Opening Night of 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Kicks Off with Six Exhilarating First Round Matches

CHICAGO (March 22, 2022) - The First Round of the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup brought back the 109-year-old tournament, U.S. Soccer’s national championship, after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A variety of outcomes from blowouts to seesaw extra-time thrillers determined the first six clubs that moved on to the Second Round. Ten additional winners will claim their place in the next round during Wednesday night’s action, which begins at 5:45 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and U.S. Soccer YouTube.

 

The highlights of the night were a pair of extra time thrillers that saw West Chester United SC claw back a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 in New Jersey vs. FC Motown, and Cleveland SC similarly come from behind with a dramatic late equalizer that they then capitalized on in the extra period for a 2-1 win against visiting Chicago FC United.

 

The evening’s only other one-goal-game featured the first upset of the competition as D'Feeters Kicks Soccer Club won 3-2 down in Texas against the reigning NPSL national champions Denton Diablos.

 

The three remaining games were lobsided affairs as Southern States SC Stars dispatched Georgia Revolution FC 3-1, Oyster Bay United FC knocked out Hartford City FC 3-0 and The Villages SC put on a 6-0 show to down Orlando FC Wolves.

 

The First Round concludes with 10 matches being played across the nation on Wednesday night. The games will be available to watch on ESPN+ or U.S. Soccer YouTube. The action begins when the first contest of the night, featuring San Fernando Valley FC (Calif.) vs. Escondido FC (Calif.), kicks off at 5:45 p.m. ET/2:45 PT on U.S. Soccer YouTube.

 

The 16 victorious First Round sides will be joined by 46 professional Division II (USL Championship) and Division III (USL League One, NISA, and MLS NEXT Pro) clubs in the competition’s Second Round. The 31 Second Round contests, which will air on ESPN+, begin on Tuesday, April 5 (with 11 matches) followed by another 13 games on Wednesday, April 6. The round concludes on Thursday, April 7 with seven more contests.

FIRST ROUND RECAPS:

FC Motown (NPSL) 2, West Chester United SC (USL League Two) 2, 2-3 AET

In the first Open Cup game in 939 days – since 2019 – West Chester United SC overcame a two-goal deficit in the second half to post a dramatic extra-time victory. Jacob Gosselin snapped a 2-2 deadlock as he slotted home a Carter Burris feed in the 94th minute at MSU Soccer Park in Montclair, N.J. It looked like FC Motown was going to run away with the match in the first half. Nerlin St. Vil had the honor of scoring the first goal of the 107^th edition of the competition in the 10th minute as he took advantage of a poor clearance and fired a shot into the lower right corner past goalkeeper Cameron Sanders. Two minutes into first half stoppage time, Joseph Fala doubled the hosts' advantage, striking from outside the area. West Chester, however, changed the momentum in the second half. Levi Maruca cut into the lead, connecting for a spectacular goal from the corner of the box in the 56th minute before Blaise Milanek struck for the equalizer via a six-yard header. FC Motown played the final six minutes a man down after Fala was issued his second yellow card in the 114th minute. West Chester will meet Division III pros AC Syracuse Pulse (National Independent Soccer Association) in the Second Round in West Chester, Pa. on April 6 at 7 p.m. ET.

 

Cleveland SC (NPSL) 1, Chicago FC United (USL League Two) 1, 2-1 AET

Only seconds away from elimination, Cleveland SC tied up the game in the 90th minute and won it in extra time in the rain at George Finnie Field in Berea, Ohio. Vinny Bell's header from point-blank range broke a 1-1 deadlock in the 107th minute. Goalkeeper Conor Cable was outstanding, making several stops to keep Cleveland in the match and producing a kick save on Ezau Millan's header in the 120th minute to fend off a penalty kick shootout. Chicago grabbed the lead in the 17th minute when a shot deflected off the leg of Cleveland defender Boban Cancar's leg and into the net. It looked like Chicago was going to advance, but Michael Derezic ran across the box before depositing the ball inside the far right post for the dramatic equalizer. Cleveland will take on Forward Madison FC (USL League One) in the Second Round in Madison, Wis. on April 6 at 7 p.m. CT.

 

Hartford City FC (NPSL) 0, Oyster Bay United FC (N.Y.) 3

Oyster Bay United FC got off to a hot start, rolling past a National Premier Soccer League team on the road at Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford, Conn. Junior Rosero scored one goal and set up two others to lead the United Premier Soccer League side, which scored all of its goals in the opening half. Rosero drew first blood in the 16th minute, intercepting a clearance by goalkeeper Carson D'Ambrosio and scoring from 21 yards. He assisted on Franco Paz's goal from the left side in the 32nd minute and Sebastian Ruiz's effort two minutes into injury time as the latter chipped D'Ambrosio from close range. In the Local Qualifying Round last fall, Oyster Bay eliminated a pair of former Open Cup champions, the N.Y. Pancyprian Freedoms and N.Y. Greek Americans. Oyster Bay outshot the hosts, 15-4 and the Long Island-based team will now face Division II pros Hartford Athletic (USL Championship) in the second round in Hartford, Conn. on April 7 at 7 p.m. ET.

 

The Villages SC (USL League 2) 6, Orlando FC Wolves (Fla.) 0

Jose Victor France and Rafael Barba combined to fill the plate for The Villages SC, while the Buffaloes’ 18-year-old goalkeeper starved the Orlando FC Wolves. France and Barba scored two goals apiece, and young goalkeeper Andrew Muller posted a shutout in his first career start as The Villages SC remained unbeaten at its home complex in Summerfield, FL in the U.S. Open Cup. France opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a left-footed strike, and Barba gave the Buffaloes a 2-0 lead in the 22nd minute when he heeled in a cross from Caleb Franke. Daniel Oliveira put the home side up 3-0 before halftime, and France and Barba added goals within the first 20 minute of the second half. Cale Saunders hit the post with a shot in the second half, but that was as close as Orlando FC Wolves came to scoring as they could not find the back of the net in the club’s first tournament appearance. Muller totaled five saves, and Payton Roush finished off the scoring in the 84th minute for The Villages SC, which moves on to play Tampa Bay Rowdies in a Second Round match at 7:30 p.m. ET on April 5 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

 

Southern States SC Stars (NPSL) 3, Georgia Revolution FC (NPSL) 1

A new Star of the South is rising among NPSL clubs competing in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Jean Lucas Rivera Murillo unleashed a first-half wonder strike, and Thomas Shepherd guided Southern States SC Stars to its first tournament victory with a pair of second-half goals in a match that was delayed by weather at The Oaks in Hattiesburg, Miss. Murillo’s volley opened the scoring in the 26th minute, and Shepherd added goals in the 65th and 73rd, respectively, as the tournament first-timers opened up a 3-0 lead. Karim Tmimi got a goal back from a well-worked free kick for Georgia Revolution FC in the 82nd minute, but it was too little, too late. Goalkeeper Hector Grajeda made four saves in the second half for Southern States, which advances to play Birmingham Legion FC in a Second Round match on April 7 at 7 p.m. CT in Birmingham, Ala.

 

Denton Diablos FC (NPSL) 2, D’Feeters Kicks Soccer Club (Texas) 3

It was a hot first half for D’Feeters Kicks Soccer Club on what turned out to be a cold night for Denton Diablos FC in North Texas. Sebastian Mendez scored twice, and Miles Byass added to his lower-league legend with a goal as the local qualifiers upended the defending NPSL national champions at University of North Texas Soccer and Track & Field Stadium in Denton, TX in the first upset of the tournament. Mendez ran onto a loose ball and his calm finish gave D’Feeters a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute. Luis Hernandez got to the goal line before crossing into the box to Byass, whose one-touch finish gave the visitors a shock two-goal lead. Byass, the recent UPSL Finals MVP, nearly assisted on a third goal that was ruled offside, but Mendez tacked on his second a few minutes later. Brandon Cerda laced a daisy cutter into the back of the net in the 40th minute to get one back for Denton Diablos FC, and Steven Chavez got a second for the home team on the stroke of halftime. Both sides had players sent off in the second half, but the Diablos were unable to take advantage of more than 15 minutes with a man advantage before losing their cool and receiving two red cards in the final 20 minutes. Goalkeeper Anthony Rodriguez made a number of close-range saves in the win for D’Feeters, who now travel to play San Antonio FC in the Second Round at 7:30 p.m. CT on April 5.

 

First Round Schedule and Results

Tuesday, March 22

Result	Game (home team listed first)	Venue
2-3 AET	FC Motown (NPSL) vs. West Chester United SC (USLL2)	MSU Soccer Park; Montclair, N.J.
2-1 AET	Cleveland SC (NPSL) vs. Chicago FC United (USLL2)	George Finnie Stadium; Berea, Ohio
0-3	Hartford City FC (NPSL) vs. Oyster Bay United FC (N.Y.)	Trinity Health Stadium; Hartford, Conn.
6-0	The Villages SC (USLL2) vs. Orlando FC Wolves (Fla.)	The Villages SC Complex; Summerfield, Fla.
3-1	Southern States SC Stars (NPSL) vs. Georgia Revolution FC (NPSL)	The Oakes; Hattiesburg, Miss.
2-3	Denton Diablos FC (NPSL) vs. D'Feeters Kicks Soccer Club (Texas)	UNT Soccer and Track & Field Stadium; Denton, Texas

Wednesday, March 23

TV	Time (local)	Game (home team listed first)	Venue
ESPN+	7 p.m. ET	Ocean City Nor'easters (USLL2) vs. Lansdowne Yonkers FC (N.Y.)	Carey Stadium; Ocean City, N.J.
USSF YT	7 p.m. ET	Lynchburg FC (Va.) vs. Nova FC (Va.)	Lynchburg City Stadium; Lynchburg, Va.
USSF YT	7 p.m. ET	South Carolina United FC (USLL2) vs. NC Fusion U23 (USLL2)	SEFL Soccer Complex; Columbia, S.C.
USSF YT	7:30 p.m. ET	Western Mass Pioneers (USLL2) vs. Brockton FC United (Mass.)	Lusitano Stadium; Ludlow, Mass.
ESPN+	7:30 p.m. ET	Miami United FC (NPSL) vs. City Soccer FC (Fla.)	Ted Hendricks Stadium; Hialeah, Fla.
ESPN+	7 p.m. CT	Des Moines Menace (USLL2) vs. Minneapolis City SC (NPSL)	Valley Stadium; West Des Moines, Iowa
USSF YT	7 p.m. CT	Tulsa Athletic (NPSL) vs. Azteca FC (Colo.)	Case Soccer Complex (ORU); Tulsa, Okla.
USSF YT	2:45 p.m. PT	San Fernando Valley FC (Calif.) vs. Escondido FC (Calif.)	Sepulveda Basin Sports Complex; Encino, Calif.
USSF YT	7 p.m. PT	Portland Timbers U23 (USLL2) vs. Contra Costa FC (Calif.)	John Chambers Field; Salem, Ore.
ESPN+	7:30 p.m. PT	Las Vegas Legends FC (NPSL) vs. Park City Red Wolves SC (USLL2)	Peter Johann Soccer Field (UNLV); Las Vegas, N.V.

 

Second Round Schedule

Tuesday, April 5

Time	Game (home team listed first)	Venue
7 p.m. ET	Charlotte Independence (USLL1) vs. South Carolina United FC Bantams (USLL2)/North Carolina Fusion U23 (USLL2) winner	American Legion Memorial Stadium; Charlotte, N.C.
7 p.m. ET	Indy Eleven (USLC) vs. St. Louis CITY 2 (MLSNP)*	Michael A. Carroll Track and Soccer Stadium (IUPUI); Indianapolis, Ind.
7 p.m. ET	Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USLC) vs. Maryland Bobcats FC (NISA)	Highmark Stadium; Pittsburgh, Pa.
7:30 p.m. ET	Detroit City FC (USLC) vs. Michigan Stars FC (NISA)	Keyworth Stadium; Hamtramck, Mich.
7:30 p.m. ET	Tampa Bay Rowdies (USLC) vs. The Villages SC (USLL2)	Al Lang Stadium; St. Petersburg, Fla.
7 p.m. CT	Union Omaha (USLL1) vs. Des Moines Menace (USLL2)/Minneapolis City SC (NPSL) winner	Morrison Stadium (Creighton Univ.); Omaha, Neb.
7:30 p.m. CT	FC Tulsa (USLC) vs. Tulsa Athletic (NPSL)/Azteca FC (Colo.) winner	ONEOK Field; Tulsa, Okla.
7:30 p.m. CT	San Antonio FC (USLC) vs. D'Feeters Kicks Soccer Club (Texas)	Toyota Field; San Antonio, Texas
7:30 p.m. MT	New Mexico United (USLC) vs. Las Vegas Legends FC (NPSL)/Park City Red Wolves SC (USLL2) winner	Univ. of New Mexico Soccer Complex; Albuquerque, N.M.
7:30 p.m. PT	Central Valley Fuego FC (USLL1) vs. El Paso Locomotive FC (USLC)*	Lamonica Stadium (Clovis H.S.); Clovis, Calif.
7:30 p.m. PT	Orange County SC (USLC) vs. Los Angeles Force (NISA)	Orange County Great Park – Championship Soccer Stadium; Irvine, Calif.

* Home team reassigned Feb. 24

Wednesday, April 6

Time	Game (home team listed first)	Venue
6 p.m. ET	Flower City Union (NISA) vs. Brockton FC United (Mass.)	Marina Auto Stadium; Rochester, N.Y.
	-or-
7:30 p.m. ET	Western Mass Pioneers (USLL2) vs. Flower City Union (NISA)	Lusitano Stadium; Ludlow, Mass.
6:30 p.m. ET	Richmond Kickers (USLL1) vs. Lynchburg FC (Va.)	City Stadium; Richmond, Va.
	-or-
8 p.m. ET	Nova FC (Va.) vs. Richmond Kickers (USLL1)	Virginia Revolution Sportsplex; Leesburg, Va.
7 p.m. ET	West Chester United SC (USLL2) vs. AC Syracuse Pulse (NISA)	WCUSC/PF Kildare's Pub Turf Field; West Chester, Pa.
7 p.m. ET	Charleston Battery (USLC) vs. South Georgia Tormenta FC (USLL1)	Patriot's Point Soccer Stadium; Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
7 p.m. ET	Miami FC (USLC) vs. Miami United FC (NPSL)/City Soccer FC (Fla.) winner	Fla. International Univ. Soccer Stadium; Miami, Fla.
7 p.m. ET	North Carolina FC (USLL1) vs. Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (USLC)	WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.
7:30 p.m. ET	Louisville City FC (USLC) vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USLL1)	Lynn Family Stadium; Louisville, Ky.
7 p.m. CT	Forward Madison FC (USLL1) vs. Cleveland SC (NPSL)	Breese Stevens Field; Madison, Wis.
7 p.m. MT	Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USLC) vs. Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (USLL1)	Weidner Field; Colorado Springs, Colo.
7:30 p.m. MST	FC Tucson (USLL1) vs. Las Vegas Lights FC (USLC)	Kino North Stadium; Tucson, Ariz.
7:30 p.m. MST	Phoenix Rising FC (USLC) vs. Valley United FC (NISA)	Phoenix Rising Stadium at Wild Horse Pass; Chandler, Ariz.
7:30 p.m. PT	ALBION San Diego (NISA) vs. San Diego Loyal SC (USLC)	Canyon Crest Academy; San Diego, Calif.
7:30 p.m. PT	Bay Cities FC (NISA) vs. Monterey Bay F.C. (USLC)	PayPal Park; San Jose, Calif.

Thursday, April 7

Time	Game (home team listed first)	Venue
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. ET	Hartford Athletic (USLC) vs. Oyster Bay United FC (N.Y.)	Trinity Health Stadium; Hartford, Conn.
7 p.m. ET	Rochester New York FC (MLSNP) vs. Ocean City Nor'easters (USLL2)/Lansdowne Yonkers FC (N.Y.) winner	Monroe Community College; Rochester, N.Y.
7 p.m. CT	Birmingham Legion FC (USLC) vs. Southern States SC Stars (NPSL)	Protective Stadium; Birmingham, Ala.
7:30 p.m. PT	California United Strikers FC (NISA) vs. San Fernando Valley FC (Calif.)/Escondido FC (Calif.) winner	Orange County Great Park – Championship Soccer Stadium; Irvine, Calif.
7:30 p.m. PT	Sacramento Republic FC (USLC) vs. Portland Timbers U23 (USLL2)/Contra Costa FC (Calif.) winner	Heart Health Park; Sacramento, Calif.