Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Player of the Round

1995 US Open Cup Round 1: Carlos Llamosa of New York Centaurs voted TheCup.us Player of Round

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Graphic: Frank Lanham

As part of the 1995 US Open Cup Rewind Series, TheCup.us staff went back in our time machine and voted on a Player of the Round. Each round we will honor the best individual performances of each round of the tournament.

A promising young defender made his way from his home country of Colombia to New York City looking for a fresh start in a country where pro soccer was also looking to make a comeback. 

About five years removed from his last professional club, Carlos Llamosa had found a home with the New York Centaurs of the A-League ahead of their inaugural season in 1995. 

After a slow start to the campaign (2-5 record, only 5 goals scored), the Centaurs found themselves hosting the opening round of the new-look US Open Cup against the USISL Pro League’s Connecticut Wolves at Downing Stadium on Randalls Island. 

1995 us open cup rewind graphic

1995 US Open Cup Preview: The state of American soccer in 1995

1995 USOC Round 1 POTR: Carlos Llamosa
1995 USOC Q-Finals POTR: Ben Crawley
1995 USOC Semis POTR: Jake Arrambide
1995 USOC Final POTR: Jeff Causey
1995 USOC Player of Tourney: Rob Ukrop

1995 US Open Cup Results (click on the score of the game for a match report)

After New York’s Lee Tschantret was sent off in the 15th minute, the Centaurs were forced to play a man down for the remainder of the match. Despite playing shorthanded, U.S. National Team player Sadri Gjonbalaj put New York ahead in the 22nd minute, and three minutes later, the team’s center back Carlos Llamosa pushed up and got his head to a Paul Allen cross and gave the Centaurs a 2-0 lead. The 10-man Centaurs would add a Marcelo Carrera goal in the second half and come away with a 3-0 shutout win despite playing a man short.

Combined with his goal and being the heart of a defense that only needed New York goalkeeper Bo Oshonoyi to make four saves in the shutout win, Carlos Llamosa was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round. The award is voted on by a select panel of TheCup.us staff and contributors.

Other finalists for the award included former US Men’s National team star Bruce Murray (2 goals in the Atlanta Ruckus’ 4-2 home win over the Tampa Bay Cyclones), Jeremy Gunn of the Chico Rooks (1 goal, 1 assist in a 2-0 home win over the San Fernando Valley Golden Eagles), and Llamosa’s New York Centaurs teammate Bo Oshoniyi (4 saves in his club’s 3-0 home win over the Connecticut Wolves).  

Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a "US Open Cup Champions" shirt which celebrates the five teams with the most titles (pre-Modern Era). Visit THECUP.US SHOP
Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a “US Open Cup Champions” shirt which celebrates the five teams with the most titles (pre-Modern Era). Visit THECUP.US SHOP

The New York Centaurs, a club that was only a few months old when they kicked off against the Connecticut Wolves on June 14, 1995, was the beginning of Llamosa’s goal of reviving his professional soccer dreams.

Prior to arriving in New York, Llamosa was an up-and-coming teenage defender who started playing for his hometown club in Palmira. Colmena Deportes, which competed in Colombia’s second division, signed him when he was 16 years old, which was a challenge to balance his schoolwork with his budding professional soccer career. He played three seasons with the club and after the 1988 season, Colmena Deportes folded.

Back then, despite the club ceasing operations, the owner was allowed to maintain his players’ rights. Llamosa was loaned out to Atlético Huila, a new addition to Colombia’s second division. After impressing during the 1989 and 1990 seasons, Atletico Huila offered to buy Llamosa from the Colmena Deportes owner, but he demanded more money and the two teams couldn’t come to an agreement on a transfer fee.

Llamosa, the youngest in a family of 11 kids, had applied and was approved for a green card in the United States. The goal was to possibly move there to join seven of his siblings who had settled in New York City. After months of back and forth with Colmena Deportes’ owner trying to sell him to various teams, Llamosa decided to move to the Big Apple rather than continue a fruitless dispute over his playing career which had been put on hold.

In May of 1991, he arrived in New York where he began working various jobs. This included working as a bouncer at a Queens night club, and a job as a janitor at the World Trade Center. The job at the World Trade Center worked well for Llamosa because he was able to earn a living, while also staying in shape by playing in the evenings in the highly competitive local soccer scene. While largely amateur, many of the better players were paid.

New York Centaurs pose for a team photo. Photo: New York Centaurs

“I started realizing that there’s more soccer (to play) in these Sunday leagues in Flushing Meadows Park,” said Llamosa. “There were good teams and obviously being in New York with people from all over the world. You know, you play against a Greek team, but the Greek team had Brazilian players or African players. So there was a lot of good competition.”

Among the teams that he suited up, one of the most high profile ones was with the two-time US Open Cup champion Brooklyn Italians. He played for the Italians from 1992 until 1993.

On Feb. 26, 1993, Llamosa was working at the World Trade Center on a tragic day in American history. He received his paycheck and took an extended lunch break, which was the norm every Friday. This gave World Trade Center employees a chance to deposit or cash their paychecks before the weekend. While he was out of the building, a small group of terrorists detonated a bomb in the underground parking garage of the World Trade Center, killing six and injuring more than 1,000.

Llamosa and some of his coworkers were at a Chinese restaurant just a couple blocks away when they heard and felt the explosion.

“We went out to the street and there was a lot of people wondering what happened,” recalled Llamosa. “People were saying a train (must have) crashed underneath the (World Trade Center) towers because there was a train station right below the towers.” 

In 1994, on the heels of the United States hosting a successful FIFA World Cup, there was momentum for professional soccer in America. Major League Soccer was set to launch in 1996 and the United States had second and third division professional leagues in place. The second division American Professional Soccer League (APSL), would add two new teams (Atlanta Ruckus, New York Centaurs) and re-brand itself as the A-League.

El Diario journalist Pepe Pertuz approached Carlos Llamosa and suggested that he attend an open tryout for the New York Centaurs who were going to play next season on Randall’s Island.

After making the team, he quit his job as a bouncer, but kept his job at the World Trade Center because the schedule worked well with practices and games for the Centaurs. Llamosa’s promising career as a professional soccer player was back on track and he was able to support his wife and his son, who was born the year before.

“(The Centaurs) was my first experience playing (professional soccer) on American soil,” said Llamosa. “I came from Colombia, the pace of the game is different there, so coming here and playing for the Centaurs, it took time to get used to the pace of the game here. It was so much different.”

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

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

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

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

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

TheCup.us Player of the Round award is voted on by TheCup.us staff, a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters and select backers (those that pledge $10 or more) from TheCup.us’ Patreon team.

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

Record-Breaking Ending

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2025 US Open Cup Round 4: Roberto Ydrach of Pittsburgh Riverhounds voted TheCup.us Player of Round

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Graphic: Phil Naegely | Photo: Ed Thompson, Pittsburgh Soccer Now

With seconds remaining, the crowd at Highmark Stadium was building to what they hoped was a crescendo as the hometown Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC set up for a corner kick. The game against Major League Soccer’s New York City FC was scoreless and seemed destined for extra time.

Pittsburgh’s Robbie Mertz delivered a corner kick to the far post where it found Roberto “Beto” Ydrach, who headed the ball across the goal and into the back of the net. Moments later, after a wild celebration that saw Ydrach rip off his shirt, the referee blew for full time. This meant the Riverhounds had won 1-0 and delivered their fans a third MLS upset in the last three years, with two of them coming at home in the Steel City.

Ydrach, a rookie who has been a mainstay for the Riverhounds all season, came off the bench in the 77th minute. His roughly 13 minutes of work, including that game-winning goal, was enough to earn him TheCup.us Player of the Round honors.

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.

He beat out Brandon Vazquez of Austin FC who scored two goals and assisted on another to help the Verde and Black overcome a 2-0 halftime deficit and edge the El Paso Locomotive (USL Championship) 3-2. Orlando City teenager Gustavo Caraballo, whose two goals sparked the Lions to a 5-0 road win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies, finished third.

The game-winning goal by Ydrach was extra special because it was his first professional goal. For the former Akron University standout, waiting to score that first goal and to rip his shirt off was a long time coming.

“It’s been since probably I was three years old, since I started playing soccer,” said Ydrach. “That’s a requirement for a goal like that, right? I had to do it.”

For Ydrach, who was recently called up by the Puerto Rico national team, it was being in the right place at the right time and executing.

“Our assistant coach Rob (Vincent) put me in that position and I just read it in the air, the flight of the ball,” said Ydrach. “The defender stepped up a little bit, so I snuck behind him and just headed it in.”

The celebration that followed was a new experience for the former Big East Defender of the Year.

Roberto "Beto" Ydrach of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal against New York City FC in the Fourth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Chris Cowger - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Roberto “Beto” Ydrach of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal against New York City FC in the Fourth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Chris Cowger – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

“I blacked out,” he said. “The only thing on my mind was to take the shirt off. I’m not one to typically score that many goals in my career, so whenever I do, it’s typically a blackout scenario where I just run to the corner and have the whole team celebrate with me but it was a great moment for me, you know, we all work really hard for moments like that. To be  able to do something like that in your career is something special.”

Ydrach becomes the first Riverhounds player to be named TheCup.us Player of the Round. 

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

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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
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?

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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 2: Hunter Morse of Portland Hearts of Pine voted TheCup.us Player of Round

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Graphic by Phil Naegely

Defeating Hartford Athletic, a USL Championship team, was no easy task. It took penalties and an outstanding performance from Portland Hearts of Pine goalkeeper Hunter Morse to keep the Hearts’ Lamar Hunt US Open Cup run alive at Lewiston High School in Lewiston, Maine. 

His key saves to keep Hartford scoreless until the 107th minute with ten men allowed the Hearts to force a late equalizer in the 117th minute. The Hearts went a man down in the 96th minute due to forward Azaad Liadi’s second yellow card. 

“It was tough, but it happens, you know. Mentally, you’ve just got to forget about it, just play like we have 11,” said Morse. 

Morse’s left handed save against Sebastian Anderson’s low shot was a turning point in the penalty shootout, allowing the Hearts to gain the advantage. Morse also got the upper hand over Hartford’s second-leading scorer in 2024, Michee Ngalina who had already notched one past Morse earlier in the game although it was called offside. Ngalina sent the ball over the crossbar, freezing under pressure.  

The Hearts won 4-2 in penalties advancing to the Third Round of the 2025 US Open Cup after only three matches since the club’s founding. 

For his performance, Hunter Morse was voted The Cup.us Player of the Round. 

The Player of the Round award is voted on by TheCup.us staff, a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters and select backers (those that pledge $10 or more) from TheCup.us’ Patreon team.

Hunter Morse distanced himself from second place Edgard Kreye of El Farolito SC (NPSL) who scored in the 83rd minute to send the “burrito boys” to the Third Round with a 2-1 road win over Monterey Bay FC. 

Ben Mines of Loudoun United FC (USL Championship) earned third place for his performance against Virginia Dream FC where he scored a goal and had two assists in a 4-2 win. 

Morse joined the Portland Hearts of Pine from FC Cincinnati. Drafted by the MLS side in 2023 as the 51st pick in the MLS SuperDraft. Last year, he started 11 games for FC Cincinnati 2 of MLS NEXT Pro, helping the team to the 3rd best record in the league and a berth in the playoffs.

Hunter Morse of Portland Hearts of Pine makes a diving save in the PK shootout against Hartford Athletic in the Second Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Portland Hearts of Pine
Hunter Morse of Portland Hearts of Pine makes a diving save in the PK shootout against Hartford Athletic in the Second Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Portland Hearts of Pine

Morse spent his college career at Michigan State before spending a graduate year at Western Michigan University. At WMU, he raised his draft stock by earning Mid-American Conference Goalkeeper of the Year honors. 

“It was a difficult game,” said Morse about the PK win over Hartford Athletic. “They showed a lot of talent on their team, and I think the hardest part was just settling into the game mentally and trying to figure out what they’re going to do.”

When asked about his penalty kick save, Morse revealed that he “called bluff,” describing the right back looking to his right twice. Morse described observing how players line up to shoot during their routine in preparation for each shot. 

The Hearts take on Rhode Island FC (USL Championship) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. EST at Lewiston High School. 

2025 US Open Cup Round 1: Josh Levine of NY Pancyprian Freedoms voted TheCup.us Player of the Round

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Graphic: Dan Crooke

Facing one of last year’s best MLS NEXT Pro teams on the road in the opening round of the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup was a tall task for the New York Pancyprian Freedoms. The amateur side from the American Premier Soccer League (APSL – formerly the Eastern Premier Soccer League) and reigning USASA Amateur Cup champions won three US Open Cup titles in the early 1980s, but haven’t won a game in the competition since 2016.

The Pancyprian Freedoms kept FC Cincinnati 2 off the scoresheet and took them to a penalty kick shootout after 120 minutes. The performance of New York goalkeeper Josh Levine and the backline in front of him were key to holding the Cincinnati offense in check and in the end, the Freedoms won the PK shootout 5-4 to advance to Round 2. Levine faced 24 shots, four corner kicks and made seven saves to earn the 120-minute clean sheet.

For his performance, Josh Levine was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round. He distanced himself from another goalkeeper, Tomasz Wroblewski who finished in second place. Wroblewski led Little Rock Rangers (USL League Two) to a 1-0 upset of the Birmingham Legion FC (USL Championship). It was a tight race for third place between Brayan Padilla of FORO SC (UPSL) who scored both goals in FORO’s road upset of Texoma FC of USL League One and Rafael Jauregui of Charlotte Independence (USL League One) who scored twice, including the game-winner in extra time on the road against the Long Island Rough Riders (USL League Two).

The Player of the Round award is voted on by TheCup.us staff, a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters and select backers (those that pledge $10 or more) from TheCup.us’ Patreon team.

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“Our match against FC Cincinnati 2 was a strong testament to the coaching staff’s game plan and the team’s collective effort,” said Levine. “We saw standout performances across the board, from the starting lineup to the players who came on later. Jack Sluys, Devin Heanue, Rikard Cederberg, and Jens Hoff were solid on the back line. Proud of what this group has accomplished so far and ready to keep the momentum going into our next match.”

The Freedoms advance to Round 2 where they travel to face Westchester SC of USL League One on April 2.

Levine, who led the Freedoms to last year’s Amateur Cup title, which clinched a spot in the Open Cup for New York, becomes the first player from an APSL team to win Player of the Round.

Levine spent four years at Penn State where he was a standout with a 1.39 goals against average in 32 games with the Nittany Lions. After graduating from Penn State, he spent one season as a graduate student at Fordham where he helped the Rams win an Atlantic-10 championship and punch their ticket to the NCAA tournament. His 0.65 goals against average in his lone season with Fordham tied the single-season school record set by Ryan Meara who went on to play professionally with the New York Red Bulls of MLS.

2025 US Open Cup Round 1: Who should be TheCup.us Player of the Round?

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

The First Round of the 110th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is complete. There were a number of impressive individual performances over the 32 games last week. But which one was the best?  

Since 2006, TheCup.us has set out to honor the best individual performance of each round.

The award is voted on by TheCup.us staff, a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters, and select backers from TheCup.us’ Patreon. If you’d like to vote in this, or upcoming rounds, consider pledging $10 or more and help us continue to cover the US Open Cup and research its long history. If you did have a vote, which player do YOU think should win?

Here are the finalists (in alphabetical order):

Player, Team (League)

Brent Abu-Gyamfi, Columbus Crew 2 (MLS NEXT Pro)

Abu-Gyamfi scored twice (45+4’, 69’) in the Crew 2’s 4-1 home win over New York Renegades (UPSL)

Matt Bentley, Chattanooga Red Wolves (USL-1)

Bentley scored both of Chattanooga’s goals (a PK in the 65th min. and another in the 84th) and converted the Red Wolves’ first attempt in the penalty shootout in Chattanooga’s PK win on the road over New Jersey Alliance (UPSL) after a 2-2 extra time draw.

Aaron Bibout, Ventura County FC (MLS NEXT Pro)

Bibout scored a hat-trick (41’, 52’, 68’) in Ventura County FC’s 7-0 home win over Laguna United (UPSL)

Riley Bidois, Loudoun United FC (USL-C)

Bidois scored twice, once in the 36th minute and a PK in the 61st minute in Loudoun United’s 3-1 road win over West Chester United SC (USASA)

Francisco Bonfiglio, MIami FC (USL-C)

Bonfiglio scored the first two goals, the first in the 41st minute and the next in first half stoppage time, in Miami FC’s 4-1 home win over Naples United FC (UPSL)

Yuval Cohen, Inter Miami II (MLS NEXT Pro)

Cohen scored the final two goals (70’, 81’) in Inter Miami II’s 4-2 home win over Miami United (UPSL)

Jerry Desdunes, AV ALTA FC (USL-1)

Desdunes scored the first two goals, the first in the 28th minute and the next from the penalty spot in first half stoppage time in AV ALTA’s 3-1 home win over Ventura County Fusion (USL-2)

Matt Evans, Los Angeles FC 2 (MLS NEXT Pro)

Evans scored twice (2’, 65’) and assisted on Jude Terry’s 48th minute goal in LAFC2’s 7-1 home win over FC Arizona (NPSL)

Juan Galindrez, Forward Madison (USL-1)

Galindrez scored two goals (86’, 90+7’) in Forward Madison’s 5-1 home win over Duluth FC (NPSL)

Xavi Gnaulati, Monterey Bay (USL-C)

Gnaulati scored twice (26’, 45+2’) in Monterey Bay’s 4-0 home win over International San Francisco (USASA/SFSFL).

Rafael Jauregui, Charlotte Independence (USL-1)

Jauregui scored twice (79’, 107’), including the eventual game winning goal in extra time in Charlotte’s 2-1 road win over the Long Island Rough Riders (USL-2)

Sacha Kljestan, Des Moines Menace (USL-2)

Kljestan scored both Menace goals via penalty kicks (57’, 75’) In Des Moines’ 2-1 away win over Sporting Kansas City 2 (MLS NEXT Pro).

Azaad Ladi, Portland Hearts of Pine (USL-1)

Ladi scored two goals (29’, 62’) in Portland’s 4-0 home win over CD Faialanse (BSSL/USASA)

Josh Levine, NY Pancyprian Freedoms (USSSA/APSL)

Levine kept a clean sheet for 120 minutes, facing 24 shots and 4 corner kicks and making 7 saves in the Freedom’s PK win on the road over FC Cincinnati 2 after a 0-0 extra time draw

Johnan Lizarralde, El Farolito (NPSL)

Lizarralde allowed one goal over 9 minutes, facing 18 shots and 5 corner kicks, making 5 saves in El Farolito’s 3-1 upset win on the road against Real Monarchs (MLS NEXT Pro)

Alfredo Midence, Lexington Sporting Club (USL-1)

Midence scored once (46’) and assisted on three other goals in Lexington’s 5-0 home win over Southern Indiana FC (UPSL)

Tommy Mihalic, Los Angeles FC 2 (MLS NEXT Pro)

Mihalic assisted on LAFC2’s first two goals (2’, 27’), then scored his own goal (42’) unassisted in LAFC2’s 7-1 home win over FC Arizona (NPSL)

Luis Müller, Ventura County FC (MLS NEXT Pro)

Muller scored one goal (63’) and assisted on three others in Ventura County FC’s 7-0 home win over Laguna United (UPSL)

Brayan Padilla, FORO SC (UPSL)

Padilla scored both goals (15’, 99’) in FORO SC’s 2–1 upset road win over Texoma FC of USL League One

Niall Reid-Stephen, South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL-1)

Reid-Stephen scored the final two goals (75’, 80’) in South Georgia’s 3-0 home win over Harbor City FC (UPSL)

Joseph Rice, Virginia Dream (USASA/VSSL)

The Virginia Dream GK allowed just one goal on 16 shots and 11 corner kicks, making 5 saves in Virginia Dream’s 3-1 upset win away from home against the Richmond Kickers (USL-1)

Joshua Rodriguez, Carolina Core (MLS NEXT Pro)

Rodriguez scored the first two goals for Carolina (18’ (PK), 58’) and assisted on the third goal in Carolina’s 4-2 home win over Soda City FC (UPSL)

Bryan Romero, El Paso Locomotive (USL-C)

Romero scored back to back goals (37’, 45+2’) in El Paso Locomotives’ 5-1 home win over Harpos FC (USSSA/CPL)

Yu Tsukanome, Tacoma Defiance (MLS NEXT Pro)

Tsukanome scored the final two goals (47’, 71’) in Tacoma’s 3-1 road win over Washington AC (USASA/SRATS)

Tomasz Wróblewski, Little Rock Rangers (USL-2)

Rangers GK Wróblewski posted a clean sheet over 90 minutes, making 3 saves while facing 13 shots and 7 corner kicks in the Little Rock Rangers’ 1-0 home upset over Birmingham Legion (USL-C). He also saved a penalty kick in regulation.

2024 US Open Cup: Cristian Olivera of LAFC voted TheCup.us Player of the Tournament

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Photo: Gary A. Vasquez – Imagn Images | Graphic: Phil Naegely

In one of the closest votes in recent memory, Cristian Olivera of Los Angeles FC was narrowly voted the 2024 TheCup.us Player of the Tournament after leading his club to its first Lamar Hunt US Open Cup title.

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

With each first place vote receiving three points and second place votes getting one each, Olivera won the award by a single point over LAFC teammate Timothy Tillman. Dembor Benson of El Farolito SC, the winner of the Lower Division Player of the Tournament award, finished third, just six points behind Olivera.

The Player of the Tournament 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.

Olivera helped LAFC win the club’s first US Open Cup title with a team-leading three goals and one assist.

The Uruguayan came off the bench in the 67th minute in the Final and assisted on what would prove to be the championship winning goal in extra time by Omar Campos in the 102nd minute.

That was the second time Olivera came off the bench in a 1-1 contest to score  — the first was in a 27-minute cameo on the road in the Round of 32 match against the Las Vegas Lights (USL Championship). They would win the match, 3-1.

Recent Player of the Tournament winners

2023: Andrew Tarbell (Houston Dynamo)
2022: Rodrigo Lopez (Sacramento Republic)
2019: Darwin Quintero (Minnesota United)
2018: Mauro Manotas (Houston Dynamo)
2017: Tim Melia (Sporting KC)
2016: Mauro Diaz (FC Dallas)
2015: Krisztian Nemeth (Sporting KC)
2014: Kenny Cooper (Seattle Sounders)
2013: Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United)
2012: Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle Sounders)
2011: Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders)

His pair of goals rescued the Black and Gold who found themselves struggling to find a go-ahead goal after both teams scored early in the second half.

The close-range, tap-in goal from defender Omar Campos’ cross gave LAFC the lead with 20 minutes left while his second tally in stoppage time cooled off any threats of a late equalizer and guaranteed his side a place in the next round.

Up next in the Round of 16 for Olivera and LAFC was a second USL outfit, Loudoun United. The winger featured in the team’s starting 11 and began the game with a contribution on the game’s first goal.

After eight minutes the winger’s sneaky cross through the face of goal found Tillman in acres of space at the back post to tap in from close range.

Olivera doubled LAFC’s lead after forward Denis Bouanga set up his Uruguayan teammate to cap-off a darting run that started in the Black and Gold’s defensive third.


While he did not play in the 3-1 home win over New Mexico United in the Quarterfinals, he started and played 68 minutes in LAFC’s narrow 1-0 road win over Seattle Sounders FC (MLS).

Olivera is the third Uruguayan player to win an award from TheCup.us. He joins Orlando City’s Facundo Torres who was the Player of the Round for the 2022 US Open Cup Final and Diego Rossi of LAFC who won Player of the Round for the 2018 Semifinals, despite not advancing.

 

2024 US Open Cup: Dembor Benson of El Farolito voted TheCup.us Lower Division Player of Tournament

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Graphic by Phil Naegely

Two game-winning goals, one equalizer, and the opener on the road against bitter rivals. Dembor Benson balanced quantity and quality in a red-hot Open Cup campaign. Benson scored four goals in three games which saw him tie for top scorer in the tournament despite only making it to the third round.

With a three-way tie for the Golden Boot, multiple players were in the running for this accolade. However, given the circumstances and magnitude of Benson’s performances, he was voted the clear winner of the 2024 TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament award. 

Benson is the first player from an NPSL team to win it since TheCup.us added a Lower Division version of the Player of the Tournament award in 2012. 

“I was a little surprised because there are so many teams, there are so many good players and well, I understand it’s a bit difficult (to win this award) but I’m very happy to be honest,” said Benson after learning that he won the award.

Benson run away with the vote with NYCFC II’s Jonathan Jimenez finishing second. Jimenez led the tournament in scoring with four goals and two assists, helping NYCFC II (MLS NEXT Pro) reach the Round of 16 (and the $25,000 Division 3 prize money). Indy Eleven goalkeeper Hunter Sulte, who had three clean sheets to help his team reach the Semifinals, finished third.

The Player of the Round award is voted on by TheCup.us staff, a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters and select backers (those that pledge $10 or more) from TheCup.us’ Patreon team.

Early on in the tournament, El Farolito looked unstoppable. They caused back-to-back upsets against professional sides with Dembor Benson scoring four of the team’s five goals. The first goal was a 68th minute winner in a 2-1 road win against Timbers2 (MLS NEXT Pro). That performance made him just the second Honduras native to be voted TheCup.us Player of the Round, joining Romell Quioto who won the award as a member of the Houston Dynamo (MLS) in the 2018 Quarterfinals.

The next two goals came in the form of a brace against Central Valley Fuego (USL League One), where he scored an equalizer just before halftime as well as an 88th minute winner to secure his team’s place in the Third Round.

His fourth and final goal of the tournament came in the first half of a road game against local rivals Oakland Roots (USL Championship). El Farolito wasn’t able to hold on to that early lead as the Roots came back to win 2-1 in extra time.

When asked about his thoughts on being knocked out of the tournament early despite his success in front of goal he had this to say: “Well, the personal aspect was good, to be honest, but we also knew that they were favorites on paper even though we were also good on paper but we kept believing. We were like a family and we knew that the other team would be stronger than us. Pitifully, the expulsion for us made us fractured and what happened, happened. If we hadn’t had that player expelled, then things would’ve been different to be honest because we were very comfortable in that game, we started off winning. We felt really good in that game but to play with one man down is difficult … we believed we could’ve achieved more.”

After an impressive few years with El Farolito, Benson’s performance has earned a spot with one of his US Open Cup opponents: USL League One side Central Valley Fuego where he scored three goals in his first 10 games.

When asked what inspires him to remain consistent he said “Well to be honest, the main thing that inspires me is my family,” said Benson about his . My family is always looking out for me. We’re always going to watch soccer, that’s our passion. My son, my wife, and my mother it’s a passion of theirs… their support is always there and every time I take the pitch I go ‘This is for my family.’ ‘I’m going to do it for my son, for my wife, and for my family who is always raising me up and supporting me.’ and I think that’s the primary motivation that pushes me in every game.”

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