One Knox Bags the Boot, Loucity Rolls Against Rival and a Teenager Eliminates His Former Club: The Best of the 2026 U.S. Open Cup’s Second Round
Reflecting on Second Round's best moments; Round of 32 set for April 14-15 on Paramount+
The Second Round of the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup delivered plenty of action, from exciting rivalry rematches to dramatic extra time winners. Before the Round of 32 gets going on April 14, take a look back at the most memorable moments from the Second Round.
The return of the Smoky Mountain Series lived up to the hype
In the first matchup between Smoky Mountain Series rivals Asheville City SC and One Knoxville SC since the 2024 Open Cup, the defending USL League One champions out of Knoxville prevailed on penalties in a contest that featured a pair of stellar goalkeeping performances.
Former MLS NEXT Pro and USL Championship goalkeeper Andrew Pannenberg made five saves for Asheville on his debut for the club, while Knoxville’s Jonathan Burke made a whopping 11 saves in his second appearance for the club. After a 1-1 draw across 120 minutes, the difference was Burke’s three penalty kick shootout saves to Pannenberg’s one, helping One Knox retain the Smoky Boot Trophy.
“I’m just so grateful for these types of experiences,” said Burke after the match. “A few things didn’t go our way, but it just shows our character as a team. For this group, it’s definitely a benchmark going forward for us, especially for the new guys to the club. It shows how gritty we are and how ready we are for the challenge no matter what happens.
“The little kid in me came out after that. I’ve made two saves [in shootouts] before, but that’s the first time I’ve made three and with it being in a tournament that is as historic as the Open Cup, you’re aware that there is way more on the line because it’s win or go home. I’ve been fortunate enough to be in a few shootouts, but that was a different beast.”
A brick wall and a boot on TV!🥾🧱
— One Knoxville Sporting Club (@OneKnoxSC) April 2, 2026
Shoutout to Jonathan Burke and the Smoky Boot for hopping on @CBSSportsGolazo this morning for the @opencup draw!
The prep for our showdown with @dcunited begins!#TOOK #BelieveInKnoxville @USLLeagueOne pic.twitter.com/Ej7dD5sGLs
It wasn’t all bad for Asheville, though. The USL League Two side claimed the John Motta Trophy and the $50,000 Open Division prize as the furthest-advancing amateur team in the Open Cup—determined via tiebreakers.
“Another incredible two weeks in this community. There is something so special about this club that when a player puts on the jersey, they run through a brick wall for us,” said Asheville head coach Scott Wells. “We showed that if and when given the chance, we can hang with [USL League One clubs], no problem! Thank you to the supporters for breaking the attendance record and showing the city of Asheville what sport comes first! Belong. Believe. Be Blue.”
Congratulations to USL League Two side Asheville City SC for winning the John Motta Trophy and the $50,000 Open Division prize as the furthest-advancing amateur team (determined via tiebreakers)! pic.twitter.com/Yl2rGwrY33
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) April 2, 2026
Next up, the defending League One champs will face a Major League Soccer (MLS) side for the first time in club history. Knoxville will travel to Audi Field to face three-time Open Cup champions D.C. United on Wednesday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. ET (Paramount+).
17-year-old lifts Charlotte Independence over Southern Derby foe in 118th minute
In the first clash between Southern Derby foes Charlotte Independence and Charleston Battery since 2023, the Independence of USL League One bested the Battery of the USL Championship for the first time since 2021 thanks to a goal in the 118th minute from former Charleston midfielder Viggo Ortiz.
“To win an Open Cup match with two minutes before the end of the second overtime against your old team is a huge plus,” Charlotte head coach Mike Jeffries said of Ortiz. “He’s come in, he’s done his work. I think he was maybe disappointed not to have started the game tonight, but he came into it with a good mentality, and we always knew he was capable of making a play.”
Born in Dallas, Ortiz developed in the Austin FC Academy before joining the Battery on a USL Academy contract in September 2024. At just 16 years old, he was signed to a full professional contract and later made his professional debut for Charleston in the Third Round of the 2025 Open Cup against South Georgia Tormenta FC. The former Mexico youth international joined Charlotte following the 2025 campaign, scoring against his former club to tally his second goal of the season.
“It means a lot,” Ortiz said of scoring the match-winning goal. “This game meant so much to me, and to be able to beat my former team and show them what I could do is a blessing.”
Got ‘em talking 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/7vAD7YrLiW
— Charlotte Independence (@Independence) April 1, 2026
A big test for Ortiz and the Independence comes in the form of local MLS side Charlotte FC. The two cross-town foes will meet for the first time as the Crown host the Jacks at the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex on Wednesday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. ET (Paramount+).
1995 Open Cup champs knock off higher-division opponent for first time in 15 years
USL League One’s Richmond Kickers—the only active lower division professional side to have won an Open Cup—are back in the Round of 32 for the first time since 2022 after knocking off USL Championship side and in-state foe Loudoun United FC. Richmond secured the win over Loudoun—its first victory against a USL Championship side since departing the Championship for the third-division League One in 2019—through Lucca Dourado’s winner in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time. The win also signified the Kickers’ first win against a higher-division opponent since downing a pair of MLS sides (Columbus Crew, Sporting Kansas City) in the 2011 Open Cup.
The 1995 Open Cup champs are moving on ➡️@RichmondKickers return to the Round of 32 for the first time since 2022! pic.twitter.com/b6Z4vx2ejD
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) April 2, 2026
The 1995 Open Cup champs will be eager to knock off a fourth MLS side in its 30-year history, as they face the 2002 champion Columbus Crew for the third time. The contest is slated for Wednesday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. ET (Paramount+) at Richmond’s City Stadium.
Commonwealth Cup favors Louisville… again
Three years, five matches and three competitions later, and Lexington SC is still looking for the first win against its Commonwealth Cup rival Louisville City FC. USL Championship powerhouse LouCity has dominated budding rival Lexington in all five of the pair’s meetings, dating back to their first encounter in the Second Round of the 2023 Open Cup.
“I think overall we probably absorbed a little bit more pressure than we wanted,” said Louisville interim head coach Simon Bird. “I think when we won the ball and connected that first pass, we were exceptional. I thought [this was] one of our better games with the ball in possession. We moved it at a high tempo.
“Obviously, getting the goal when we did, I think, helped because we were under a little bit of pressure in that first half. The goal settled us down. Really pleased with the performance. Really pleased with the mentality, the work rate, so a good day for us.”
5-0 now vs. our in-state "rival" 😈 pic.twitter.com/SmjltmlFDj
— Louisville City FC (@loucityfc) April 2, 2026
The win—courtesy goals from Babacar Niang and Tola Showunmi—cements LouCity’s place in the Round of 32 for the third consecutive year and extended its hot start to six consecutive victories across all competitions—a club record to open a season.
Next up, LouCity will be looking to grab its first win against an MLS side at Lynn Family Stadium and its first overall since downing the New England Revolution in the Round of 32 of the 2018 Open Cup at the University of Louisville. This year, Louisville will host last year’s runner-up, Austin FC, on Tuesday, April 14 at 7 p.m. ET (Paramount+ / CBS Sports Network).
Chattanooga FC books trip to Round of 32 for first time
Chattanooga FC is through to the Round of 32 for the first time in its nearly two decades of existence following a 1-0 victory over Tennessee Tempo FC in the Second Round. The difference came through Nathan Koehler’s first Open Cup goal, a towering header in the 44th minute that helped Chattanooga become the final MLS NEXT Pro team standing.
"To help the club get to the next round was a really special feeling," said Koehler. "Those are my favorite kind of goals to score. They're not the prettiest. I'm not going to take on 15 people and stick in the top corner. Danny [Mangarov] played a perfect ball in the corridor of uncertainty, and I had the run on my man and he made it a really simple header for me."
"We move and advance and that was the end goal," said Chattanooga interim head coach Richard Dixon. "I'm super excited for the club and the guys to move to the next round to play an opponent in a higher division. That's always the goal for the guys to get opportunities to showcase."
A milestone moment for the club 💪@ChattanoogaFC advance to the Round of 32 for the first time ever! pic.twitter.com/i7WUxeLq82
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) April 2, 2026
CFC—the first independent MLS NEXT Pro side to advance to the Round of 32 since Rochester New York FC in 2022—will now take on an MLS side for the second time in club history and first since falling to Atlanta United FC in the Third Round in 2022. They’ll match up with 2019 Open Cup champions Atlanta United once again on Wednesday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. ET (Paramount+) in what will be the first time the club has ever hosted an MLS club in official competition.