“It’s the greatest soccer tournament in the country – maybe in the world,” Wilt said of the Open Cup ahead of a showdown with midwestern rivals Bavarian United SC of Milwaukee – a team with nearly a century of history that includes reaching an Open Cup Final back in 1994. “Crazy stuff always happens.”
One of the most exciting debutants of the 2023 field are Appalachian FC out of Boone, North Carolina. With sasquatch-forward branding and hordes of fans coming out in droves to the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex, they’ll host neighbors NC Fusion U23.
Perhaps the Fusion can’t stand with App FC in the marketing fight, but they did, it’s worth noting, knock out professional opposition in USL’s Charlotte Independence during last year’s Open Cup.
“It’s just a massive carrot that’s being dangled in front of us,” said Appalachian FC coach Dale Parker. “The motivation is you’re getting an opportunity to bring an MLS team, at some point, to your home town. To the community that’s been coming out to your games for two years now.
“If that doesn’t get you excited you shouldn’t be playing,” the coach added.
Farther north, in the always competitive New York City metro area, NPSL’s reigning national champion FC Motown travel to the Bronx to take on Manhattan SC of USL League Two.
Motown, out of Morristown, New Jersey are regulars at the Open Cup, and they took home the prize as the amateur team who reached farthest in last year’s edition. The club also made waves recently by sending two Haitian-born players (Maudwindo Germain and Samuel Pompée) to help complete short-handed Violette AC’s CONCACAF Champions League upset of Austin FC over two legs..
Beaman United FC might not be a known name nationwide, but the young club – founded by Nigeria-born Gift Ndam and with former NYC FC midfielder and Ghana international Kwadwo Poku in the squad – are sure fun to watch.
They scored 11 goals and conceded eight in their three Local Qualifying games.
