CHICAGO (March 23, 2023) – Three exciting nights of 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup First Round action, featuring 28 amateur teams from across the country, kicked off the 108th edition of America’s longest ongoing soccer competition. Fourteen amateur clubs, including tournament debutants Chicago House and Appalachian FC, advanced to earn their shot against professional competition in the Second Round, where the possibility of Cupsets become a reality.
The First Round saw several teams with proud histories in the Open Cup fall at the first hurdle.
Appalachian FC’s 3-0 shootout win came against NC Fusion U23, the amateur side, who last year pulled off one of the early Cupsets against USL League One pros Charlotte Independence. Wisconsin’s near-century-old Bavarian United, who were Open Cup runners-up in 1994 – fell 1-0 to Chicago House AC, while Motown FC – last year’s farthest-progressing open division team – stumbled out 2-1 against Manhattan SC in the Bronx.
Alternately, long-time Open Cup giant-killers Des Moines Menace and Ocean City Nor’easters both moved on with impressive multi-goal wins on the road – as did El Farolito of San Francisco, who won the Open Cup in 1993 under the name CD Mexico.
With few exceptions, the 14 First Round games were tightly contested affairs as four games needed at least extra time to separate the sides, while a further six were decided by a single goal. Road teams improved their performance this year, winning five matches in the First Round compared to a lone triumph in 2022. Overall, USL League 2 saw four of its teams advance, while fellow national amateur league NPSL had six clubs make it through. Four open division sides rounded out the winning contingent.
The 14 victorious First Round sides will be joined by 24 professional Division II (USL Championship) and 21 Division III (USL League One and NISA) clubs in the competition’s Second Round, which will feature 29 games across three nights of drama and glory. Beginning with 11 matches on Tuesday, April 4, the Second Round will build into an 18-game match day on Wednesday, April 5 before concluding with one final contest on April 6. Select Second Round games will be streamed on the Bleacher Report app and B/R Football YouTube channel.
West Chester United SC (Pa.) 1, Ocean City Nor'easters (USLL2) 3
The Ocean City Nor'easters went on the road and overcame an early deficit and scored twice within an eight-minute span in the second half to pull away from the defending Fricker Cup and 2022 U.S. Amateur Soccer Association champions in the opening match of the 2023 U.S. Open Cup. Dylan Evande scored on a bullet header off Vilius Labutis' corner kick to snap a 1-1 tie on the hour. Andre Sabino added a penalty kick in the 68th minute. West Chester’s Finn Resse had the honor of scoring the first goal of the tournament in the 12th minute against his former team. Resse latched onto a long ball, rounded goalkeeper Brady Hochman and slotted the ball into an open net. The Nor'easters equalized six minutes later as Andres Latorre powered a 22-yard shot past keeper Cameron Sanders. Hochman was superb when called upon. He denied close-range attempts by Ryan Fincher (64th minute) and Jacob Gosselin (72nd minute), and his teammates cleared two other chances off the goal line. Ocean City outshot the hosts, 20-11. The Nor'easters will go on the road again to play Maryland Bobcats FC (NISA) in the Second Round.
El Farolito (NPSL) 0, International San Francisco (Calif.) 0, 3-0 AET
Following a scoreless 90 minutes where both sides created dangerous chances, it was Johnatan Mosquera who put El Farolito ahead in the 94th minute on a set piece in extra time. Five minutes later (99th minute), Jhon Quinones added a second goal for the home side on another set piece. El Farolito would add a third goal in the 112th minute on a Cesar Benitez tap in. Worth noting, El Farolito goals all came after International’s Herlbert Soto was sent off with a red card in the 85th minute, leaving them down a man. With the 3-0 win, El Farolito will now face Oakland Roots in the Second Round.
Appalachian FC (NPSL) 2, NC Fusion U23 (USLL2) 2, 3-0 PKs
Playing in its first U.S. Open Cup match ever, Appalachian FC lost a two-goal lead against a North Carolina Fusion U23 side that was eventually reduced to nine men, but prevailed in penalty kicks, 3-0, at Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex in Boone, N.C. Kevin de Lange converted the clinching PK to the lower left corner after Max Landau and Kevin Arguello put their attempts away. For NC, Dave Neijenhuis and Arthur Leary sent their kicks over the net, while Sam Bethell hit the crossbar. Appalachian took advantage of a pair of first-half Fusion turnovers that Camden Holbrook transformed into goals. He scored one of the earliest goals in Cup history, striking only 45 seconds after the opening kickoff. He doubled the hosts' lead in the 32nd minute, connecting from the top of the box past goalkeeper Adam Foster. In the 38th minute, Fred Ferreira put North Carolina on the scoreboard with the first of his two goals. Bethell intercepted a pass in his attacking third and sent a right-wing cross to Ferreira, who headed it past keeper Jacob Agnew. Two minutes later, the visitors' Brian Torre was awarded a straight red card for a hard foul. Fernandez equalized in the 79th minute, driving home a 23-yard free kick into the upper right corner. The Fusion went down to nine players in the 116th when Adam Burchell was assessed his second yellow card of the match. While Agnew was not called on to touch the ball in the shootout, he made two big saves late in the second extratime. Appalachian will play at Charlotte Independence (USLL1) in the Second Round.
Manhattan SC (USLL2) 1, FC Motown (NPSL) 1, 2-1 AET
At Marillac Field in the Bronx, N.Y., it was Franco Catania who opened the scoring for FC Motown in the 26th minute, on a beautiful quick turn and shot (assisted by Samuel Ashitey). Manhattan SC leveled the match in the 54th minute on a goal from Hakim Karamoko in his senior team debut. A scoreless remainder of regulation sent the match to extra time where Manhattan SC grabed the advantage in the 106th minute. Karamoko fought off a defender, quickly popped up off the turf, and found William Lulka, who calmly slotted home a left-footed shot. Despite a late FC Motown push, Manhattan SC held strong to claim the club’s first Open Cup win and a date with Flower City Union.
Club de Lyon B (NISA) 0, Nona FC (USLL2) 1
In a meeting between two relatively new clubs making their first appearance in the U.S. Open Cup, it was William Eyang who put Nona FC up in only the second minute following a beautiful through ball. In the 63rd minute, Nona FC’s Jeferson Silva Leite Junior was shown a red card. Nona would play a man down the remainder of the match, but ultimately held on to secure their first Open Cup win and punch a ticket to the Second Round where they will face Division II side Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Chicago House AC (Ill.) 1, Bavarian United (Wis.) 0
It was a game decided by headers on either side of the pitch. Goalkeeper Anthony Halterman made two huge saves on Bavarian United headers five minutes into stoppage time to preserve Chicago House AC's victory at Langhorst Field in Elmhurst. Ill. Shannon Seymour started the scoring sequence for the lone goal of the match with a 39th-minute corner kick. Nassouh Kabbani headed the ball toward the net, but it was redirected by another header from John Makowiecki past goalie Agustin Rey. The hosts made that goal stand up and will hit the road to take on another Wisconsin side, Forward Madison FC (USLL1) in the Second Round.
Beaman United FC (Tenn.) 0, Des Moines Menace (USLL2) 3
The Des Moines Menace continued its tradition of Open Cup success with a solid win over Beaman United at Dean A. Hayes Track & Soccer Stadium on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Gabi Rodriguez bagged a first-half brace, and Fernando Garcia added a single tally. Rodriguez started the scoring in the 21st minute when he drilled a shot from the top left of the box. He doubled the margin in the 58th minute, converting a penalty kick after he was fouled in the area. Only seconds prior to the final whistle six minutes into stoppage time, Garcia put an exclamation point on the victory as he converted a left-wing feed. Menace ‘keeper Grant Makela made several big saves en route to the clean sheet. Des Moines moves on to the Second Round, where it will face Chattanooga FC.
Tulsa Athletic (NPSL) 1, Brazos Valley Cavalry FC (USLL2) 0
Despite missing two penalty kicks, Tulsa Athletic managed to register a comfortable Open Cup win over Brazos Valley Cavalry FC at Hicks Park in Tulsa, Okla. Three minutes after Joe Garcia's 28th-minute PK was saved, Stefan Cvetanovic gave the hosts all the scoring they needed as he tapped home at the near post past goalkeeper Victor Villarreal in the 31st minute. With an opportunity to give Tulsa Athletic some breathing room in the 64th minute, Jordan Watson sent his penalty barely over the crossbar. Goalie Bryson Reed was credited with the shutout. In what will be an Oil Town Showdown, Tulsa Athletic will host FC Tulsa (USLC) in the Second Round.
UDA Soccer (N.M.) 1, Park City Red Wolves (USLL2) 0
An evenly played match through the first 77 minutes finally broke through when UDA’s Saleh Alyones drew a decisive penalty kick. Jose Luis Puente Rivas stepped up and confidently slotted the penalty home in the 79th minute. Park City had multiple point-blank chances in the final minutes to give UDA a scare, but a combination of strong goalkeeping from Mario Castillo and a dash of luck allowed the New MExico side to claim the 1-0 victory. With the win, UDA makes Open Cup history by becoming the first university affiliated team to make it out of the First Round and its reward is a date with in-state pros New Mexico United in the Second Round.
Project 510 (USLL2) 0, Crossfire Premier (NPSL) 3
In a battle between an Open Cup debutant and a club with a lineage of qualifying for the tournament over the years through different pathways, leagues and iterations, Crossfire Premier was dominate. Goals from Lucas Hauswirth in the 47th minute, Eric Howard in the 84th minute and Hamza Haddadi in the fifth minute of stoppage time sent the Seattle-area club to the Second Round. Crossfire Premier will travel to Sacramento to face Republic FC, who were last year’s Open Cup runner up in what will certainly be a good test for the NPSL side.
Ventura County Fusion (USLL2) 1, Capo FC (Calif.) 4
Ventura County Fusion (ninth appearance) and Capo FC (first appearance) started fast with the Fusion’s Jerry Desdunes opening the scoring in the sixth minute by finishing a beautiful cross into the box from Bastien Oberli. In the 16th minute, Capo FC’s Joshue Gallardo leveled the match after Hevany Ramos-Mota made a crafty run up the left side and delivered a cross to the foot of a sliding Gallardo. Capo FC made it 2-1 before half when Mota headed in a ball from the corner (45+3). In the second stanza, Parker Scalzo added a third goal in the 53rd minute after a poor clearance from Ventura County. Mota completed a brace in the 76th minute to go along with his assist to make it 4-1. Capo FC will next face Orange County Soccer Club (USL) in the Second Round.
Cleveland SC (NPSL) 1, Lionsbridge FC (USLL2) 0
Cleveland SC defender Christopher Cvecko gave the home side a lead a minute into first half stoppage time (45+1) by slotting the ball home following a beautiful through ball from Kieran Toland. In the 72nd minute, Cleveland SC’s Jannis Schmidt was sent off after what appeared to be a cleat to the head. Lionsbridge FC tried to take advantage of being a man up the remaining 18 minutes, but as they had throughout the evening, struggled to find consistency in the final third. With the victory, Cleveland’s Open Cup record moves to 2-1-0. They will attempt to advance out of the Second Round for the first time when they face Richmond Kickers (USLL1) on April 6.
Jacksonville Armada FC (NPSL) 1, Miami United FC (Fla.) 1, (9-8 PKs)
Jacksonville Armada FC survived a marathon shootout and playing with 10 men for the final 27 minutes of the 120-minute contest to advance to the second round at Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. The Armada won the tie-breaker with a 9-8 advantage from the spot. Goalkeeper Nicklas Rulle took center stage in the 10th and final round of the shootout. He converted his attempt before making a righted-hand save on Miami United keeper Peterson Occenat to play the hero in a dramatic finish that saw the team’s fans storm the field. Jacksonville was forced to play with 10 men after Mikah Thomas, who tallied his team's lone goal, was assessed his second yellow card in the 83rd minute. Thomas had given the hosts the lead in the 42nd minute as he roofed a rebound of his saved shot past Occenat. The visitors drew even in the 48th minute as Bautista Dominguez headed in a corner kick. Jacksonville will play another Magic City side in Miami FC (USLC) in the Second Round.
Hartford City FC (NPSL) 1, Lansdowne Yonkers FC (N.Y.) 2
Joseph Devivo's second goal of the match, a 73rd-minute penalty kick, lifted Lansdowne Yonkers to a comeback win at Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford, Conn. After the visitors were awarded a PK for Jordan Koduah's foul on Julio Espinal, goalkeeper David Mollenthiel dove to his right to save Devivo's spot kick. But the rebound fell invitingly in front of goal, and Devivo raced in to slip it home for the game-winner. The hosts found the net with a penalty kick of their own in the 28th minute after Musa Danso fouled a Hartford player on the right side of the penalty box. Hugo Guerra drilled his attempt into the lower left corner past goalkeeper Clement Anet. Devivo scored his first goal of the evening from point-blank range a minute into first-half stoppage time to knot things up at 1-1. It was the second consecutive year that Hartford City was eliminated in the competition by a New York side as Oyster Bay United eliminated them last year. Lansdowne will return to Trinity Health Stadium to meet Hartford Athletic (USLC) in the Second Round.
|
Result |
Game (home team listed first) |
Venue |
|
1-3 |
West Chester United SC (Pa.) vs. Ocean City Nor’Easters (USLL2) |
YSC Sports; Wayne, Pa. |
|
Result |
Game (home team listed first) |
Venue |
|
3-0 AET |
El Farolito (NPSL) vs. International San Francisco (Calif.) |
Ohlone College Soccer Field; Fremont, Calif. |
|
2-2, |
Appalachian FC (NPSL) vs. NC Fusion U23 (USLL2) |
Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex; Boone, N.C. |
|
2-1 AET |
Manhattan SC (USLL2) vs. FC Motown (NPSL) |
Marillac Field (College of Mt. St. Vincent); Bronx, N.Y. |
|
0-1 |
Club de Lyon B (Fla.) vs. Nona FC (USLL2) |
Austin-Tindall Sports Complex, Kissimmee, Fla. |
|
1-0 |
Chicago House AC (Ill.) vs. Bavarian United (Wis.) |
Langhorst Field (Elmhurst University); Elmhurst. Ill. |
|
0-3 |
Beaman United FC (Tenn.) vs. Des Moines Menace (USLL2) |
Dean A. Hayes Track & Soccer Stadium (MTSU); Murfreesboro, Tenn. |
|
1-0 |
Tulsa Athletic (NPSL) vs. Brazos Valley Cavalry FC (USLL2) |
Hicks Park; Tulsa, Okla. |
|
1-0 |
UDA Soccer (N.M.) vs. Park City Red Wolves (USLL2) |
New Mexico State Soccer Field; Las Cruces, N.M. |
|
0-3 |
Project 51O (USLL2) vs. Crossfire Premier (NPSL) |
Ohlone College Soccer Field; Fremont, Calif. |
|
1-4 |
Ventura County Fusion (USLL2) vs. Capo FC (Calif.) |
Ventura College Sportsplex; Ventura, Calif. |
|
Result |
Game (home team listed first) |
Venue |
|
1-0 |
Cleveland SC (NPSL) vs. Lionsbridge FC (USLL2) |
North Olmsted High School; North Olmsted, Ohio |
|
1-1, 9-8 PKs |
Jacksonville Armada FC (NPSL) vs. Miami United FC (Fla.) |
Hodges Stadium; Jacksonville, Fla. |
|
1-2 |
Hartford City FC (NPSL) vs. Lansdowne Yonkers FC (N.Y.) |
Trinity Health Stadium; Hartford, Conn. |
|
Time |
Game (home team listed first) |
Venue |
Broadcast |
|
7 p.m. ET |
Forward Madison FC (USLL1) vs. Chicago House AC (Ill.) |
Breese Stevens Field; Madison, Wis. |
|
|
7 p.m. ET |
Miami FC (USLC) vs. Jacksonville Armada FC (NPSL |
FIU Soccer Stadium; Miami, Fla. |
|
|
7 p.m. ET |
Hartford Athletic (USLC) vs. Lansdowne Yonkers FC (N.Y.) |
Trinity Health Stadium; Hartford, Conn. |
|
|
7 p.m. ET |
One Knoxville SC (USLL1) vs. Memphis 901 FC (USLC) |
Regal Soccer Stadium; Knoxville, Tenn. |
|
|
7:30 p.m. ET |
Detroit City FC (USLC) vs. Gold Star Detroit (NISA) |
Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck, Mich. |
B/R App and |
|
7:30 p.m. ET |
Tampa Bay Rowdies (USLC) vs. Nona FC (USLL2) |
Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fla. |
|
|
7:30 p.m. ET |
Flower City Union (NISA) vs. Manhattan SC (USLL2) |
Rochester Community Sports Complex; Rochester, N.Y. |
|
|
8 p.m. ET* |
Charleston Battery (USLC) vs. Savannah Clovers FC (NISA) |
Patriots Point Soccer Stadium; Mount Pleasant, S.C. |
|
|
8:30 p.m. ET |
San Antonio FC (USLC) vs. Club de Lyon FC (NISA) |
Toyota Stadium, San Antonio, Texas* |
|
|
9 p.m. ET |
New Mexico United (USLC) vs. UDA Soccer (N.M.) |
University of New Mexico Soccer Complex; Albuquerque, N.M. |
|
|
10 p.m. ET |
Oakland Roots (USLC) vs. El Farolito (NPSL) |
CSUEB Pioneer Stadium; Hayward, Calif. |
B/R App and |
|
Time |
Game (home team listed first) |
Venue |
Broadcast |
|
7 p.m. ET |
Charlotte Independence (USLL1) vs. Appalachian FC (NPSL) |
Mecklenburg County Sportsplex, Matthews, N.C.* |
|
|
7 p.m. ET |
Indy Eleven (USLC) vs. Michigan Stars FC (NISA) |
Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium; Indianapolis, Ind. |
|
|
1-0 Forfeit |
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USLC) vs. Rochester New York FC (MLSNP)# |
|
|
|
7 p.m. ET |
Louisville City FC (USLC) vs. Lexington Sporting Club (USLL1) |
Lynn Family Stadium; Louisville, Ky. |
B/R App and |
|
7 p.m. ET |
Loudoun United FC (USLC) vs. North Carolina FC (USLL1) |
Segra Field; Leesburg, Va. |
|
|
7 p.m. ET |
Maryland Bobcats FC (NISA) vs. Ocean City Nor'easters (USLL2) |
Maryland Soccerplex (Maureen Hendrix Field); Boyds, Md. |
|
|
7:30 p.m. ET |
Chattanooga Red Wolves (USLL1) vs. Birmingham Legion FC (USLC) |
CHI Memorial Stadium; East Ridge, Tenn. |
|
|
7:30 p.m. ET |
South Georgia Tormenta FC (USLL1) vs. Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (USLC) |
Tormenta Stadium; Statesboro, Ga. |
|
|
8 p.m. ET |
Des Moines Menace (USLL2) vs. Chattanooga FC (NISA) |
Valley Stadium; West Des Moines, Iowa |
B/R App and |
|
8 p.m. ET |
Union Omaha (USLL1) vs. El Paso Locomotive (USLC) |
Michael G. Morrison, S.J., Stadium; Omaha, Neb. |
|
|
8 p.m. ET |
Tulsa Athletic (NPSL) vs. FC Tulsa (USLC) |
Hicks Park; Tulsa, Okla. |
|
|
9 p.m. ET |
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USLC) vs. Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (USLL1) |
Weidner Field; Colorado Springs, Colo. |
B/R App and |
|
10 p.m. ET |
Orange County SC (USLC) vs. Capo FC (Calif.) |
Championship Soccer Stadium; Irvine, Calif. |
B/R App and |
|
10 p.m. ET |
Sacramento Republic FC (USLC) vs. Crossfire Premier (NPSL) |
Heart Health Park; Sacramento, Calif. |
|
|
10 p.m. ET |
San Diego Loyal SC (USLC) vs. ALBION San Diego (NISA) |
SDSU Sports Deck; San Diego, Calif. |
|
|
10 p.m. ET |
Central Valley Fuego FC (USLL1) vs. Monterey Bay F.C. (USLC) |
Fresno State University Soccer Stadium; Fresno, Calif. |
|
|
10 p.m. ET |
Las Vegas Lights FC (USLC) vs. LA Force (NISA) |
Peter Johann Soccer Field (UNLV); Las Vegas, N.V. |
|
|
10:30 p.m. ET |
Phoenix Rising FC (USLC) vs. Greenville Triumph SC (USLL1) |
Phoenix Rising Stadium; Phoenix, Ariz. |
B/R App and |
|
Time |
Game (home team listed first) |
Venue |
Broadcast |
|
7 p.m. ET |
Richmond Kickers (USLL1) vs. Cleveland SC (NPSL) |
City Stadium; Richmond, Va. |
B/R App and |