The Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup began in record-breaking fashion as a sellout crowd of 22,423 enjoyed St. Louis City SC’s victorious tournament debut.

The newest Major League Soccer (Division I) club cruised to a 5-1 win over one of last year’s surprise teams, Union Omaha of USL League One (Division III), in front of the largest crowd to attend a Third Round Open Cup match in the Modern Era (1995-Present) of the competition.

The first matchday of the round belonged to teams from the higher division in nearly every matchup, but the final game of the evening produced the first Cupset of the round as Division II Monterey Bay F.C. (USL Championship) ousted Bay Area MLS neighbors San Jose Earthquakes, 1-0.

In the day’s two games, USL Championship (Div. II) sides Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and Charleston Battery both dispatched Division III Opposition. The Riverhounds left it late in regulation but advanced past NISA side Maryland Bobcats FC, 2-0, with both goals coming in the final 10 minutes. The Battery had a hard time of it against Charlotte Independence (USLL1), but prevailed, 1-0, thanks to a Nick Markanich goal with only eight minutes remaining until a shootout would have decided matters.

MLS sides had less trouble in the following handful of games as Charlotte FC, St. Louis City, Minnesota United FC and Sporting Kansas City all cruised to multi-goal wins. After the New England Revolution (MLS) dodged a hearty challenge from Hartford Athletic (USLC) – advancing with a 2-1 win – the fireworks started with Charlotte FC downing South Georgia Tormenta (USLL1), 4-1, and continued with the five-star display from St. Louis City.

Although it trailed Detroit City FC (USLC) entering the second half, Minnesota ripped off three goals in just under 10 minutes midway through the final 45 minutes to claim the night’s sole road victory 3-1 over the Motor City side.

Sporting KC cruised to a 3-0 win against one of two remaining amateur sides left in the tournament, Tulsa Athletic (NPSL/Okla.).

The Third Round concludes with Wednesday’s massive slate of 16 games – 13 of which will be broadcast on various platforms, including four matches on the B/R app and B/R Football YouTube, two on CBS Sports Golazo Network, and a further seven streamed as Teamcasts.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.