight seasons after four years of missing out. Last year, they had their first breakthrough, finishing second in the Western Conference and winning the USL Championship title, beating Rhode Island FC 3-0 in the Final.

In Open Cup play, Colorado Springs had decent showings in their first two years, going three games deep each time before being stopped by the Colorado Rapids each year. Since then, they haven’t made it past a second game.

Tacoma Defiance (MLSNP) vs. Portland Timbers (MLS)
Starfire Sports Complex – Tukwila, WA
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+

If you can’t fight the big brother, might as well pick on the younger sibling. With the Seattle Sounders on the Open Cup sidelines for 2025, the Timbers will have to settle for their bitter rivals’ MLS NEXT Pro team as they travel to Tukwila, Wash. to face the Tacoma Defiance. (NOTE: The Sounders and Timbers have played each other eight times in Open Cup play, the most common matchup of the Modern Era)

Tacoma are the last of the ten MLS NEXT Pro clubs remaining that entered this year’s Open Cup, and just one of four Division 3 teams remaining, along with AV ALTA FC, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC and Union Omaha of USL League One. Tacoma are looking to become the second MLS NEXT Pro club to reach the Round of 16 after New York City FC II accomplished the feat last year.

Dating back to their USL days, Portland hold a 3-4-1 record against the Sounders in Open Cup play, but have not faced their rivals in the tournament since 2019. Portland are just 1-3 all time in Open Cup games at Starfire, their only win being a 3-1 extra time victory over the Sounders in 2015.

Tacoma took down Seattle’s Washington AC (USASA) 3-1 on a pair of second half goals from Japanese forward Yu Tsukanome. Tsukanome previously played for the Dakota Fusion, winning the NPSL Golden Boot in 2023 with 16 goals in 10 games.

In the Second Round, Tacoma jumped in front of the Spokane Velocity very early on Kang Joon-Mo’s 3rd minute goal. Extra time was needed after Spokane’s Luis Gil tied the count in the 78th minute, Nine minutes into the extra session, Tacoma benefited from an own goal by Spokene’s Marcelo Lage.

Tacoma toppled USL Championship’s Oakland Roots 2-1 in extra time in the Third Round. Peter Kingston gave Tacoma a 1-0 first half lead and Osaze De Rosario scored the eventual game winner in the 108th minute.

Portland are near the top of the MLS Western Conference at 5-3-3, and their 4-1 loss to San Jose on May 3 snapped a seven game unbeaten streak. Felipe Mora leads the attack with five goals, and Antony Alves Santos and Kevin Kelsey are right behind him with four each. Alves Santos also leads the team with six assists.

Tacoma are on top of the MLSNP Western Conference at 5-2-0, and lead the league in goals with 22, the only team above 20. Osaze De Rosario and Yu Tsukanome lead the potent attack with eight and seven goals respectively.

Portland Timbers
Major League Soccer | Portland, OR
18th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2001
Manager: Phil Neville
Overall: 20-16-1 (0-1) | 13-10-0
Away: 10-9-0 | 5-7-0
vs. Div. 3: 2-0-0 | 1-0-0
Best finish: Semifinals (2013, 2019)

The Portland Timbers have had a disappointing Open Cup history. In its 10 appearances as an MLS club, Portland have reached the Semifinals twice in 2013 and 2019 and the Quarterfinals in 2014 and 2018. On the down side, the Timbers have been eliminated after their first or second game six times, including their last two appearances in 2022 and 2023.

In MLS play, the Timbers have won one championship in 2015 and reached the MLS Cup Final in 2018 and 2021., though two of the last three seasons they’ve missed the playoffs.

Tacoma Defiance
MLS NEXT Pro | Tacoma, WA
2nd US Open Cup appearance (2015)
How they qualified: Seattle Sounders entered in 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup
Founded: 2014
Manager: Hervé Diese
Overall: 4-1-0
Home: 4-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-0-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2015)

Tacoma Defiance made their Open Cup return due to Seattle Sounders participating in the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup as one of the top finishers in the 2024 MLS Supporters Shield standings. Tacoma last participated in the Open Cup in 2015 as Seattle Sounders 2, when the club played in the USL. They knocked off the Kitsap Pumas 4-2 and Portland Timbers 2 by the score of 2-1, both in extra time.

In 2018, the club moved south to Tacoma and changed their name to Tacoma Defiance. The name references Point Defiance Park, a large public park in Tacoma. For the 2022 season Tacoma began playing in the newly created MLS NEXT Pro league.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL-C) vs. New York City FC (MLS)
Highmark Stadium – Pittsburgh, PA
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds will host New York City FC for the first time on Wednesday. The last time a NYC team visited Pittsburgh in the Open Cup was the 2016 Second Round when the Riverhounds lost to the Lansdowne Bhoys (USASA).

Outside of their 2023 upset of the Columbus Crew, the Hounds have had very few MLS teams visit Highmark Stadium in recent years. The last time an MLS team visited the Steel City was in 2015 when D.C. United won 3-1 in extra time. Pittsburgh will look to add to their MLS upset resume as they have won 3 of their 10 all-time meetings with America’s top division.

Pittsburgh opened their 2025 tournament with a 1-0 win over Columbus Crew 2 (MLSNP) in the Third Round. Daniel Griffin’s 28th minute goal being all the scoring Pittsburgh needed.

NYCFC are 5-4-2 in MLS, and have won three of their last four. Alonzo Martinez tops the team with six goals.

Pittsburgh are off to a 2-4-1 start in the USL Championship and are on a four game losing streak in the league. The Riverhounds have only managed six goals over nine games in all competitions.

New York City FC
Major League Soccer | Bronx, NY
8th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2015
Manager: Pascal Jansen
Overall: 4-5-2 (0-0 PK)
Away: 1-4-2 (0-2 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 1-1-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2019, 2022)

NYCFC’s short Open Cup history doesn’t contain much success, as they’ve only reached the Quarterfinals twice (2019, 2022), with the other five appearances ending after their opening game. Their last entry saw the club suffer a 1-0 road loss to FC Cincinnati (MLS) in the 2023 US Open Cup. Last year, they did not enter.

Clubs from New York City account for 25 Open Cup Titles, the most for any metropolitan area. Leading the way are Greek American AA (4), New York Pancyprian-Freedoms (3), Brooklyn Hispano (2), Brooklyn Italians (2), New York Americans (2). New York City hasn’t had an Open Cup winner since 1991 when the Brooklyn Italians won their second title.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds
USL Championship | Pittsburgh, PA
21st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1998
Manager: Bob Lilley
Overall: 17-18-3 (1-2)
Away: 4-13-2 (0-2)
vs. Div. 3: 2-1-0
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2001, 2023)

Founded in 1998, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds are the second oldest club in the USL Championship, behind only the Charleston Battery (1993). Initial success eluded the Riverhounds, only occasionally reaching the playoffs.

With the building of Highmark Stadium in 2013, the club’s fortunes have turned around, making the playoffs nine of the last 12 seasons, including the last seven. 2024 saw Pittsburgh finish seventh in the USL Championship Eastern Conference, though their goal difference of +13 was the fourth best in the league thanks to a league low 28 goals allowed.

Pittsburgh’s Open Cup history has been short on success, having been knocked out of the tournament nine times in their opening game (most recently in 2024), and another five times after their second game. However, in 2023 the team matched their Quarterfinal run of 2001, knocking off MLS clubs New England Revolution and Columbus Crew. The five-game run shattered the teams’ previous high of three games in 2001, 2008 and 2015, and took them to their second Quarterfinal appearance in team history, the other coming in 2001.

Teams from the Western Pennsylvania area have won four Open Cup titles, the last coming in 1956 with the Harmarville Hurricanes winning their second title. In the 1940s and 1950s teams from the area regularly found themselves reaching the Semifinals. From 1942-1956 Western Pennsylvania teams reached the Final eight times.

Rhode Island FC (USL-C) vs. New England Revolution (MLS)
Centrevlle Bank Stadium – Pawtucket, RI
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+

Just eight miles from Rhode Island FC’s new Centerville Bank Stadium sits an empty lot where 110 years ago once stood Coats Field, home of J & P Coats of the American Soccer League and the site of the very first US Open Cup Final in 1914 between Brooklyn Celtic and Brooklyn Field Club (LINK!).

Coats Field would be the location of Open Cup Finals games again in 1916, 1917, 1934, 1935 and 1942.

Rhode Island opened their new stadium in front of 10,000 fans on May 3 to see them play San Antonio FC to a 0-0 draw.

New England are attempting to rebound from one of their more miserable seasons, finishing 9-21-4 in 2024, scoring the fewest goals in MLS (37), while allowing the second most (74).

Among MLS teams, New England ranks third with 8 losses to lower division opponents, behind only the Chicago Fire (9) and Colorado Rapids (11).

Rhode Island ended the hopes of one of the early darlings of the tournament, traveling to Maine to beat Portland Hearts of Pine 2-1. First half goals from Clay Holstad and Frank Nodarse held up against Portland’s attempt at a second half comeback.

Both clubs are having a slow start to their league seasons. Rhode Island are currently 1-3-2 and have been shutout four times in league play. New England is a bit better at 5-4-1, and while they’ve only allowed seven goals, they’ve scored just nine times.

New England Revolution
Major League Soccer | Foxborough, MA
22nd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1996
Manager: Caleb Porter
Overall: 22-17-5 (3-2)
Away: 6-11-2 (1-1)
vs. Div. 2: 7-3-2 (1-1)
Best finish: Champion (2007)

Outside of their lone Open Cup championship in 2007 and two other Finals appearances in 2000 and 2016, New England’s Open Cup history is lackluster. 13 of their 21 previous appearances in the Open Cup have ended after just two or fewer games.

The Revs league record isn’t much better, with just one Supporters Shield in 2021, and five appearances in the MLS Cup Final (2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2014) with no championships.

Massachusetts has been home to five other Open Cup Champions, with eight titles among them. Leading the way are the Fall River Marksmen, winners of five Open Cup titles. The club had the unique situation of being based in Fall River, Mass., but playing their home games just across the border in Tiverton, R.I. This was done to circumvent Massachusetts Blue Laws that prohibited charging admission for games played on Sunday.

Rhode Island FC
USL Championship | Pawtucket, RI
2nd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2024
Manager: Khano Smith
Overall: 0-0-1 (0-1 PK)
Away: 0-0-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 1-0-0
Best finish; Third Round (2024)

Despite the lack of recent history of teams from the Ocean State in the USOC, the state still has a rich history in the tournament. By far the most successful club from Rhode Island is J & P Coats, who reached the Open Cup Semifinals in 1923, 1926 and 1928.

After an ownership change, the team was renamed the Pawtucket Rangers and reached the Semifinals again in 1933, and made the Final in 1934 and 1935, losing both times to St. Louis powerhouse Stix, Baer & Fuller/Central Breweries.

A new team, Pawtucket SC, found success in 1941, winning the Open Cup Final over Detroit’s Chrysler SC 6-5 over two games. Pawtucket reached the Final again the following year but lost to Gallatin (West Pa.) 6-3 over two games.

Louisville City FC (USL-C) vs. Minnesota United FC (MLS)
Lynn Family Stadium – Louisville, KY
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+

Louisville City will take on an MLS team for the sixth tournament in a row and will host Minnesota United FC in the first meeting between the two clubs. Louisville is winless in their last five meetings with MLS opposition with their last win coming in 2018 when they upset the New England Revolution 3-2 at Lynn Family Stadium.

Minnesota re-enters the tournament after not entering in 2024 and have reached the Fifth Round in each of the last four Open Cups.

Louisville City kicked off their 2025 Open Cup run by downing fellow USL Championship side Loudoun United 2-1 in the Third Round. Adrien Pérez and Sam Gleadle gave Louisvile a 2-0 lead until Loudoun scored in the final minute.

Louisville are fresh off a 2-0 win in the inaugural Commonwealth Cup on May 3 over in state rivals Lexington Sporting Club. The win leaves Lou City at 5-0-2, unbeaten in all competitions over nine games.

Minnesota are also off to a hot start at 5-2-4. Tani Oluwaseyi and Kevin Yeboah lead Minnesota’s attack with five and four goals, and goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair has six clean sheets over ten games.

Minnesota United FC
Major League Soccer | Saint Paul, MN
13th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2010
Manager: Eric Ramsay
Overall: 12-10-3 (2-1 PK) | 7-5-2 (2-0 PK) (MLS)
Away: 7-6-2 (1-1 PK) | 3-4-1 (1-0 PK) (MLS)
vs. Div. 2: 2-1-1 (1-0 PK) | 2-0-1 (1-0 PK) (MLS)
Best finish: Final (2019)

Since Minnesota joined MLS in 2017 they’ve had respectful results, reaching the Final in 2019 and going three games deep in 2022 and 2023. In MLS, the Loons have yet to win a championship, but have reached the playoffs five of the last six seasons.

The Twin Cities were represented by the MInnesota Thunder earlier in the Modern Era, reaching the Semifinals in 2005. Thunder legend Johnny Menyongar is tied for second with three other players with 13 Open Cup goals in the Modern Era.

The first known team from Minnesota to enter the Open Cup was the Minneapolis Tigers in 1958. Throughout the 1960s, teams like the St. Paul Blackhawks and Ukrainian SC would represent the region in Open Cup play but found little success.

Louisville City FC
7th US Open Cup appearance (2015-19, 2022-23)
Founded: 2018
Manager: Ryan Martin
Overall: 11-7-3 (3-0 PK)
Home: 9-1-2 (1-0 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 4-2-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2018)

Since Louisville City FC relocated from Orlando in 2014 they have been one of the most consistently successful clubs in the USL Championship. Lou City haven’t just made the playoffs every year, they’ve at least reached the Semifinals each time (except 2024), winning the playoffs in 2017 and 2018, and reaching the Final in 2019 and 2022.

In the Open Cup, Louisville’s best showing was in 2018 when they reached the Quarterfinals, knocking off the New England Revolution along the way. Louisville have lost at home just once (10-1-2, 2-0 PK) in the Open Cup in 13 games, a 2-1 loss to Nashville SC in the 2022 Fifth Round.

Philadelphia Union (MLS) vs. Indy Eleven (USL-C)
Subaru Park – Chester, PA
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+

Wednesday’s match will be the first meeting between the two sides. The Philadelphia Union currently sit in second place in the Eastern Conference, extending their winning streak to three games, defeating CF Montreal, 2-1, on Saturday.

Fan favorite and passionate US Open Cup supporter JIm Curtin, who was fired after the 2024 MLS season, won’t be on the sideline for the Union’s Open Cup return. Bradley Carnell was announced in January as his replacement, the fourth head coach in Union history.

Philadelphia is riding an 11-game unbeaten streak in the Open Cup, with their last loss in regulation or extra time coming in the 2014 US Open Cup Final to the Seattle Sounders, 3-1 after extra time. The Union have played Division 2 clubs just three times in their 10 previous Open Cup appearances, the last one coming in the 2018 Fourth Round, where they defeated the Richmond Kickers 5-0.

Indy Eleven defeated Miami FC in the Third Round, 1-0 after extra time to kick off their 2025 Open Cup campaign as they attempt to follow up on the club’s deepest run last year, reaching the final four (losing on the road to Sporting KC, 2-0)

In USL Championship play, Indy is 1-2-3, sitting mid-table in the Eastern Conference after tying with Detroit City FC in its last match.

Indy Eleven
USL Championship | Indianapolis, IN
10th US Open Cup appearance (2014-2019, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2014
Manager: Sean McAuley
Overall: 8-8-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 6-2-0
vs. Div. 2: 2-1-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2014, 2016)

Indy Eleven got their start in 2014 in the NASL, with a 2016 championship appearance as their only success. When the NASL suspended operations after the 2017 season, Indy joined the USL where it has continued to struggle as a mid-table team, reaching the playoffs just three times in six seasons.

Open Cup success has been elusive for Indy Eleven, in eight previous appearances the club has lost in their opening game four times and was eliminated in their second game the other four times.

2024 was by far Indys’ best US Open Cup run, reaching the Semifinals after starting out with three shutout wins over Chicago Fire II (MLSNP), San Antonio FC (USL-C) and Detroit City FC (USL-C). They followed that up with a 2-1 road win over Atlanta United FC (MLS) before falling on the road to Sporting KC, 2-0.

Indianapolis first had a team in Open Cup play in the 1933 edition, when Indianapolis SC lost to the Cincinnati Kickers 3-2 in the Second Round of the Ohio qualifying tournament. Indianapolis SC tried again in the 1935 tournament, losing to the Kickers once again, 4-2.

Indianapolis has hosted four different Open Cup Finals as a neutral venue.

First in 1990 when Chicago’s AAC Eagles defeated the Brooklyn Italians 2-1. In 1992 and 1993 Indy was the Finals host when the San Jose Oaks defeated Vasco da Gama (CT) 2-1 and CD Mexico (now El Farolito) bested United German Hungarians (Philadelphia area) 5-0. Finally in 1997 when the Dallas Burn (FC Dallas) won the cup over D.C. United on penalties after a scoreless draw.

Philadelphia Union
Major League Soccer | Chester, PA
11th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2010
Manager: Bradley Carnell
Overall: 16-6-7 (3-4)
Home: 15-2-2 (1-1)
vs. Div. 2: 3-0-0
Best finish: Final (2014, 2015, 2018)

Philadelphia has one of the better Open Cup resumes without winning a title among MLS clubs, though recent tournaments have put a blemish on that. They’ve been to three Open Cup Finals (2014, 2015, 2018), but their last three appearances have been “one and done” appearances against D.C. United in 2019, Orlando City in 2022 and Minnesota United in 2023.

The Union are unbeaten in their last 11 home games (9-0-2, 1-1 PKs) in Open Cup play with their last loss coming in the 2014 Final against the Seattle Sounders.

Philadelphia are perfect against Division 2 teams with a 3-0-0 record.

Prior to the Modern Era, clubs from Philadelphia have made nine appearances in the Open Cup Final, winning the Open Cup five times. Leading the way are the Ukrainian Nationals, who won the tournament four times (1960, 1962, 1963 and 1966).

Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL-C) vs. Orlando City SC (MLS)
Al Lang Stadium – St. Petersburg, FL
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+

The Tampa Bay Rowdies will be seeking to avenge their 2022 Open Cup loss when they welcome Orlando City SC to Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, FL.

In the 2022 Third Round, the Rowdies travelled to Orlando and left suffering a 2-1 defeat to their MLS foes. The teams first met in Open Cup play in 2014 when the Rowdies were in the NASL and Orlando City was still a USL club. Orlando prevailed in that game 4-1.

This year, Tampa Bay narrowly avoided an upset in their opening game in Round 3, eliminating FC Naples of USL League One on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Pacifique Niyongabire’s 26th minute goal was nullified a minute later by FC Naples. The teams battled to a 10-round penalty kick tiebreakers, in which Tampa converted the final eight attempts to prevail 9-8.

In league play, Orlando are currently 4-2-5 and are on an eight game unbeaten streak. Marco Pašalić (5), Martinj Ojeda (4) and Luis Muriel (4) account for 13 of the club’s 19 goals so far.

Tampa Bay is having a rough start at 1-5-1, a 2-2 draw vs. Birmingham Legion on May 3 snapped a three game losing skid. Woobens Pacius leads an offense with three of the team’s seven league goals.

Orlando City SC
Major League Soccer | Orlando, FL
14th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2008
Manager: Oscar Pareja
Overall: 21-12-5 (5-0 PK) | 9-6-5 (5-0 PK) (MLS)
Away: 6-8-2 (2-0 PK) | 3-3-2 (2-0 PK) (MLS)
vs. Div. 2: 5-2-0 | 4-2-0 (MLS)
Best finish: Champion (2022)

Orlando City have tasted Open Cup success since their debut as a USL club in 2009, their best run coming in 2013 when they reached the Quarterfinals and upset the Colorado Rapids and Sporting Kansas City along the way. Open Cup glory continued in their MLS years, reaching the Semifinals in 2019 then finally winning it all in 2022.

Tampa Bay Rowdies
USL Championship | Tampa, FL
13th US Open Cup appearance (2010, 2012-2019, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2008
Manager: Robbie Neilson
Overall: 10-12-0
Away: 7-3-0
vs. Div. 3: 2-2-0
Best finish: Third Round (2011)

Tampa started in 2008 as FC Tampa Bay due to a legal dispute with sports apparel company Classic Ink over the merchandising rights to the Rowdies name. The club initially began play in the USL First Division in 2010, but decided to jump to the re-emerging NASL in 2011. The club gained the rights to the Rowdies name in 2012, then moved to the USL in 2017 when the NASL suspended operations.

Once back in the USL, Tampa Bay became one of the better teams in the league, reaching the Final in 2020 and 2021, though the 2020 Final was cancelled due to a COVID-19 outbreak among the Rowdies players.

The Rowdies Open Cup history is the opposite of their league success, having only advanced past a second game once in 12 tournaments. Their lone bright spot is a 1-0 upset of the Seattle Sounders in 2013, ending Seattle’s chance of possibly becoming the first club to win four straight Open Cup titles and ending their all-time record 22-game unbeaten streak in the Open Cup.

Chicago Fire FC (MLS) vs. Detroit City FC (USL-C)
SeatGeek Stadium – Bridgeview, IL
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+

After missing last year’s tournament, the Chicago Fire resume their quest to join the exclusive club of five-time Open Cup champions: Bethlehem Steel, Maccabee AC and the Fall River Marksmen.

Rivalries between the cities of Chicago and Detroit have been around as long as sports have existed in this country, but this is the first meeting between these two clubs.

This will be just the second time that the Fire will play a team from the Detroit area. The last time it happened, was the 2012 Third Round when the Michigan Bucks (now the Flint City Bucks) of the Premier Development League (now USL League Two) pulled off a stunning 3-2 extra time upset at their home indoor arena in Pontiac, MI.

In their opening Cup game this year, DCFC held off a pesky Westchester SC 3-1. Despite outshooting their opponents 23-5, the game was tied 1-1 up to the 85th minute when Jeciel Cedeno (PK) and Darren Smith finally put the upset hopes of the USL League One side to rest.

Chicago are 3-4-4 in MLS play, but is 0-3-3 in their last six games. Belgian forward Hugo Cuypers leads the team with seven goals, which ties him with three other players for the league lead.

Detroit are 4-1-3 in the USL Championship, and are on a six-game unbeaten run over all competitions. Darren Smith leads the way with seven of the thirteen goals DCFC have scored in league play.

Chicago Fire FC
Major League Soccer | Chicago, IL
25th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1998
Manager: Gregg Berhalter
Overall: 45-17-7 (4-3)
Home: 28-2-3 (1-2)
vs. Div. 2: 8-4-3 (2-1)
Best finish: Champions (1998, 2000, 2003, 2006)

When the Chicago Fire franchise launched in 1998, they were an instant success, especially in the US Open Cup. The Fire are perhaps the most successful MLS club in the Open Cup with four championship wins in six Final appearances, 13 Semifinal appearances (most in US Open Cup history), and 15 Quarterfinal appearances (2nd most in US Open Cup history).

In league play, they’ve been far less successful. After winning MLS Cup in their debut year of 1998, the only other accolade the Fire have earned was the Supporters’ Shield in 2003. The club is on a dreadful seven season run of missing the MLS Cup playoffs.

The Windy City is home to four other Open Cup champions besides the Fire. Teams such as Bricklayers FC, Sparta A & BA, Croatian SC and AAC Eagles among many others ensured a Chicago team was a contender for the crown.

Detroit City FC
USL Championship | Hamtramck, MI
8th US Open Cup appearance (2014-2019, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2012
Manager: Danny Dichio
Overall: 4-4-6 (3-3 PK)
Home: 4-1-3 (1-2 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 3-0-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Fifth Round (2024)

Detroit City started in 2012 as an NPSL side and quickly became known for its fervent fan base. Detroit City turned professional and joined NISA for the 2020 season, where it won two championships. In 2022, the club left NISA to join the USL Championship.

Despite having no Open Cup winners, Detroit still has a rich history in the tournament. Two teams have reached the championship game: Holley Carburetor (1927) and Chrysler SC (1941).

St. Louis CITY SC (MLS) vs. Union Omaha (USL-1)
Energizer Park – St. Louis, MO
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+

This rematch of the 2023 US Open Cup Third Round matchup features two teams who could be doing a lot better in their respective leagues, but also know that this tournament pays no mind to league form.

This will be the second time St Louis CITY has been in the Open Cup, having sat out 2024 due to the CONCACAF Champions Cup. In their Open Cup debut in 2023, they also opened with this same Open Cup-experienced Union Omaha club. They dismissed the USL League One side 5-1 that year before going on the road and suffering a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Fire in the Round 4.

Hosts St. Louis CITY are currently 12th in the MLS Western Conference, and will be looking to find some bright spots from their early season form. They are averaging just less than 1 point per match in league play and are eager to put that out of their mind ahead of welcoming the Owls back to Energizer Park. Another display like the 5-1 win they claimed last time these teams met might just help do that.

Union Omaha are not without their struggles this season as well. They also sit 12th in USL League One and are off to their worst start in team history with four points through as many games. And while there are only four players on this year’s team who took part in the 2023 defeat to St. Louis CITY, all four of them are veteran leaders with long memories–and Coach Dominic Casciato surely hasn’t forgotten, either.

Omaha already has three Open Cup wins under their belt in 2025. They saw their First Round game with USL-2 club Flatirons FC pushed back two days due to a snowstorm in Omaha preventing travel. Aarón Gómez and Joe Gallardo Jr. (PK) scored on either side of the half for a routine 2-1 win.

In the Second Round, Omaha visited the Des Moines Menace (USL-2), who for the second year in a row recruited a slew of retired MLS stars to represent them in the Open Cup. For the second year in a row the Union got past the Menace MLS squad, this time 2-1 on first half goals from Dion Acoff and Aarón Gomez.

In the Third Round, Omaha welcomed USL Championship side San Antonio FC to Caniglia Field in the first “home” match the Owls had played in all competitions this year. A feisty and physical battle saw the hosts hold on to a 1-0 victory after a first-half goal by Dion Acoff.

St. Louis CITY FC
Major League Soccer | St. Louis, MO
2nd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2023
Manager: Olof Mellberg
Overall: 1-1-0
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 1-0-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2023)

While St. Louis CITY’s Open Cup history is limited by their two games in 2023, the city they represent is rich in Open Cup history. The Crescent City is home to ten different clubs that have won the US Open Cup, appearing in the Final 21 times. The last St. Louis club to reach the Final was Busch SC in 1988. St. Louis was first represented in the Cup in 1920, with Ben Miller SC defeating Fore River FC 2-1 for the city’s first championship. St. Louis clubs would reach the final from 1920-1924. Stix, Baer & Fuller (aka Central Breweries and Shamrocks SC) reached the Final six straight times from 1932-1937, a feat unmatched in Open Cup history.

In the Modern Era, St. Louis’ Open Cup record has been a bit more modest. The St. Louis Lions of the PDL (now USL League Two) appeared in 2008 and 2009, failing to win a game. AC St. Louis was the first pro team in the Modern Era, making just one run in 2010, reaching the Third Round. The most successful club was Saint Louis FC of the USL, making five appearances from 2015-2019, making a run to the Quarterfinals in 2019 where they upset both the Chicago Fire (2-1) and FC Cincinnati (1-0) before losing to eventual champion Atlanta United FC 2-0.

Union Omaha
USL League One | Omaha, NE
4th US Open Cup appearance (2022-2024)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2019
Manager: Dominic Casciato
Overall: 6-3-2 (2-0 PK)
Away: 2-2-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. Amateurs: 3-0-0
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2022)

Union Omaha nearly matched their best performance in the Open Cup in 2024. While they didn’t take down any MLS clubs this time, their list of opponents read as a who’s who of Modern Era Open Cup history. In the First Round, the Owls traveled to historic Lusitano Stadium to defeat Open Cup veterans Western Mass Pioneers 4-0. Next up was a 3-1 win over the Des Moines Menace, one of the more successful amateur clubs of the Modern Era. In the Third Round, Omaha used penalties to move past El Paso Locomotive after a 0-0 draw. Finally Omaha fell in the 120th minute to Sporting Kansas City 2-1 after extra time at home, in SKC’s bid to win the Open Cup for a record-tying fifth time.

In 2022, the Owls knocked off two MLS clubs (Chicago Fire and Minnesota United) to reach the Quarterfinals. The run ended with a 6-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City, but the scoreline did not diminish Omaha’s feat of becoming the first team from Nebraska to reach the Quarterfinals and the first third division team to do so since 2013.

Omaha were involved in more Open Cup headlines in 2023, with a 5-1 loss to St. Louis City in front of a Third Round-record 22,423 fans at St. Louis. The lone goal for the Owls came from first-year midfielder Pedro Dolabella, and it served to launch him into becoming one of the stars of that team for the next two years. In this fixture, Omaha will be looking for the next young star to step up and help write another MLS name on their wall of cupsets.

FC Dallas (MLS) vs. AV ALTA FC (USL-1)
Toyota Stadium – Frisco, TX
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+

AV ALTA FC are the last club standing from the five USL League One teams who are making their debut this year, as well as one of four Division 3 teams still alive.

FC Dallas holds a 23-7-3 home Open Cup record and has never lost to a Division 3 opponent at home. In fact, Dallas has faced Division 3 opposition just seven times, the last time coming in 2016 when they eliminated the Oklahoma City Energy on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

AV ALTA FC have had a successful Open Cup debut, starting out by defeating USL-2 club Ventura County Fusion 3-1. Jerry Desdunes scored twice and had a chance at a hat-trick but saw his second half penalty kick saved. With the game’s opening goal, Desdunes became the first ever goalscorer for two different clubs in the span of four seasons, as he scored the winning goal in extra time to propel the Northern Colorado Hailstorm to a 1-0 upset win over the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in 2022. Each game was the first ever competitive match for either club.

AV ALTA’s Second Round game came down to the last minute of extra time against LAFC 2 of MLS NEXT Pro. Emmanuel Alaribe scored in the 80th minute to tie the game at 1-1, and just as penalties seemed certain Jimmie Villalobos put in a rebound of a shot off the crossbar in the final minute.

AV ALTA continued to climb the ladder after beating Division 3 and 4 teams in the first two rounds, knocking off Division 2 Orange County SC via penalties after a 2-2 draw. Luca Mastrantonio and Emmanuel Alaribe gave ALTA a 2-1 lead in the second half, but OCSC tied the game with seven minutes left. ALTA converted all four of their penalty attempts to win the shootout 4-2.

ALTA are 2-3-0 in USL League One, with Jimmie Villalobos accounting for three of the team’s seven league goals.

FC Dallas are currently 4-4-3 and 1-2-2 in their last five games. Luciano Acosta and Petar Musa have scored three goals apiece, with Musa adding three assists.

AV ALTA FC
USL League One | Lancaster, CA
1st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2023
Manager: Brian Kleiban
Overall: 1-0-0
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A

Located an hour and a half north of Los Angeles, AV ALTA FC is one of five new USL League One teams for 2025. Former US international and Minnesota United midfielder Miguel Ibarra was the club’s first signing in December 2024. Ibarra is a native of Lancaster, Calif.

AV stands for Antelope Valley, the region AV Alta based in or alternately “Aerospace Valley” since the region is known for its work in the aerospace industry. ALTA comes from the name given to the wider region in the early 1800s when Alta California (“Upper California”) was a province of New Spain.

FC Dallas
Major League Soccer | Frisco, TX
26th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1996
Manager: Eric Quill
Overall: 38-22-6 (5-1 PK)
Home: 23-7-3 (2-1 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 4-2-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: Champions (1996, 2016)

FC Dallas are making their 26th Open Cup appearance, the most among MLS teams. During that time, FC Dallas ranks 4th among all clubs in the Modern Era with 38 wins and have advanced via penalty shootout an additional five times.

The club, formerly known as the Dallas Burn, has won the Open Cup twice in 1997 and 2016 as well as appearing in the Final in 2005 and 2007. Dallas has reached the Semifinals nine times, which is tied for the third most in the history of the tournament. FCD reached the Quarterfinals last year for the 17th time in club history, which moved them into a tie with Kutis SC (St. Louis) for the most in tournament history.

Austin FC (MLS) vs. El Paso Locomotive FC (USL-C)
Q2 Stadium – Austin, TX
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+

For the first time in their short history, El Paso has advanced deep enough to face an MLS team. The Locomotive will travel to the state capital to face Austin FC in the Fourth Round.

For the first time in four tries, El Paso advanced past the opening game in the Open Cup with a 5-1 win over Colorado amateur power Harpos FC. Bryan Romero led the way with a pair of goals.

In the Second Round, goals from Daniel Carter, Tony Alfaro and Wilmer Cabrera Jr. powered El Paso past Ventura County FC of MLS NEXT Pro 3-0.

In the Third Round, the Locomotive eliminated their Derby Del Camino Real rivals, eliminating New Mexico United on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Wilmer Cabrera Jr. scored the game tying goal in the seventh minute of second half stoppage time, and El Paso converted on all four of their penalty attempts.

Austin are currently 5-5-1 in league play and have scored just seven goals, second lowest in MLS, and have lost three of their last four games.

El Paso, looking to improve on a dreadful 2024 where they finished 8-18-8, are currently 3-2-3 under head coach Wílmer Cabrera, who took over the job midway through last season. Cabrera is also the father of Wilmer Cabrera Jr., who leads the team with six goals.

Austin FC
Major League Soccer | Austin, TX
21st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2021
Manager: Nico Estévez
Overall: 1-2-0
Home: 1-1-0
vs. Div. 2: 1-1-0
Best finish: Fifth Round

Next to St. Louis CITY SC, Austin FC has the least experience in the Open Cup among MLS clubs, with just three games played.

The City of Austin also has a limited history in the Open Cup. The highest profile team in the pre-Modern Era is perhaps the Austin Soccadillos, who entered the 1991 tournament, winning their group in USISL qualifying only to fall 3-0 to the other group winner in the USISL qualifying final, the Richardson Rockets, who would go on to reach the 1991 Open Cup Final.

In the Modern Era, six other teams represented Austin in the Open Cup.

First up was the Austin Lone Stars of the USL D3 Pro League, appearing in three tournaments from 1997-1999, only posting a 2-3 record.

Amateur club Real Madrid won the USASA Region III qualifying tournament in 2002 but lost their lone Cup game.

In 2008, the Austin Aztex U-23s qualified through the PDL (now USL-2), being eliminated on penalty kicks by the Atlanta Silverbacks after a 2-2 draw. The Aztex U23 were the development team of the USL’s Austin Aztex, who would move in 2010 and become Orlando City SC.

The new Austin Aztex qualified as a PDL cub in 2013 and 2014 without much success, then again in 2015 when the club turned pro and moved up to the USL, reaching the Third Round where they lost 2-0 to the Houston Dynamo.

In 2019, the USL Championship’s Austin Bold matched the Aztex 2015 run, reaching the Third Round before also falling to the Houston Dynamo, this time 3-2.

Finally the only other team currently calling Austin its home is Austin FC II, who appeared in 2024 and were upset by FORO SC on penalties.

El Paso Locomotive FC
USL Championship | El Paso, TX
5th US Open Cup appearance (2019, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2018
Manager: Wilmer Cabrera
Overall: 0-3-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Home: 0-1-0
vs. Amateur: 0-0-0
Best finish: Second Round (2019, 2022, 2023)

El Paso Locomotive began in 2019, filling the void left by the El Paso Patriots (1995 US Open Cup runners-up) when they ceased operations in 2013. Locomotive found success at first, reaching the Western Conference final two years in a row. El Paso gained one of the top two playoff seeds in 2021, only to be upset by the Oakland Roots in the First Round. In 2022, they missed the playoffs and just made the cut in 2023 with a 7th place Conference finish. 2024 was a season to forget for El Paso, finishing in last place with an 8-18-8 record, their 27 goals scored being second lowest in the league.

The El Paso Patriots are the highlight of the Sun City’s Open Cup history, reaching the 1995 Final where they fell to the Richmond Kickers on penalties after a 1-1 draw. The Patriots made 10 total appearances in the Open Cup from 1995-2012.

Phoenix Rising FC (USL-C) vs. Houston Dynamo FC (MLS)
Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium – Phoenix, AZ
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+

Houston Dynamo are riding a seven-game unbeaten streak (since 2023) in Open Cup play. The Dynamo are the only MLS team in this year’s field that took part in the 2024 tournament, giving them an 11-tournament participation streak, the highest among MLS clubs.

Juan Guerra became the youngest coach to win a USL championship with Phoenix in 2023, winning four road games on the way to the league title. Just a few months later, it was announced that Guerra would be leaving Phoenix for a spot as an assistant on Ben Olsen’s coaching staff with the Houston Dynamo. Since Guerra left Phoenix has had three different managers.

Phoenix survived their Third Round encounter with league rivals FC Tulsa, advancing via penalties after a 1-1 draw. Peter Rakovsky saved a Tulsa penalty in the 120th minute, then saved the opening penalty shootout attempt, earning him TheCup.us Player of the Round honors.

Houston are off to a rough start to the MLS season, sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference at 2-5-4, although they are 2-1-2 in their last five games.

Phoenix is also off to a bad start at 1-3-4.

Houston Dynamo FC (MLS)
Major League Soccer | Houston, TX
17th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2006
Manager: Ben Olsen
Overall: 25-12-3 (1-2 PK)
Away: 6-7-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 8-2-2 (0-2 PK)
Best finish: (2018, 2023)

The Houston Dynamo are like the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. In 1996 the Ravens relocated to Baltimore from Cleveland and promptly won a Super Bowl. Houston left San Jose after the 2005 seasons, then won back-to-back MLS Cups in 2006 and 2007. The club has been looking for its third championship since then.

The Dynamo have had success in the Open Cup as well, winning championships in 2018 and 2023. Their 2024 title defense was stopped cold by Detroit City FC on penalties after a 3-3 draw. It was just the fourth time in the Modern Era that a defending champ was eliminated in their opening game the following tournament.

Phoenix Rising FC
USL Championship | Phoenix, AZ
10th US Open Cup appearance (2014-2019, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2014
Manager: Pa-Modou Kah
Overall: 8-7-2 (0-2 PK)
Away: 4-3-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 2-3-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Fifth Round (2024)

Phoenix Rising began in 2014 as Arizona United, and in 2017 new ownership changed the club’s name to Phoenix Rising. In 2017, Côte d’Ivoire legend Didier Drogba signed on with Phoenix as a player-owner, holding a minority stake in the club. Phoenix won the USL Championship in 2023, finished runners-up in 2018 and won the Players’ Shield in 2019. Phoenix has missed the playoffs just once since 2016.

Despite its success in league play, Phoenix has largely struggled in the Open Cup. Only twice have they advanced to a third game (2014, 2022). Last year, they entered the competition in the Fourth Round and after a 2-1 extra time road win over North Carolina FC, they reached the Fifth Round for the first time before losing on the road against the Seattle Sounders FC.

San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) vs. Sacramento Republic FC (USL-C)
PayPal Park – San Jose, CA
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+

The final game of the Fourth Round features two teams who are very familiar with each other in the US Open Cup. This year will be the sixth time Sacramento and San Jose meet in the NorCal Derby. The series is level at 2 wins, 2 losses and a draw. Of the six meetings, this will be the fourth hosted by San Jose.

Sacramento Republic players celebrate after scoring a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes in the Round of 16 of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Sacramento Republic FC

All-Time Meetings
2024 Round 5 – SAC 4:3 (AET) SJE
2022 Round 5 – SAC 2:0 SJE
2019 Round 4 – SJE 4:3 SAC
2015 Round 4 – SJE 2:2 (6:5 PK) SAC
2014 Round 4 – SJE 2:1 SAC

Sacramento opened their 2025 US Open Cup run by advancing to the Fourth Round by ending the latest Cinderella run of underdog heroes El Farolito 1-0. Sebastián Herrera’s 29th-minute goal was just enough to eliminate the 1993 US Open Cup champs.

After a horrible 6-25-3 finish in 2024, Bruce Arena seems to have turned the club’s fortunes around a bit. The ‘Quakes are 4-6-1 and are the highest-scoring team in the league with 24 goals. Their 20 goals allowed are among the league’s worst, however. Cristian Arango sits atop MLS with 7 goals scored, and teammate Cristian Espinoza leads the league with 7 assists.

Sacramento is off to a slow start in league play at 2-2-3. Russell Cicerone leads the team with 3 goals and 2 assists.

Sacramento Republic FC
USL Championship | Sacramento, CA
8th US Open Cup appearance (2014-2019, 2022-2024)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2012
Manager: Neill Collins
Overall: 22-8-2 (1-1)
Home: 20-3-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. Amateurs: 9-1-0
Best finish: Final (2022)

Sacramento has been the most consistent USL Championship club in recent years, having advanced to a third game in all but one of their eight previous appearances. They are also the last non-MLS club to reach the Final, having done so in 2022. The 2022 Final run earned club legend Rodrigo Lopez TheCup.us Player of the Tournament award and the Lower Division Player of the Tournament award. Sacramento holds a remarkable 18-2-1 (1-1 PK) record in home Open Cup games, including a 14-game unbeaten streak stretching from 2017-2023.

Sacramento has also been very successful in the USL Championship, making the playoffs in all but one of their 10 seasons, and winning the title in 2014 (when it was USL Pro).

San Jose Earthquakes
Major League Soccer | San Jose, CA
20th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1996
Manager: Bruce Arena
Overall: 17-15-8 (4-4)
Home: 10-5-2 (1-1)
vs. Div. 2: 10-4-2 (2-0)
Best finish: Semifinals (2004, 2017)

Outside of a 2017 Semifinal appearance, San Jose’s Open Cup record isn’t very impressive. 12 times they’ve been eliminated after just two games, and 4 of those were “one and done”. San Jose have the most Open Cup appearances of any MLS team (20) without making an appearance in the Final. San Jose was once a powerhouse in MLS, winning MLS Cup in 2001 and 2003 and the Supporters Shield in 2002.

That all changed after the 2005 season, when the club rebranded as the Houston Dynamo. MLS awarded San Jose a new franchise, retaining the records of the original Earthquakes. The only ray of light was winning the Supporters Shield in 2013. Since the team was reborn in 2007, the ‘Quakes have reached the MLS Cup playoffs just five times.

2025 US Open Cup Round 3: Patrick Rakovsky of Phoenix Rising narrowly voted TheCup.us Player of Round

April 28, 2025 by John Tranchina

peter rakovsky 2025 us open cup round 3 player of the round — Graphic by Phil Naegely | Photo: FC Tulsa

It is the type of pressure situation that can define a player’s legacy. For Phoenix Rising FC goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky, that moment occurred on April 16, when he made a spectacular diving save on a penalty kick by Tulsa’s Taylor Calheira in the 121st minute of his team’s Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Third Round contest against fellow USL Championship side FC Tulsa.

Following that big stop in a game tied 2-2, Rakovsky made another excellent diving save in the shootout and the Rising FC prevailed 4-2 in PKs to win and advance to the Fourth Round. Phoenix did all of this despite playing the last 45 minutes of the match down a man after Rémi Cabral’s second yellow card in the 75th minute. Now Rising FC advances to face the Houston Dynamo FC (MLS) at home on May 7.

His performance against Tulsa, which included five saves in the game overall, earned Rakovsky TheCup.us Player of the Round Award for the Third Round. The 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.

Rakovsky edged out MD Myers of the USL Championship’s Charleston Battery, who scored three goals in his team’s 4-0 victory over USL League One’s South Georgia Tormenta, by just two voting points (players get three points for a first-place vote, one for a second-place vote). It’s the second year in a row Myers just missed out on the POTR award, after he also scored a hat trick in last year’s tournament, also over South Georgia Tormenta (making him the first Modern Era player to score hat tricks in back-to-back tournaments), and falling just two points short in POTR voting then, too (to Zico Bailey of New Mexico United).

Dion Scoff of USL League One’s Union Omaha, who scored the only goal in his club’s 1-0 “cupset” win over San Antonio FC (USL-C), was third in the voting. Rakovsky becomes the third straight goalkeeper to win the award, which is just the second time that has happened since 2006. He is also the first German player to win the award.

Rakovsky, 32, has experience playing in big moments, having made 51 appearances for Orange County SC in 2021 and 2022, winning the USL Championship title in 2021 (when he made a PK save in the league final), even earning 18 caps with his native Germany’s youth national teams.

He had already enjoyed a strong performance in the game as the second overtime period was ticking down, having also made a diving stop on Calheira’s header from 12 yards out six minutes into the first OT period. Tulsa’s Al Hassan Toure also nearly ended it in the 14th minute of overtime, but his point-blank header sailed just over the crossbar.

So when the officials called a handball on a Phoenix defender in the box just before overtime was set to expire, it was the key moment in the match. Calheira had hit the left post on a shot from 10 yards out about five minutes earlier and had already scored on penalty kicks in each of the two previous rounds of the tournament for FC Tulsa.

It seemed almost inevitable that he would do so again, but when Calheira shot low to the left side, Rakovsky dove and made the save.

“Obviously, I know in my head, if I save it, if I don’t, it’s over,” Rakovsky said of Calheira’s PK. “And also I know if I save it, there’s a high chance that we’re going to win it, you get the momentum in that moment. Luckily, it worked out, and just happy that it went that way.

Peter Rakovsky of Phoenix Rising FC plays the ball against FC Tulsa in the Third Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: FC Tulsa

“It feels amazing, it’s something you dream about, save a PK in the last minute, go to a PK shootout, you go win.”

The Rising FC were clearly energized by his save, and then Rakovsky made another outstanding diving save on the first Tulsa shooter in the shootout (Kalil El Medkhar), propelling them to win the PKs, 4-2. Calheira was presumably scheduled to be Tulsa’s fifth shooter but didn’t get the chance to step up to the dot again.

“Obviously, it gave me a little bit of a boost, I get my confidence higher, I just saved a PK against one of their best shooters,” Rakovsky said, noting how the PK save impacted the subsequent shootout. “And that probably also went through their heads, right? Like, ‘Oh shoot, he just saved probably our best PK shooter,’ so yeah, obviously a huge boost for our team and luckily, it worked out.”

Now, Rakovsky and his teammates, who fell 2-1 in the US Open Cup Round of 16 last year to the Seattle Sounders FC of MLS, turn their attention to hosting the Houston Dynamo FC in two weeks.

“We played last year against Seattle, it doesn’t matter who’s going to come,” Rakovsky said before he knew the specific opponent. “We are ready, and we want to win.”

2025 US Open Cup Round 3: Who should be TheCup.us Player of the Round?

April 19, 2025 by TheCup.us Staff

2025 US Open Cup Player of the Round nominee graphic — Graphic by Phil Naegely

The Third Round 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 16 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 (NASR), 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)

Dion Acoff, Union Omaha (USL-1)

Acoff started and played 90 minutes and scored the lone goal in the 36th minute during Union Omaha’s Cupset over San Antonio FC to send the Owls to the Fourth Round for the third time in four years

Oalex Anderson, North Carolina FC (USL-C)

Anderson started, played 90 minutes, scored the opening goal for NCFC in the 71st minute, and assisted on Rodrigo Da Costa’s second goal in the 77th minute in a 3-1 road win over Charlotte Independence (USL-1)

Wilmer Cabrera, El Paso Locomotive (USL-C)

Cabrera came off the bench in the 58th minute, scored the game-tying goal in the 7th minute of second-half stoppage time, and converted the winning PK in El Paso’s 4-1 shootout win after a 2-2 road draw against New Mexico United (USL-C)

Rodrigo Da Costa, North Carolina FC (USL-C)

Da Costa started and played 90 minutes, scored two goals three minutes apart (74′, 77′) in North Carolina FC’s 3-1 road win over Charlotte Independence (USL-1)

Anthony Fontana, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL-C)

After coming on as a sub in the 65th minute, Fontana assisted on the Switchbacks’ go-ahead goal in the 82nd minute, then scored the game-winning goal in the 104th minute of the 3-2 extra time home win over One Knoxville (USL-1).

MD Myers, Charleston Battery (USL-C)

Myers started and played 73 minutes and scored a hat trick with goals in first half stoppage time, the 52nd minute and 70th minute in Charleston’s 4-0 home win over South Georgia Tormenta (USL-1)

Rashid Nuhu, Union Omaha (USL-1)

Nuhu collected three saves while earning a clean sheet in a 1-0 home upset over San Antonio FC (USL-C).

Peter Rakovsky, Phoenix Rising FC (USL-C)

While playing a man down for the final 45 minutes, Rakovsky played 120 minutes, faced 23 shots, made 5 saves, including a 120th-minute penalty kick. He also saved the opening penalty attempt against FC Tulsa (USL-C), helping Phoenix advance 4-2 in penalties (after a 1-1 draw).

Andy Thomas, Tacoma Defiance (MLS NEXT Pro)

Thomas made seven saves to keep Tacoma competitive through 120 minutes of play in their 2-1 upset of the Oakland Roots SC (USL-C).

2025 US Open Cup Round 3: Chattanooga Red Wolves win historic PK shootout over Las Vegas Lights

April 17, 2025 by Thomas Viola

Players from Chattanooga Red Wolves (left) and Las Vegas Lights battle for the ball in the Third Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Las Vegas Lights

The Chattanooga Red Wolves won an instant US Open Cup Classic at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, NV Wednesday night.

The Red Wolves were victorious 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw, following a back and forth game that included two penalty kicks in regulation, eight yellow cards, and 30 minutes of extra time. It was the third straight game that saw the Red Wolves advance by penalty kicks. It marks the first time in the tournament’s Modern Era that a team has not only played in three straight shootouts, but won all three.

The Chattanooga Red Wolves got on the board first thanks to a 19th minute goal from striker Zahir Vazquez, who was able to split the Lights defense after being teed up by Kimball Jackson. It was Jackson who received a long ball in the corner of the field and passed it back up top to an unmarked Vazquez to give the Red Wolves a 1-0 lead.

The Lights answered back right before the halftime whistle after a hard tackle in the box on Lights winger Edison Azcona drew a call for a penalty kick, and Azcona took the shot himself, lobbing it straight down the middle and beating a diving Ricardo Jerez Jr. to tie the game at 1-1.

The teams went into the halftime break tied, but also carried four first half yellow cards into the locker room from what was a chippy, foul-filled affair.

The draw did not last long as just three minutes into the second half Chattanooga earned a penalty kick of their own after a foul on midfielder Pedro Hernandez. Just as Azcona did in the first half, Hernandez took the penalty himself, lasering a shot to the bottom left corner and restoring the Red Wolves’ lead 2-1.

The Lights searched unsuccessfully for an equalizer until bringing on Christian Pinzon in the 58th minute. He wasted no time making an impact on the game, uncorking an arching shot from outside the box that screamed past the goalkeeper and tied the game 2-2.

The game remained locked in a stalemate past the full time whistle, and with the neon signs of Las Vegas shining in the background, the teams battled for another thirty scoreless minutes of extra time before the Red Wolves emerged victorious in a penalty shootout.

After the match, Chattanooga manager Scott Mackenzie said of his team, “We knew once we went into extra time that we were winning the game … They weren’t beating us on penalties. Because that’s about mental toughness, and no one is tougher than this group.”

Mackenzie’s Red Wolves will move on to the Fourth Round (Round of 32) for the first time in club history and will take on a Major League Soccer team for the first time. In league play, they have a quick turnaround before playing Greenville Triumph SC in Chattanooga on Saturday, their third game in eight days.

Meanwhile the Las Vegas Lights look to regroup at home this Saturday against FC Tulsa in their next USL Championship matchup.

2025 US Open Cup Round 3: Sacramento Republic ends El Farolito’s Cinderella run

April 17, 2025 by Connor Bunnell

Sebastián Herrera of Sacramento Republic FC celebrates after scoring a goal against El Farolito SC in the Third Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Sacramento Republic FC

In a Third Round battle of Northern California’s two most iconic Open Cup Cinderellas, one threw the other out of the ball, as USL Championship stalwarts Sacramento Republic brought NPSL adversaries El Farolito’s glory run to an end in a 1-0 home victory.

With Republic fans present in droves at Heart Health Park and El Farolito’s supporters punching above their weight in terms of noise, the bout quickly proved compelling. The Burrito Boys and the Indomitable Club battled back and forth from the jump, constantly launching attacks and counter-attacks, neither side letting the other control the ball for too long or showing any fear of playing direct. For a while, the only thing separating the sides was Sacramento’s ability to earn more setpieces than their San Franciscan counterparts.

Fortunately for the hosts, they had one other crucial advantage: the presence of team captain and Open Cup Modern Era assists leader Rodrigo López. In the 29th minute, that turned out to mean everything, as López launched a cross into the box for striker Sebastian Herrera, who headed it home to get both the all-important goal and the captain’s 12th career Open Cup assist. The amateurs soon got to work trying to mount a spot, and last year’s co-top goalscorer Dembor Benson came dangerously close in the 38th, but it ultimately remained 1-0 to the Republic at halftime.

As evening turned to night and the air continued to cool, the tension on the pitch only boiled hotter with each passing minute. The contest had already been somewhat chippy in the early going, but in the second half, it went to another level. Five different Burrito Boys and nine Indomitables picked up yellow cards by the end of the night, though not always at the times they were merited. For instance, Sacramento’s AJ Edwards drew a yellow card after a foul on El Farolito’s Jesús Martinez that Martinez had absolutely milked for all it was worth. Not long after, Edwards got away with blatantly shoving a Farolito player to the ground. Such was the nature of this contest as it teetered ever closer to getting out of control.

Of all the brewing dislikes in the stadium, none burned hotter than Jesús Martinez versus the home crowd—who, from his flop in the 61th onward, despised everything he did. When he started jawing with a subbed-off López and a member of the Republic’s coaching staff, it only added fuel to the fire. By the time Martinez landed knee-first on a downed Republic player, nearly sparking a brawl and ultimately earning his yellow card for arguing afterward, a red may not have satiated those who wanted his head.

Fortunately, the match still featured more productive outlets for the teams’ pent-up aggression. As the second half went on, Republic’s grip on the game felt tighter by the minute, and it helped that they gunned aggressively for another score seemingly every time they got a touch. Meanwhile, El Farolito kept playing determined soccer, preventing dagger after dagger to the point where a viewer trying to decipher who was leading from how the teams behaved might have concluded the Burrito Boys were a goal up instead of down.

However, despite a spark from Erik Arias once he came on as a substitute, the amateurs just couldn’t get the degree of attacking momentum that they needed. As the eighth of eight stoppage time minutes loomed, the Burrito Boys lined up for some last free kick, but once Sacramento snuffed it out, the clock struck midnight on El Farolito’s Cinderella run.

Few were happier for the win than Sacramento goalkeeper and fan-voted Man of the Match Jared Mazzola, who came up big with three saves in his first Open Cup start since 2023, when he was still playing for USL-1 side Greenville Triumph.

“It was an incredible experience,” Mazzola told reporters after the match. “Any time I get to play at Heart Health Park is amazing. I’m just blessed to wear the crest and blessed to have my name on the back of this shirt. It means so much to me and my family, so I’m really happy to be here.”

Also buzzing after the game was Rodrigo López—who, after tearing his ACL during Sacramento’s cupset over the San Jose Earthquakes last year, made a triumphant return to extend his assists record. In his own post-match comments, the Indomitables’ captain showed he wasn’t taking any of this for granted.

“To me, it feels good to win,” said López. “It’s been a long 11 months for me, and to be able to play today in front of my family, in front of the fans, and in front of the people who showed me a lot of love and support throughout these 11 months, for me to step on the field again, it’s just a blessing.”

With this win, the Republic have added yet another reason why Sacramento is such a dangerous place for Open Cup hopefuls to visit. The 2022 US Open Cup runners-up improved to 21-3-1 (1-0 PKs) all-time at home in tournament play, easily one of the best home records in American soccer. Now, the day’s Goliath set their eyes on playing David, as they prepare to take on an MLS side in the Round of 32 next month.

2025 US Open Cup Round 3: El Paso Locomotive earns first MLS date after PK win over New Mexico United

April 17, 2025 by Seth Biddulph

Players from El Paso Locomotive FC celebrate after scoring a goal against New Mexico United in the Third Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Angel Ramos - El Paso Locomotive FC — Players from El Paso Locomotive FC celebrate after scoring a goal against New Mexico United in the Third Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Angel Ramos – El Paso Locomotive FC

El Paso Locomotive FC delivered a dramatic and determined performance on the road Wednesday night, defeating New Mexico United in a US Open Cup clash that showcased both teams’ grit and intensity. After 120 minutes of play and a deadlock at 2-2, El Paso triumphed in a penalty shootout, advancing to the Round of 32 for the first time in club history.

The match began with a noticeable shift in demeanor from the visitors compared to their recent league encounter with United. Where El Paso had previously appeared cautious and content to play for a point, this time they arrived with purpose. Buoyed by a string of strong performances in recent weeks, the Locomotive played with an attacking mindset from the outset, pressing high and creating dangerous opportunities from the opening whistle.

Former United forward Amando Moreno was instrumental early, pressing United’s back line and helping to dictate the tempo. El Paso’s pressure paid off in the 20th minute when Ricardo Ruiz delivered a pinpoint corner into the box. The cross pulled United goalkeeper Kris Shakes off his line, but the flight of the ball carried past him and met the head of Daniel Carter, who directed it into the back of the net to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

The goal sparked a physical and emotional response from both sides. The match saw multiple yellow cards before halftime, and tempers flared during two scuffles at opposite ends of the pitch. The officiating came under scrutiny as the center referee worked to maintain control in an increasingly tense atmosphere.

Despite a shaky opening, United found their footing around the 30-minute mark. In the 29th minute, Brazilian forward Fernando narrowly missed an equalizer after misfiring a promising cross from McKinze Gaines. But fortune favored United just minutes later. In the 40th minute, a miscommunication at the back proved costly for El Paso. Goalkeeper Sebastian Mora-Mora attempted to play the ball out to his left but lingered too long, allowing Gaines to pounce and intercept. With a quick pass to the center of the box, Gaines found Marlon Vargas, who slotted the ball home to level the match at 1-1 heading into the break.

The second half saw a tactical shift from both teams as they sought control through more deliberate build-up play. El Paso nearly regained the lead in the 70th minute when Andy Cabrera unleashed a powerful strike from distance, only to be denied by a fingertip save from Shakes that pushed the ball onto the crossbar.

Just three minutes later, United capitalized on a well-orchestrated sequence. Moving the ball fluidly from wing to wing, United pulled the El Paso defense out of position. Mukwelle Akale found space on the left and delivered a curling cross to the far post, where Jaylin Lindsey timed his run perfectly to head the ball past Mora-Mora and give United a 2-1 advantage.

As the clock wound down, United began rotating in fresh legs and looked set to close out the match. But the rivalry’s dramatic nature had one more twist. In the dying seconds of stoppage time, a foul by Talen Maples near midfield gave El Paso a lifeline. With the entire team pushed forward, including the goalkeeper, the ball was launched into the penalty area. A failed clearance allowed Gabi Torres to collect and find Cabrera, who calmly buried a left-footed shot into the bottom corner to tie the match 2-2 and force extra time.

Fatigue set in during the additional 30 minutes, though both teams managed to carve out key chances. United had the best look in the 104th minute when Akale and Thomas Amang broke into the final third. Akale attempted to square the ball for what seemed a certain goal, but a heavy touch let the opportunity slip away.

With no breakthrough in extra time, the match was ultimately decided by penalties. United struggled from the spot, as Gedion Zelalem’s attempt was saved and Kalen Ryden’s shot ricocheted off the crossbar. El Paso, by contrast, was clinical. Cabrera, capping off a standout performance, converted the final penalty to seal the shootout 4-1.

The win marks a significant milestone for El Paso Locomotive, who will now prepare for their Round of 32 matchup against an MLS side with momentum at their backs. For New Mexico United, it’s a painful exit in a match that saw them claw back, take the lead, and come within seconds of victory—only to see it slip away in the most dramatic fashion.

2025 US Open Cup Round 3: Switchbacks sub knocks out One Knoxville in OT

April 17, 2025 by Matt Pollard

Anthony Fontana (21) of the Colorado Springs Switchbacks celebrates his extra time goal against One Knoxville in the Third Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Isaiah J. Downing / Switchbacks FC

Two USL teams playing in extra time at altitude in front of small crowd past 11 p.m. ET. Even the Sickos Committee gets it. Wednesday night saw a flurry of action in the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup including defending USL Championship champs Colorado Springs Switchbacks hosting USL League One side One Knoxville and coming away with a 3-2 extra time win.

Anthony Fontana was at the heart of the drama after coming on as a second half substitute for the Switchbacks. He assisted on a go-ahead goal in the 82nd minute only to see One Knoxville equalize two minutes later. In extra time, Fontana scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal in the 104th minute to send the Switchbacks to the Fourth Round where they will face a team from Major League Soccer.

The win also snapped Colorado Springs’ four-game losing streak in the competition dating back to 2019.

The visitors from Tennessee got off to a perfect start. Two minutes in, center back Jeim Brown delivered a dime to striker Babacar Diene. The Senegalese striker chested the ball down then picked out the far bottom corner to beat goalkeeper Christian Herrera.

After that, the first half was all Colorado Springs. They had 65% possession in the first half with five shots, but just two on goal. It was a lot of purposeless possession. The Knoxville low block held its own. The best chances came in the 38th minute, both from midfielder Quenzi Huerman. First he got space at the top of the box and uncorked a shot that was parried away by Johan Garibay. Two minutes later, he took a free kick from the side of the box right on goal.

The half ended 1-0 with Stavros Zarokostas subbing on for an injured Kimarni Smith at winger. Twice early in the half the lights went out at Weidner Field. Full power was restored within the minute. The scoreboard was fine and play was not stopped.

“I rarely go ballistic at halftime. I didn’t. We were in complete control of the game but we didn’t test them enough. We had final third entries but there’s a big white thing at the end of the field you have to put the ball into. We come out and we have five shots on target in the first seven minutes (of the second half),” a cheeky coach James Chambers said.

If Knoxville owned the start of the first half, Switchbacks owned the start of the second. In the 49th minute, Steven Echevarria made it 1-1. A Switchbacks corner got knocked down. The midfielder spun around like a top and roofed the loose ball at the near post.

The match woke up after that. One Knox possessed the ball and tried to build out of the back. The Switchbacks pressing picked up in response. Substitutes Marco Micaletto and Anthony Fontana combined to make it 2-1 in the 82nd. Micaletto dribbled through the defense and played a one-two before finishing.

Knoxville responded immediately however. Zarokostas had a loose ball off a cross fall to him inside the six yard box, smashing it home. The match headed to extra time tied 2-2 after 90, with the Switchbacks shouting for a handball in stoppage time that was not given.

Stoppage time was a game of moments between both sides playing it safe. Callum Johnson had the best looks for Knox. He ran down a long ball in the first half with a near breakaway, but shot wide. He had a free kick later that went into the wall.

This match was waiting for an impact sub. That came in the 104th minute with Yosuke Hanya, who dribbled and cut inside to find Fontana in a pocket of space in front of goal. Fontana rocketed the ball off the crossbar and in!

Up 3-2, the Black and Blue went defensive, getting several open looks on the counter attack. The substitute goal scorer Zarokostas received a second yellow for a tactical foul on Hanya, virtually putting the game away in the 129th. The visitors went out huffing and puffing with the match ending 3-2 after 120 minutes.

“Marco with a goal. Me with a goal. I’m happy that I’m able to keep doing that. I saw Yos on the ball. Anytime he’s on the ball, something can be created. He found me. Just happy to put it in the net,” Fontana said with relief.

With that, Switchbacks have gotten their first USOC win since 2021. Echevarria feels this is a performance and result to build on for league and cup play:

“We said at the beginning of this year it’s something we wanted to take seriously. It took everyone on the bench. Great team performance. Anthony is class on the ball. He’s fit right in. We’ll take this into our next game on Saturday. We’re better off now than we were last year. We were 0-5 and we figured it out. I’m confident in this group.”