Commish here, I asked the Lord of the Spreadsheets to write about the US Open Cup because of its wild nature, glorious history and its general unpredictability. It really seems like the Sickos Committee should be all over something as awesome as this. So enjoy the read and take it away, Kevin!

The 110th edition of the oldest American soccer tournament kicked off March 18th and 19th, with the second round being played last week. I would typically include all the background of the tournament in the first round recap, but I forgot to do one of those this year. So for anyone new to the Open Cup, here’s a quick overview. The final rounds of the tournament are comprised of professional teams from all 3 tiers of US soccer, as well as amateur “open division” teams that can qualify through local tournaments. This year’s cup is made up of 64 pro teams and 32 open division clubs. One major change this year is in the prize purse. The winning team of the tournament takes home $600,000, while the highest finishers from Division II, Division III, and the Open Division each take home $50,000, twice as much as in previous Cups. Additionally, MLS teams are back in the tournament after the league withdrew last year, with MLS organizations now required to enter their senior teams unless they are also playing in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

The 32 Open Division teams, as well as 32 pro teams from the Divisions II and III, played in the first round on March 18 and 19. The winners of the first round played in the second this past week. Only five Open Division teams made it out of the first round of play.

Open Division Cupsets and Exits

Open Division side El Farolito, named for the team founder’s chain of Bay Area burrito restaurants, scored the largest Cupset of the second round by knocking off Monterey Bay FC of the USL Championship. Losses by the remaining four amateur teams earned the Burrito Boys the first $50,000 prize of the tournament as the only amateur team to make it to the third round.

Des Moines Menace, an open division team that features several retired professional and US National Team players, including Sasha Klestjan and Benny Feilhaber, fell 1-2 to USL League One opponent and perennial deep tournament runner Union Omaha.

Other Open Division exits: (A) marks amateur side Loudon United FC 4-2 Virginia Dream FC (A). The highest-scoring match of the round saw the Virginia amateurs ousted by their in-state professional opponents.

Westchester SC 3-2 New York Pancyprian Freedoms (A). Three-time Open Cup winners in the 90s, the Freedoms bow out in the second round.

South Georgia Tormenta FC 3-2 FORO SC (A). In a long, tightly contested game, the professional side went ahead twice only to have FORO equalize, before a third goal in stoppage time sealed it.

Flag Fight

Another headline match of the week was the long-awaited first meeting between Chattanooga FC of MLS Next Pro and Chattanooga Red Wolves FC of USL League One. Despite sharing a city for over seven years, the two sides had never played, and the first meeting did not disappoint. In front of a near-record crowd, the teams played to a 1-1 draw after extra time before the Red Wolves seized a 5-4 victory in penalty kicks. After the game, a Red Wolves player attempted to plant a flag at midfield, igniting a scuffle between the two teams as FC players pushed him away from the center circle.

Funny thing too, a kid got on the field first and planted a flag before the main scuffle.

Notable Round 2 Results Roundup

The only professional soccer team in Maine, Portland Hearts of Pine, advanced to the third round, going down to 10 men in extra time, giving up a goal, then equalizing late in extra time and finally beating Hartford Athletic 4-2 after penalty kicks.

El Paso Locomotive of the USL Championship, a team with an excellent name and a habit of making it to the third week of this tournament, secured a 3-0 over Ventura County FC of MLS NEXT Pro.

Tacoma Defiance 2-1 (after extra time) over Spokane Velocity FC. I just enjoy these names.

Forward Madison FC 1-3 FC Tulsa. The underdog Mingos, a club known as much for their vibrant uniforms and fantastic social media presence that includes measuring snowfall in units of plastic yard flamingos as for their onfield performance, were overmatched in a physical game that featured seven cards given out.

What’s Next?

The 16 remaining teams from the second round will be matched up against 16 USL Championship teams entering the tournament in the third round. Third round matches will be played April 15 and 16 and broadcast on Paramount+ and CBS Sports.

Round 3 Matches

Columbus Crew 2 (MLS NextPro, Div III) vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USLC, Div II), April 15, 6 p.m. ET - Crew 2 will be seeking some indirect revenge in this one, as the Riverhounds beat the senior Columbus Crew team on their way to the quarterfinals of the 2023 Cup.

Louisville City FC (USLC, Div II) vs. Loudoun United FC (USLC, Div II), April 15, 7 p.m. ET - The only Day 1 match between two Championship sides should be an excellent one, with both teams currently near the top of the Eastern Conference standings in the young season. Luck of the draw has Round 2 winners Loudon United traveling to Kentucky to face the team entering in Round 3.

Charlotte Independence (USL-1, Div III) vs. North Carolina FC (USLC), April 15, 7 p.m. ET - This is North Carolina FC’s first season back in the USL Championship after three seasons in USL League 1, and they come into this match in great form, having only lost one of their first five league games. Their opponents, fellow North Carolinians Charlotte FC, are looking to repeat their Round 4 appearance from last year.

Portland Hearts of Pine (USL-1, Div III) vs. Rhode Island FC (USLC, Div II), April 15, 7pm ET - The Maine team will host last year’s USL Championship playoffs runners-up. Rhode Island FC was knocked out of the third round of last year’s Open Cup by a League 1 team, Charlotte Independence.

Charleston Battery (USLC, Div II) vs. South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL-1, Div III), April 15, 7:30 pm ET - A rematch of a Round of 32 match from last year’s Cup, with the underdog Georgia team looking to avenge a 3-2 loss.

Union Omaha (USL-1, Div III) vs. San Antonio FC (USLC, Div II), April 15, 8 p.m. ET - Commish’s home team is unbeaten in its first five league games this season and enters the Cup against the giant killers from Omaha. Omaha is in the third round for the 4th straight year.

AV ALTA FC (USL-1, Div III) vs. Orange County SC (USLC, Div II), April 15, 10 p.m. ET - AV ALTA FC is in the third round of the Cup in their first season as a USL League 1 side, but are underdogs against an Orange County team that has been here before. The Championship side has reached the third round every year since 2022 and the Round of 32 in 2024.

Tacoma Defiance (MLS NextPro, Div III) vs. Oakland Roots SC (USLC, Div II), April 15, 10:30 p.m. ET - A team that often makes deep cup runs, Oakland Roots may be primed for a Cupset after a tough start to the 2025 season. A win for the Defiance would equal their best ever cup run, a 4th Round exit in 2015 as Sounders FC 2.

Detroit City FC (USLC, Div II) vs. Westchester SC (USL-1, Div III), April 16, 7 p.m. ET - Another USL League 1 side in the Cup in their first year as a professional team, Westchester SC, travels to face a Detroit City team that has only lost one of its first six league games. A win for Detroit City would put them on track to reach the Round of 32 for the third time in four years and one step away from a second straight Round of 16 bid. Westchester FC’s ownership includes US National Team midfielder Tyler Adams and Super Bowl Champion Tyrod Taylor.

FC Naples (USL-1, Div III) vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies (USLC, Div II), April 16, 7 p.m. ET - FC Naples is in their inaugural season as a professional club, are undefeated in league play, and have translated that success into decisive Cup wins as well. They host USL Championship stalwarts and two-time Round of 16 participants, the Tampa Bay Rowdies, in a southwest Florida showdown.

Indy Eleven (USLC, Div II) vs. Miami FC (USLC, Div II), April 16, 7:30 p.m. ET - Indy Eleven reached the semifinals of the 2024 Cup, and will look to start their journey to repeat with an entry win over fellow Championship team Miami FC. Miami FC is led by former US National Team goalkeeper Bill Hamid, who won the Cup with DC United in 2013.

FC Tulsa (USLC, Div II) vs. Phoenix Rising FC (USLC, Div II), April 16, 8 p.m. ET - Another all-USL Championship game features two teams that have recently made the round of 16: Phoenix Rising in 2024 and FC Tulsa in 2023.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USLC, Div II) vs. One Knoxville SC (USL-1, Div III), April 16, 9 p.m. ET - The underdog Knoxville side travels cross-country to face the reigning USL Championship champs in their house. This is already the best ever cup finish for Knoxville, who were knocked out in the second round in both of their prior appearances. Colorado Springs is looking to reach the 4th Round for the third time ever (previously 2015, 2016) and repeat last year’s Round of 32 finish.

New Mexico United (USLC, Div II) vs. El Paso Locomotive (USLC, Div II), April 16, 9:30 p.m. ET - Two time Cup quarter-finalists New Mexico United look to derail an El Paso side that has been absolutely steamrolling Cup opponents this year. A win for El Paso would mark their deepest ever run in the Cup.

Sacramento Republic FC (USLC, Div II) vs. El Farolito (NPSL, Open), April 16, 10 p.m. ET - The Burrito Boys, fresh off back-to-back Cupsets and $50,000 richer, look to continue their streak by knocking off USL Championship powerhouse and perennial Open Cup deep threat Sacramento Republic. Sacramento reached the quarterfinals of the Cup in 2024 and was the last Division II side to reach the final in 2022.

Las Vegas Lights (USLC, Div II) vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves (USL-1, Div III), April 16, 10:30 p.m. ET - As the last Division III team to play in the Third Round, the Red Wolves might know by kickoff if they’re playing for the second $50,000 prize. Regardless, they’ll look to plant their flag in Vegas and reach the 4th Round for the first time. Las Vegas Lights reached the Round of 32 last year, and could take the first step toward that with a victory at home here.

The Lord of the Spreadsheets shall return after the next round! Hope you enjoyed reading!