The Third Round of the 110th Lamar Hunt US Open Cup had a flair for the historic. Not only did the eight Third Round matches that went to extra time break the (Modern Era) Third Round record set in 2022 and 2024, but the five matches that were decided by penalties – including one that went 10 rounds – set a new high-water mark for the Third Round as well.
Overall, four Division III sides are still in contention, while the Third Round largely belonged to the Division II’s USL Championship. USL League One has three teams remaining.
On Tuesday night, Union Omaha dropped San Antonio FC in regulation while AV ALTA FC took a shootout win over Orange County SC. Then, on Wednesday night, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC got past Las Vegas Lights FC as they won their third consecutive PK shootout of the tournament. The last remaining MLS NEXT Pro team, Tacoma Defiance, needed a 108th-minute winner to get past Oakland Roots SC.
Unfortunately for everyone’s favorite amateur darlings, El Farolito SC, the last Open Division team standing, fell 1-0 to Sacramento Republic FC.
Individually, MD Myers will command the headlines for the round. With his hat trick against South Georgia Tormenta, he became just the third Modern Era player to record a hat trick in multiple Open Cups, and the first to ever turn the trick in back-to-back Cups.
With the Third Round wrapped, the Round of 32 and 16 MLS sides beckon. The Round of 32 draw will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Golazo Network on Thursday at 9:15 a.m. Eastern.
TUESDAY, APRIL 15
Columbus Crew 2 (MLS NEXT Pro)
0:1
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL-C)
By Colton Coreschi
It wasn’t easy, but the Pittsburgh Riverhounds managed to see off the Columbus Crew 2 in a rematch of their preseason contest by the same 1-0 scoreline.
While the Capybaras had an early advantage with younger, fresher legs after a 9-day rest against the Riverhounds 3-day turnaround, the veteran USL Championship side would shift momentum quickly. After numerous blocked shots, the Hounds took advantage of a far-side corner just before the 30-minute mark to seize the lone goal of the evening. Jorge Garcia’s near-post effort was re-directed towards goal by Danny Griffin, where Crew 2 goalkeeper Luke Pruter was unable to get a strong hand to it and it deflected into the back of the net.
The Crew 2 would similarly press their stamina advantage in the early second half, finally earning their first shot on-target at the hour mark. They forced a handful of crucial saves out of Hounds goalkeeper Jacob Randolph, one of the stars of the evening, but were unable to break through. After some key substitutions to bring on typical starters, the Hounds re-took control and held it through the balance of the half, fending off the hungry young MLS Next Pro side to see their victory out.
The Crew 2 end their Open Cup run after two victories, including a Cupset over Lexington SC, while the Hounds advance to a Round of 32 matchup against a to-be-determined MLS opponent.
Charlotte Independence (USL-1)
1:3
North Carolina FC (USL-C)
By Dave Hodges
On a cool night in Matthews, a rivalry was renewed. The Charlotte Independence welcomed their in-state adversary; North Carolina FC to town. A lot of back and forth action would take place in the first half, but no one found the back of the net. Both sides would go into the locker room tied at 0.
The hosts Independence would break the deadlock in the 49th minute. Jon Baquero would put a through ball from Luis Alvarez into the goal. The lead would only last 20 minutes for the hosts, as NCFC would score three goals in six minutes Oalex Anderson would equalize in the 71st minute. Three minutes later, Rodrigo Da Costa would score the first of his two goals in the 74th minute. Da Costa would add the third and final goal of the match for NCFC in the 76th minute. North Carolina Football Club moves on in the US Open Cup while the Independence return to league play.
[+] FULL MATCH REPORT
Portland Hearts of Pine (USL-1)
1:2
Rhode Island FC (USL-C)
By James Knowles
In the Third Round of the US Open Cup, Portland Hearts of Pine hosted Rhode Island in a matchup between third and second tier teams. Both from the northeast, the signs of a potential rivalry were on display at times. High energy and a few injury delays characterized the first half, with some of the best chances coming from set pieces. It was the away side who scored first, with Clay Holstad redirecting a cross past Portland keeper Hunter Morse. Rhode Island doubled their lead only minutes later when the Hearts failed to clear a free kick, teeing it up perfectly for Frank Nodarse.
The home team never thought they were out, though, feeding off the energy of the crowd. Titus Washington took that literally and ran with it, carrying the ball from just inside the halfway line into Rhode Island’s box before shooting past keeper Jackson Lee. A real turning point came when Karifa Yao was sent off in the 79th minute, just 125 seconds after his first yellow. This gave Portland a man advantage; but, it only lasted seven minutes, as Mikey Lopez was given his marching orders for a late tackle. The game ended 2-1 to Rhode Island despite some late fireworks. They will move on to the fourth round of the US Open Cup.
Louisville City FC (USL-C)
2:1
Loudoun United FC (USL-C)
By Timothy Belin
In the battle of the top two teams in USL-C’s Eastern Conference, Louisville City got the better of Loudoun for already the second time this season.
After a fairly even opening 15 minutes, Louisville took the lead in the 18th minute off an error from Loudoun’s Jacob Erlandson. The centerback miscontrolled the ball while trying to turn away from Lou City’s Adrien Perez, gifting the forward with both the ball and an open net to slot it into. Ten minutes later, the hosts doubled their lead on a fast break as Amadou Dia threaded Sam Gleadle in on goal, and the forward squeezed his shot under Loudoun’s Hugo Fauroux.
After dominating possession with little penetration in the first half, Loudoun created more chances going forward in the second period. Riley Bidois had a golden chance to halve the deficit in the 58th minute, and would have done so if not for a big save by Damian Las. Loudoun had the ball in the back of the net in the 75th minute, but it was pulled back for a foul in the build up that led to a brief scrum between the two teams.
Fauroux made a great save off Gleadle in the 82nd minute to keep Loudoun’s chances alive, and Abdellatif Aboukoura scored for Loudoun in the 90th minute to give the visitors a glimmer of hope heading into stoppage time. Loudoun could not find a second before time ran out, however, and lost in Louisville for the second time this season, their only two losses from their opening nine games of 2025.
With the win in their first Open Cup game of the season, Louisville move to 12-7-3 in the competition and will face an MLS team in the Round of 32 on May 6 or 7. Loudoun made it through two rounds before falling to Louisville and are now 5-3-1 in Open Cup play.
Charleston Battery (USL-C)
4:0
South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL-1)
By Ian Livingston Brooking
Charleston’s MD Myers became the first player in the Modern Era of the US Open Cup to score a hat trick in back-to-back tournaments, leading the Battery to a 4-0 win over South Georgia Tormenta FC.
The southeast matchup between the USL League One side and Championship side has a been a lively one in recent years. Tormenta achieved the ‘cupset’ in 2022 – only to Charleston to get their revenge two years later when MD Myers netted a hat trick goal in the 120+1’ minute to snatch a 3-2 win.
On this night, Chris Allan got the party started in the Holy City when his shot from outside the box was deflected and trickled in a little over half an hour into the match.
Momentum nearly shifted towards Tormenta right before halftime when South Georgia was given a penalty – only to see it saved by Charleston and the Battery’s Myers score on an ensuing counter attack and stoppage time.
The Battery capitalized on the momentum in the second half with Myers netting his second in the 52nd minute, scoring off a rebound. He would net his hat trick the same way 18 minutes later, becoming the first player in the modern era of the US Open Cup to score hat-tricks in back-to-back tournaments. His three-piece Tuesday night also makes him the third player to score a hat-trick in two different editions of the Open Cup.
The shutout win for the Battery is their first regulation win in the open cup since defeating the Greenville Triumph back in 2019, when Ian Svantesson scored a double – including a stoppage time winner. It’s Charleston’s first home regulation win in the Open Cup since 2018 when they defeated – you guessed it – South Georgia Tormenta FC 1-0 at the old MUSC Health Stadium.
Union Omaha (USL-1)
1:0
San Antonio FC (USL-C)
By Jordan Beech
Cupsets are a habit for Union Omaha, and the Owls built on the habit Tuesday night with a 1-0 dispatching of the USL Championship’s San Antonio FC. Dion Acoff scored the evening’s lone goal in the 36th minute.
Omaha enjoyed an abundance of good chances, but wouldn’t find the breakthrough until Acoff snuck one under Richard Sanchez at the near post. Defensively, Rashid Nuhu posted a three-save shutout while the defense generally kept San Antonio from getting clean looks at goal.
Union Omaha moves to 7-3-2 overall, and 2-0-1 against Division II clubs, in the US Open Cup. This is the third time in four years that the Owls have reached the Fourth Round.
AV ALTA FC (USL-1)
2:2
Orange County SC (USL-C)
AV ALTA FC advances 4-2 after penalty kicks
By Gracin Galbreath
After a back-and-forth match between regional “rivals” from the Los Angeles area, it was AV ALTA FC who got the cupset with a win in penalties.
In the 15’, a corner taken short found the feet of Ousmane Sylla; at the touchline, he dribbled past a defender and blasted it into the top corner to make it 1-0 for Orange County. For the rest of the half, there were sparse opportunities as neither side looked truly threatening.
To begin the second half, AV ALTA had momentum. They were finally rewarded in the 68’ with Luca Mastrantonio’s header to equalize—another from a corner. Just 7 minutes after that, Emmanuel Alaribe would slot the ball in the bottom right to snatch the lead for AV ALTA. But it wouldn’t last. A curling free-kick met the head of Mohamadou War, restoring an even score for Orange County in the 83rd minute. With a tied scoreline at the end of regulation, extra time beckoned.
After an extra time without much momentum for either side, a penalty shootout would decide who advanced. Denzil Smith, who subbed on for the shootout, denied Kyle Scott at the left post. Then, Benalcazar put his penalty over the bar. A penalty by a bloodstained Miguel Pajaro would secure the shootout for AV ALTA.
AV ALTA keep their debut Open Cup campaign going, while Orange County move to an all-time record of 7-11-2.
Tacoma Defiance (MLS NEXT Pro)
2:1
Oakland Roots SC (USL-C)
After extra time
By Tim Abbott
Oakland were uprooted to Cascadia for their Cup debut this season, facing an upset-minded Defiance squad. Tacoma made the faster start, with Osaze De Rosario hammering a shot from the top of the area against the right hand post. Peter Kingston put the hosts on top with a rocket free kick from more than 20 yards out on the left wing, firmly into the center of goal for his first ever professional goal. Kingston also hit the post when attempting to repeat the trick.
Roots fought their way back into the game but failed to hit the target before the 75th minute, when a penalty kick was dispatched by Neveal Hackshaw for handball. Having commanded the first half, the hosts limped into Extra Time.
Defiance’s decisive blow came in the 108th minute, as De Rosario finished off a late defensive error by the Roots goalscorer Hackshaw and they withstood a late reduction to ten men to move on.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16
Detroit City FC (USL-C)
3:1
Westchester SC (USL-1)
By Tim Abbott
Detroit City spent the first half on the front foot in front of their vociferous support but failed to convert a number of good chances. Westchester nearly took the lead with the last kick of the half but the bouncing effort was bundled clear.
Morey Doner eventually broke the deadlock with a swept finish in the 71st minute. The visitors were not done, however, as Juan Carlos Obregon volleyed a bouncing ball violently into the Detroit City net only 5 minutes later. A penalty kick for Le Rouge in the 84th minute finally sealed the win, after Diouf was taken down rashly by Powder. The hosts added another late in stoppage time, from Darren Smith, to seal it.
FC Naples (USL-1)
1:1
Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL-C)
Tampa Bay Rowdies advance 9-8 on penalty kicks
By James Knowles
On Wednesday, FC Naples hosted the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the third round of the US Open Cup. After a hectic start, both teams settled into their game plan, Naples letting the visitors keep possession – as long as it wasn’t too close to goal. The Rowdies did find a breakthrough, though, when a good strike from Pacifique Niyongabire found the far post. Their lead wouldn’t last long, with Luka Prpa capitalizing only two minutes later. That’s how they would go in at the halftime whistle.
Despite some very good chances after the break, neither team could execute. Each tried with new players and setups, unable to find a winner. They went to extra time and got even closer while still missing the target. It seems in the penalty shootout, each team wanted to make sure fans got their money’s worth. All outfield players took a shot before Naples hit the cross bar to end the game. The Rowdies move on – broken but not bent.
Indy Eleven (USL-C)
1:0
Miami FC (USL-C)
After extra time
By Dave Einhorn
Indy Eleven are moving onto the fourth round of the US Open Cup after defeating Miami FC. Both sides were evenly matched throughout regulation. In a match that featured few shots on target, but several great saves, it would take extra time to separate them.
The moment of magic came in stoppage time of the second half of extra time. Indy Eleven earned themselves one final opportunity from a corner. Hayden White, a substitute in the second half, lost his marker and scored a free header to seal the victory for Indy Eleven. They will await their opponent in the next round, while Miami go home.
FC Tulsa (USL-C)
1:1
Phoenix Rising FC (USL-C)
Phoenix Rising FC advances 4-2 on penalty kicks
By Jordan Beech
Phoenix Rising FC emerged victorious from a penalty shootout, 4-2, to send FC Tulsa packing in Third Round action. Patrick Rakovsky saved two penalties on the night, one to force the shootout before saving the first attempt in the shootout.
After a scoreless first half, Phoenix took a 1-0 lead thanks to Jeari Margaritha’s 51st minute strike. However, following Remi Cabral’s second yellow for Phoenix in the 76th, FC Tulsa managed to send the match to extra time with a goal by Stefan Lukic.
In extra time, Tulsa thought they’d surely got the winner win Taylor Calheira stepped up to the spot following a handball in the box, but Rakovsky parried the shot away to send the match to penalties.
Wednesday’s result sees Phoenix through to the Fourth Round for the third time in four seasons. The squad is now 8-7-3 all-time in Open Cup play.
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL-C)
3:2
One Knoxville SC (USL-1)
After extra time
By A.D. Mosier
The Colorado Springs Switchbacks advanced to the Round of 32 Wednesday night topping USL-1 side One Knoxville 3-1.
Anthony Fontana had a goal and an assist for the Switchbacks in the come from behind win at home, including the game winner in the 103rd minute.
Babacar Diene put the visitors in the lead in the second minute, taking a pinpoint ball from center back Jaheim Brown off his chest, beating the defender before smashing it past a stunned Christian Herrera to give the USL-1 side an early lead, which stood at halftime.
Colorado Springs manager James Chambers lit a fire under his side with his halftime talk. Four minutes into the start of the second half, Steven Echevarria pulled the Switchbacks level after Knoxville failed to clear the initial corner kick.
The Switchbacks finally took the lead in the 82nd minute when Marco Micaletto combined with Fontan inside the penalty area with a give-and-go. Micaletto had little difficulty beating the goalkeeper after receiving the picture-perfect pass from Fontana
The lead lasted less than a minute. Stavros Zarokostas smashed home a flick from Kempes Tekiela off a long, looping throw-in for Knoxville, catching the Switchbacks asleep.
Fontana put the hosts in the lead for a second time on the night in the 103rd minute taking the ball from Yosuke Hanya on the left flank, slotting home the winner from outside the six-yard box to put the Switchbacks through to the round of 32 for the fourth time in club history.
New Mexico United (USL-C)
2:2
El Paso Locomotive FC (USL-C)
El Paso Locomotive FC advances 4-1 on penalty kicks
By Ginevra Spinelli
An intense derby at the University of New Mexico Soccer Complex between New Mexico United and El Paso Locomotive Football Club, with 120 minutes of play, ended in a penalty shootout. For the first about 20 minutes, it was a box-to-box game with several chances created but none truly dangerous. That is, until the 21st when El Paso earned a corner kick. #12 Ricardo Ruiz delivered it to the far post, where #20 Daniel Carter was ready to head it in, scoring a surprising 0-1 for the away team. In the 39th minute, El Paso’s goalkeeper mishandled a goal kick that was immediately intercepted by McKinze Gaines of New Mexico United, who passed it to Marlon Vargas. Vargas found the back of the net from the center of the box, leveling the score at 1-1.
The second half began with a couple of chances for El Paso that weren’t converted. However, it was the home team that took the lead. In the 72nd minute, Mukwelle Akale sent a bent cross to the far post, where Jaylin Lindsey was unmarked and headed the ball into the net, putting his team in the lead for the first time tonight. But the surprises aren’t over yet. After having a goal disallowed in the 83rd minute due to an offside position, Cabrera brought his team back into the match in the dying seconds, at minute 97, striking the ball with his left foot into the bottom right corner, silencing the home crowd.
With that goal, the match went into extra time, where the pace slowed and not many chances were created over the 30 minutes. The visiting team aimed to take the match to penalties and succeeded. From the penalty spot, El Paso was ruthless, converting four penalties with confidence. New Mexico United, on the other hand, succumbed to the pressure and missed two of their three attempts. The final verdict from the penalty spot was clear and decisive: 4-1 for El Paso, who claimed the win and advanced to the next round in their deepest run yet in the US Open Cup.
Sacramento Republic FC (USL-C)
1:0
El Farolito SC (NPSL)
By William Hodges
Behind a first half goal from Sacramento Republic FC forward Sebastian Herrera, Republic FC secured a 1-0 win over El Farolito in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
The goal came in the 29th minute when Republic captain and 2022 TheCup.us Player of the Tournament Rodrigo Lopez sent a deep, looping ball into the box that Herrera headed in. Lopez’s assist now gives him 12, which is the most in the Open Cup’s Modern Era (1995-present).
The lone goal was one of the few chances from either side all night, in what was a grind it out type of match featuring 13 yellow cards.
With the win, Republic advance to Round 4 (Round of 32) and move to 23-8-2 all-time in the Open Cup, including an impressive 20-3-1 record at home.
Las Vegas Lights FC (USL-C)
2:2
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL-1)
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC advances 4-3 on penalty kicks
By Dominick Delpech
The USL League One Chattanooga Red Wolves lit up Cashman Field with a stellar upset over the USL Las Vegas Lights.
The duel at Cashman Field remained a balanced one for the first 15 minutes with both teams finding minor attacking opportunities. But in the 18th minute, Kimball Jackson played a through ball to Zahir Vazquez between the Vegas defense as Vazquez struck the ball into the top corner giving the visitors a 1-0 lead. Between the 34th and 38th minute, the game got aggressive as yellow cards were issued to Chattanooga’s Tobi Jnohope and Alhassan along with Vegas’s Joseph-Claude Gyau within this time period. Four minutes later, Jnohope committed a foul on Edison Azcona in the 18 yard box resulting in a penalty for the Lights. Azcona did not disappoint as his panenka down the middle beat the diving goalkeeper Ricardo Jerez to equalize the game 1-1 in the 42nd minute.
Straight into the second half, Chattanooga’s Pedro Hernandez was taken down in the penalty box by Gennaro Nigro resulting in the second penalty of the match. Hernandez struck a low shot into the bottom left corner beating Nicholas Ammeter to put the Red Wolves 2-1 up. In the 63rd minute, Christian Pinzon released a powerful left footed shot that curled into the top right corner, beating the diving Jerez to level the game 2-2 for the Lights. Unable to find the back of the net again, both teams went into overtime. As the clock hit 120 and both teams remained in a stalemate, the match went into penalties.
Matthew Bentley scored to give Chattanooga the 1-0 lead in the shootout. Pinzon missed his penalty far left keeping the score 1-0. Ualefi Rodrigues had his penalty denied by Ammeter keeping the game 1-0. Christopher Pearson scored for the Lights to equalize the game. Omar Hernandez put the score 2-1 to Chattanooga. Rory O’Driscoll equalized 2-2. Hernandez again extended the lead which was equalized by Valentin Noel. Owen Green converted his penalty and Gennaro Nigro missed leading to a 4-3 win for the Red Wolves.
