The second round of the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup delivered four more cupsets on Wednesday night as FC Motown, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, FC Tucson and Bay Cities FC all defeated opponents from higher divisions.
With eight matches remaining in the second round – to be played Thursday, April 7 beginning at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN+ – there’s no shortage of opportunity for more underdogs to join the party in the next round.
Beyond the upsets that took place, lower division teams put on a strong show across the nation on night two of the second round, displaying the burgeoning depth of talented and hungry soccer clubs and players competing throughout the United States. North Carolina FC, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, Nova FC, Valley United FC and Albion San Diego all gave as good as they got against higher division competition. All five teams – three of which come from the amateur ranks – were only beaten by a single goal. It took until the final 15th minute of the match for the higher division sides to claim the winner against four of the underdogs, while three held out until added or extra time.
The match between Charleston Battery and South Georgia Tormenta FC was postponed due to inclement weather. The game will now be played at 11 a.m. ET on Thursday at Patriot’s Point Soccer Stadium in Mt. Pleasant, S.C and broadcast on ESPN+.
After the second round concludes on Thursday, April 7, U.S. Soccer will conduct the third round draw, pitting the 31 clubs that advance from the second round against 17 lower-seeded Division I (MLS) clubs. Teams in the third round will be pooled geographically into groups of either four or six (depending on geographic distribution), with the Div. I clubs distributed as evenly as possible among the groups. All Division I sides will be drawn to face a second round winner and not another Division I club. Watch the third round Draw on Friday at noon ET/11 a.m. CT on Twitter (@opencup) and YouTube to see all the exciting match-ups as they’re drawn!
FC Motown (NPSL) 0, AC Syracuse Pulse (NISA) 0, 1-0 AET
Federico De Oliveira found the net in the 96th minute of extra time to boost FC Motown over their National Independent Soccer Association opponents, AC Syracuse Pulse in a persistent rain at the MSU Soccer Park on the campus of Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J. Motown goalkeeper David Greczek started the scoring sequence with a long goal kick. The National Premier Soccer League team from New Jersey worked the ball to De Oliveira near the top of the box where he fired home the winner. Syracuse keeper Macklin Robinson was outstanding, keeping the visitors in the match. It was an emotional contest for Motown as defender Sainclair Tueno was in a coma and on life support after he was hit by a speeding car near Pittsburgh last week. Prior to the match, Motown players walked onto the field wearing Fight the Fight shirts. In an unusual double yellow card, the head coaches of both teams – Motown’s Sacir Hot and Syracuse’s Peter Fuller — were sanctioned by the referee in the 33rd minute.
North Carolina FC (USL League One) 1, Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (USL Championship) 2
Frank Nodarse could not have found a better time to score his first professional goal. The 21-year-old former Cuban youth international snapped a 1-1 deadlock in the 79th minute via a 28-yard drive into the right side of the net to lift Rio Grande Valley to a comeback win at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. It was RGV’s first Open Cup victory as head coach Wilmer Cabrera’s squad advanced to the Third Round. Jaden Servania’s goal from the top of the box boosted North Carolina into the lead, beating goalkeeper Colin Miller in the 45th minute. Frank Lopez equalized for RGV off a 20-yard rocket past goalkeeper Will Pulisic after a 54th-minute counterattack.
Miami FC (USL Championship) 3, Miami United FC (NPSL) 0
Kyle Murphy kept his cool on a hot night in Miami. Murphy’s second attempt at a penalty hit the back of the net as Miami FC barely broke a sweat at Florida International University Soccer Stadium in Miami, FL. After Miami United FC goalkeeper Martin Gammiero came off his line too early, Murphy nailed his second try to give Miami FC a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute. A 29-year-old from Red Hook, NY, Murphy scored 20 goals for Memphis 901 FC in 2021. Adonijah Reid hit a volley that threaded the defense for a 2-0 lead in the 31st minute, and Anthony Pulis’ side sealed the win when 31-year-old Jamaican Romeo Parkes came off the bench to make it 3-0 in the 82nd minute. Miami FC goalkeeper Connor Sparrow faced down some dangerous early moments but posted his first U.S. Open Cup clean sheet with four saves.
Western Mass Pioneers (USL League Two) 0, Flower City Union (NISA) 1
Not only did Flower City Union win in its U.S. Open Cup debut, the Rochester, N.Y. team secured its first victory ever, at Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow, Mass. Flower City had dropped its first two regular season NISA matches of the campaign. Lukas Fernandes tallied the lone goal of the match four minutes into extra time. Despite being surrounded by four Western Mass players, Fernandes beat goalkeeper Jermaine Fordah from the right side of the penalty area. The visitors played the final 10 minutes and stoppage time a man down after defender Marcus Micheletti was red carded in the 110th minute. Keeper Maykell Ortega, who was sharp over the final minutes, secured Flower City’s first clean sheet in club history.
Louisville City FC (USL Championship) 1, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL League One) 0
Louisville City FC turned a defensive error into the lone goal of the match as it booked a spot in the Third Round at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Ky. Red Wolves goalkeeper Carlos Avilez sent captain Jose Carrera-Garcia a short pass that deflected off his foot. An alert Corben Bone got to the ball first and sent Wilson Harris the pass on the left side of the penalty area. Harris scored in the 75th minute and the hosts managed to close out the match. Louisville City keeper Kyle Morton recorded the shutout.
Nova FC (Va.) 0, Richmond Kickers (USLL1) 1
Amateur side Nova FC, which qualified for the 2022 U.S. Open Cup via the local qualifying path, put in a brave performance against Div. III pros Richmond Kickers but lacked the crisp finishing of their opponents who claimed the 1-0 victory in a Virgina derby. Richmond, carried play early on, creating a handful of chances in the opening half hour, the last of which David Olsen tapped home in the 34th minute. The goal seemed to boost the hosts despite their falling behind and the match got a tad spicy before the halftime whistle sent the teams to intermission. The second half saw the Kickers continue to keep Nova at arm’s length. Despite the amateurs carving out more chances, only a few truly tested the visitor’s well drilled defense which helped goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald secure the shutout and Richmond’s advancement to the Third Round.
Forward Madison FC (USL League One) 3, Cleveland SC (NPSL) 0
Forward Madison struck twice near the end of the opening half to take control of the Second Round match at Breese Stevens Field in Madison, Wis. Justin Sukow, with a late run from midfield, gave the hosts all the scoring they would ultimately need. He chested down Alann Torres’ long ball before beating goalkeeper Conor Cable from point-blank range in the 37th minute. A minute into first-half injury time Cesar Murrilo, Jr. doubled the Flamingo’s advantage, scoring off a Cyrus Rad header following a corner kick. Nazeem Bartman put a bow on the victory as he slotted home a rebound of a Torres shot from the right side of the box for the final goal in the 68th minute. Goalkeeper Phil Breno recorded the shutout.
Colorado Springs Switchbacks (USL Championship) 0, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (USL League One) 0, 0-1 AET
Jerry Desdunes hit a lightning bolt for Hailstorm FC in the club’s first-ever competitive match. Desdunes scored against the run of play in the 96th minute as Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC won its U.S. Open Cup debut at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, CO. Irvin Parra, who last scored in the U.S. Open Cup as a member of L.A. Wolves FC in 2017, was sent off for a malicious elbow in the 26th minute, and Hailstorm played with only 10 men for the final 60-plus minutes of regular time. The match finished with even numbers after Switchbacks FC’s Tristan Hodge received his second yellow card and was sent off in the first period of overtime. Switchbacks FC’s Macauley King had a shot on goal stopped by Hailstorm FC goalkeeper Daniel Faundez in the 116th minute. Foundez made two saves in the cupset victory.
FC Tucson (USLL1) 3, Las Vegas Lights FC (USLC) 2
FC Tucson scored a home cupset against the visiting Las Vegas lights with an impressive display that was highlighted by Tyler Allen’s superb individual effort that proved to be the game winner for the hosts. Tucson, took the lead just before half time when Jacob Krull poked home a cross that had fallen to the ground in the middle of the six-yard box. The double edged sword of competition reared its head for Las Vegas GK Abraham Romero in the second half as he made two phenomenal saves on the hour mark to keep the Lights within striking distance. Substitute Mohamed Traore obliged with a thundering header from eight yards out in the 66th minute to knot the match at 1-1. Just as Las Vegas looked to seize control a Tucson corner was mishandled by Romero, who spilled it into his own net, gifting Tucson a 2-1 lead with 20 minutes left to play. Allen’s impressive goal six minutes later made it 3-1 and it looked like Tucson would cruise to victory. However, Daniel Crisostomo crafted a well-taken response for the lights to make it 3-2 but the Div. II pros couldn’t break down the stout opposition of Tucson in the 10 minutes that remained after his consolation strike.
Phoenix Rising FC (USLC) 0, Valley United FC (NISA) 0, 1-0 AET
A valiant effort from cupset minded Valley United came up five minutes short as Claudio Repetto stabbed home the game’s only goal for Phoenix Rising after 116 minutes of play. A scoreless first half saw Div. III Valley United grow into the game on the road against one of the leading lights of the USL Championship (Div. II). While chances were sporadic for both teams in the opening stanza, the NISA club did not shy away from attacking their host and collecting spells of possession as both teams headed to the break on even footing. Phoenix began to exert more control in the second 45, leading to more chances for the home side, but quality goalkeeping from Javier Olmedo kept the visitors in it till the end despite being reduced to 10 men when captain Sebastián Contreras was sent off for a second yellow card infraction with 10 minutes remaining in regulation.
Bay Cities FC (NISA) 2, Monterey Bay FC (USL Championship) 1
Edson Cardona’s overhead kick may be the ‘Shot Heard Round the Bay’. Cardona scored in style in stoppage time as Bay Cities FC earned an upset victory at PayPal Park in San Jose, CA. Rei Dorwalt flew in to score Bay Cities’ first ever goal in just the club’s third competitive match as the visitors grabbed the lead in the first half. Monterrey Bay created tons of chances in the second half, but goalkeeper Ian McGrane was big for Bay Cities until Robbie Crawford’s header equalized in 87th minute. As time ticked past 90 minutes, one miscue from Monterrey Bay defender Hugh Roberts gave Cardona the half-chance he needed to win the game.
Albion San Diego (NISA) 1, vs. San Diego Loyal SC (USL Championship) 2
The first San Diego derby had a Crull finish. Taylor Crull scored on his club debut in the 89th minute as San Diego Loyal edged their crosstown rival at Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego, CA. Evan Conway scored Loyal’s opening goal in the 45th minute for head coach Landon Donovan’s side, making its first appearance in the U.S. Open Cup. Harold Hanson’s cross from the right side fed Mayele Malango as Albion drew even in the 65th minute, and goalkeeper Ben Roach kept the NISA club in the match with a number of tough saves. Crull, an MLS Generation Adidas player and recent graduate of Xavier University, got his head on a corner kick from Alejandro Guido to score the game-winner at the death.
SECOND ROUND SCHEDULE & RESULTS
TUESDAY, APRIL 5
| Result | Game (home team listed first) | Venue |
| 2-4 | Charlotte Independence (USLL1) vs. North Carolina Fusion U23 (USLL2) | American Legion Memorial Stadium; Charlotte, N.C. |
| 2-0 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USLC) vs. Maryland Bobcats FC (NISA) | Highmark Stadium; Pittsburgh, Pa. |
| 6-0 | Tampa Bay Rowdies (USLC) vs. The Villages SC (USLL2) | Al Lang Stadium; St. Petersburg, Fla. |
| 3-0 | Detroit City FC (USLC) vs. Michigan Stars FC (NISA) | Keyworth Stadium; Hamtramck, Mich. |
| 0-2 | Indy Eleven (USLC) vs. St. Louis CITY 2 (MLSNP) | Michael A. Carroll Track and Soccer Stadium (IUPUI); Indianapolis, Ind. |
| 2-1 | Union Omaha (USLL1) vs. Des Moines Menace (USLL2) | Morrison Stadium (Creighton Univ.); Omaha, Neb. |
| 2-1 | FC Tulsa (USLC) vs. Tulsa Athletic (NPSL) | ONEOK Field; Tulsa, Okla. |
| 3-1 | San Antonio FC (USLC) vs. D’Feeters Kicks Soccer Club (Texas) | Toyota Field; San Antonio, Texas |
| 5-0 | New Mexico United (USLC) vs. Las Vegas Legends FC (NPSL) | Univ. of New Mexico Soccer Complex; Albuquerque, N.M. |
| 4-1 | Central Valley Fuego FC (USLL1) vs. El Paso Locomotive FC (USLC) | Lamonica Stadium (Clovis H.S.); Clovis, Calif. |
| 5-2 | Orange County SC (USLC) vs. Los Angeles Force (NISA) | Orange County Great Park – Championship Soccer Stadium; Irvine, Calif. |
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6
| Result | Game (home team listed first) | Venue |
| 0-0-, 1-0 AET | FC Motown (NPSL) vs. AC Syracuse Pulse (NISA) | Montclair State University Soccer Park; Montclair, N.J. |
| 1-2 | North Carolina FC (USLL1) vs. Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (USLC) | WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C. |
| 3-0 | Miami FC (USLC) vs. Miami United FC (NPSL) | Fla. International Univ. Soccer Stadium; Miami, Fla. |
| 0-1 | Western Mass Pioneers (USLL2) vs. Flower City Union (NISA) | Lusitano Stadium; Ludlow, Mass. |
| 1-0 | Louisville City FC (USLC) vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USLL1) | Lynn Family Stadium; Louisville, Ky. |
| 0-1 | Nova FC (Va.) vs. Richmond Kickers (USLL1) | Virginia Revolution Sportsplex; Leesburg, Va. |
| 3-0 | Forward Madison FC (USLL1) vs. Cleveland SC (NPSL) | Breese Stevens Field; Madison, Wis. |
| 0-0, 0-1 AET | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USLC) vs. Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (USLL1) | Weidner Field; Colorado Springs, Colo. |
| 3-2 | FC Tucson (USLL1) vs. Las Vegas Lights FC (USLC) | Kino North Stadium; Tucson, Ariz. |
| 0-0, 1-0 AET | Phoenix Rising FC (USLC) vs. Valley United FC (NISA) | Phoenix Rising Stadium at Wild Horse Pass; Chandler, Ariz. |
| 2-1 | Bay Cities FC (NISA) vs. Monterey Bay F.C. (USLC) | PayPal Park; San Jose, Calif. |
| 1-2 | ALBION San Diego (NISA) vs. San Diego Loyal SC (USLC) | Canyon Crest Academy; San Diego, Calif. |
THURSDAY, APRIL 7
| Time | Game (home team listed first) | Venue |
| 11 a.m. ET | Charleston Battery (USLC) vs. South Georgia Tormenta FC (USLL1) | Patriot’s Point Soccer Stadium; Mt. Pleasant, S.C. |
| 7 p.m. ET | Hartford Athletic (USLC) vs. Oyster Bay United FC (N.Y.) | Dillon Stadium; Hartford, Conn. |
| 7 p.m. ET | Rochester New York FC (MLSNP) vs. Lansdowne Yonkers FC (N.Y.) | Monroe Community College; Rochester, N.Y. |
| 7 p.m. ET | Chattanooga FC (NISA) vs. Memphis 901 FC (USLC) | Finley Stadium; Chattanooga, Tenn. |
| 7 p.m. ET | Greenville Triumph SC (USLL1) vs. Oakland Roots (USLC) | Triumph Stadium at Legacy Early College; Greenville, S.C. |
| 7 p.m. CT | Birmingham Legion FC (USLC) vs. Southern States SC Stars (NPSL) | Protective Stadium; Birmingham, Ala. |
| 7:30 p.m. PT | Sacramento Republic FC (USLC) vs. Portland Timbers U23 (USLL2) | Heart Health Park; Sacramento, Calif. |
| 7:30 p.m. PT | California United Strikers FC (NISA) vs. San Fernando Valley FC (Calif.) | Orange County Great Park – Championship Soccer Stadium; Irvine, Calif. |
