Players from West Chester United (blue) and FC Motown battle for the ball in their First Round match in the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Matt Ralph | BrotherlyGame.com
The long-awaited return of the magic that is the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup arrived in full force over two nights this week. 32 Open Division amateur teams squared off and 15 of them advanced to the Second Round where they will face professional teams.
Fans will have to wait a little while longer to find out who the 16th winner will be. One game (Northern Virginia FC at Lynchburg FC) was unable to finish due to severe weather. That game will be replayed in full next week.
Six teams from USL League Two, five from the NPSL, and four Open Division Local teams punched their ticket to the next round which will take place the week of April 5-7.
Here is a brief review of the 15 games (with full match report links):
West Chester United (USL-2)
3:2 (AET)
FC Motown (NPSL)
MSU Soccer Park (Montclair State Univ.) – Montclair, NJ
BROADCAST: ESPN+
By Grace Ott
A clash of experienced US Open Cup teams West Chester United and FC Motown was a whirlwind, as West Chester emerged victorious, 3-2, in extra time. Motown had a 2-0 halftime lead but West Chester fought back and sent the game into extra time, where a Jacob Gosselin goal in the 93rd minute proved to be the game-winner. West Chester United will host a upcoming Second Round match against Syracuse AC (NISA).
FC Motown protested the result of this match due to an illegal substitution made by West Chester United SC. The protest was upheld and the original result has been nullified. The game was replayed on April 1 and FC Motown came away with a 1-0 home win. Ryan Peterson scored the game-winning goal in the 90th minute. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
Chicago FC United (USL-2)
1:2 (AET)
Cleveland SC (NPSL)
George Finnie Stadium (Baldwin Wallace Univ.) – Berea, OH
BROADCAST: USSF’s YOUTUBE
By Grace Ott
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Cleveland’s SC’s US Open Cup debut got off to a memorable start as it advanced against Chicago FC United (USL League Two) in extra time, 2-1. Chicago took the lead in the 17th minute on a deflected goal and were ahead most of the match. Cleveland scored in the final minutes of regulation to extend the game to extra time, where it hit the winner in the 107th minute. Cleveland will travel to Wisconsin in two weeks to take on Forward Madison FC. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
Oyster Bay United FC (USASA/UPSL)
3:0
Hartford City FC (NPSL)
Dillon Stadium – Hartford, CT
BROADCAST: ESPN+
By Jordan Beech
Led by Junior Rosero’s goal and two assists, US Open Cup debutant Oyster Bay United FC claimed a resounding 3-0 road win over Harford City FC. The eight-month-old club did all of its damage in the first half before comfortably seeing out the second half. Oyster Bay will return to the same stadium to take on Hartford Athletic in the Second Round. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
2022 Meet the Underdogs: Oyster Bay United
Orlando FC Wolves (USSSA/NSL)
0:6
The Villages SC (USL-2)
The Villages SC Complex – Summerfield, FL
BROADCAST: USSF’s YOUTUBE
By Grace Ott
In an eighth straight US Open Cup appearance The Villages SC thoroughly dominated debutants Orlando FC Wolves 6-0, breaking the club’s five-game Open Cup winless streak. Two players each scored a brace as The Villages SC broke its US Open Cup single-game club record for goals scored. The Villages will travel to take on the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the Second Round on April 5. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
2022 Meet the Underdogs: Orlando FC Wolves
Players from Southern States SC pose for a team photo before their 2022 US Open Cup match in Round 2. Photo: Southern States SC
Georgia Revolution FC (NPSL)
1:3
Southern States SC Stars (NPSL)
The Oakes – Hattiesburg, MS
BROADCAST: USSF’s YOUTUBE
By Jordan Beech
Southern State Soccer Club’s US Open Cup debut emerged with a 3-1 win over visiting Georgia Revolution FC. Thomas Shepherd bagged a second-half brace for the Stars to secure the victory after Jean Lucas Rivera put the Stars up 1-0 in the first half. Revolution’s Karim Tmimi put his team on the board in the 82nd minute but the Stars held on to earn a date with Birmingham Legion FC in the Second Round on April 7. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
D’Feeters Kicks SC (USCS/The Roja League)
3:2
Denton Diablos FC (NPSL)
UNT Soccer and Track & Field Stadium – Denton, TX
BROADCAST: ESPN+
By Grace Ott
There was plenty of drama for the US Open Cup debuts of D’Feeters Kicks SC and Denton Diablos FC. D’Feeters from US Club Soccer’s Roja League, emerged victorious over the reigning NPSL champions, 3-2. A very back-and-forth affair saw goals from five different players in the first half and bookings handed out in the second. By the end of the game, three players had seen red, leaving D’Feeters with ten men and Denton with nine to finish the match. Carlos Flores received the final red just seconds after being shown a yellow for dissent about an apparent missed goal-line handball in the final minutes. D’Feeters will travel to face USL Championship side San Antonio FC in the Second Round on April 5. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
2022 Meet the Underdogs: D’Feeters Kicks SC
DAY 2: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23
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Escondido FC (USASA/UPSL)
2:6
San Fernando Valley FC (USASA/UPSL)
Sepulveda Basin Sports Complex – Encino, CA
BROADCAST: USSF’s YOUTUBE
By Adam Uthe
Wednesday’s matches got started with a bang as hosts San Fernando Valley FC took down Escondido FC in a 6-2 victory. Both California amateur sides were making their US Open Cup debuts and they made sure to provide plenty of fireworks. San Fernando Valley’s Tomas Bosuel got things started in the 27th minute with the first of three goals for him on the night. Then assisted on his club’s second goal of the match in the 43rd minute, setting up teammate Irvin Rivas. Escondido earned a penalty in the 45th minute just before halftime and David Acherrandio converted from the spot to pull one back for the visitors. The match looked to be fairly even going into the break. Then, San Fernando’s Giancarlo Ponciano scored a minute after halftime and Bousuel went on to add two more to complete his hat trick as the home team ran away with it in the second half. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
2022 Meet the Underdogs: Escondido FC
Lansdowne Yonkers FC (USASA/EPSL)
1:1
Ocean City Nor’easters (USL-2)
(Lansdowne advances 4-3 on PKs)
Carey Stadium – Ocean City, NJ
BROADCAST: ESPN+
By Adam Uthe
On a rainy and windy night in Ocean City, N.J., the reigning National Amateur Cup champion Lansdowne Yonkers FC rolled in and came away with a 4-3 penalty kick victory after a 1-1 draw with the Ocean City Nor’easters (USL League Two). Ocean City’s Pablo Marques got things started for the home side with an 8th minute goal, but Lansdowne were quick to respond. Shamir Mullings equalized for the visitors four minutes later to make it 1-1 and that scoreline held for the remainder of regulation as the two sides traded half chances but no breakthrough goal came. Lansdowne managed to hit the post in the 87th minute, but Ocean City’s defense held firm and extra time came calling. The first 15 minutes of extra time proved uneventful, but in the 116th minute Marques earned his second yellow and was sent off, leaving the home side with 10 men the rest of the way. Lansdowne were unable to take advantage though and the two sides went to penalties with heavy rain falling throughout extra time. Each team converted three of their first five penalties, but it was Mullings who came away with the winner for the visitors in the sixth round. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
2022 Meet the Underdogs: Lansdowne Yonkers FC
Northern Virginia FC (USASA/EPSL) at Lynchburg FC (USASA/UPSL)
Lynchburg City Stadium – Lynchburg, VA
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: USSF’s YOUTUBE
By Josh Hakala
With Northern Virginia FC leading 1-0 with a beautiful goal off a volley in the 15th minute, the game was brought to a halt in the 37th minute due to lightning. About a minute after the game restarted, Lynchburg equalized off a rebound. In the 78th minute, lightning struck again and the players were pulled off the field. Unfortunately for the fans and the teams who came out to brave the rain in Lynchburg, Va., the match would not resume. According to team officials, the game was suspended and the match will be replayed at a later date.
On March 27, U.S. Soccer announced the game would be replayed on Wednesday, March 30, at the Lynchburg City Stadium. Northern Virginia would win the replay 3-1 to win the club’s first-ever US Open Cup game. After trading first half goals, Jean-Phillippe Ayolmbong scored just after halftime while Jhonny De Souza converted an 85th minute penalty kick to put the game away. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
2022 Meet the Underdogs: Lynchburg FC
2022 Meet the Underdogs: Northern Virginia FC
North Carolina Fusion U-23s (USL-2)
W:L (Forfeit)
South Carolina United FC (USL-2)
SEFL Soccer Complex – Columbia, SC
BROADCAST: USSF’s YOUTUBE
By Joshua Taylor
The North Carolina Fusion U-23s had to go to extra time but managed to come back from a goal down to defeat SC United Bantams 3-1 in Round 1 of the US Open Cup at the SEFL Soccer Complex. The first half saw both teams battle it out as the Fusion outshot the Bantams 6-2 in the first half. The best chance for the Fusion came in the 34th minute when Tom Marriott was in the box but his shot went wide past the net. In the 38th minute, the Fusion were called for a foul when SC United forward Edmundo Robinson was taken down in the box and the referee awarded a penalty kick to the Bantams. Robinson buried his shot past Fusion goalkeeper Joshua Perryman to give SC a lead which they carried into halftime. In the second half, the Fusion had multiple chances to get the equalizer early on but was unable to covert. However, in the 82nd minute, Steven Hernandez’s shot hit the crossbar and bounced over the goal line and beat Bantams goalkeeper Gustavo to get the equalizer at 1-1. In extra time the Fusion took the lead on Marriott’s goal in the 105th minute. Hernandez added another goal in the 118th to put the match away. The Fusion will travel to play USL Championship side Charlotte Independence in the Second Round. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
After the match, it was learned that SC United fielded multiple ineligible players, so the match is officially listed as a forfeit. [+] FULL STORY
Brockton FC United (USASA/Bay State Soccer Lg)
0:2
Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2)
Lusitano Stadium – Ludlow, MA
BROADCAST: USSF’s YOUTUBE
By Jed Henderson
USL-2 side Western Mass Pioneers advanced with a 2-0 victory in front of a home crowd at Lusitano Stadium at the expense of US Open Cup debutants Brockton FC United of the Bay State Soccer League. Neither side was able to score in the first half, but a surging run against the run of play from Pioneers’ Gabe Ganzer forced United FC defender Rudney Delgado to see red for denying a goal scoring opportunity late in the first half. The Pioneers pushed its advantage quickly in the second half with Ganzer nodding home a looping header in the 48th minute. The Pioneers were reduced to ten men in the 69th minute as Joshua Calderon went studs up into a challenge on Leandro Alves to receive his second yellow. Despite returning to parity with ten men on the field, the Pioneers continued to push and found a late stoppage time goal via Jacob Mannix, who kept his close-range effort low to squeeze past the keeper. With their first tournament win since 2014, the Pioneers enter the Second Round as hosts on April 6 to Flower City Union, a newly-formed NISA side that will play its first professional match this weekend. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
2022 Meet the Underdogs: Brockton FC United
City Soccer FC (USSSA/NSL)
1:3
Miami United FC (NPSL)
Ted Hendricks Stadium – Hialeah, FL
BROADCAST: ESPN+
By Adam Uthe
Hosts Miami United FC defeated City Soccer FC 3-1 in Round 1 of the US Open Cup behind a pair of goals from Lucas Espindola. It took awhile, but this one still managed to produce plenty of drama with all four goals coming in the 79th minute or later. Robertino Insua got things started for Miami United with a goal in the 79th minute, but first time amateur qualifiers City Soccer needed just two minutes to respond as Oscar Escobar Reyes equalized in the 81st. Espindola then took the game over and scored the go-ahead goal in the 83rd minute before putting it away for good with a converted penalty kick in the 5th minute of stoppage time to send the NPSL side through to the next round. They’ll face Miami FC in Round 2. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
2022 Meet the Underdogs: City Soccer FC
Minneapolis City SC (NPSL)
2:4
Des Moines Menace (USL-2)
Valley Stadium – West Des Moines, IA
BROADCAST: ESPN+
By Chuck Nolan Jr.
Minneapolis City SC, a team making its US Open Cup debut despite qualifying on three previous occasions, visited Iowa for a showdown with the USL League Two powerhouse Des Moines Menace. Lionel Vang opened the scoring for Minneapolis City in the 20th minute with a thunderous free kick from 12 yards outside the penalty area. Des Moines equalized in the 38th minute when a mistake by a Minneapolis defender allowed Maximiliano Galizzi to put Gabrial Rodriguez’s pass away from right in front of the goal. William Rodrigues put the Menace ahead in the 57th minute, but it took Minneapolis just three minutes to level the score at 2-2 through Luic Mesanvi. Des Moines regained the lead in the 69th minute on a goal from substitute Alessandro Salvadego, and he added to the lead with a second goal nine minutes later. That was all the Menace needed to secure a 4-2 victory and a date in the Second Round with Union Omaha of USL League One. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
Azteca FC (USASA/Colorado Super Lg)
0:3
Tulsa Athletic (NPSL)
Case Soccer Complex (Oral Roberts Univ.) – Tulsa, OK
BROADCAST: USSF’s YOUTUBE
By Chuck Nolan Jr.
For 72 minutes, Azteca FC held Tulsa Athletic close, but eventually the NPSL club pulled away for a 3-0 victory in its US Open Cup First Round matchup. Aaron Ugbah opened the scoring for Tulsa in the 25th minute from a Matthew Rogers cross across the penalty area. From there Azteca held the score to 1-0 through most of the second half. In the 72nd minute, Joseph Garcia converted a penalty kick after Jordan Watson was brought down in the penalty area. Joseph Ruiz assisted Ruben Torres three minutes later to break the game open for Tulsa. Azteca was reduced to 10 men in the 79th minute after Cesar Meza accumulated two yellow cards in the span of five minutes. Tulsa Athletic moves on to an inter-city derby in the Second Round against Tulsa FC of the USL Championship. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
2022 Meet the Underdogs: Azteca FC
Contra Costa FC (NPSL)
1:2
Portland Timbers U-23s (USL-2)
John Chambers Field – Salem, OR
BROADCAST: USSF’s YOUTUBE
By Josh Hakala
After a scoreless first half, the Portland Timbers U-23s broke the deadlock with a Thomas Peterson goal on a cross by Noah Dreves. Eddie Sanchez doubled the lead in the 67th minute. It appeared as though the Timbers were going to go home with a shutout victory but Contra Costa scored off a free kick in the 90th minute, giving the home team a little scare before the referee blew the final whistle. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
2022 Meet the Underdogs: Contra Costa FC
Park City Red Wolves SC (USL-2)
2:3
Las Vegas Legends FC (NPSL)
Peter Johnson Soccer Field (UNLV) – Las Vegas, NV
BROADCAST: ESPN+
By Tim Abbott
Las Vegas slowly tightened the screw on their outmatched visitors as the evening progressed, and goals from Samuel Aina (10th min.), Brandon Vargas (34th min.) and a remarkable Roberto Soto solo effort in the 68th minute seemed to have sealed their passage to the next round. However, out of nowhere, in the 85th minute, Park City rallied and scored twice through Leonardo Fuchs and Kevin Jara-Collante before their furious efforts were brought to an end by the referee’s whistle. They were left to concentrate efforts on overthrowing Des Moines in League Two. The Legends, on the other hand, move on to face the professionals of USL Championship side New Mexico United. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT
