Tulsa Athletic (NPSL) 1, FC Tulsa (USLC) 0
KB Harris tallied the lone goal in the second half as Tulsa Athletic pulled off a huge Cupset against their professional rivals at Hicks Park in Tulsa, Okla. Harris converted a long free kick that originated from the right side past goalkeeper Dallas Odle in the 63rd minute. Athletic goalie Bryson Reed registered the clean sheet. The match had an old-timey feel to it as supporters from both teams sat in their own chairs or stood, lining most of the pitch with a barrier separating them from the action.
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USLC) 1, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (USLL1) 1, 1-3 AET
It took a while for the goals to come – but once the first was scored, they started pouring in. The scoring didn’t begin until the 82nd minute when Marco Rios played the ball to Drew Skundrich who slotted it home with a nifty backheel shot for the Switchbacks. With their backs against the wall, Northern Colorado equalized with two minutes of regulation play left. Trevor Amann headed home from close range via an Arthur Rogers cross. In extra-time, the Hailstorm got the go-ahead goal through a diving header at the back post courtesy of Donald Benamna, with Mark Hernández assisting. The final nail in the coffin was a rocket blast from Marky Hernández in the 107th minute. Northern Colorado advanced past their higher-tiered in-state rivals for the second consecutive year.
Orange County SC (USLC) 5, Capo FC (Calif.) 0
After a slow start, Orange County SC found their footing as the SoCal club recorded a lopsided win against 10-man Capo FC at Championship Soccer Stadium in Irvine, Calif. The visitors made a game of it in the opening half hour as Parker Scalzo had a great scoring opportunity saved by goalkeeper Cody Cropper. Orange County's first scoring sequence came in the 33rd minute when Emil Nielsen bolted down the left flank before depositing the ball into the far corner past netminder Nathan King. Seconds into first-half stoppage time, 17-year-old Bryce Jamison, in his Open Cup debut, headed in Daniel Pedersen's free kick from the left flank for a two-goal halftime advantage. After Capo were reduced to 10 players due to Sergio Montes' second yellow card in the 62nd minute, Milan Iloski added a third goal seven minutes later, slipping the ball past King. Thomas Amang (87th) and Iloski (penalty kick three minutes into injury time) added late goals.
Sacramento Republic FC (USLC) 2, Crossfire Redmond (NPSL) 2, 5-4 AET
Last year’s cardiac kids are causing heart attacks again. Zeiko Lewis and Russell Cicerone each scored twice after the 80th minute, and Johnny Fenwick scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 112th as Sacramento Republic FC, who reached the Open Cup Final last year, had to come from behind multiple times to win their tournament opener at Heart Health Park in Sacramento. Richard Aman scored in the seventh minute and River Stewart added a second in the 13th as Crossfire Redmond held a shocking 2-0 lead at halftime. Lewis, Bermuda’s top international scorer since 2011, got Republic FC on the board with just ten minutes to go, and Cicerone grabbed the first equalizer in the 85th minute to push the match to extra-time. Unfazed, Crossfire’s Munier Hussen scored just two minutes into the first period, but Cicerone added his second equalizer in the 97th before Lewis scored again in the 105th to give Sacramento their first lead at 4-3. Crossfire were relentless, however, and clawed back to tie the match at 4-4 with a goal in the 110th from Aman (his second). The Cupset was not to be, however, as Fenwick flexed his muscles and scored his first career game-winner to move Republic FC to the Third Round for a fourth consecutive tournament.
San Diego Loyal SC (USLC) 2, Albion San Diego (NISA) 0
The San Diego Derby came down to a few key moments. Charlie Adams converted a penalty kick midway through the first half, and Evan Conway added a late strike as the Loyal shutout their crosstown rivals at SDSU Sports Deck in San Diego. 18-year-old attacker Xavi Gnaulati earned a penalty in the 24th minute and Adams – Loyal team captain – stepped up to the spot and scored the opening goal, the club’s first in the Open Cup under new coach Nate Miller. Conway tucked in an insurance goal in the 84th minute for Loyal, who move to 2-0-0 vs. Albion San Diego in Cup play and advance to the Third Round for the second consecutive year.
Central Valley Fuego FC (USLL1) 0, Monterey Bay F.C. (USLC) 0, 1-3 AET
Monterey Bay F.C.’s first trip into extra-time was a good one. Against Central Valley Fuego FC, the visiting USL Championship club notched three goals after going scoreless through regulation to move on to the next round. The game saw a combined nine yellow cards and went into extra-time periods with both teams showing goose eggs on the scoreboard. As the players tired and the game opened up, Christian Volesky scored the go-ahead goal via an Alex Dixon assist in the 97th minute. Siaha Ngnepi gave the visitors some needed padding with a long-range strike in the 110th minute as Zahir Vazquez tallied for the Fuego in the 116th minute, drawing the home side to within a goal. But Sam Gleadle put any thoughts of a dramatic comeback to bed with Monterey’s third goal in the 120th minute.
Las Vegas Lights FC (USLC) 4, Los Angeles Force (NISA) 0
The Lights proved too bright, even for the Force. Azriel Gonzalez scored twice in the first half as Las Vegas Lights led 3-0 by halftime en route to a 4-0 shutout win at Peter Johann Soccer Field on the campus of UNLV in Las Vegas. Gonzalez scored from a free kick near the top of the box in the 16th minute, and got in behind the Los Angeles defense for a 2-0 lead in the 23rd minute. Justin Ingram’s one-touch blast beat Force goalkeeper Brandon Gomez to make it 3-0 in the 37th minute – and Eric ‘Cubo’ Torres added a fourth in the 64th minute for Lights, who advance to the Third Round for the first time since 2019.
Phoenix Rising FC (USLC) 1, Greenville Triumph SC (USLL1) 0
Carlos Harvey is finally getting his chance to make his mark in the United States. The Panamanian international’s headed goal in the first half proved decisive as Phoenix Rising FC won their tournament opener for the second consecutive year. Formerly of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Harvey rose up above a defender to get his head on a cross and put the ball in the back of the net for a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute. Rising goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky sprung into action in second-half stoppage time, diving high to his right to cover the upper corner in the 92nd minute and preserve the shutout.
April 4
Miami FC (USLC) 3, Jacksonville Armada FC (NPSL) 1
Second-half substitute Claudio Repetto scored twice in the final eight minutes to snap a 1-1 deadlock in Miami FC's favor at FIU Soccer Stadium. The visiting Armada finished what was a physical match with nine men, Miami with 10. Repetto, who entered the match in the 64th minute, volleyed home a left-wing cross by Aedan Stanley in the 82nd minute before he converted a penalty kick in the 85th to seal the match. With visions of a Cupset, Jacksonville grabbed a 33rd-minute lead as Luto Tom sent a pass over the Miami defense to a racing Charles Eloundou – who beat goalkeeper Jacob McGuire. A minute later, the hosts equalized as Ryan Telfer headed in a corner kick from the left side past keeper Nicklas Rulle. Tom was given his marching orders after being awarded his second yellow card in the 43rd minute. Miami, however, wound up playing a man down after Curtis Thorn received his second yellow five minutes into the second half. The visitors were reduced to nine players when Ayrton Redmore received his second yellow in the 84th minute.
Hartford Athletic (USLC) 3, Lansdowne Yonkers FC (EPSL) 0
Ghanaian striker Elvis Amoh had a night to remember with Hartford Athletic as the Connecticut side captured a first victory of 2023 across all competitions with a resounding 3-0 result over storied amateurs Lansdowne Yonkers FC. After several quality chances on goal in the opening minutes, Athletic finally broke the deadlock when Amoh opened the scoring with a 27th-minute goal -- assisted by Kyle Edwards. Though the clubs went to halftime separated by a single goal, Hartford Athletic looked to be the club in control and used the second half to add more insurance on the scoreboard. In the 73rd minute, Hartford were awarded a penalty kick, which was coolly placed by Amoh to get him one step closer to his eventual hat-trick. The evening was capped off with a third goal from Amoh in the 82nd minute with the assist provided by Jeciel Cedeño. Hartford Athletic finished the night with 24 shots -- 9 of which were on goal.
One Knoxville SC (USLL1) 1, Memphis 901 FC (USLC) 1, 1-2 AET
In one of the most dramatic finishes in recent years, Jeremy Kelly scored four minutes into stoppage time of the second extra-time period to boost Memphis past their hosts at Regal Soccer Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. As the match appeared headed to a shootout, Aaron Molloy sent in a corner kick that deflected off a Knoxville player to Kelly, who buried a seven-yard shot past goalkeeper Peter Swinkels. Ninety seconds after that, the final whistled sounded. Memphis drew first blood in the 38th minute when Dylan Borczak headed home Molloy's free kick from the left side, from six yards out. Knoxville knotted things up in the 56th minute as Ilja Ilic converted a penalty kick to the lower right corner, sending goalkeeper and former USMNT man Bill Hamid the wrong way.
Detroit City FC (USLC) 1, Gold Star Detroit (NISA) 0
USL Championship club Detroit City FC narrowly avoided a scare in their 1-0 victory over NISA side Gold Star Detroit. In the opening minutes, confidence was high for Gold Star as they were able to put some quality pressure on their higher-division hosts. As the first half wore on, Detroit City FC put together their own attempts on goal and had a big chance go to waste. But the hosts did find the back of the net shortly before halftime. In the 43rd minute, Yazeed Matthews scored the lone goal and match winner. The scorer finished the night with three shots, two of which were on goal, and he was only dispossessed once. With the win, Detroit City move a step closer to matching last year's Open Cup run -- which ended in the Fourth Round after an historic win over MLS’ Columbus Crew.
Tampa Bay Rowdies (USLC) 2, Nona FC (USLL2) 0
Co-2022 Open Cup top-scorer Lucky Mkosana scored one goal and assisted another in the first half to pace the Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg. Mkosana set up JJ Williams, who slotted the ball past Nona goalkeeper Rafael Santos in the 25th minute. Seven minutes later, Mkosana buried a cross from Dayonn Harris for a two-goal advantage. Tampa keeper Connor Sparrow recorded the clean sheet. Rowdies head coach Neill Collins was not allowed to sit on the bench as he served a suspension due to a red card he received when Tampa Bay were eliminated by eventual champion Orlando City SC in the 2022 Third Round last April. He will be back on the bench when his Rowdies face 2018 Open Cup champions Houston Dynamo of MLS at home in the Third Round.
