Fans of the 106-year-old Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup live by its magic moments. And the Third Round of the 2019 competition tossed up a good few of those on May 28 and 29. Join ussoccer.com for a look back at eight moments of note from the 11 games, in which a wise old head prevailed, goals (and rain) tumbled out of an electric sky in Oklahoma and amateurs Orange County FC did the impossible (and perhaps the pre-ordained) just off the Strip in Las Vegas.
The Promise of Ominous Beginnings
There was a dangerous sky over Norman, Oklahoma. The air weighted with threats and charged with electricity. Kick-off between Energy FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies, an old and venerable name in American soccer, was delayed. Then delayed again. And once more for good measure. Strike after strike of lightning streaked the sky. Two separate tornado warnings were issued. Just shy of two and a half hours passed before fans, huddled in cars under improvised shelters, crawled back to the damp stands. And, as if an apology for the wait, the game gave all of itself over to those who remained. We had five goals in the first 30 minutes. Three lead changes. Two men were stretchered off in the first half alone. There was no defense. And hardly any midfield. Just goals, goals and more goals. They tumbled out of the wet night. The hometown Energy put five past the Rowdies, who haven’t conceded that many in 12 USL Championship games this year, and won the day 5-4 just seconds shy of midnight local time.
After a long weather delay, @EnergyFC & @TampaBayRowdies served up a thriller of a Third-Round opener with the Oklahomans winning the day 4-3 & moving on to a date with an @MLS side in the Fourth Round.
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) May 29, 2019
📺 Highlights | #USOC2019 pic.twitter.com/75iDo6YUN5