Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Nashville SC

2023 US Open Cup Round 4: Nashville SC still unbeaten at home in Cup play with win vs. FC Dallas

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Nashville SC players celebrate after scoring a goal against FC Dallas in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Nashville SC
Nashville SC players celebrate after scoring a goal against FC Dallas in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Nashville SC

FC Dallas travelled to FirstBank Stadium to take on Nashville SC in the Round of 32 of the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and it was the hosts that booked their place in the next round of the competition after two goals and a good defensive showing made sure Dallas had no chance of coming back into the match.

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A crowd of 5,196 saw Nashville book their place into the Round of 16 for the second time in their club’s history after making it to the Quarterfinals in the 2022 season. A disappointing Dallas side exited the competition in the Round of 32 for the second year in a row and will be looking to bounce back before their rivalry matchup against Austin FC at the weekend.

The first half saw little to no action as each side had one shot but neither were on target. Nashville controlled the majority of the possession as they tried to counter Dallas’ high press and build out of the back. Nashville saw 54% of the ball throughout the first half as FC Dallas had no cohesion when pressing forward against a strong back line of Nashville.

The second half began just how the first had ended with possession from Nashville and constant pressure from Dallas. Both sides exchanged harsh tackles and picked up numerous fouls but referee Lukasz Szpala didn’t believe these tackles warranted a yellow card.

The first chance of the second half came from Dallas after Ema Twumasi slid a ball through Nashville’s back line into Jesus Ferreira who blasted a shot into a Nashville defender winning a corner for the away side. The pressure continued as Ferreira sent in a corner that met the Brazilian right back Geovane Jesus’ head as he redirected the ball straight into Elliot Panicco.

Nashville responded immediately to the pressure that Dallas had begun to bring and decided to take this tie into their own hands in the 63rd minute. Fafa Picualt was played a ball on the left flank and pressed towards the Dallas goal before cutting inside and placing a shot directly into the bottom right corner of the net. Jimmy Mauer could only attempt to save it as he was let down by poor defending from his back line.

The momentum had shifted completely in Nashville’s favor and they were looking for more. They thought that they had secured a 2-0 lead in the 76th minute when the ball bounced around in the six yard box and eventually found its way in, but the assistant referee ruled the goal out for offsides.

FC Dallas, a two-time winner of the competition, were given a lifeline but it did not last long before Nashville scored another to end the tie. A poor attempt to clear the ball ended with Alex Muyl receiving the ball on the edge of the box and with some skill and precision, he curled the ball into the net leaving Jimmy Mauer helpless yet again.

FC Dallas attempted to string attacks together with nothing going in their favor. Nashville secured their safe passage into the next round of the competition and remain undefeated at home (7-0-1, 1-0 PKs) in their club’s Open Cup history. For FC Dallas, it will likely be a long flight home after the club’s first one-and-done US Open Cup since 2012.

 

2023 US Open Cup Round 3: Ethan Zubak’s winner helps Nashville SC survive defending USL champs

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Ethan Zubak of Nashville SC celebrates his goal against San Antonio FC in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Nashville SC
Ethan Zubak of Nashville SC celebrates his goal against San Antonio FC in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Nashville SC

Nashville Soccer Club (MLS) prevailed over reigning USL Championship titlists San Antonio FC on their GEODIS Park home field in in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup by a narrow 1-0 scoreline.

With a side consisting of only two starters from the previous weekend, Nashville labored in the first half against an energized San Antonio team.

Nashville and San Antonio traded point blank goal attempts in the 7th and 9th minutes, respectively. Elliot Panicco of Nashville, recording his first start of the season, continued to be the busier keeper in the first half. Eventually he finished the game with five saves, his first clean sheet for the Music City side.

In the 22nd minute Panicco couldn’t even get a finger on a fizzing shot fired by Kai Koreniuk at a narrow angle, skimming a yard off the face of his goal line only to roll harmlessly out of danger.

In the 1st minute of stoppage time before the half, NASC’s Jacob Shaffelberg hit a ball from 22 yards out, which deflected past the outstretched arms of SAFC keeper and wide of the right post. That effort was easily the home side’s most dangerous opportunity of the previous 40 minutes of play.

San Antonio had two good chances before the 60th minute. First, forward Ignacio Bailone struck a 53rd minute free kick struck on goal, earning another save for Nashville’s Panicco. .
Panicco earned his keep in the 57th minute, when Zico Bailey hit a sinking drive that the home keeper barely managed to deflect over the crossbar to preserve his cleansheet.

This was also the phase when the game began to get testy as Nashville felt the frustration of facing a lower division side which refused to be overwhelmed.

However, Nashville made their key substation in the 61st minute, bringing on Teal Bunbury. His size and aggressive play, combined with the wile of 45th minute sub Fafa Picault disrupted San Antonio’s defensive stance and created the opening needed to take the lead.

In the 71 minute, a SAFC defender was preparing to clear a hopeful ball up the right wing on the bounce, when Picault burst past him, controlling the ball with the outside of his right foot. He took one more touch and fired a decisive cross low to the ground, past the onrushing SAFC keeper. The cross found Nashville forward Ethan Zubar who redirected the ball past two lunging San Antonio defenders.

The goal was the last significant action beside some testy exchanges by both sides before the referee blew the game to a close at the end of 92 minutes.

SAFC head coach Alen Marcina took the match as a sign of his side’s quality, saying after the game “if people don’t know who SAFC is, I think if they watched that game they’re well aware that we’re a great team with great players and we’re gonna make some noise this year.”

Nashville will host another Texas side, FC Dallas, in the Fourth Round of the Open Cup on May 10 at 8:30 pm.

2022 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Orlando City equalize late, oust Nashville SC in PKs to return to Semis

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Orlando City SC players celebrate after winning a PK shootout against Nashville SC in the Quarterfinals of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Orlando City SC
Orlando City SC players celebrate after winning a PK shootout against Nashville SC in the Quarterfinals of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Orlando City SC

Rodrigo Schlegel scored in stoppage-time of regulation to send the Lions to extra time, and Pedro Gallese produced a game-winning save to lift Orlando City past Nashville SC 6-5 in penalties Wednesday night in the Quarterfinals of the 2022 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup at Exploria Stadium. 

For Orlando, it will be their second straight Semifinal appearance as the club improves to 5-0 all-time in Open Cup matches decided by PK shootouts.

“Very happy with the victory and going to the semifinals with this group of players against a very good rival with the possibility of advancing,” said Orlando coach Oscar Pareja after the game.  

“Regarding the game, I thought we didn’t play well in the first half, at least 35 minutes, Nashville was much better than us, created more options. But after the goal, I thought we reacted well and the players showed the personality to go through it.” 

Hany Mukhtar opened the scoring in the 52nd minute after poking a ball sent in by Alex Muyl, but Schlegel’s goal four minutes into stoppage off a setpiece tied the game for the Lions to send the game to extra time. 

Nashville went down a player in the 92nd minute of extra time after Sean Davis was issued a second yellow card for holding back Facundo Torres from a counter attack. 

Despite the player advantage, the Lions weren’t able to make much of it. 

Orlando did, however, turn it up a bit in the second half, finishing with 23 shots after the 120 minutes after a lackluster fist half. 

Nashville dominated the first half, outshooting Orlando 6-1 which also included several saves from goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, who finished with fives saves. 

In the 16th minute, the Peruvian keeper stopped Hany Mukhtar from striking from close. Moments later in the 26th minute, Gallese made back-to-back saves to stop chances from CJ Sapong and Mukhtar. 

Orlando had an opportunity to find the opening goal in the 33rd minute when Facundo Torres connected with Mauricio Pereyra, who then crossed the ball to Tesho Akindele but the forward didn’t get there enough to finish the play. 

Nashville again managed to find another chance in the 35th minute when Sapong beat Rodrigo Schlegel before taking a strike at goal but a diving Gallese was able to fend the ball away. 

Up next, Orlando City hosts the New York Red Bulls on July 27 in the Semifinals of the Open Cup at Exploria Stadium. 

2022 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Previewing three intriguing matchups this week

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The Sacramento Republic celebrate after the club's 2-0 home win over the San Jose Earthquakes in the Round of 16 of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Sacramento Republic FC
The Sacramento Republic celebrate after the club’s 2-0 home win over the San Jose Earthquakes in the Round of 16 of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Sacramento Republic FC

UPDATE: Sacramento Republic upset the LA Galaxy on Tuesday night

Three of the four matches for the 2022 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Quarterfinals will take place this week and feature some intriguing drama. 

#USOC2022 Essentials

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Round 5: Joseph Brito (Union Omaha)

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Tuesday night will see a Northern California vs. Southern California matchup with the LA Galaxy hosting the Sacramento Republic of the USL Championshup. 

Wednesday’s doubleheader will kick off with a Hudson River Derby at Red Bull Arena as the New York Red Bulls will host their rival New York City FC. After that, the lone USL League One (Div. 3 pro) team left, Union Omaha, will travel to Kansas to take on four-time champion Sporting Kansas City. 

The hosting scenarios for the Semifinals and the Final are scheduled to take place on June 23, then the final Quarterfinal match will be played on Wednesday, June 29 when Nashville SC heads south to face Orlando City SC.

All games this round, and the rest of the tournament, will be streamed on ESPN+.

As always, TheCup.us will have reporters at every game and will be providing in-game updates on Twitter (@USOpenCup) and as we have done for more than a decade, the hashtag we recommend is #USOC2022

Below you will find a brief preview of this week’s three Quarterfinals with links to each broadcast:

Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez of LA Galaxy celebrates during the club's 2022 US Open Cup Fifth Round match against LAFC. Photo: LA Galaxy
Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez of LA Galaxy celebrates during the club’s 2022 US Open Cup Fifth Round match against LAFC. Photo: LA Galaxy

Tuesday, June 21
Sacramento Republic (USL-C) at LA Galaxy (MLS)
Dignity Health Sports Park; Carson, CA
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+

UPDATE: Sacramento Republic upset the LA Galaxy on Tuesday night to reach the Semifinals

The two-time US Open Cup champion LA Galaxy, one of the most decorated MLS clubs of all time, will host the Sacramento Republic FC, the last remaining USL Championship (Div. 2 pro) club. 

After a bit of an up-and-down start to the season, Sacramento has a 4-3-1 record in their last eight games. After their upset of the San Jose Earthquakes on May 25, Sacramento are unbeaten in their last four, including winning three straight. That momentum has carried them into a four-way tie for third place in the competitive Western Conference. 

Meanwhile, the Galaxy are also in the top half of their league’s Western Conference table with a 7-5-3 record. Since their last Open Cup game (a 3-1 home win over LAFC), the Galaxy have picked up a pair of results in league play, a 4-1 win over Austin FC and a 1-1 draw against the Portland Timbers this past Saturday.  

How they got to the Round of 16

Sacramento had no trouble beating the Portland Timbers U-23s 6-0 in the Second Round. Sacramento held a 6-0 lead at halftime and eased up in the second half so as not to run up the score on the youngsters. 

In the Fourth Round Sacramento hosted a battle of USL Championship Western Conference rivals, facing off with Phoenix Rising. Republic added to their outstanding home Open Cup record with a 2-0 win, Luis Felipe scoring in the first half and Douglas Martinez adding the second in the 88th minute.

In the Round of 16, Sacramento broke through the San Jose blockade, beating the Earthquakes for the first time in Open Cup play in four tries. Over 11,000 packed Heart Health Park in Sacramento on a sweltering night. Luis Felipe opened the scoring in the 28th minute on a Rodrigo Lopez assist, and then Lopez closed out the game with a fantastic shot in the 84th minute to propel Sacramento to the Quarterfinals for the first time.

The Galaxy began their Open Cup run by welcoming former club legend and San Diego Loyal manager Landon Donovan to Dignity Health Sports Park in the Third Round. Los Angeles came away with a 1-0 win as Kevin Cabral scored the lone goal.

In the Fourth Round, the Galaxy got by the stubborn California United Strikers of NISA, 3-2. Cal United grabbed a shocking 1-0 lead in the 19th minute on a goal by Shinya Kadono, but Dejan Joveljic evened things up with the first of his two penalties for the Galaxy. The game stayed level until the 80th minute when Owen Lambe put the Galaxy ahead, and three minutes later Joveljic converted his second penalty to seal the win. Cal United created some late drama with an 88th minute goal from Kevin Garcia-Lopez.

In the Round of 16 the Galaxy faced off with cross town rivals Los Angeles FC in the first ever Open Cup version of “El Traffico” in front of 24,174 fans at the Galaxy’s Dignity Health Sports Park. After a scoreless first half, Kevin Cabral put the Galaxy ahead in the 51st minute, and Chicharito doubled the lead seven minutes later. Dejan Joveljic made it 3-0 in the 81st minute, and LAFC’s Ryan Hollingshead scored the visitors lone goal four minutes later.

The lone Open Cup meeting between the two clubs came in the 2017 Round of 16. Sacramento began in the Second Round that year, and in the prior round they rolled over Real Salt Lake 4-1 in front of 11,569 in Sacramento. In front of a sparse crowd of 2,672 at the StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium, LA’s Ariel Lassiter and Bradford Jamieson scored early in the second half to give the MLS club a 2-0 win. At the time, it was the furthest Sacramento had gone in the Open Cup.

The Galaxy will look to avenge their reserve club LA Galaxy II after Sacramento beadt them in USL Championship play 2-0 on June 18. Luther Archimede and Rafael Jauregui scored midway through the second half for the winners.

Sacramento Republic FC (USL Championship)
7th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 17-5-1 (0-1 PKs)
Away: 1-4-1 (0-1 PKs)
vs. MLS: 3-4-1 (0-1 PKs)
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2022)

Current Season
7-3-4 25 Pts., 17 GF 11 GA, 5th in USL Championship Western Conference
Goal Scoring Leader: Douglas Martinez, 3
Assists Leader: Douglas Martinez, Luther Archimede, 2
Goalkeeping Leader: Daniel Vitiello, 10 games, 0.80 GAA / 3 clean sheets

Last Three Games
6/4 – USL-C – 1-0 win vs. San Antonio FC
6/11 – USL-C – 2-0 vs. at Detroit City FC
6/18 – USL-C 0 2-0 win vs. LA Galaxy II

LA Galaxy (MLS)
17th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 35-17-1 (1-0 PKs)
Home: 25-3-0
vs. Div. 2: 11-4-0
Best finish: U.S. Open Cup Champions (2001, 2005)

Current Season
7-5-3 24 Pts., 18 GF 16 GA, 5th in MLS Western Conference
Goal Scoring Leader: Chicharito, 6
Assists Leader: Raheem Edwards, 5
Goalkeeping Leader: Jonathan Bond, 15 games, 1.07 GAA / 5 clean sheets

Last Three Games
5/22 – MLS – 3-0 loss vs. Houston Dynamo
5/29 – MLS – 4-1 win vs. Austin FC
6/18 – MLS – 1-1 draw vs. Portland Timbers

Union Omaha celebrate in the locker room after a 2-1 upset win over Minnesota United FC in the Fifth Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Union Omaha
Union Omaha celebrate in the locker room after a 2-1 upset win over Minnesota United FC in the Fifth Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Union Omaha

June 22

Union Omaha (USL-1) at Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
Children’s Mercy Park; Kansas City, KS
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+

Union Omaha are the last remaining third division club in the tournament, representing USL League One. They are trying to become just the third team from a third division league to reach the Semifinals. The other two are the San Francisco Bay Seals (D3 Pro League) in 1997 and the Richmond Kickers (USL) in 2011.

Much like their opponents on Wednesday, Union Omaha are struggling in league play with a 3-2-4 record. However, there is still plenty of time for the defending USL League One champions to get back on track. It looked like they were headed that way with a six-game unbeaten streak in all competitions, until this past weekend when they fell 2-0 at home to the Greenville Triumph, the team they defeated in the league championship game last year.

Sporting Kansas City are attempting to join some elite company in 2022. The MLS side has four US Open Cup trophies and adding a fifth would tie the tournament’s all-time record (Bethlehem Steel, Maccabee AC, Fall River Marksmen/New Bedford Whalers). Sporting might have extra motivation because they have struggled in league play. They enter Wednesday’s match one point from the bottom of the Western Conference with a 4-9-4 record. Last weekend, they snapped a three-game winless streak (0-2-1) with a 2-1 road win over Nashville SC. Teams using the Open Cup to get their league season back on track, or to save a season would not be unheard of.

How they got to the Round of 16

Union Omaha began their inaugural Open Cup run in the Second Round when they edged USL League Two powerhouse Des Moines Menace 2-1 in Omaha, Neb. The game was decided on an 81st minute own goal by Des Moines.

With no Open Cup experience, Omaha received a major test with their first professional opponent: Chicago Fire of MLS. Noe Meza scored the tying goal midway through the second half, and in extra time Alex Touche sent the game to penalties with a 120th minute stoppage time goal. Rashid Nuhu saved Chicago’s final penalty to give Omaha the upset.

Omaha’s found USL League One rivals Northern Colorado Hailstorm (who pulled off an MLS upset of their own in the previous round) waiting in the Fourth Round, and came away with a 2-0 victory. Goals from Noe Meza and Conor Doyle in the second half powered the Union to the win and the tournament’s $25,000 prize money as the last remaining third division club.

In the Round of 16, Omaha claimed another MLS upset on the road as they traveled north and knocked off Minnesota United FC, 2-1. The Sportscenter-worthy winning goal was scored by Joseph Brito in the 51st minute. That goal was enough to earn him a narrow win in TheCup.us Player of the Round voting. The win also made history for the state of the Nebraska as Omaha became the first club from the Cornhusker State to reach the Quarterfinals.

Sporting KC began their Open Cup journey in dramatic fashion. The four-time champs overcame a 2-0 halftime deficit to FC Dallas, scored an equalizer deep into second half stoppage time, and then tacked on two more goals in extra time to prevail 4-2. Marinos Tzionis scored the late equalizer for his first goal for Sporting KC. Four minutes into extra time an own goal from Edwin Cerrillo put KC up for good, and Khiry Shelton made it 4-2 in the 113th minute.

SKC would reach the Quarterfinals for the 12th time with a 2-0 win over the Houston Dynamo. Their 12 Quarterfinal appearances are tied for fifth-most in the tournament’s 107-year history. Johnny Russell scored both goals for Sporting, who was playing Houston for the fifth time in the last six tournaments.

Johnny Russell of Sporting KC talks to his teammates in the huddle before the club's 2022 US Open Cup Fifth Round match against the Houston Dynamo. Photo: Sporting KC
Johnny Russell of Sporting KC talks to his teammates in the huddle before the club’s 2022 US Open Cup Fifth Round match against the Houston Dynamo. Photo: Sporting KC

Union Omaha (USL League One)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 4-0-0
Away: 2-0-0
vs. MLS: 1-0-1 (1-0 PKs)
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2002)

Current Season
3-4-2 13 Pts., 10 GF 8 GA, 7th in USL League One
Goal Scoring Leader: Noe Meza, 3
Assists Leader: Noe Meza, 3
Goalkeeping Leader: Rashid Nuhu, 8 games, 0.80 GAA / 4 clean sheets

Last Three Games
6/4 – USL1 – 1-0 win at Chattanooga Red Wolves
6/11 – USL1 – 2-1 win at FC Tucson
6/18 – USL1 – 0-2 loss vs. Greenville Triumph

Sporting Kansas City (Major League Soccer)
22nd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 30-15-6 (4-2 PKs)
Home: 22-7-2 (2-0 PKs)
vs. Division 3: 3-3-0
Best finish: U.S. Open Cup Champions (2004, 2012, 2015, 2017)

Current Season
4-9-4 16 Pts., 16 GF 29 GA, 12th in MLS Western Conference
Goal Scoring Leader: Johnny Russell, 5
Assists Leader: Cameron Duke, Felipe Hernandez, 3
Goalkeeping Leader: Tim Melia, 17games, 1.71 GAA / 4 clean sheets

Last Three Games
5/28 – MLS – 0-1 loss vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
6/12 – MLS – 1-2 loss vs. New England Revolution
6/19 – MLS – 2-1 win at Nashville SC

Luquinhas of the New York Red Bulls battles for the ball against Charlotte FC in the Fifth Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: New York Red Bulls
Luquinhas of the New York Red Bulls battles for the ball against Charlotte FC in the Fifth Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: New York Red Bulls

Wednesday, June 22

New York City FC (MLS) at New York Red Bulls (MLS)
Red Bull Arena; Harrison, NJ
Kickoff: 8 p.m.
Broadcast: ESPN+

It doesn’t get much better when two league rivals square off in the US Open Cup. It makes it even more meaningful because the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC have both never won the US Open Cup. But adding a little more spice to the matchup at Red Bull Arena is the fact that these two rivals neck-and-neck in the Eastern Conference standings with NYCFC on top of the Eastern Conference with Red Bulls one point behind them.

The Red Bulls are a two-time finalist (2003, 2017) but have never been able to get to the top of the mountain. After four consecutive opening round defeats in their first four tournament entries, NYCFC won a couple games in 2019 before falling in PKs to Orlando City in the Quarterfinals. This year, NYCFC needed home wins over Rochester NY FC (formerly Rochester Rhinos) and the New England Revolution to punch their ticket to the Quarterfinals.

NYCFC haven’t lost a game in any competition since early April, going 12 games without a loss. Their last outing on Sunday saw them finish with a 1-1 draw the Colorado Rapids. Similarly, the Red Bulls have only lost one game since mid-April in all competitions.

How they got to the Round of 16

The Red Bulls reached the Fourth Round with a 2-1 win over Hartford Athletic of the USL Championship. Early goals from Lewis Morgan and Aaron Long was all NYRB needed while out-shooting Hartford, 30-4.

The Red Bulls had no trouble with their Fifth Round encounter with rivals D.C. United, leaving D.C’s Audi Field with a 3-0 win. Luquinhas opened the scoring in first half stoppage time, and John Tolkin added another just after halftime. Zach Ryan put the game to bed with his 68th-minute goal.

NYCFC had a bit of a tougher task with Rochester New York FC, beating the MLS Next Pro club 3-1 in the Fourth Round. Thiago Andrade started the scoring for NYCFC in the 23rd minute, and eight minutes later Heber took advantage of a goalkeeping mistake to double the lead. Jesus Baitz got Rochester back into the game in first half stoppage time, but Maxime Chanot’s goal midway through the second half gave the MLSers a comfortable lead.

Then, in the Round of 16, it was a battle between two major trophy winners from last season with NYCFC lifting MLS Cup and the New England Revolution winning the Supporters’ Shield. Santiago Rodriguez scored the lone goal of the game in the 94th minute of extra time as New York City advanced.

New York City FC (Major League Soccer)
6th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 4-3-2 (0-2 PKs)
Away: 1-2-2 (0-2 PKs)
vs. MLS: 1-2-1 (0-1 PKs)

Best finish: Quarterfinals (2019)

Current Season

8-3-3 27 Pts., 26 GF 11 GA 1st in MLS Eastern Conference
Goal Scoring Leader: Valentin Castellanos, 7
Assists Leader: Santiago Rodriguez, 7
Goalkeeping Leader: Sean Johnson, 14 games, 0.79 GAA / 8 clean sheets

Last Three Games
5/22 – MLS – 1-0 win vs. Chicago Fire
5/28 – MLS – 1-0 win at Minnesota United
6/19 – MLS – 1-1 draw vs. Colorado Rapids

New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)
22nd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 25-20-3 (2-1 PKs)
Home: 11-6-2 (1-1 PKs)
vs. MLS: 10-12-3 (2-1 PKs)
Best finish: Final (2003, 2017)

Current Season
7-4-5 26 Pts., 26 GF 17 GA, 2nd in MLS Eastern Conference
Goal Scoring Leader: Lewis Morgan, 7
Assists Leader: Omir Fernandez, 6
Goalkeeping Leader: Carlos Coronel, 15 games, 1.00 GAA, 4 clean sheets

Last Three Games
5/28 – MLS – 4-1 win vs. D.C. United
6/11 – MLS – 0-2 loss at Charlotte FC
6/18 – MLS – 2-0 win vs. Toronto FC

Santiago Rodriguez of NYCFC celebrates after scoring a goal against the New England Revolution in the Fifth Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: NYCFC
Santiago Rodriguez of NYCFC celebrates after scoring a goal against the New England Revolution in the Fifth Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: NYCFC

June 29, 2022
Nashville SC (MLS) at Orlando City SC (MLS)
Exploria Stadium; Orlando, FL
Kickoff – 7 PM
Broadcast: ESPN+

Preview coming soon …

2022 US Open Cup Round 5: Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar scores late winner to end Louisville City’s home streak

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Hany Mukhtar of Nashville SC (left) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal in the 89th minute against Louisville City in the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Nashville SC
Hany Mukhtar of Nashville SC (left) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal in the 89th minute against Louisville City in the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Nashville SC

A rivalry was revived in the Round of 16 of the 2022 US Open Cup when MLS’ Nashville SC took the trip north for their first competitive match against Louisville City FC since their time in the USL Championship in 2019.

LouCity, who was coming off an uncharacteristic two-loss streak, found the back of the net first in the 37th minute. The excited Kentucky crowd was quickly silenced by an Ake Loba goal less than two minutes later. The home team had the edge, having greater possession and more shots, but as the likes of USMNT’s Walker Zimmerman and 2021 MLS MVP runner up Hany Mukhtar entered the match, Nashville’s quality began to prevail. Mukhtar scored the deciding goal in the 89th minute with an expertly placed shot to the far post to give Nashville a 2-1 win.

With the win, Nashville reaches the Quarterfinals of the US Open Cup for the first time in club history, and become just the second Tennessee-based club in the 107-year old history of the tournament to reach the Round of Eight (1998 Nashville Metros, A-League, Div. 2 pro). They will travel to Florida to take on Orlando City SC in the next round (June 21-22).

Louisville aggressively started the match. Only nine minutes in, Corben Bone had a great opportunity in front of Nashville’s goal that he failed to make proper contact with to send it goal-bound.

Less than 20 minutes later, LouCity’s Enoch “Matiti” Mushagalusa took a dangerous shot at the near post that Kentucky native Elliot Panicco stopped. Their offensive pressure paid off in the 37th minute with an aerial cross from Amadou Dia that was headed past the keeper by Brian Ownby. The jubilation of the purple-clad fans didn’t last as a quick start from Nashville caught the two-time USL champs on the backfoot, ending with a goal from the designated player, Ake Loba.

The second half was a more even affair with a number of substitutions made to try to break the 1-1 deadlock. Notable substitutions include Louisville’s Wes Charpie in for an injured Josh Wynder in the 51st minute, Nashville’s Walker Zimmerman in for Jack Maher in the 69th minute, Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar in for Ake Loba in the 77th minute, and former Nashville striker Cameron Lancaster in for LouCity’s Wilson Harris in the 70th minute.

The Nashville changes overwhelmed Louisville and the second half statistics began to drift in the visitor’s favor. Mukhtar was the difference-maker. Tired legs gave him too much space, and he took advantage. In the 89th minute, he slotted it in the goal and helped his team to advance to the next round of the Open Cup.

“Obviously it was a difficult way to end the match,” said LouCity head coach Danny Cruz. “I told the players that a couple mistakes cost us. You give that level of opponent a half-chance, and they take it. They had four shots on the night. We had more possession. But ultimately, what matters is the result. I’m proud of the mentality on the night, but mistakes cost us.”

Goal scorer Brian Ownby echoed Coach Cruz’s thoughts: “We are disappointed. That game was for the taking for us. We gave up cheap goals, and they cost us.”

With that win, Nashville SC has advanced and will have an away matchup in Exploria Stadium against Orlando City SC after they triumphed over Inter Miami CF in penalties. In the meantime, Nashville will continue their MLS campaign on the road against the Colorado Rapids.

2022 US Open Cup Round 4: Nashville SC rallies to eliminate defending champ Atlanta United

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CJ Sapong of Nashville SC celebrates after scoring a goal against Atlanta United in the Fourth Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Nashville SC
CJ Sapong of Nashville SC celebrates after scoring a goal against Atlanta United in the Fourth Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Nashville SC

Marking its first Lamar Hunt US Open Cup appearance as a Major League Soccer club, Nashville SC scored three unanswered goals to erase a 2-0 second half deficit to eliminate Atlanta United, 3-2, at GEODIS Park in extra time on Wednesday night. 

Second half goals from Nashville midfielder Hany Muhktar and second half substitute CJ Sapong provided the team much-needed offensive momentum, which carried into extra time.  

After a goal from former LA Galaxy II forward Ethan Zubak in the 94th minute, Nashville claimed its first lead of the game and, later, came away victorious to maintain its undefeated record in all competitions at their new home stadium. In fact, with the comeback win, Nashville remains undefeated at home in the team’s Open Cup history (5-0-1, 0-1 PKs).

The squad started off slow as Atlanta’s Thiago Almada and Luiz Araújo each executed off shaky defense from centerback Walker Zimmerman, giving Atlanta a commanding 2-0 lead at half.

Nashville, however, regrouped in the second half as Atlanta’s Alan Franco was yellow carded off a foul on Aké Arnaud Loba allowing Muhktar to convert on a right corner penalty kick to slice Atlanta’s lead, 2-1, in the 50th minute.

Throughout the game, both sides found themselves in a frenzy as missed calls resulted in game changing opportunities. 

Seeking to tie in the 78th minute, Muhktar passed to Zimmerman, who found the net off a header. The goal, however, was called back due to a controversial offside call on Zimmerman. 

The tying goal did come in stoppage time, though, as Sapong provided a header to the top right corner.

After a 2-2 score at the end of regulation, the game continued with two 15-minute extra time sessions. 

Not wasting any time, Nashville scored in the 93rd minute with a through ball from Muhktar to Zubak, who avoided the recovering defenders and fired a left footed shot into the far post to take the lead. 

From there, Atlanta was provided several opportunities to score but due to impressive play from Nashville SC goalkeeper Joe Willis, Nashville successfully held on to defeat the reigning US Open Cup champions, ending the club’s six-game winning streak in the tournament dating back to 2019. 

Overall, Muhktar stood out as the player of the game as he came away with one goal, one assist, three shots and seven duels won in his 112 minutes. 

After the thrilling comeback, Nashville SC will now advance to the Round of 16 in its first US Open Cup run since joining the MLS in February of 2020. Advancing to Round 5 matches the club’s deepest run in the tournament after reaching that same round in it’s augural cup run in 2018 as a member of the USL.

The game marked just the 18th time in the tournament’s Modern Era that a team came back to win (in regulation or in extra time) after trailing by two goals. In fact, combined with Tuesday’s comeback win by Sporting Kansas City over FC Dallas, it is the first time in the Modern Era that two teams from the same round won games after overcoming a two-goal deficit.

Nashville’s next opponent will be announce on Thursday night when the USSF conducts the draw for the Round of 16 which is scheduled to take place the week of May 24-25.    

2019 US Open Cup Round 3: Charleston Battery withstands Nashville SC pressure, pitches shutout in PK shootout win

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Kyle Nelson of the Charleston Battery (No. 3) challenges for a header against Nashville SC in a Third Round match in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Jay Wilkinson | Nashville SC
Kyle Nelson of the Charleston Battery (No. 3) challenges for a header against Nashville SC in a Third Round match in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Jay Wilkinson | Nashville SC

120 minutes wasn’t enough time to find a winner between Nashville SC and Charleston Battery in the Third Round of the 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The squads battled to a 1-1 draw through regulation, and through stoppage time. In a knockout situation, that means only one thing: penalties.

Battery winger Zeiko Lewis drilled his first shot. Nashville SC defender Liam Doyle saw his saved by Philip Breno. Battery defender Leland Archer coolly put his home. Another save for Breno, this time keeping midfielder Matt LaGrassa out of the goal. While Jarad van Schaik skied his next attempt, by the time Nashville midfielder Lebo Moloto followed with a hit crossbar, Charleston striker Ian Svantesson needed only to hit one shot to end the game.

He put it home, Charleston survives and advances.

“For a coach, it’s pretty simple,” said Battery head coach Mark Anhaeuser of the shootout. “It stinks for players, because there’s a lot of nerves, they’re nervous, and heavy legs. In the end, it comes down to who really can hit that ball, and put it in the spot they want to. Our first two were very good, and we put them in under pressure, and my goalkeeper made two really strong saves.”

The shootout was a rare one. It marked just the third time in the Modern Era (1995-present) that a shootout ended with the score of 3-0. The first time it happened, the Charleston Battery upset the Chicago Fire (MLS) in the Third Round of the 2010 US Open Cup.

The shootout win capped a solid performance for Breno, who made four saves in the run of play to hold Nashville to just one goal – despite 27 shots from the hosts. In fact, Nashville dominated in many statistical metrics, with 68.4% of the possession, a passing accuracy of 87.4% to Charleston’s 66.5%, and five corners taken to the Battery’s four.

The game is not about dominating the ancillary stats, though: it’s about scoring. The teams did the same amount in regulation, and that opened the door for the shootout to determine the final outcome.

Players from the Charleston Battery and Nashville SC (yellow) battle for the ball in their Third Round match in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Jay Wilkinson | Nashville SC
Players from the Charleston Battery and Nashville SC (yellow) battle for the ball in their Third Round match in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Jay Wilkinson | Nashville SC

The Battery struck first, with striker Nicque Daley turning on a ball near midfield, taking five touches and popping the ball over the shoulder of NSC keeper Connor Sparrow in the 24th minute. Nashville would finally respond in the 72nd, with Kharlton Belmar putting home a cross from striker Ropapa Mensah, who found himself alone in space on a through-ball from Alan Winn. At that point, Nashville seemed to capture all the momentum, and Anhaeuser’s side was merely holding on for dear life.

“They caught us there for about 20 minutes and we got fortunate they didn’t score,” he admitted. “They got one on the counter there, which they picked up. Then they had their guys forward, and I think they got a little tired. Even we caught them at the end, and hit the post, crossbar, and we were just unlucky.”

The Battery advance to the Fourth Round of the US Open Cup, and will find out their fate in terms of opponent – and location – Thursday. For a team that’s played two on the road already, first traveling to USL League One side Greenville Triumph, and then to Nashville SC’s satellite location in the suburbs of Music City, they’re hopeful of drawing a home match next.

“We’re going to see tomorrow,” Anhaeuser said with a laugh. “I’m just going to pray we get a home game. Two road games in the Open Cup is so difficult. The heat, multiple games in a week, and my guys deserve all the credit. What you do, you get a game vs. an MLS team. These guys deserved it; they played a heck of a game – defended very well.”

The last team from outside MLS to advance to the US Open Cup Final (the Battery lost 2-1 to DC United in 2008) keeps their dream alive in the 2019 edition of the tournament. The Battery advance to the Fourth Round for the third year in a row.

2019 US Open Cup Round 2: Nashville SC holds off pesky South Georgia Tormenta 2

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Nashville SC players celebrate one of their three goals in the club's 3-2 win over South Georgia Tormenta FC 2 in the Second Round of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Jay Wilkinson | Nashville SC
Nashville SC players celebrate one of their three goals in the club’s 3-2 win over South Georgia Tormenta FC 2 in the Second Round of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Jay Wilkinson | Nashville SC

A matchup between a USL Championship side and a League Two team may look like a blowout before the game even kicks off, but that wasn’t the case tonight in the Nashville area. While Nashville SC still earned the win, South Georgia Tormenta 2 was able to keep the contest close throughout. In the end, it’s survive and advance, and NSC did just that with the 3-2 victory.

“They look a wonderful team, I’ve got to say,” said Nashville head coach Gary Smith. “For an amateur group, they have performed at a magnificent level tonight, bearing in mind we’ve got what constitutes most of a first team group out there.

“You’re going to see teams go out tonight to amateur groups, and you see it all around the world. I’ve seen it many times in England in the FA Cup where lower-league teams beat the bigger fish not because they’re necessarily more talented, but they’ve got bigger hearts on the day and their attitude has dragged them through. Maybe the talented players don’t quite get themselves up for the game, and tonight our players have gotten themselves up for the game.”

The Boys in Gold got the scoring started early, with Ropapa Mensah running onto a throughball from fellow winger Alan Winn, and finishing confidently past Tormenta keeper Tor Saunders. After just eight minutes of gameplay, Nashville found itself on top. Winn would be on the receiving end for Nashville’s second goal, running free on goal after service between the lines from midfielder Bolu Akinyode. His shot curled side-netting to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.

The professional side with a multi-goal lead in the first half may seem like a guarantee, but Tormenta was able to respond shortly before halftime. A failed clearance and a scramble at the back found winger Adrian Billhardt alone on goal against Nashville keeper Connor Sparrow. He was able to poke the ball past Sparrow and slot it home to cut the halftime lead to just one goal.

Nashville responded after the half with striker Cameron Lancaster managing to roll the ball over the line after rounding the keeper on service from Winn – his second assist of the night, and third goal in which he was involved.

Once again, though, the amateur side wouldn’t go down without a fight. Striker James Meehan was waiting in the center of the six-yard box on a corner kick, and Jordan Skelton’s header to him took one hop before Meehan nodded it home, as well.

Tormenta would create more moments of danger – including a corner kick opportunity that saw a ball sail just over the bar seconds before full-time – but was unable to find that moment of Open Cup magic to slay the giants and move on to the third round. Nonetheless, after taking down League One team Chattanooga Red Wolves SC last weekend, there’s no shame in the performance for the amateurs.

“Always pleased to advance in the Cup,” Smith said. “It’s completely different to league play. You’ve got to get yourself in the winning column and you advance. I thought the application was terrific, attitude from the outset was spot-on, and in these games that are always difficult against a young and fearless side that have come here and given everything they’ve got and have nothing to lose, I thought our guys maybe just missed out on extending the lead at good times. The only disappointment for me will be a bit of a freak goal in the first one and then conceding from the set piece.”

With the victory, Nashville SC advances to take on the winner of Wednesday’s battle between the Charleston Battery and the Greenville Triumph SC. Nashville managed to slay a giant of its own last year – Colorado Rapids of MLS – and advance to the Round of 16 before falling to rival Louisville City FC. With a solid first salvo in the books, they’ll be looking to eclipse that run in 2019.

2018 US Open Cup Round 5: Louisville City right at home with history-making win over Nashville SC

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Oscar Craig of Louisville City celebrates his goal against Nashville SC in the Fifth Round of the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: EM Dash Photography
Oscar Craig of Louisville City celebrates his goal against Nashville SC in the Fifth Round of the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: EM Dash Photography
It’s become an all too common scene this summer for Louisville City FC. The defending United Soccer League (USL) champions bring their fans to Lynn Stadium, on the University of Louisville’s red-painted campus, and splash it with a bit of purple and gold.

Louisville City’s march toward another cup continued Wednesday.

The hosts never trailed in a 2-1 win over Nashville SC — marking the final all-USL match-up in the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup — while advancing to the tournament’s Quarterfinals.

“It was another exciting one for us,” said Louisville midfielder Paolo DelPiccolo, who scored the second goal for his side, but away from its normal home at Louisville Slugger Field, a Triple-A baseball facility. Louisville City’s 4-0-0 this year in Open Cup play at Lynn, a soccer-specific stadium.

“We enjoy playing here, not only because it’s a proper field, but it gets the fans a little closer — a little louder — and it really energizes us,” DelPiccolo added. “Especially in a close one like today, it gets tiring at the end. To have the fans kind of keep us going to help see it out when we’re up just one goal is nice.”

Louisville City became the first team from Kentucky to make the Open Cup Quarterfinals and ensured a division club would reach the final eight for the third year in a row, as well as for the 11th time in 12 years.

The boys in purple will next face Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire away on July 18. Kickoff time has yet to be announced.

“More than anything, we’re just proud of ourselves, as a team,” defender Paco Craig said. “We love the fact that if we are to be the only USL team left, that says a lot for the USL. Last year, as well, the USL showed well. We enjoy that, but the pride is more for us and what we were able to accomplish as a unit.”

With the Sacramento Republic falling to Los Angeles FC, City would finish the evening as the last remaining Division 2 (USL) team in the tournament. That accomplishment earns Louisville $25,000 in prize money.

In front of an announced crowd of 4,463 on Wednesday, DelPiccolo’s turn-and-shoot poke into the back of the net ended up the game-winner in the 58th minute. The sequence started with a short corner that was nearly turned over until hastily played to midfielder George Davis IV, who scooted the ball through the middle of the box.

“Just like we drew it up — a couple of missed passes and it falls on my foot,” DelPiccolo said with a smile. The tally added to a 30th-minute header by Craig from point-blank range, also the product of a short corner and set up by a cross from Oscar Jimenez. “I thought both the goals were really well worked, so the lads deserve enormous credit,” said Louisville City coach James O’Connor. “Their ability to see things — the sharpness, the speed of mind — it was great to see.”

After a second goal moved Louisville City ahead 2-0, supporters behind the Nashville goal chided the visitors’ goalkeeper — veteran Matt Pickens — with an “easy Pickens” chant.

The lead nearly evaporated, however, after Matt LaGrassa forcefully finished a cross from London Woodbery in the 68th minute.

From there, Nashville applied pressure, and it peaked in stoppage time with a Bradley Bourgeois header flicked just wide of the post.

The final whistle soon followed.

On a humid night, the result continued a contentious back-and-forth between Louisville City and Nashville, a first-year club preparing for its move up to MLS. Louisville City took the USL season opener, but Nashville defended its turf in a May rematch.

They’ll meet once more in August — but it will be until next year before Nashville gets another try at the Open Cup.

2018 US Open Cup Round 4: Nashville SC’s first MLS upset adds to Colorado Rapids’ misery

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USOC-COL-NVL-FINALNashville SC advanced to the Fifth Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids at Vanderbilt Stadium on Wednesday night.

Ropapa Mensah’s 78th minute goal propelled the upstart USL squad to its first-ever competitive win over an MLS franchise and extended an unbeaten run to nine games across all competitions.

The loss extends Colorado’s winless run to eight games, but it also added to a pair of unfortunate records they already hold. This marked the 15th consecutive tournament that the Rapids have failed to win multiple games in a tournament, and this was the tenth time that a lower division team knocked them out of the competition. Both of those are Modern Era (1995-present) records.

Mensah wasted little time finding the net after being subbed on for Brandon Allen just one minute prior. Liam Doyle’s cross found Mensah near the back post and the attacker rose above Colorado’s Deklan Wynne, finishing the chance with a header to the lower right corner to beat keeper Zach MacMath and send the Nashville crowd into a frenzy.

Nashville coach Gary Smith praised Mensah’s immediate energy and awareness off the bench.

“He comes onto the pitch like a crazy person,” Smith said. “He’s so keen to make a mark.
“I’ve got good players on the line that can either help us win a game or change a game and the second goal was key.

“To score the second goal at that time really deflated them and the writing was on the wall from that moment,” Smith added.

The Rapids controlled nearly 60 percent of possession, yet totaled just three shots on the night.
The lone true threat to Nashville’s goal was a 26th-minute scramble that was cleared near the line by Nashville’s Justin Davis.

“It was a tough one,” said Rapids forward Dominique Badji. “We were on top of it for most of it but we just didn’t create enough quality chances and didn’t put away the few chances we had.”

Nashville goalkeeper Matt Pickens, who helped Colorado hoist the MLS Cup in 2010, said it was more of the same for one of the USL’s best defensive teams.

“Probably the easiest game of the year for me,” Pickens said. “I just tried to keep guys tuned in. They held the possession but the guys put in the work and also played smart. We didn’t give up any stupid fouls around the box and we kept everything in front of us. It’s good see we’re staying disciplined to that.”
Nashville drew first blood in the 38th minute when Rapids defender Michael Azira turned in a Justin Davis cross into his own net.

“I was just trying to put it in a difficult spot for them,” Davis said. “Playing on this turf it’s not ideal for a back line so when facing their own goal stuff like that happens.”

Smith said he felt his squad turning up the heat on the visitors before the eventual breakthrough.

“We had started to turn the screw a little bit,” Smith said. “It’s about putting players under pressure. If you can deliver to good areas and you can build some pressure and get bodies in dangerous areas, defenders are concerned and they do strange things.”

The own goal coupled with Nashville’s stingy defense held until Mensah’s goal gave the hosts the final winning edge. But Smith, who coached that 2010 MLS Cup-winning Rapids team before being relieved of his duties just a season later, hinted the edge may have come well before the match kicked off.

“You’ve got guys in that locker room who have, at certain times, been passed up at the MLS level,” he said. “You’ve got guys that have achieved something at that level and you’ve got guys that want to be at that level. Any way you look at it, you’ve got a group of guys out there that were going to give absolutely everything from where they were at tonight.”

The win by Nashville SC was made even more impressive by the fact that it was the first time that a Tennessee-based club defeated a Major League Soccer team since 1998. Twenty years ago, the Nashville Metros eliminated the Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting Kansas City), 3-1.

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