Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

2019 US Open Cup

2019 US Open Cup Quarterfinals review: Four MLS teams advance seeking first tournament title

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Graphic by Dallas Kreil | IG: @dak_design
Graphic by Dallas Kreil | IG: @dak_design

With the eight now down to four, normality has started to creep into the US Open Cup as only Major League Soccer teams remain in the competition after the Quarterfinals.

The current challengers are all looking for their first Open Cup trophies and are all less than a decade old. Of the last six MLS expansions, three still remain in the competition. This includes the entire 2017 class (Atlanta United FC and Minnesota United FC) while the 2015 group of New York City FC and Orlando City FC faced off for the chance to advance. The Portland Timbers are the elderly members of the final four coming in at a whopping eight years old.

Across the country the results came in one by one to set the picture. Both New Mexico United and St. Louis FC, the last USL Championship teams left in the tournament, fell by multiple goals. Minnesota continued to show its’ high offense form, Atlanta scored a pair in the second half, and Portland upset the league leader LA on the road with a late game goal coming off a defensive error. Meanwhile, Orlando City SC, only a few unsuccessful seasons into its’ MLS life, has out-achieved what the previous USL team achieved by reaching the semifinals.

Included are the brief summaries and links to game recaps for all four quarter final matches.

#USOC2019 ESSENTIALS
2019 US Open Cup Schedule/Results (with links to every match report
2019 US Open Cup statistical leaders (Goals, Assists, GKs)
2019 US Open Cup bracket (TheCup.us)

2019 US Open Cup Round 1: Game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Round 2: Game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Round 3: Game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Round 4: Game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Round of 16: Game-by-game review

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VISIT THECUP.US STORE

US Open Cup histories of the eight quarterfinalists seeking a first title and the cities they represent
NPSL Mid-Atlantic Conference currently ineligible for 2020 US Open Cup
Every US Open Cup game to stream on ESPN+ in multi-year media rights deal

THECUP.US PLAYER OF THE ROUND
Round 1: Charles Boateng – Richmond Kickers
Round 2: Bryant Martin – Florida Soccer Soldiers
Round 3: Blake Frischknecht – Orange County FC
Round 4: Teal Bunbury – New England Revolution
Round 5: Sam Fink – Saint Louis FC

#USOC2019 QUALIFYING
2019 US Open Cup qualifying schedule/results
2019 US Open Cup Qualifying Round 1 game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Qualifying Round 2 game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Qualifying Round 3 game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Qualifying Final Round game-by-game review
Florida Soccer Soldiers qualify for first time after America SC withdraws
More pros, less amateurs, an extra sub in 2019 US Open Cup format
Chattanooga FC qualifies for 2019 US Open Cup, but opts out
Bavarian SC qualify for 2019 US Open Cup by winning Amateur Cup title

MEET THE UNDERDOGS SERIES
Milwaukee’s Bavarian Soccer Club, proudly amateur since 1929
West Chester United battle tested from long journey back to US Open Cup
NTX Rayados grooming “new generation” to keep qualifying streak going
Academica SC earns first US Open Cup berth after more than 40 years as a club
FC Denver using US Open Cup to build to “higher level”
First year Florida Soccer Soldiers winning with “respect, pride and commitment”

Atlanta United (MLS)
1:0
Saint Louis FC (USL-C)

Saint Louis FC’s US Open Cup run came to an end at the hands of Atlanta United FC, 2-0. Saint Louis started strong, if not completely on the back foot, for the first 35 minutes. A Paris Gee shot off the post in the 37th would reverse possession, but the half would end scoreless. Saint Louis bent a lot in this game, but finally broke in the 52nd minute when Gonzalo “Pity” Martinez chipped to the far side netting to put Atlanta into the lead. Through the second half, Saint Louis’ Sam Fink was the target of cross after cross, but there would be no late heroics for last round’s player of the round. Josef Martinez would confirm Atlanta’s advancement with a penalty in the five minutes into stoppage time. Atlanta becomes the first Georgia-based club to reach the Semifinals since 1981 and will play Orlando City SC. The date and location will be announced on Thursday at 2 p.m. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

New Mexico United (USL-C)
1:6
Minnesota United (MLS)

New Mexico United looked ready to snag a third MLS scalp in their first US Open Cup tournament. In the 7th minute, Santi Moar put the USL Championship side in front. The Loons would not go down easily, or nicely. Just three minutes later Angelo Rodriquez began his hat trick (goals in the 10th, 18th and 45th minutes) to pop NMU’s bubble. Darwin Quintero scored in the 16th to take over the tournament lead in goals with five, and Jan Gregus, from a stellar free kick, scored in the 23rd minute, and would create an insurmountable lead. Miguel Ibarra added a goal in the 62nd minute to seal Minnesota’s advancement to the semifinals. They become the second Minnesota club to reach the final four (2005 Minnesota Thunder) They will take on the Portland Timbers at a date and location that will be announced tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

New York City FC (MLS)
1 (4):1 (5)
Orlando City SC (MLS)

Orlando City and New York City squared off in an all-MLS quarterfinal. Orlando City’s Chris Mueller scored in the 61st minute to break the deadlock. The late, late show featured a Maximiliano Moralez goal six minutes into stoppage time to send the game into extra time. After 30 minutes of extra time couldn’t determine a winner, the penalty kick shootout saw Oriol Rosell score the winner in the sixth round to advance 5-4. Orlando becomes the first Florida club to reach the Semifinals since the Miami Fusion made a run to the Final in 2000. Orlando will face Atlanta United in the Semifinals, with the host and date to be determined in the draw tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET.  [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Portland Timbers (MLS)
1:0
Los Angeles FC (MLS)

MLS league-leaders LAFC hosted Portland Timbers in front of a record crowd in the other all-MLS quarterfinal. The first half, while scoreless, had plenty of action. The second half was often played at a breakneck pace. The game finally found a winner in the 84th minute by Portland’s Jeremy Ebobisse. Ebobisse appeared to be offside, but LAFC’s Jordan Harvey played the ball into his path. Ebobisse turned and lifted the ball over goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega and into the side netting. Portland advance to the Semis for the second time in club history as they take another step toward winning their first US Open Cup title. They will take on Minnesota United at a date and location announced on Thursday at 2 p.m. ET. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

2019 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Portland Timbers score late goal to eliminate MLS front-runners LAFC

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The Portland Timbers celebrate after the club's 1-0 win over LAFC in the Quarterfinals of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Twitter @TimbersFC
The Portland Timbers celebrate after the club’s 1-0 win over LAFC in the Quarterfinals of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Twitter @TimbersFC

Whether or not its interim coach wants to admit it, Portland Timbers FC got a measure of revenge at the Banc.

Jeremy Ebobisse scored a late goal as Timbers FC took to the road and defeated Los Angeles FC, 1-0, Wednesday night in a 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Quarterfinal Round game at Banc of California Stadium.

“Last year is last year. This is a new competition and this was an important game for us,” said Timbers FC assistant coach Carlos Llamosa, who was placed in charge of the team in the absence of Gio Savarese.

Ebobisse scored the game-winning goal to finish off a counter attack in the 86th minute as Portland erased memories of a 3-2 loss at LAFC in the USOC quarterfinals last year.

“The guys responded well, did a great job, and there is a good feeling right now,” Llamosa said. “We’re taking it game by game, and now we know that we’ll face Minnesota with a chance to get to the final.”

Portland is unbeaten in its last seven games across all competitions and now will play Minnesota United FC in the Semifinals as the Timbers seek to become the first Oregon club in tournament history to win the tournament. The date and location of the Semifinal will be announced at 2 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday by the US Soccer Federation.

Carlos Vela was held without a shot for LAFC, which finished with only one shot on goal in losing for the first time in this month.

“I don’t think we had our best night,” Bob Bradley said. “We had to handle some tough moments defensively (and) tonight was a hard-fought game.”

LAFC was buoyed by the return of center back Walker Zimmerman from international duty, and goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega had two point-blank saves in the first half and made another with 15 minutes left in the game to keep the game scoreless.

“Just one of those nights when you look at the goal that was scored, and it was just a ridiculous goal. It left us scrambling,” Zimmerman said.

Following a save by Sisniega at the north end, Sebastian Blanco sprung Portland on a counter attack, sending a cross through LAFC’s backline and to the feet of Ebobisse, who crossed it back across the face of the goal and into the side netting.

“We were unlucky today,” LAFC’s Mark-Anthony Kaya said. “They got a lucky bounce and put the ball in the back of the net.”

In 10 previous matches at Banc of California Stadium in 2019, LAFC had not been shutout and had scored at least two goals in eight of the games, and four or more goals in four games. Also, the announced crowd of 18,947 was a Modern Era (1995-present) record for the Quarterfinals. The previous record was 17,898 set last year when the same two teams met at Banc of California Stadium.

2019 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Minnesota United’s six unanswered goals ends New Mexico United’s run

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Angelo Rodriguez of Minnesota United FC attempts a shot against New Mexico United in the Quarterfinals of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Minnesota United FC
Angelo Rodriguez of Minnesota United FC attempts a shot against New Mexico United in the Quarterfinals of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Minnesota United FC

With a hat trick from Colombian forward Angelo Rodriguez, a team from the state of Minnesota will return to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Semifinals for the first time in almost 15 years.

Rodriguez’s three-goal game erased an early deficit to help Minnesota United into the last four as part of a 6-1 rout of USL side New Mexico United Wednesday night in St. Paul, Minn.

“It was a strange evening, I felt, because it was a bit of everything in the game,” Minnesota head coach Adrian Heath said. “I thought at times we were really sloppy. I thought at times we were outstanding. I thought at times, some of the combination play was as good as you’ll see, and then we’d have a five-minute spell where we stop doing what we’re good at.”

United becomes just the second Minnesota team in the history of the tournament to reach the Semifinals. The only other team to do it was the Minnesota Thunder of the USL First Division (Div. 2 pro) in 2005.

Santiago Moar’s opening goal in the seventh minute gave the visitors and the 180-plus traveling New Mexico supporters early hope. That is until Rodriguez leveled the game three minutes later, nodding a Hassani Dotson cross past NMU goalkeeper Cody Mizell.

After Darwin Quintero put the hosts ahead with his tournament-leading fifth goal by cleaning up a rebound on a Rodriguez shot, the forward took a scoring chance into his own hands in the 19th minute. Receiving a pass from Jan Gregus near the top of the penalty area, Rodriguez spun into space and slotted home his second of the game.

He later added his third shortly before the break, cleaning up a shot from Quintero to put the Loons up by four with Gergus’ free kick curler finding the net between the Colombian’s strikes.

“Obviously as a forward, the objective is to score goals, and even more so a hat trick,” Rodriguez said. “But what’s most exciting for me is to be able to know that our team is gotten through to the next round and one step closer to our objective of winning the cup.”

Osvaldo Alonso of Minnesota United FC dribbles the ball against New Mexico United in the Quarterfinals of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Minnesota United FC
Osvaldo Alonso of Minnesota United FC dribbles the ball against New Mexico United in the Quarterfinals of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Minnesota United FC

Rodriguez’s performance is just the fourth hat trick scored in the US Open Cup during the Quarterfinals or beyond in the Modern Era (1995-present). The last to achieve the feat was Blas Perez when he put three in the net for FC Dallas against the Carolina RailHawks in 2014.

Miguel Ibarra notched his first goal at Allianz Field to round out the scoring for the Loons. He put away Mizell’s save from a Kevin Molino shot, adding the Loon’s third goal from a rebound on the evening.

The win cements Minnesota’s spot in the semifinals – the first time since 2005 that the northern state was represented in the last four. The USL side Minnesota Thunder fell at the hands of eventual champion LA Galaxy. The last run into at least the final eight came in the NASL days of Minnesota. The then-league owned NSC Stars made it to the quarterfinals before bowing out to San Jose in 2012.

“I’ve said to them, some of my greatest memories in football have been winning cup competitions, and now you’re a couple games away,” said Heath. “Trust me, when you get to 50-odd years of age, you look back and you’ll remember them games.”

United’s next cup-tie comes August 7, against the Portland Timbers. The host of that game will be determined in a live draw at 2 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, July 11. 

2019 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Adam Grinwis’ PK heroics send Orlando City past NYCFC, into Semis for first time

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Adam Grinwis of Orlando City SC celebrates in front of the club's fans after a 5-4 PK win over NYCFC in the 2019 US Open Cup Quarterfinals. Photo: Orlando City SC
Adam Grinwis of Orlando City SC celebrates in front of the club’s fans after a 5-4 PK win over NYCFC in the 2019 US Open Cup Quarterfinals. Photo: Orlando City SC

Orlando City advanced to their first Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Semifinal Wednesday night, defeating New York City FC in penalties in front of a rowdy 7,227 in attendance on a steamy night at Exploria Stadium.

One of two all-MLS Open Cup Quarterfinals, the matchup lived up to the billing as both teams fielded strong lineups and played a rollicking, back and forth, tense game that featured stark momentum changes, chaotic goals and last-minute heroism.

In the end, James O’Connor’s side won the day, thanks to an incredible- perhaps unlikely- star turn from goalkeeper Adam Grinwis, who made three vital saves in 120 minutes, controlled his area well and parried away two NYCFC penalties to secure the victory in spot kicks.

The match was a credit to the character of both teams, who entered the game playing on short rest, having struggled through Sunday league fixtures. Orlando City also suffered through a travel delay that pushed their return to Florida back a day, further limiting their rest ahead of this crucial quarterfinal.

O’Connor was pleased none of those hardships became an excuse, and even more proud of how his team found a result despite surrendering a heart wrenching late equalizer in regular time.

“We’ve talked about culture and having a next man up mentality. We’ve tried to build that from preseason, to get a level of trust and commitment in our performances,” O Connor said after the game. “The difference this year has been noticeable and we saw it matter tonight. It’s a special night for our club and we should savor it.”

“Being on the field at the end of the game, seeing the joy it brought to the crowd, that was amazing,” Chris Mueller said after the win. “We want to bring the first trophy to Orlando, that’s the mentality. But we’re going to enjoy this right now, making the first semifinal in club history. It’s a big moment.”

Early on, it didn’t look as if it would be Orlando’s night.

Despite the questions about fitness- or perhaps because of them– NYCFC seized the initiative early. The Pigeons dominated possession for the first twenty minutes, winning nearly every second ball and pinning Orlando City deep with terrific pressure from their wingbacks.

The hard work nearly paid off just under the ten-minute mark.

A searing run down the left flank by Ronald Matarrita saw the Costa Rican international latch onto a well-placed diagonal and fire a strong effort just wide of the far post from just inside the left edge of the eighteen.

Players from Orlando City SC celebrate after a 5-4 PK win over NYCFC in the 2019 US Open Cup Quarterfinals. Photo: Orlando City SC
Players from Orlando City SC celebrate after a 5-4 PK win over NYCFC in the 2019 US Open Cup Quarterfinals. Photo: Orlando City SC

Minutes later, Matarrita was again the source of NYCFC’s danger, pumping in a lovely ball that found the head of Maxime Chanot, who placed his header well only to be denied on a spectacular leaping save from Orlando City goalkeeper Adam Grinwis.

The hosts managed the early scares and came into the game late in the first half, nearly taking the lead themselves after a corner, when Nani played a strong cross to Sebastián Méndez, only to see the Ecuadorian strangely decide to hit the ball one-time and well-wide. Nevertheless, it was a statement of intent from the Lions that they didn’t plan on going quietly into the humid central Florida night.

Orlando City controlled the early stages of the second half. First, Chris Mueller made a sharp run through NYCFC’s center, only to be denied a shot on goal by a swarming Pigeons defense. Minutes later, it was Nani probing the NYCFC defense, playing a slicing ball to Kyle Smith whose ensuing cross just missed the extended leg of Mueller.

The early second half purple and gold onslaught wasn’t over, either.

After a corner, Nani’s effort was deflected but crossed again by Mueller, only to see a terrific effort Will Johnson miss just high and right. Next, it was Sacha Kljestan’s turn to nearly breakthrough as the veteran beat his defender with a tidy pirouette only to be denied a shot on frame by a timely Alexander Ring challenge.

A Juan Torres injury gave the Blues a moment to collect themselves at the hour mark, but the respite was only brief. After the restart, Nani latched onto a ball on the left flank and scorched his defender on the incut, slicing an inch perfect cross to an unmarked Chris Mueller at the far right post. Mueller’s head did the rest, easily beating Brad Stuver, who could do little beyond hopelessly appeal for offside.

Mueller has had a special year for Orlando, but O’Connor, predictably, saw a team effort.

“(Mueller) is an exciting young attacking player, one who plays with great composure. He took the header well, fantastic ball from Nani and all he had to do was place it. But credit Tesho for getting back onside- a testament to his character and intelligence. We made a number of good plays to score a good goal.”

Domènec Torrent went to his bench shortly after the Orlando goal, calling on Benfica loanee and US U-23 prospect Keaton Parks off the bench to try to stabilize the NYCFC left flank. Defensively, it worked, with Parks tucking centrally to solidify the spaces being exploited by Mueller, Méndez, and Kljestan. Offensively, however, the Pigeons lacked a creative spark outside of the existential threat created by their wingbacks.

Tempers flared late as late NYCFC substitute Valentin Castellanos put in a hard, late tackle on Orlando’s Robin Jannsson in the 83rd minute, earning a yellow card and jeers from the Orlando City Wall for his efforts. Torrent may have seen that moment as a sign of life for his side, and Castellanos nearly leveled proceedings two minutes afterward on a headed cross from Jesús Medina, only to see Grinwis beat him to the ball.

Less than two minutes later, Parks exploded through the channel with only one defender to beat, but took too heavy a touch and lost the ball– another chance to level squandered.

The Pigeons, however, would get one more glorious chance late in stoppage time- and this time, they would take it. Maxi Moralez, fresh off being named MLS Player of the Month in June, got a toe to the end of a 50/50 in a congested scramble in the eighteen, clipping the ball just past Adam Grinwis and two Orlando defenders to level proceedings at one and send what had been a jubilant home crowd into agonized disbelief.

In extra time, Orlando was happy to sit deep, defend and wait for penalties, rarely seeing the ball and not hurling bodies forward when they did. For the most part, it worked, though NYCFC nearly found a winner in the 112th minute when Jesus Medina played Castellanos through and the young Argentine’s well-struck, curling effort was parried away by the extended arms of Grinwis. That would be the best chance for either side in extra time, as the game headed to penalties knotted at one goal apiece.

In penalties, as Orlando supporters on the “Wall Side” raced from one side of the stadium to the other to cheer on their Lions.

O’Connor said that was a sight to see.

“To see them- bumrush their way over there or whatever you want to call it- was incredible. I’m so thankful for them. It provided us an immense lift and put us in the right frame of mind to win in penalties,” O’Connor said.

The Lions shot first, with Tesho Akindele burying the kick in the left corner and saluting the fans who made the trek. Alexander Ring was denied by Grinwis on the NYCFC opener, sending the LIons faithful into rapture. Their joy was short lived, as moments later, Dom Dwyer’s meek effort was saved by Brad Stuver and after NYCFC’s Anton Timmerholm connected, proceedings were again level. They would remain that way until the sixth penalty taker, when once again, Grinwis would come up huge for the purple and gold. Maxime Chanot stepped up and Grinwis read the penalty properly, punching the hard and low penalty away to send Orlando City to the semifinals.

“As a goalkeeper, those are the situations you dream of,” Grinwis said. “Growing up, you play penalty shootouts with friends and you want to be the hero. Usually, if you’re the goalkeeper, the idea is to not be noticed. But the team fought hard for 120 minutes, and I was just glad to come up big for them at the end too. I’m still trying to figure out where I am and what’s going on. It was surreal.”

It won’t get any easier for the Lions, who will face Atlanta United in the Semifinals, a club they’ve never defeated in a game of soccer. But for a club that has never won a trophy- indeed, never made a MLS Playoff appearance– this deep Open Cup run is a well-deserved gift to a tremendous and patient fanbase, and one Orlando City doesn’t want to end any time soon.

2019 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Atlanta United blank Saint Louis, becomes first Georgia team to reach Semis in 38 years

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Players from Atlanta United celebrate a goal against Saint Louis FC in the Quarterfinals of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Karl L. Moore | Atlanta United
Players from Atlanta United celebrate a goal against Saint Louis FC in the Quarterfinals of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Karl L. Moore | Atlanta United

Atlanta United midfielder Pity Martinez had been saddled with criticism from his fans – and his coach – after a string of flat results. On Wednesday evening, the MLS club’s big-ticket offseason signing delivered.

Martinez’s goal in the 52nd minute on an assist from new signing Emerson Hyndman, and a stoppage-time penalty from Josef Martinez, led Atlanta to a 2-0 win over USL Championship team Saint Louis FC at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga.

Just over an hour after the final whistle, Orlando City and New York City FC played to a 1-1 draw, but Orlando defeated NYCFC 5-4 in penalties to set up a semifinal showdown with Atlanta in early August.

With the win, Atlanta United becomes the first Georgia-based club to reach the US Open Cup Semifinals since Datagraphics advanced to the final four in 1981.

“I think I can be very satisfied with the performance tonight,” said Atlanta coach Frank de Boer. “Maybe the last 15 minutes of the first half we were a little bit sloppy and they made one or two chances out of it, but for the rest we played really concentrated.”

Atlanta United dominated possession in the early going, choosing a patient approach in the attack while depending on the wing play of Justin Meram to create opportunities for Pity Martinez and the forward corps. Despite there being no goals to speak of throughout the first half hour, one appeared to be inevitable for the home side, but Saint Louis began to build confidence as the match went on and nearly scored off a corner routine in the 37th minute.

The breakthrough for Atlanta finally came in the 52nd minute. Emerson Hyndman dispossessed his man in the box and made clever work of it to lay it off to Pity Martinez – leaving the Argentinian with a pretty finish to make it 1-0.

“I kind of saw (the ball carrier) facing his own goal and just tried to jump it,” Hyndman said. “Thankfully it turned the right way for me and Pity made a great finish.”

Atlanta United fans cheer on their team against Saint Louis FC in the Quarterfinals of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Karl L. Moore | Atlanta United
Atlanta United fans cheer on their team against Saint Louis FC in the Quarterfinals of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Karl L. Moore | Atlanta United

Atlanta had several opportunities down the stretch to put the match away, but the final ball never found its target. That allowed a chance for Saint Louis to level the match with a succession of corners that they were never able to capitalize on. But late in stoppage time, a penalty awarded to Atlanta saw Josef Martinez confidently step up and convert to double the margin and see his team through to the semifinals.

“You could see the determination to avoid the equalizer in the last minute (with) three corner kicks, and how everybody was determined to not concede the goal,” de Boer said. “Then (we) got our reward in the end with the penalty.”

For Pity Martinez, tonight served as a bit of redemption. He was active on both sides of the field, and while it wasn’t a perfect showing, it provided some optimism for both his fans and his coach.

“I think he played a really good game,” de Boer said. “He knows he wants to see his level go up, and today he made a very good step. Hopefully he continue in that, and it’s great that he scored a goal of importance for the team.”

Despite the loss, Saint Louis FC won’t go home empty-handed. They have won the $25,000 Division 2 prize money as the second division team that has advanced the furthest. They earned the prize money in a tiebreaker with New Mexico United, who were also eliminated tonight. Saint Louis wins the tiebreaker of the number of wins over a team one division higher (MLS). Saint Louis had two, while New Mexico had one. New Mexico eliminated two MLS teams also, but one of them was by penalty kicks, and games that end in penalty kicks are officially listed as a draw.

Atlanta will either travel to or host Orlando in the first semifinal match for both teams. U.S. Soccer will conduct a draw at 2 p.m. Thursday, with the match to be played on either August 6 or 7.

US Open Cup histories of the eight quarterfinalists seeking a first title and the cities they represent

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The 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup quarterfinals have the distinction of being just the eighth time in the tournament’s 106-year history in which none of the final eight teams have ever won an Open Cup championship.

We take a look at the Open Cup history of each team in this year’s quarterfinal field, as well as the Open Cup history of the city or state they represent. Five of the teams and the locations they hail from have a relatively brief Cup history, while the remaining three come from three of the all-time greatest Open Cup locales.

New Mexico United

New Mexico United rallied from a first-half deficit to advance to the Quarterfinals of the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 2-1 win against FC Dallas on Wednesday night. | Photo courtesy Matt Begala / FC Dallas
New Mexico United rallied from a first-half deficit to advance to the Quarterfinals of the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 2-1 win against FC Dallas on Wednesday night. | Photo courtesy Matt Begala / FC Dallas

The history of New Mexico in the US Open Cup isn’t much longer than the existence of New Mexico United itself. The New Mexico Chiles of the Southwest Independent Soccer League (now the USL) made runs in the 1991 and 1992 US Open Cup and made it all the way to the Semifinals in the 1991 tournament.

The Chiles first defeated fellow SISL club Colorado Comets 4-2 in extra time, and then rolled past 1992 Open Cup champions San Jose Oaks, 3-0. In the Region IV Final, the Chiles cruised past Strikers SC of Southern California, 5-0. New Mexico but came up short in the Semifinals, dropping a hard-fought 1-0 decision to the Richardson Rockets (Texas) of the SISL, on a 84th minute goal from Shane Schwab.

In 1992, the Chiles were eliminated in the second round of the Region IV tournament, and never played another Open Cup game.

In 1997, the Albuquerque Geckos of the USL’s D-3 Pro League qualified for the competition but lost their opening round game to the Central Coast Roadrunners of the PDSL (now USL League Two). 19 years later, the Albuquerque Sol qualified from USL League Two, but they were also one-and-done, falling to Harpo’s FC 2-0.

So with New Mexico advancing four times, they are making some significant New Mexico soccer history.

Portland Timbers

Like New Mexico, Oregon doesn’t have much of an Open Cup history prior to the Portland Timbers. According to TheCup.us records, the earliest Oregon-based club to compete in the tournament was Gresham United who reached the Round of 16 in 1989. Prior to the Timbers’ rebirth in the 2000s, the team that had advanced the farthest in the competition the Portland-based Kell’s Celtic who reached the Quarterfinals in 1992, losing 3-0 to eventual champions San Jose Oaks. During the Timbers’ USL era (2001-10), they reached the Fourth Round in 2004 and 2005 but never beyond that until the club made the jump to MLS in 2011.

The MLS Timbers had to wait until 2013 to surpass the accomplishment of Kell’s Celtic cup run in 1992 when they reached the Semifinals. After knocking off the Wilmington Hammerheads (USL Pro) 5-1 and Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) 2-0, the Timbers faced FC Dallas in the Quarterfinals. Goals from Darlington Nagbe, Diego Valeri and Frédéric Piquionne pushed Portland past their MLS rivals and into a semifinal matchup with Real Salt Lake. A goal from Diego Valeri in second half stoppage time gave the Timbers late hope, but ultimately the Rose City booters could not overcome the two-goal deficit, falling 2-1 to Real.

Minnesota United

Melvin Tarley of the Minnesota Thunder tied for the tournament lead with six goals in the 2005 US Open Cup.
Melvin Tarley of the Minnesota Thunder tied for the tournament lead with six goals in the 2005 US Open Cup.

After surviving on penalties against underdog darlings FC Cincinnati (then in the USL), Minnesota United’s Open Cup debut in 2018 came to an end in the fourth round with a 1-0 defeat to eventual champions Houston Dynamo.

The Minnesota Thunder came along in the early 90s and had some league success, reaching the league championship game six times, but only lifting the trophy one time (1999). However, it wasn’t until 2005, a year that they finished in 10th place in the league, that they made their best US Open Cup run.

Led by the duo of Melvin Tarley and Johnny Menyongar, who combined to score 11 goals in the 2005 tournament, the Thunder knocked off FC Dallas in the Third Round (4-1) and the Kansas City Wizards in the Quarterfinals (3-1). Awaiting them in the Semifinals was the Los Angeles Galaxy, who were on their way to claiming a MLS and Open Cup double championship in 2005. Goals from Landon Donovan and Herculez Gomez put the Galaxy up 2-0 just after halftime, only to see Menyongar cut the lead in the 54th minute. The Galaxy would add three more goals to pull away in the second half and finish with a 5-2 victory.

Prior to the emergence of the Thunder, Minnesota was fairly anonymous in the Open Cup. In the 1960s, a single team from Minneapolis/St. Paul would enter each year, only to be eliminated in their opening match against the winner from Wisconsin. Entries from Minnesota began to tail off during the 1970s. The Thunder would break that streak by qualifying for the first time in 1999, only to have the state of Minnesota receive a rude welcome back to the tournament as they were upset by amateur side the Mid-Michigan Bucks (now Flint City Bucks) of USL League Two.

Orlando City SC

Benji Michel of Orlando City celebrates after scoring a goal against the New England Revolution in a Round of 16 match in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Orlando City SC
Benji Michel of Orlando City celebrates after scoring a goal against the New England Revolution in a Round of 16 match in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Orlando City SC

Through its years in the USL and MLS, Orlando City has only made it as far as the Quarterfinals three times (2013, 2015, 2018), although other teams from Florida have had some success in the past.

When the Open Cup changed its format to four regions (East, South, Midwest, and West) in 1979, a semifinal spot was guaranteed for southern teams making their first Open Cup appearances. The H. Brooks Dodge Chargers of St. Petersburg became the first southern semifinalist, defeating Atlanta’s Datagraphic 2-1 in the Region III Final. In 1989, the St. Petersburg Kickers won the state’s only Open Cup championship with a dramatic 2-1 extra time victory over Greek American Atlas of New York. Just as the game seemed to be headed toward a penalty shootout, Gordon Singleton scored in the 120th minute. Singleton, who came on as a sub with three minutes left for the penalty shootout, had knee surgery three weeks prior and wasn’t expected to play for another three months. The Kickers were really the only team from Florida who challenged for the trophy in the 1980s and early 1990s. One of their last entries was in 1994 when they infamously reached the Semifinals of the tournament only to forfeit because they team had purchased World Cup tickets in advance.

The last Florida team to reach the Semifinals was the Miami Fusion (MLS) who finished as the runner-up to the Chicago Fire in 2000. Their road to the Final was not easy. After surviving an upset scare from the PDL’s Mid-Michigan Bucks (now Flint City Bucks) via penalties in the third round, the Fusion needed sudden death extra time to take a 3-2 win over D.C. United. The semifinals were another close affair for the Fusion with another 3-2 win, this time over the MetroStars. In the Final, the Chicago Fire held a 1-0 lead for most of the game, and a Tyrone Marshall own goal in the 88th minute extended the lead to 2-0, although Welton cut the score to 2-1 in the final minute. Welton finished the tournament with six goals, tied for the lead with Chicago’s Josh Wolff. Six goals remains the single-tournament record for goals.

Atlanta United FC

Atlanta United’s lone Open Cup run in 2018 lasted just two games, but the club and their fans still made Open Cup history. After knocking of the USL’s Charleston Battery 3-0 in the Third Round. While Atlanta’s Fourth Round ended in a 1-0 defeat to the Chicago Fire, 41,012 fans saw the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, setting an all-time attendance record for a U.S. Open Cup game.

The city of Atlanta began its Open Cup history in 1979 along with the other teams from the south. In 1980, the Atlanta Wolves reached the Semifinals before losing to eventual champions New York Pancyprian Freedoms, 3-1. The next year, Datagraphic represented the city in the Semifinals, suffering a 7-0 loss to the Brooklyn Dodgers (now Brooklyn Italians). These two semifinal appearances would mark the deepest run any team from the state of Georgia has made in the Open Cup. In 1995, the Atlanta Ruckus participated in the first Open Cup tournament of the Modern Era (1995-present). Once the Ruckus changed its name to the Atlanta Silverbacks, the team participated in the Open Cup 11 out of 15 seasons, but only once managed to get as far as the Quarterfinals in 2014. That year, the team, led by head coach Eric Wynalda, upset two MLS teams (Real Salt Lake, Colorado Rapids), before falling to the Chicago Fire, 3-1, in the round of eight.

1988 US Open Cup champions: Busch SC of St. Louis
1988 US Open Cup champions: Busch SC of St. Louis

Saint Louis FC

During their five years of existence, Saint Louis FC has struggled in the US Open Cup. Only twice have they managed to reach the Fourth Round, each time ending in 1-0 losses to Sporting KC in 2015, and the Chicago Fire in 2017.

Like New Mexico and Atlanta, the city of Saint Louis has not seen much Open Cup glory in the past 20+ years. However, prior to the Modern Era, from about 1920-1994, teams from Saint Louis were the cornerstone of the tournament, winning 10 Open Cup championships and finishing as runners-up in 10 others. St. Louis first participated in the Cup in the 1920 edition, and immediately made an impact with Ben Miller FC defeating Fore River 2-1 in the Final. St. Louis clubs would go on to appear in five of the next six Cup Finals, the sole missed season being in 1925 when the four professional St. Louis clubs joined the American Soccer League in boycotting the tournament.

By the 1930s Stix, Baer & Fuller (later known as Central Breweries and Shamrocks due to sponsorship changes), appeared in a record-setting six straight Cup finals between 1933 and 1937, winning three. From 1938 to the mid-50’s St. Louis was fairly quiet in the Open Cup, until the Kutis Funeral Home took over sponsorship of the St. Louis Raiders, winners of the 1952 National Amateur Cup. Kutis would go on to win the Amateur Cup six straight times (1956-1961), win the Open Cup in 1957, and become a fixture in the final four of each year’s tournament.

The 1960s and 70s brought another relatively quiet era for St. Louis. Kutis re-emerged as a power in the 80s, reaching the final in 1985 and winning once again in 1986 (the biggest gap in between championships in tournament history). Busch SC would add the most recent title in 1988. St. Louis Soccer Park became a regular host for the semifinals and the finals of not just the Open Cup, but all of the USSF’s cup competitions during the late 80s.

Los Angeles FC

Maccabee AC won five US Open Cup titles (1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981),

In it’s very first year of existence in 2018, Los Angeles FC reached the semifinals, and very nearly made the Final. Down 3-1 to Houston with fifteen minutes to go, Diego Rossi led a dramatic comeback, scoring with 12 minutes remaining, then tying the game in the fifth minute of stoppage time. After 30 scoreless minutes of extra time, Houston wound up prevailing on penalties, 7-6. Rossi’s performance was so impressive that he was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round despite not advancing.

While the rest of the quarterfinalists have very little recent Open cup success to compete with in their area, LAFC has the shadow of the Los Angeles Galaxy looming over them. From 2001-2006 the Galaxy won two Open Cup championships, and were runners-up in two others. However, since their last trip to the Final in 2006 (where they lost to the Chicago Fire), they have only advanced beyond the Quarterfinals one time (2016) in 10 tournament appearances.

Teams from Los Angeles sand San Francisco did not participate in the Open Cup until 1954, primarily due to the long travel distance. However, in 1952 the Los Angeles Scots entered the Open Cup only to later withdraw due to the high cost of traveling to St. Louis to play Simpkins Ford. The following year McIlwaine Canvasbacks attempted to represent Southern California but were also forced to withdraw for the same reason. Once California became a full participant in 1954, the winner between Los Angeles and San Francisco was guaranteed a spot in the Western Final against the winner of the Midwest (St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee). This honor usually went to the team representing Los. Angeles.

The Danish American SC was the LA team to reach an Open Cup final, dropping a 2-0 decision to Sport Club Eintracht of New York City in 1955. Southern California finally got the Dewar Trophy in 1958 when the Los Angeles Kickers topped Baltimore’s Pompei SC 2-1, and the Kickers prevailed again in 1964 by stopping the Ukrainian Nationals over two legs.

The 1973 marked the beginning of one of the greatest dynasties in Open Cup history as Maccabee AC (Los Angeles) defeated Inter Italian SC of Cleveland 5-3 after extra time. Over the next ten years, the Maccabees would capture five Open Cup championships (1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981), and finish as runners-up in two others (1980, 1982). The seven finals appearances is the most for any club in Open Cup history, and their five titles is tied with Bethlehem Steel and the Fall River Marksmen. In 1984 and 1986, the Yugoslav American SC were the last pre-MLS team from Southern California to reach the Final.

New York City FC

Brooklyn Field Club won the inaugural National Challenge Cup in 1914.
Brooklyn Field Club won the inaugural National Challenge Cup in 1914.

In their first four appearances in the US Open Cup, NYCFC had no luck whatsoever in advancing past their first game of the tournament, each time coming at the hand of local rivals. NYCFC were eliminated by the NASL’s New York Cosmos in 2015 & 2016. In 2015, Lucky Mkosana scored in the 90th minute for the Cosmos to send the game into extra time, and the Cosmos eventually advanced on penalties. In 2016, it was an 88th minute goal from Danny Szetela that put the Cosmos over the top, 1-0.

The past two seasons it was the New York Red Bulls that knocked out NYCFC, 1-0 in 2017 and 4-0 in 2018. NYCFC managed to avoid their NY/NJ boogeymen in 2019, as the Red Bulls were eliminated by New England and the NPSL’s New York Cosmos B fell in the second round.

While New York City FC has a steep history to live up to as far as the Big Apple is concerned, no team from New York City proper has advanced past the Quarterfinals since the Brooklyn Italians won the Open Cup in 1991. All told, New York City has accounted for 25 Open cup champions since the tournament began in 1913, 15 more than St. Louis and Los Angeles, the next closest cities. Add in the 13 times a team from New York reached the final and lost, you have 38 Open Cup finals with a New York team involved.

Teams from New York City did not often appear in the early cup finals. Only four times in the first 14 years did a NYC club reach the final (1914, 1915, 1921, 1922), with only Brooklyn Field Club (1914) and Robins Dry Dock (1921) emerging victorious. During the mid-1940s Brooklyn Hispano (1943 & 1944) and Brookhattan (1945) gave the Big Apple three championships in a row. In 1967, Greek American AA began the first New York dynasty, winning three Cups in a row from 1967-1969. The Greeks added another title in 1974.

By the early 1980s, NYC was back on top again, appearing in six straight Open Cup Finals. After the Brooklyn Dodgers won in 1979, the Pancyprian Freedoms triumphed in 1980, 1982 and 1983. AO Krete followed up with a championship in 1984. Gotham cooled off until the 1990s, when the Greek Americans reached another final in 1989, followed by the Brooklyn Italians (formerly Dodgers) in 1990. The Italians added their second Open Cup championship in 1991.

US Open Cup championships by city
New York City – 25*
St. Louis, MO – 10*
Los Angeles, CA – 10*
Chicago, IL – 9
Fall River, MA – 6
Philadelphia, PA – 5
Bethlehem, PA – 5
Pittsburgh, PA – 4
Washington, D.C. – 4

*Has team active in 2019 Open Cup

2019 US Open Cup Quarterfinals preview: Six MLS teams, two USL Championship teams all seeking first national title

by

The Houston Dynamo lift the trophy after winning the 2018 US Open Cup title. Photo: Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo lift the trophy after winning the 2018 US Open Cup title. Photo: Houston Dynamo

In a rare occurrence for this competition, all participants in the Quarterfinals have yet to win the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.  Major League Soccer still has six teams left in this competition, but will face the challenge from the two remaining USL Championship teams that advanced over MLS teams for two rounds in a row.  All four matches will be played on Wednesday, July 10.

The winners will advance to the Semifinals, which is scheduled to take place the week of August 7.

Every game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

Since 2003, fans who wanted to follow the opening round of the second-oldest, continually-operating soccer tournament in the world, would have to rely on updates from this site, or, in later years, the occasional live audio or video stream. Now, fans who are unable to attend a match in person, can watch every game from the comfort of their home, or through their favorite mobile device.

A bracket has been set for the competition with four regions. The East region winner will play the Mideast region winner in the Semifinals. The Midwest region winner will play the West region winner in the Semifinals. The draw to determine hosts for the Semifinals and the Final will be held on July 11.

Below is a preview (with video links) of all four of the games scheduled this week:

#USOC2019 ESSENTIALS
2019 US Open Cup Schedule/Results (with links to every match report
2019 US Open Cup statistical leaders (Goals, Assists, GKs)
2019 US Open Cup bracket (TheCup.us)

2019 US Open Cup Round 1: Game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Round 2: Game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Round 3: Game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Round 4: Game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Round of 16: Game-by-game review

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VISIT THECUP.US STORE

NPSL Mid-Atlantic Conference adds matches to end of regular season to try to make 4 of 5 teams 2020 US Open Cup eligible
Every US Open Cup game to stream on ESPN+ in multi-year media rights deal

THECUP.US PLAYER OF THE ROUND
Round 1: Charles Boateng – Richmond Kickers
Round 2: Bryant Martin – Florida Soccer Soldiers
Round 3: Blake Frischknecht – Orange County FC
Round 4: Teal Bunbury – New England Revolution
Round of 16: Sam Fink – Saint Louis FC

#USOC2019 QUALIFYING
2019 US Open Cup qualifying schedule/results
2019 US Open Cup Qualifying Round 1 game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Qualifying Round 2 game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Qualifying Round 3 game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Qualifying Final Round game-by-game review
Florida Soccer Soldiers qualify for first time after America SC withdraws
More pros, less amateurs, an extra sub in 2019 US Open Cup format
Chattanooga FC qualifies for 2019 US Open Cup, but opts out
Bavarian SC qualify for 2019 US Open Cup by winning Amateur Cup title

MEET THE UNDERDOGS SERIES
Milwaukee’s Bavarian Soccer Club, proudly amateur since 1929
West Chester United battle tested from long journey back to US Open Cup
NTX Rayados grooming “new generation” to keep qualifying streak going
Academica SC earns first US Open Cup berth after more than 40 years as a club
FC Denver using US Open Cup to build to “higher level”
First year Florida Soccer Soldiers winning with “respect, pride and commitment”

Graphic by Dallas Kreil | IG: @dak_design
Graphic by Dallas Kreil | IG: @dak_design

New York City FC (MLS) at Orlando City SC (MLS)
Exploria Stadium – Orlando, FL
Kickoff: July 10 – 7:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Joshua Taylor

New York City FC (7-8-2) comes into Wednesday’s match coming off a 1-0 loss to the Portland Timbers over the weekend in league play and are currently in 5th place in the Eastern Conference. NYCFC will now turn their attention on the road against Orlando City SC (6-9-4) who is coming off a 2-2 draw against the Philadelphia Union this past weekend and are currently in 9th place in the Eastern Conference.
For NYCFC, Heber and Maximiliano Moralez are the top goal scorers for NYCFC in MLS play both leading the team with six goals but Keaton Parks is the team’s leading goalscorer with two goals during their two-game run in the tournament. Both of those goals came in the team’s 4-0 Fourth Round win at home (at St. John’s University) against North Carolina FC (USL Championship).

The win was a big one for NYCFC as it was the first time the club had tasted victory in the tournament after four previous unsuccessful attempts. The Pigeons followed up their first-ever Open Cup win with a 2-1 road win over D.C. United where they overcame a first half goal by Wayne Rooney. Alexandru Mitria and Ismael Tajouri-Shradi answered with a goal each before halftime and the defense held strong to knock off United and become the first New York City-based club to reach the Quarterfinals since the 1999 Staten Island Vipers (A-League, Div. 2 pro).

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 <a href="https://shop.thecup.us/">THECUP.US SHOP</a>
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

New York City has a chance to make some history of their own as a win over Orlando would make them the first New York City-based club to reach the Semifinals since the 1991 Brooklyn Italians not only reached the final four, but they were the last Big Apple team to lift the trophy.

 

For Orlando City SC, Nani is the team’s leading goal scorer with eight goals in MLS play but in Open Cup play Sacha Kljestan leads the team with two goals in their two-game run with both of his goals coming in a tough 3-1 road win over Memphis 901 FC (USL Championship). Orlando returned home to take on the New England Revolution and it took until extra time for the goals to start flying in.

Two goals in five minutes by Benjo Michel and Tesho Akindele (96th and 101st minutes) was the difference as Orlando punched their ticket to the Quarterfinals for the second year in a row and the fourth time in club history. A win by Orlando City on Wednesday would make them the first Florida-based club to reach the Semifinals since the Miami Fusion (MLS) made a run to the championship game in 2000.

Orlando City SC will have to play this game on one day of rest as their previous match against the Philadelphia Union was postponed due to severe weather this past Saturday and had played their match the next day. This matchup will be the first time the 2015 expansion rivals meet at this stage in the Quarterfinals of the US Open Cup.

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

US OPEN CUP HISTORY

New York City FC (MLS)
5th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 2-3-1 (0-1 PK)
Away: 1-2-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. MLS: 1-2-0
Best finish: TBD (2019)

Orlando City SC (MLS)
11th US Open Cup appearance (5th as MLS team)
Overall: 17-10-2 (2-0 PK) | 5-4-2 (2-0 PK) as MLS team
Home: 11-3-0 | 2-2-0 as MLS team
vs. MLS: 4-8-1 (1-0 PK) | 2-2-1 (1-0 PK) as MLS team
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2013*, 2015, 2018, 2019)
* as USL PRO team (Div. 3 pro)

Graphic by Dallas Kreil | IG: @dak_design
Graphic by Dallas Kreil | IG: @dak_design

Saint Louis FC (USL-C) at Atlanta United FC (MLS)
Fifth Third Bank Stadium (Kennesaw State Univ.) – Kennesaw, GA
Kickoff: July 10 – 7:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Michael Battista

Separated by only two years and 555 miles, Saint Louis FC and Atlanta United FC are set to face off for the first time in the Quarterfinals of the US Open Cup. For both cities, starved of major sports titles until only recently, the opportunity to continue playing means different things. Saint Louis, in the midst of stadium planning and a proposed bid for an MLS franchise, is looking to continue to prove it is a major soccer hub with World Wide Technology Soccer Park regularly sold out. For Atlanta, the idea that proving the team’s 2018 MLS Cup title was no fluke and that the team can continue to compete remains steadfast as United makes its deepest run at the cup in its short history and try to bring the trophy to the state of Georgia for the first time in history.

USL Championship side Saint Louis FC had never defeated a MLS team in the US Open Cup competition up until this year. Heading into the 2019 Quarterfinals it has vanquished two in the Chicago Fire and FC Cincinnati. The first win, 2-1 over the Fire in Round 4, brought the team into the Fifth Round for the first time in club history as Saint Louis outlasted an early onslaught attack by their former MLS affiliate. Taking advantage of a counter attack and free kick respectively, both Austin Martz and Guy Abend were able to head in long balls during the first half to put their team up by two within four minutes of one-another as the St. Louligans watched on. Tomas Gomez made eight saves in goal as the Fire outshot the home side 20-6 en route to their first-ever elimination in the Fourth Round despite a successful late-game penalty putting the team within one.

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

In the group’s most recent challenge, they faced off against FC Cincinnati for the first time since the latter integrated into MLS. Prior to this meeting, FCC had never been beaten by Saint Louis holding a record of 4-0-1 dating back to 2016 in USL Championship play. The first-ever US Open Cup match between the two sides was a completely different tale as the home team looked in control against the recently struggling expansion side. Cincy’s goalkeeper Przemysław Tytoń and the backline held their former USL brethren for 90 minutes and 15 shots, including five saves, but a corner kick in the third minute of second half stoppage time by Lewis Hilton found the head of a leaping Sam Fink for the late game-winner as he and the rest of his team jumped into the ecstatic crowd as the game finished 1-0 for the home team. For his game-winner and a strong defensive performance on the backline for Saint Louis FC, Fink was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round.

Following their two earlier competition wins against USL League Two’s Des Moines Menace and USL League One’s Forward Madison FC, the team has struggled in regular season play in a steep contrast to the tournament performance. Prior to their May 15 penalty kick win in Des Moines, the group was 5-1-3 in USL Championship play and securely in the upper echelons of the Eastern Conference. Since then, St. Louis has gone on a six-game winless streak (0-3-3), including a come from-behind draw on July 6 against expansion side Loudoun United FC. Sam Fink, a defender, is tied for the team lead in scoring with four but has only scored twice since April 13 and both came on penalties while Austin Martz announced his retirement from professional soccer on June 28 as his contract was terminated with the club. A team already weak on the offensive front but whose backline has kept it in the league playoff hunt and in the competition is about to face its biggest challenge of the year.

In only its third year of existence, Atlanta United FC has become one of the most successful and trendsetting clubs in Major League Soccer after winning MLS Cup last season and regularly selling out the Atlanta Falcons’ Mercedes Benz Stadium which seats more than 70,000 fans. This year, the club has already advanced farther than ever before in the US Open Cup after falling in the Round of 16 in its two previous endeavors while also rebounding in league play following a rocky start to the 2019 season.

In its first match, United defeated USL Championship side Charleston Battery, 3-1 in extra time, for the third straight year. Last season’s MLS MVP, Golden Boot winner, and regular season goalscoring record holder Josef Martinez was held out of the lineup as Atlanta struggled early in the closed-door, rescheduled match-up at Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia. An error by Atlanta’s Franco Escobar allowed AJ Paterson to jump on the ball and feed Ian Svantesson for the low, right corner go-ahead goal in the 20th minute. The defending MLS champs struggled to find an equalizer for most of the game despite holding a majority of possession until the 79th minute where a Pity Martinez corner kick pinballed its way off the head of Miles Robinson and the foot of Romario Williams to slowly dribble into the net. Both teams, tired in the humid Georgian evening, pushed on into extra time but Atlanta’s Brandon Vázquez came up in both 15 minute halves, both assisted by Justin Meram, to secure the win into the next round.

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

While rain delayed the team’s first match to another day and venue, Atlanta’s next game against the Columbus Crew was also affected by the weather as a 49-minute weather delay late in the second half. Vázquez once again came up big for his club by scoring the opening goal five minutes in as well as the game winner during torrential rain in the 65th minute. He nearly scored his second goal earlier in the game as well as a back-pass towards Brad Guzan was intercepted with the latter out of goal as the shot on the empty net rolled from the left side off the right post and back into play. His team was challenged heavily by the 2002 Open Cup winners as a serious of chances in the box led to the Crew’s first goal in the 40th minute by David Accam while a Guzan error allowed the team to come within one not long after Vázquez scored a second after a Waylon Francis shot deflected off the goalkeeper and into the net in the 71st. A controversial no-call on a possible Atlanta foul in the box caused controversy as the game clock ran out and Atlanta advanced to the elite eight.

United this season looked to be in the midst of the championship hangover in the early part of the year. A sloppy start in the CONCACAF Champions League against Costa Rican side Herediano, which needed a second leg four-goal clean sheet and penalty kicks to advance, and subsequent loss to Mexican side Monterrey were precursors to the first few MLS matches. In the first two months, the side went 2-3-2 as the once explosive offense of last season struggled under new head coach Frank de Boer. Since the start of May, the group has rebounded with J. Martinez surging back up to fourth place in league goals scored this season while the team itself sits in fourth in the highly-competitive Eastern Conference. With this match sandwiched in between two tough league games, a home affair against unexpected rival side New York Red Bulls on July 7, which the team drew 3-3, and a road game on the west coast against the Seattle Sounders, Atlanta will need to tread carefully with its roster rotation as it continues the two front war between league and cup.

If they are able to get past Saint Louis FC, they would be just the third Georgia-based club to reach the Semifinals, and the first since Datagraphics lost in the final four in 1981. Saint Louis are trying to become the first team from their city to reach the semis since Busch SC won the tournament in 1988.

US OPEN CUP HISTORY

Saint Louis FC (USL-C)
5th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 8-4-2 (2-0 PK)
Away: 3-2-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. MLS: 2-2-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2015, 2017)

Atlanta United FC (MLS)
3rd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 4-2-0
Home: 3-1-0
vs. Div. 2: 3-1-0
Best finish: Fifth Round (2017, 2018)

Graphic by Dallas Kreil | IG: @dak_design
Graphic by Dallas Kreil | IG: @dak_design

New Mexico United (USL-C) at Minnesota United FC (MLS)
Allianz Field – St. Paul, MN
Kickoff: July 10 – 8 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Tim Abbott

New Mexico United are sizing up a third MLS victim and are expecting strong away support after a flight North sold out within minutes. NMU have made history with every step of the way and it began in Round 2 with a penalty kick shootout win against fellow USL Championship side Phoenix Rising FC. Devon Sandoval scored a 79th minute equalizer and added another in extra time. They became the first New Mexico club in the Modern Era (1995-present) to advance in the tournament. Kevaughn Frater was the star of the team’s Third Round road win over leaguemates Colorado Springs Switchbacks. Frater assisted on Christopher Wehan’s 87th minute equalizer and Frater scored a penalty kick in the 99th minute to give United a 2-1 extra time win. That made United the first New Mexico team to win a game in the Modern Era.

When MLS sides entered the tournament in Round 4, NMU faced the Colorado Rapids and Frater was again key, scoring a 90th minute equalizer against a side which was, by then, down to 10 men. A scoreless extra time led to another penalty shootout and the lower division club advanced 4-2 to become the first New Mexico team to upset a MLS team.

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

Like their opponents, their last Open Cup match was in Texas, with New Mexico facing FC Dallas. Brandon Servania put the MLS side ahead but Frater provided the equalizer and Sam Hamilton scored what would prove to be the game-winner in the 64th minute to make United the first New Mexico club to reach the Quarterfinals since the New Mexico Chiles in 1991.

They currently sit in 7th place in the USL Championship’s Western Conference with a record of 6-4-8, nine points off the top spot. The club is struggling in league play as they are in the midst of a five-game winless streak (0-3-2). The club’s last win came back on May 25 when they defeated a shorthanded Austin Bold team, 3-1.

Minnesota United entered the 2019 tournament with very little success in the competition, even dating back to the club’s NASL days. Prior to this year, the United had only won multiple games in a single tournament once (They won two games in 2012 as an NASL team). To reach the Quartefinals for the first time, Minnesota would have to go through the last two US Open Cup champions. They began in the Fourth Round with a 4-1 home win over the four-time champion Sporting Kansas City. Darwin Quintero led the way with a pair of second half goals and an assist as Sporting suffered its first opening round loss in 16 years.

In the Round of 16, United hit the road with a Dylan Wolpers Derby victory against defending champion Houston Dynamo. United found themselves down 2-0 at halftime and scored three unanswered goals, the first two of them by Quintero. 2018 Superdraftee Mason Toye would complete the comeback with the winning goal in the 90th minute to send United into the Quarterfinals for the first time in club history. They are just the second Minnesota club to reach the round of eight, and the first since the Minnesota Thunder (USL First Division, Div. 2 pro) made a run to the Semifinals in 2005.

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

Led by Toye, Minnesota is making a charge up the table of the MLS Western Conference at present, currently sitting fourth in the table with a record of 9-7-3, albeit substantially behind the division leading LAFC’s record-setting attack. United have won three straight games in league play, including last Saturday’s 3-2 comeback win on the road against the Montreal Impact. Toye scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner early in the second half.

US OPEN CUP HISTORY

New Mexico United (USL-C)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 2-0-2 (2-0 PK)
Away: 2-0-2 (2-0 PK)
MLS: 1-0-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: First entry

Minnesota United FC (MLS)
10th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 7-7-2 (1-1 PK) | 2-2-1 (1-0 PK) as MLS team
Home: 2-3-0 | 1-0-0 as MLS team
Div. 2 Pro: 0-1-1 (1-0 PK) | 0-0-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: 2018 Fifth Round

Graphic by Dallas Kreil | IG: @dak_design

Graphic by Dallas Kreil | IG: @dak_design
Portland Timbers (MLS) at Los Angeles FC (MLS)
Banc of California Stadium – Los Angeles, CA
Kickoff: July 10 – 10:30 pm ET
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Jeremiah Braeback

The Portland Timbers head down the Pacific Coast, as they take on Los Angeles FC at Banc of California Stadium in the 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Quarterfinals on Wednesday, July 10.

The Timbers come in to the match having defeated the Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy in the Fourth Round and the Round of 16, respectively. In Round 4, they met their rivals from Seattle for the eighth time in Open Cup play, the most common matchup of the Modern Era (1995-present). Brian Fernandez scored both goals that day to eliminate the four-time champions from the Emerald City, 2-1.

Fernandez would score his third goal of the tournament as the Timbers would cruise in the Round of 16 with a 4-0 home win over the Galaxy to reach the Quarterfinals for the second year in a row. Fernandez has nine goals across all competitions this year for the Timbers, who have managed to field a mostly first-team lineup in their first two Open Cup matches. Portland also received goals from Sebastian Blanco and Jorge Moreira, in the win over the Galaxy, in addition to an own goal.

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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

In MLS play, the Timbers currently sit at 23 points (7-8-2) but have started to turn the corner after a slow start, winning five of their last six matches in all competitions dating back to the middle of June. In addition to the 9 goals by Fernandez, Jeremy Ebobisse has added five goals, while Diego Valeri has added three goals and dished out 10 assists, while Steve Clark has solidified his claim as the No. 1 goalkeeper with four consecutive clean sheets in all competitions.

The Timbers have been competing in the US Open Cup since 2004 when they qualified as an A-League team (Div. 2 pro). They qualified seven times as a USL team, but never advanced beyond the Fourth Round, and never upset a MLS team in four attempts (2 vs. San Jose, 2 vs. Seattle). Since joining MLS, their best finish was when they became the first Oregon-based club to ever reach the Semifinals in 2013. They would lose a close road game to Real Salt Lake, 2-1. This is the club’s fourth trip to the Quarterfinals as they are attempting to be the first Oregon club to lift the trophy.

Los Angeles FC are hoping their league form continues to carry over into the US Open Cup as they enter Wednesday’s game as the best team in MLS. The second-year franchise is back in the Quarterfinals for the second straight year having defeated a pair of MLS opponents in their opening two matches.

In Round 4, they cruised to a 3-0 victory at Real Salt Lake. Carlos Vela struck early, Lee Nguyen scored early in the second half and Adama Diomande scored in stoppage time to lead LAFC to their first tournament road win. In the Round of 16, they hosted the San Jose Earthquakes and found themselves down 1-0 after seven minutes on a goal from Valeri Qazaishvili. They would bounce back as last year’s TheCup.us Player of the Tournament finalist Diego Rossi pulled LAFC level in the 35th minute and Diomande and Vela each scored their second goals of the tournament in the second half to advance. Pablo Sisniega started both matches in US Open Cup play, recording a clean sheet and nine saves.

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

In MLS play, LAFC lead MLS with 43 points and are 4-1-0 over their last five. Vela leads the team with 19 goals and 12 assists, while Rossi has 10 goals and five assists.

A win for LAFC on Wednesday night would move Bob Bradley, who has two US Open Cup titles under his belt while in charge of the Chicago Fire (1998, 2000), into third place in the Modern Era’s coaching wins list.

This will be the second year in a row that the two clubs have met in the US Open Cup Quarterfinals. Last year’s match saw LAFC defeat the Timbers 3-2 at Banc Of California Stadium in front of the biggest quarterfinal crowd of the Modern Era (17,989). The home team received goals from Carlos Vela and Marco Urena as well as a Portland own goal. However, controversy followed as the Timbers filled a protest claiming that LAFC exceeded the limit of five foreign players on a US Open Cup gameday roster. The player in question was Mark-Anthony Kaye, a Canadian. The Timbers were correct because by US Soccer standards, Kaye is a Canadian player, but according to Major League Soccer’s rules, he is listed as a domestic player. However, it appeared to be a mistake and the Timbers accepted the result and withdrew their protest.

LAFC have won both league meetings with the Timbers so far this year. They won 4-1 back on March 10 and 3-2 on June 1.

While the Timbers and LAFC have only played each other five times in their history, there is the feeling of a rivalry each time they take the pitch against the other. In their most recent meeting, a long scuffle occurred toward the end of the match, resulting in yellow cards to Fernandez and Diomande, and fines later being issued by MLS to both sides.

US OPEN CUP HISTORY

Portland Timbers (MLS)
15th US Open Cup appearance (8th as MLS team)
Overall: 18-13-1 (0-1 PK) | 11-7-0 as MLS team
Away: 9-7-0 | 4-5-0 as MLS team
vs. MLS: 8-9-1 (0-1 PK) | 8-6-0 as MLS team
Best finish: 2013 Semifinals

Los Angeles FC (MLS)
2nd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 5-0-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 4-0-0
MLS: 3-0-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: 2018 Semifinals

2019 US Open Cup Round of 16: Sam Fink of Saint Louis FC voted TheCup.us Player of the Round

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Sam FInk - Saint Louis FC
Graphic by Dallas Kreil | IG: @dak_design

The Saint Louis FC social media hashtag is #OneofUs and nobody resonates more with the club’s fans than its captain Sam Fink does.

On June 19, Fink sent those adoring fans into a frenzy when he scored the game-winning goal three minutes into second half stoppage time to help his USL Championship side upset Major League Soccer’s FC Cincinnati, 1-0, in the 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Quarterfinals. In addition to his heroics at the end, he anchored an impressive defensive unit that shut out FC Cincinnati, and held them to just 10 total shots (only two of them on goal).

For that performance, Fink was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round.  The award is voted on by TheCup.us staff and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters and select backers (those that pledge $10 or more) from TheCup.us’ Patreon team. Fink narrowly edged Minnesota United’s Darwin Quintero (who scored two goals in Minnesota’s comeback win over the Houston Dynamo) and Kevaughn Frater of New Mexico United (who scored a goal to lead the USL Championship side to a 2-1 road win over FC Dallas) also received strong support.

Fink is the first defender to win the award in six years. Back then, Brandon Fricke of the Des Moines Menace (USL League Two) similarly won the award for a late game-winning goal and a shutout upset of Minnesota United FC (NASL) back in the Second Round of the 2013 US Open Cup. By the time the tournament reaches the Round of 16, the tournament is largely dominated by MLS teams, which is why Fink is just the fourth lower division player to win TheCup.us Player of the Round honors in the Fifth Round or later since 2014.

Lower Division players to win TheCup.us Player of the Round
Round of 16 or later since 2014
2014 Round 5: Scott Goodwin (Carolina RailHawks, NASL)
2017 Round 5: Mitch Hildebrandt (FC Cincinnati, USL)
2017 Quarterfinals: Djiby Fall (FC Cincinnati, USL)
2019 Round 5: Sam Fink (Saint Louis FC, USL Championship)

When the club was founded in 2014 Fink was a natural signing, having been raised locally in nearby Edwardsville and played with the St. Louis Scott Gallagher powerhouse youth system. He had a solid college career with Wake Forest before returning home to play for Saint Louis FC.

When he arrived with his hometown team prior to the team’s inaugural 2015 USL season, he was part of an experienced core of defenders with professional experience like MLS stalwart Brandon Barklage (New York Red Bulls, San Jose Earthquakes) and New Zealand international James Musa. It may have appeared, at first, that Fink was just a roster filler. He had to prove everyone wrong.

Fink did just that his first season as a professional as earned a spot in the starting lineup and never missed a game, scoring the game-winner in the club’s first-ever home victory and being voted the fan’s player of the year.

Sam Fink of Saint Louis FC celebrates his goal against FC Cincinnati in a Round of 16 match in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Saint Louis FC
Sam Fink of Saint Louis FC celebrates his goal against FC Cincinnati in a Round of 16 match in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Saint Louis FC

After his second year with the club and cementing his spot in the starting lineup, Fink was released after the 2016 season and signed with the Oklahoma City Energy. He helped the Energy reach the USL Western Conference Final, but he was unable to play in the championship game after suffering a deep eye gash against Reno 1868 in the previous round.

After his one-year stint in Oklahoma City, Fink came home again. He joined Saint Louis FC, who had a new head coach, Ant Pulis, looking for a fresh start.

“I felt I had to get out and really test myself,” said Fink on his 2018 return to Saint Louis FC. “I had to prove I am a quality player in this league and get out of my comfort zone. The spell under Jimmy Neilsen made me a better player. That said, when I first spoke to Ant and heard what type of player he was looking for, I knew I wanted to play for him.”

Under coach Pulis last season, Fink won the prestigious Harry Keough award given to outstanding St Louis talent bestowed by the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame. With his form continuing into 2019, Fink has anchored the stoic defense with Phan Kavita and they have been instrumental with the US Open Cup journey that saw them upset FC Cincinnati in the Round of 16.

Fink may be mild mannered off the pitch, but he becomes a warrior on it. Tenacious tackling, pinpoint passing aside, it is his aerial ability that matches up with anyone he comes across. All five of his goals from open play for STLFC have been headers, and with the calm service from Lewis Hilton, who delivered the game-winner against FC Cincinnati, he’s had plenty of action this season in front of goal.

Saint Louis had plenty of opportunities against FC Cincinnati, as they more than held their own against MLS opposition for the second straight game after vanquishing the Chicago Fire in the previous round.

Chances came and went, however, and in the last ten minutes of the game it seemed that Cincinnati had weathered the storm and were finding some creative joy themselves. For a soccer fan, there are few things better than a last minute winner and those fans, led by the St. Louligans supporters, were treated to a Fink header that hit the back of the net from a Lewis Hilton corner in the third minute of second half stoppage time. The game was over and Saint Louis became the first St. Louis team to reach the Quarterfinals since Fink’s local team Scott Gallagher reached the final eight in 1993.

“I think the guys deserved that,” Fink told the St. Louis Post Dispatch after the game. “We went toe-to-toe with them, didn’t back down. Felt like we had some great opportunities — bailed us out a couple of times. But I really felt like we deserved to move on.”

It was so fitting it was Sam who scored it. A St. Louis kid through and through, blue collar like the city he represents. A fitting representation of the club’s #OneOfUs hashtag.

2019 TheCup.us Player of the Round winners
Round 1: Charles Boateng (Richmond Kickers, USL-1)
Round 2: Bryant Martin (Florida Soccer Soldiers, USASA)
Round 3: Blake Frischknecht (Orange County FC, NPSL)
Round 4: Teal Bunbury (New England Revolution, MLS)
Round 5: Sam Fink (Saint Louis FC, USL-C)

NPSL Mid-Atlantic Conference adds matches to end of regular season to try to make 4 of 5 teams 2020 US Open Cup eligible

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A scene from the first half of the First Round match between West Chester United and FC Baltimore Christos in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: @finchamphoto
A scene from the first half of the First Round match between West Chester United and FC Baltimore Christos in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: @finchamphoto

UPDATE: This plan has been scrapped. A single game playoff championship will be held on July 6. All teams from the NPSL Mid-Atlantic Conference will not be eligible for the 2020 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Back in May, we reported that the schedule for the NPSL Mid-Atlantic Conference was too short for all five teams in the conference to be 2020 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup eligible. The rules state they must have at least a 10-game regular season. At the time, the NPSL Mid-Atlantic Conference only had an 8-game regular season scheduled. Should they add games to the schedule, those teams that met the 10-match minimum would be eligible for the 2020 US Open Cup.

Originally, a three-team postseason playoff was planned for July 3 and July 6 to decide the conference champion. Instead, the regular season will be extended and the regular season champion will move on to the NPSL Northeast Region playoffs scheduled to start on July 13. Four matches will be played overall, two on July 3 and two on July 6. At the end of the double round robin schedule on June 29, the standings will decide the schedule for the remaining games next week.

The schedule for the extra games:

DATE AWAY TEAM RESULT HOME TEAM
July 3 4th place vs. 1st place
July 3 3rd place vs. 2nd place
July 6 3rd place vs. 1st place
July 6 4th place vs. 2nd place

This will give the top 4 teams all a 10-game regular season schedule. The last place team of the five team conference will NOT have extra games added and will still be ineligible for the 2020 U.S. Open Cup. The current standings of the conference are:

There is no rule against teams having more home games than away games in their schedule. There is also no rule against teams in the conference having more games played than other teams in the conference. As long as these matches next week are still considered regular season matches and they are applied to the standings, it will count.

Some might argue that the additional games essentially amount to a playoff since the participants of these additional games were chosen based on their division standings with only the top four teams in the division involved.

This schedule change, however, does not guarantee that it will make the Mid-Atlantic teams eligible. The US Open Cup committee will have final say as to whether or not the additional games are considered regular season games or not. The US Open Cup handbook states:

Section 202. Team eligibility
(a) To enter the Open Cup, a team must be an outdoor soccer team based in the United States and a regular playing member in good standing competing in an ongoing league competition of an Organization Member of the Federation, with said league competition and Organization Member also in good standing with the Federation. Such league competition must be regularly scheduled (i.e. not infrequent) each year and formatted such that member teams play games against fellow members, with only these results (i.e. league matches) used to determine a set of standings or ranking table. The league competition must consist of at least four (4) teams, with each playing at least ten (10) league matches (excluding any pre-season and/or post-season playoff or cup matches) each calendar year.

With the fifth place team ineligible for the 2020 US Open Cup, the NPSL will only have to pay the entry fee of 90 teams in the league out of the 91 teams. This will slightly change how the allocation of spots for the 2020 U.S. Open Cup goes.

Although the number of spots allocated in still to be determined, that number of spots will be allocated to USL League Two and NPSL combined. USL League Two has 67 eligible teams while NPSL has 90 teams. This means that NPSL will get 57.3% (90 divided by 157) of those yet-to-be-determined spots, and USL League Two will get 42.7% (67 divided by 157) of those entries.

2019 US Open Cup Round of 16 review: Eight “new” clubs, 2 from USL, advance to seek their first USOC title

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The theme of the Round of 16 of the 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is simple: new blood.

When the dust settled on the tournament’s Fifth Round, eight teams were left standing. Six of them from Major League Soccer, and two from the USL Championship. Based on the eight teams that survived Round 5, it is guaranteed that no matter who wins this year’s US Open Cup title, they will be lifting the trophy for the first time. Another thing they have in common is their team histories. All eight of them have existed in their respective leagues for less than a decade, from the youngest in expansion side New Mexico United (USL Championship) to the oldest with the Portland Timbers, who joined MLS in 2011.

It was a dramatic round with six of the eight games decided by a single goal. Among those games, the headliners were the USL Championship sides who advanced to the Quarterfinals. Saint Louis FC scored a stoppage time winner to beat FC Cincinnati, and New Mexico United held off FC Dallas on the road to become the first New Mexico club to reach the Quarterfinals in almost 30 years. Arguably, the most dramatic win came from Minnesota United, who overcame a 2-0 halftime deficit on the road against the defending US Open Cup champion Houston Dynamo. The win was capped off by a 90th minute game-winner to send the Loons to the Quarterfinals for the first time in franchise history.

Below is a brief summary of every Round of 16 game with links to every match report.

#USOC2019 ESSENTIALS
2019 US Open Cup Schedule/Results (with links to every match report
2019 US Open Cup statistical leaders (Goals, Assists, GKs)
2019 US Open Cup bracket (TheCup.us)

2019 US Open Cup Round 1: Game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Round 2: Game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Round 3: Game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Round 4: Game-by-game review

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VISIT THECUP.US STORE

NPSL Mid-Atlantic Conference currently ineligible for 2020 US Open Cup
Every US Open Cup game to stream on ESPN+ in multi-year media rights deal

THECUP.US PLAYER OF THE ROUND
Round 1: Charles Boateng – Richmond Kickers
Round 2: Bryant Martin – Florida Soccer Soldiers
Round 3: Blake Frischknecht – Orange County FC
Round 4: Teal Bunbury – New England Revolution

#USOC2019 QUALIFYING
2019 US Open Cup qualifying schedule/results
2019 US Open Cup Qualifying Round 1 game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Qualifying Round 2 game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Qualifying Round 3 game-by-game review
2019 US Open Cup Qualifying Final Round game-by-game review
Florida Soccer Soldiers qualify for first time after America SC withdraws
More pros, less amateurs, an extra sub in 2019 US Open Cup format
Chattanooga FC qualifies for 2019 US Open Cup, but opts out
Bavarian SC qualify for 2019 US Open Cup by winning Amateur Cup title

MEET THE UNDERDOGS SERIES
Milwaukee’s Bavarian Soccer Club, proudly amateur since 1929
West Chester United battle tested from long journey back to US Open Cup
NTX Rayados grooming “new generation” to keep qualifying streak going
Academica SC earns first US Open Cup berth after more than 40 years as a club
FC Denver using US Open Cup to build to “higher level”
First year Florida Soccer Soldiers winning with “respect, pride and commitment”

Columbus Crew (MLS)
2:3
Atlanta United (MLS)

Atlanta United broke through into the Quarterfinals for the first time in the club’s brief three-year history with a 3-2 road win over the Columbus Crew. A goal in each half by Brandon Vasquez and another by Miles Robinson was the difference as United won their first tournament game away from home, and their first game against a fellow MLS team. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT 

Houston Dynamo (MLS)
2:3
Minnesota United (MLS)

The defending US Open Cup champion Houston Dynamo appeared to be on their way back to the Quarterfinals. Playing in front of their home fans for the eighth tournament game in a row (dating back to 2017), they jumped out to a 2-0 halftime lead over Minnesota United on goals from Ronaldo Pena and Tomas Martinez. United came alive in the second half with three unanswered goals — two of them by Darwin Quintero — capped off by a 90th minute game-winner by Mason Toye to send the Loons into the Quarterfinals for the first time in club history.  [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

D.C. United (MLS)
1:2
NYCFC (MLS)

New York City FC dug themselves out of an early hole to defeat D.C. United 2-1 on the road to advance to the Quarterfinals. Wayne Rooney put United in the lead with a 32nd minute goal, but the Pigeons would answer back six minutes later with an equalizer from Alexandru Mitra. Just before halftime, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi would give NYCFC the lead and they would hold on to it throughout the second half. After going winless in their first four US Open Cup matches, NYCFC have now won back-to-back tournament games. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Orlando City SC (MLS)
2:1 (AET)
New England Revolution (MLS)

Orlando City SC held on in extra time to defeat the New England Revolution 2-1. The game was scoreless after 90 minutes but in extra time in the 96th minute Benji Michel scored his first goal for Orlando City to give them the lead. Five minutes later, Tesho Akendele doubled the lead for Orlando in the 101st minute off a rebound to make it 2-0. The Revolution scored a late goal in the 117th minute by Justin Rennicks but they were unable to find the equalizer despite the best efforts of Juan Fernando Caicedo who had his shot in the final minute go just wide of the target. With the win, Orlando advances to the Quarterfinals for the second year in a row, and the fourth time in club history. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

FC Dallas (MLS)
1:2
New Mexico United (USL-C)

USL Championship expansion side New Mexico United went on the road for another cupset against an MLS team as they held on for a 2-1 win over FC Dallas to advance to the Quarterfinals. FC Dallas got the lead first with an impressive goal from Brandon Servania in the 41st minute. Few minutes later Kevaughn Frater equalized for United just before the half. In the second half, New Mexico United took the lead with a goal off a set piece from Sam Hamilton to put United up 2-1. New Mexico held on for the win to earn a fifth straight road game against a fifth straight professional opponent as they will hit the road to take on Minnesota United in the Quarterfinals. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Saint Louis FC (USL-C)
1:0
FC Cincinnati (MLS)
The other “cupset” in the Round of 16 occurred in Fenton, Mo. where the hometown Saint Louis FC of the USL Championship scored a last-minute stoppage time goal to knock off FC Cincinnati. Saint Louis captain Sam Fink scored off a header off a corner kick from Lewis Hilton to them a 1-0 win over the first-year MLS franchise to advance to the Quarterfinals for the first time in their history despite being outpossessed 63% to 37%. Saint Louis will travel to play Atlanta United in the Quarterfinals. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Portland Timbers FC (MLS)
4:0
Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)

The round’s only truly one-sided affair took place in Portland where the Timbers cruised to a 4-0 home win over the Galaxy. After a Perry Kitchen own goal gave Rose City side an early lead, Brian Fernandez scored a goal and assisted on another to send the Timbers into the Quarterfinals for the second year in a row. Sebastian Blanco added another and goalkeeper Steve Clark made four saves to earn the clean sheet as the Timbers took one step closer to becoming the first Oregon-based club to win the tournament. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Los Angeles FC (MLS)
3:1
San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)

Los Angeles FC closed out the Round of 16 with a 3-1 home win over the San Jose Earthquakes on Thursday night. After Vako put the visitors in front with a 7th minute goal, LAFC answered with three unanswered goals by Diego Rossi, Adama Diomande and Carlos Vela. LAFC were eliminated last year by the Houston Dynamo in penalty kicks in their inaugural Cup run in the Semifinals (officially listed as a draw), so with the win, the club remains undefeated in Open Cup play in six games. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

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