Six of the eight Round 3 games on Wednesday entered extra-time. Four of these were decided by a penalty shootout. Sadly only a single cupset, but when the fixtures are this exciting, everyone’s a winner.
Detroit City FC 3 – 1 Westchester SC
In my preview article I wrote: “Westchester, your run ends here.” Turned out to be true. But they gave a fairly good accounting on the way out.
There wasn’t much to the first half, as both teams were content to feel each other out. Overall, Detroit had the stronger run of chances throughout the game, including a bicycle kick from Sebastián Guenzatti that just went wide. Morey Doner put the hosts up with a relatively simple tap in from the center of the box, as Detroit appeared to be in cruise control. But Juan Obregón’s 76th minute remarkable shot of the half-volley proved to be a shock equalizer. Detroit wasted no time in responding, forcing keeper Dane Jacomen into a brilliant save two minutes later. Their relentless pressure forced a Westchester when Noah Powder committed a dumb penalty in the 83rd minute. The resulting penalty put Detroit ahead, but they never let up on the gas and got a third just before the final whistle.
FC Naples 1 (8) – 1 (9) Tampa Bay Rowdies
I liked Naples in this one. And if it wasn’t for the heads up defending of Forrest Lasso, Naples would have won it. But I’m ahead of myself.
The commentators spent a lot of time trying to come up with a catchy name for this fixture. The Rowdies are a long-time staple of the U.S. soccer scene, but Naples were founded in 2024 and this was the first match between these close neighbors.
Tampa started the scoring in the 26th minute after Manuel Arteaga deftly headed an inbound ball into the path of Pacifique Niyongabire, who patiently waited on the bounce before firing it into the corner. Naples would wait all of 90 seconds before they answered. Luke Prpa would hammer it into the goal off Jayden Onen’s cross, and that level score would stand for the next 95 minutes, before the teams entered extra time.
Of course, there was that insane sequence with seconds left on the clock when Naples had a breakaway chance. Onen drove into the box, cut off by backtracking defenders. He unselfishly passed across the pitch to Karsen Henderlong, who laid it off perfectly for Andrés Ferrin who only had to pass it into the net… and Forrest Lasso, who was backing up his keeper, cleared it off the line. Stunning counter; even more stunning defending.
The ensuing shootout would go TEN penalty kicks. TEN. FWIW, the winning name was: “Derby of the Gulf.”
Indy Eleven 1 (aet) – 0 Miami FC
Not gonna lie… not a lot happened in this one. In fact, this was most likely the dullest 120 minutes of the Open Cup so far. The broadcast crew couldn’t even find highlights to play during the break.
But then… pure Open Cup magic. In the 3rd minute of stoppage time in the second half of extra time, Indy took the final corner of the game. Hayden White, a 30 year-old English defender who played for nine different clubs in ten years, was unmarked in the center of the box. When the ball came to him, he did not miss that header. Cue the insanity!
FC Tulsa 1 (2) – 1 (4) Phoenix Rising FC
Jearl Margaritha put Rising on the scoresheet in the 51st minute. But Rémi Cabral saw red in the 75th minute to put his team down a man. Tulsa responded when Stefan Lukic found a cross with his left foot and slotted it home.
I wrote in my preview “The latter (e.g. scoring) will need to be addressed if they want a chance against a Rising team that is prepared to win any shootout.” Of course, I didn’t mean a penalty shootout, but that’s what it came to. And my predictions still turned out to be true. Phoenix were perfect; Tulsa wasn’t.
Colorado Springs Switchbacks 3 (aet) – 2 One Knoxville SC
This had to be one of the best games of the Round. Knoxville got started quick, with Babacar Diene scoring in the 2nd minute. Colorado Springs had a quick score after the start of the second when some lazy defending gave Steven Echevarria a close-range shot. Colorado Springs took control over the game and imposed their will for most of the second half. That paid off when Marco Micaletto weaved through traffic, set up the give-and-go, and then swiftly fired a shot surrounded by defenders. But the drama wasn’t over. Stavros Zarokostas snatched an equalized with a toe-poke off a flicked-on header off a long throw. You can’t make this up.
As we stared down the prospect of extra time, I was wondering how Knoxville would manage it. Two of their players had already gone down with cramps, and another 30 minutes would surely push them to the breaking point. It was a fresh-legged Anthony Fontana who would punch in the game winner in the 103rd minute, though Knoxville would dig deep and fight until the end. They should hold their heads high.
New Mexico United 2 (1) – 2 (4) El Paso Locomotive
This derby is known as “Del Camino de Reál,” and this is the first time it would be contested in the Open Cup. When an elimination cup tie is also a derby, you expect fireworks and some magic. And goodness did this one deliver.
Coming into tonight, New Mexico was undefeated in five home Open Cup matches. They had also won the past four derby matches. El Paso last earned a point in Albuquerque back in 2023, and they have never moved past Round 3.
Well you know what they say about records.
What happened in the first 95 minutes is relatively inconsequential, because that ol’ Open Cup magic met with fireworks to produce a final minute for the ages. Coming off a dead ball restart with seconds left, a hopeful pass from Gabi Torres entered the box. El Paso’s Wilmer Cabrera bounced it off his chest, skirted around a defender and then struck it into the net to send the game into extra time. Once it one to kicks, you knew that this was going to be the evening where Los Locos defied the records. Well played.
Sacramento Republic 1 – 0 El Farolito
This one DIDN’T go into extra time, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. El Farolito are like an itch on the bottom of your foot when you’re wearing lace-up boots. So annoying. Sacramento weren’t at their best on the evening, but they were certainly committed. So too were the media darling amateurs from San Francisco, who have more trophies and hardware in their “clubhouse” (a bar on 24th and Mission) than most English Premier League clubs.
The lone goal was actually a thing of beauty. Rodrigo Lopez served a precision strike to the head of Sebastian Herrera after some lovely possession and build-up play. Herrera’s redirect was perfect.
There were thirteen yellow cards issued in the match: nine for Sacramento (who were extremely lucky to finish with eleven on the pitch) and four for Farolito. The plucky visitors simply never, ever, stopped trying. They simply failed on finished.
In any event, it was a worthwhile trip, as the club will collect $50,000 for being the longest surviving team from the Open Division. But it did come at the cost of their 21-game unbeaten run.
Las Vegas Lights 2 (3) – 2 (4) Chattanooga Red Wolves
What did I say in my preview, Las Vegas? “Don’t draw. Seriously.” Did you listen? NO. And look what happened. I can’t get into more detail, as I’m exhausted after all the extra time, the shootouts and, well, everything. But this was a serious #cupset. Congrats to Chattanooga. Don’t go too crazy on the Strip tonight.
