CHICAGO (April 3, 2024) – The Second Round of the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, U.S. Soccer’s National Championship, finished on Wednesday night with one last upset authored by Open Division club Miami United FC (USSSA / USSL), which beat Division III pros Club de Lyon (NISA).
Miami joins El Farolito (NPSL) as the first amateur teams to beat two pro sides in the Open Cup since Orange County FC did so in 2019, when they impressively beat two USL Championship clubs in a barnstorming run to the Third Round. In addition to the two aforementioned Open Division sides, Lubbock Matadors (NPSL) also advanced to this year’s Third Round by beating pro opposition in the First Round and fellow amateurs FORO SC (UPSL) last night.
Elsewhere, it was a good night for USL League One (Div. III) squads, which went a combined 6-2 on the night with one of those loses coming in a matchup of USL1 clubs. South Georgia Tormenta FC recorded the big win of the evening with a 4-0 beating of Savannah Clovers (NISA), while Union Omaha – 2022 Open Cup Quarterfinalists – escaped a late charge to win 3-1 against USL2 giant killers Des Moines Menace, who enjoyed the services of numerous retired MLS players.
Out West, Northern Colorado Hailstorm and Spokane Velocity left it late in one-goal wins. The Hailstorm grabbed an overtime winner in the first minute of stoppage time to dump Colorado Rapids 2 (MLS NEXT Pro) 3-2, and Spokane broke through in the 85th minute for a 1-0 win against LA Force (NISA).
There were positive notes for MLS NEXT Pro with Chicago Fire II taking down Forward Madison FC (USL1) 2-0, and Carolina Core FC surviving an upset bid from a talented Vermont Green FC team (USL2) that made an auspicious Open Cup debut.
Irvine Zeta FC (NISA), which entered both a pro and amateur squad in this year’s Open Cup, closed out the night with a solid 3-0 win against Ventura County FC (MLSNP) after an early red card doomed the team recently know as LA Galaxy II to an early exit.
Overall USL1 clubs fared best in the Second Round going 8-3, while MLSNP (3-4) and NISA (2-4) each had multiple teams advance. The Open Division NPSL put two teams into the Third Round, and a third amateur club representing the USSSA also advanced.
The 16 Second Round winners will next square off against USL Championship teams (Division II) during the Third Round from April 16-17. All the exciting matches will be available to watch via U.S. Soccer (ussoccer.com/us-open-cup/watch), USL (uslsoccer.com/watch), and MLS (mlssoccer.com/usopencup-live-streams). The Third Round Draw to determine all intriguing pairings will be streamed live on www.usopencup.com and U.S. Soccer’s YouTube channel at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 4.
2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Second Round Results – Wednesday, April 3
Miami United FC (USSSA / USSL) 2 : 0 Club de Lyon FC (NISA)
South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL1) 4 : 0 Savannah Clovers Football Club (NISA)
One Knoxville SC (USL1) 2 : 3 (aet) Greenville Triumph SC (USL1)
Vermont Green FC (USL2) 1 : 2 Carolina Core FC (MLSNP)
Apotheos FC (USASA / NPSL) 0 : 1 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL1)
Chicago Fire FC II (MLSNP) 2 : 0 Forward Madison FC (USL1)
Union Omaha (USL1) 3 : 1 Des Moines Menace (USL2)
Colorado Rapids 2 (MLSNP) 2 : 3 (aet) Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (USL1)
Ventura County FC (MLSNP) 0 : 3 Irvine Zeta FC (NISA)
Spokane Velocity FC (USL1) 1 : 0 LA Force (NISA)
Miami United FC (USSSA / USSL) 2 : 0 Club de Lyon FC (NISA)
Miami United FC’s 2-0 win over Club de Lyon seemed a breeze, but a second straight victory over a Division III pro side was hard-earned in the teeth of 20 MPH winds at UPSL Stadium in Pembroke Pines, Fla. The Sunshine State showdown saw the Orlando-based NISA side take the first big chance via Agustin Ortiz’s crack from 30 yards, but Miami ‘keeper Christian Blanco steered the dipping shot around his near post. Six minutes later the wind and a sloppy backpass combined to give Miami’s Jhon Pajoy an empty net opener and his second goal of the tournament. The South Floridians firmly held the reins moving forward, and Alejo Melo Fernandez’s back post finish in the 56th minute to make it 2-0 was a just reward for the USSL squad’s dominance. Frank Fraggetti’s poor tackle inside the area gave Club de Lyon concurrent rays of hope in a man advantage and a point to the spot with 20 minutes remaining, but those proved fool's gold as Blanco made back-to-back saves on Juan Martinez’s initial PK and his 1-v-1 rebound. Though Club de Lyon enjoyed more possession and several set piece opportunities it was Miami that took the better of the chances down the stretch, allowing it to waltz into the Third Round.
South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL1) 4 : 0 Savannah Clovers Football Club (NISA)
In a clash of Division III pro clubs, Tormenta FC made short work of their interstate foes from an hour down Highway 16 in southeast Georgia, doubling up Savannah Clovers in total shots (16-8), shots on target (8-4) and nearly cresting 60 percent possession. Niall Watson started the party only one minute and 46 seconds into the match at Tormenta Stadium in Statesboro, converting a nice feed from Pedro Fonseca. Joshua Ramos doubled the lead in the 35th minute before Fonseca played provider once again just after the break to make it 3-0 to the hosts. Clovers boss David Proctor did his best to inject some life into his squad, using all five subs available to him beginning with a pair at half time but it just wasn't to be for the scrappy NISA outfit, which conceded a fourth and final tally to Tormenta’s Austin Wehner in the 90th minute.
One Knoxville SC (USL1) 2 : 3 (aet) Greenville Triumph SC (USL1)
Cruel it can be, the fates of one ville.Lyam McKinnon scored twice and Louis Herrera tallied in overtime as Greenville Triumph SC outdueled One Knoxville SC at Regal Stadium on the campus of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn. McKinnon struck first for Greenville in the 14th minute with a bouncing shot to finish off a soft giveaway in the back by Knoxville, which was awarded a penalty kick that Kempes Tekiela converted to equalize four minutes later.
McKinnon scored again in the 33rd minute to give Greenville a 2-1 lead going into halftime, but Tekiela tied the match for a second time in the 63rd minute by getting on the end of one of the best final-third passing sequences of the tournament. A missed PK by Greenville captain Brandon Fricke at the death of regulation could have derailed the visitors but they would triumph in a back-and-forth overtime. The teams played end-to-end but it was Chapa Herrera, who’s aim was truest, notching the match-winner in the 107th minute.
Vermont Green FC (USL2) 1 : 2 Carolina Core FC (MLSNP)
Carolina Core overcame a one-goal halftime deficit by scoring twice within a 10-minute span to avoid a cupset in 36-degree frigid conditions that included some rain, sleet and snow early in the second half at Virtue Field in Burlington, Vt. Yaniv Bazini lifted the hosts into the lead in the 28th minute after he was fouled in the box by Ibrahim Covi. Bazini converted the penalty kick to the right of goalkeeper Andrew Pannenberg, who jumped the opposite direction. Coached by former U.S. Men’s National Team and MLS star forward Roy Lassiter, the visitors put home a PK of their own on the hour after defender Zach Barrett took Joshua Rodriguez down at the left edge of the box near the goal line. Papa Ndoye drilled his attempt into the roof, which gave keeper Nathan Schnur no chance, deadlocking the match at 1-1. Rodriguez made his mark in the 70th minute, drilling home a rebound of a Schnur save for the game-winner. Vermont finished with 10 men after forward Jacob Labovitz was red carded in the 90th minute. The hosts had seven minutes of stoppage time to equalize but could not solve the Carolina backline.
Apotheos FC (USASA / NPSL) 0 : 1 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL1)
The Chattanooga Red Wolves made some club history by advancing to the Third Round for the first time. The USL League One side entered this year's competition with three losses and early exits from previous editions of the Cup before defeating Brockton FC United in the First Round on March 21 and then Apotheos FC at Silverbacks Park Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Wednesday night. Chattanooga dominated the match from the opening kickoff to the final whistle, finding the net in the 52nd minute. Apotheos keeper Abraham Mendieta saved forward Ropapa Mensah's close-range shot, but midfielder Stefan Lukic drilled home the rebound from 10 yards for what proved to be the game-winner. The NPSL side tried for the equalizer, but the Chattanooga defense was up to the test, blocking several attempts late in the match. Goalkeeper Tim Trilk backstopped the clean sheet as the visitors outshot the NPSL side, 10-3.
Chicago Fire FC II (MLSNP) 2 : 0 Forward Madison FC (USL1)
The hosts scored early and late to spoil the Wisconsin side’s hopes of pulling off a surprise at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Ill. Team captain and forward David Poreba gave Chicago all the scoring it needed in the 11th minute. Midfielder Omari Glasgow sent in a right-wing cross that goalkeeper Martin Sanchez couldn't hold. Poreba was on the doorstep to tap home the ball for a 1-0 lead. Harold Osorio almost doubled the advantage in the 25th minute when his shot smashed off the crossbar. Substitute forward Jason Shokalook, who came on in the 66th minute, gave Chicago some insurance in the 90th minute. Shokalook latched onto a long pass from the back and rounded his marker, Michael Chilaka, on the left side of the penalty area before depositing the ball into the lower right corner from 12 yards to put a bow on the win. Fire II ‘keeper Patrick Los was credited with the shutout.
Union Omaha (USL1) 3 : 1 Des Moines Menace (USL2)
Pedro Dolabella, Marco Milanese and Lagos Kunga scored for Union Omaha en route to victory at Al F. Caniglia Field in Omaha, Neb. Dolabella, a midfielder, started things off for the hosts by powering a shot from the top left of the penalty area past goalkeeper Brian Rowe in the 34th minute. On a play originated by a corner kick, Omaha doubled its lead and pleasure in the 48th minute, when Milanese, a defender, scored during a scramble in the box. Des Moines, however, made it interesting as Leroy Enzugusi caught goalie Rashid Nuhu off his line in the 87th minute. Kunga, a midfielder, allowed his teammates to breathe a bit easier as he buried a 14-yard shot nine minutes into stoppage time, only seconds before the game was called. Because Des Moines' season doesn't begin until May, with a lineup dominated by college-age performers the USL League Two team used several former MLS players in its Starting XI. That included the likes of midfielder Sacha Kljestan (38), who also played with the U.S. Men's National Team, defender A.J. DeLaGarza (36), forward Tesho Akindele (32), and Rowe (35).
Colorado Rapids 2 (MLSNP) (2) 2 : 2 (3) (aet) Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (USL1)
This All-Colorado derby took a while to get cooking (like the entire first half) but it sparked to life right at the start of the second period. A searching ball from the left picked out Wayne Frederick II, who collected on his chest and side-footed home all in one fluid motion to put the host Rapids 2 into the lead. It looked like the MLS NEXT Pro men were going to keep on keeping on from there, but the Hailstorm – who have a proud history of road wins in the Open Cup – had other ideas. Substitute Mark Hernandez pounced on a loose ball in the Rapids 2 penalty area in the 58th minute. Adam Beaudry saved his first effort, but couldn’t do anything about his follow-up second. With the score tied at 1-1, another Hailstorm substitute, Ethan Hoarde cut inside the penalty area from the left side and hit low into the back of the net in the 80th minute for a late lead. Rapids 2 drew level two minutes into second-half stoppage time through Kimani Stewart-Bayne, who cleaned up a mess in front of the Hailstorm goal to force extra-time. And just when it seemed a shootout would be required to break the 2-2 deadlock, David Garcia tapped into an open goal with one of the last kicks of the extra half-hour to see the Hailstorm into the Third Round
Ventura County FC (MLSNP) 0 : 3 Irvine Zeta FC (NISA)
After its breakthrough just before the halftime whistle, all Irvine Zeta FC had to do was manage the second 45 in order to comfortably see off their short-handed hosts. They did so with aplomb en route to a 3-0 win and a place in the Third Round. It was a disastrous start for Ventura County as Nicolas Barros Schelotto was ejected with a straight red card in the 16th minute, leaving his team a man down for three quarters of the match. Rafael Espinoza made the man advantage pay for Zeta in the 45th minute, finishing a nice spell of possession for the visitors. The second half saw both squads empty their benches after George Almeida’s goal in the 61st minute gave Irvine a 2-0 lead. Then it was substitute Marcel Salceda, who capped things off on the break in the 88th minute as Ventura gamely pushed for a goal that never would come.
Spokane Velocity FC (USL1) 1 : 0 LA Force (NISA)
It was always going to be an historic night for the Pacific Northwest club no matter what the outcome. After knocking off neighbors and fellow Open Cup debutants Ballard FC on the road in the First Round, this was the first time the Velocity – a first-year club out of USL League One – hosted an Open Cup contest at their ONE Spokane Stadium. The product on the field didn’t quite match the occasion for long stretches, but Luis Gil always looked like he might be the man to get something going. An Open Cup winner with Houston Dynamo back in 2018, his panache was just what the doctor ordered when it came time to settlle the goalless affair in the 85th minute. Clever approach work from wide-man Pierre Reedy pried open the LA Force defense and, after a series of deflections, the ball fell to Gil. The veteran made no mistake and buried the winner from six yards out to send the Velocity through to the Third Round.
