For those wanting a high-level recap, here you go:
- Number of Games: 4
- Games Needing Extra-Time: 3
- Games Decided by Penalties: 2
- Upsets (lower seed defeated higher seed): 2
- Clean Sheet victories: 1
- Red Cards issued: 2
For anyone wanting a detailed breakdown of each match, scroll on down for the Hooligan take.
Tampa Bay Rowdies (1st) 1 – 1 Miami FC (8th)
Tampa lifted the Players Shield on October 17 before a exuberant Al Lang Stadium. But on Friday that same home crowd was silenced. Miami FC completely shredded expectations. This was a team with 12 losses, a -10 goal differential, and had been one of the league’s longest running punchlines the past three seasons. Miami overachieved simply by pressing the match into extra time. But they had an x-factor… Eloy Room. You may remember Room from this summer’s World Cup, when he helped a plucky Curaçao earn a point and set a tournament record for saves in regular time. In this match he proved that performance was no fluke. First, he saved a 120th minute penalty from the normally dead-eyed Matt Myers to force a shootout. In that shootout, he made another two saves. Now, with one of the biggest favorites of the post-season knocked out, the Cup race is wide open.
Oh, and one of the two red cards was shown to Miami’s Denilson Milanés, for his late foul that led to Myers’ potentially game-winning penalty.
Louisville City FC (4th) 1 – 0 Pittsburgh Riverhounds (5th)
For 106 minutes, it appeared that Pittsburgh Riverhounds were going to resurrect their 2025 title-winning formula of playing to a 0-0 draw and winning on PKs. Then Tola Showunmi stepped and declared: “not on my watch, doggies.”
Showunmi actually started his professional career with Pittsburgh, who signed him from the University of New Hampshire Wildcats back in 2023, but showed little remorse after his tap-in from 2 yards out after Amadou Dia battled along the goal line and dinked the ball back across the face. Showunmi has started six games this season, but featured in 20 others from the bench. This match was no exception. Showunmi came on the 99th minute and had the biggest impact possible.
Charleston Battery (2nd) 1 – 1 Rhode Island FC (7th)
RIFC was literally seconds away from a major upset when… damn. I watched what happened and it still baffles me. Second half sub Laurent Kissiedou launched a hopeful cross from the left side that drifted towards the goal line. RI defender Frank Nodarse leapt up, as did Charleston’s Miguel Berry. The ball ricocheted between them, hit the ground and Berry inexplicably got enough of a toe on it to poke it into the net.
This xeet sums it up Rhode Island fans’ sentiments perfectly.
Charleson would advance after goalkeeper John Berner, who was subbed on in the 118th minute, stopped Augustín Rodríguez’s shot. Then midfielder Jeremy Kelly drained his. Hearts broken across Rhode Island; jubilation along the Georgia coast.
Detroit City FC (3rd) 1 – 2 Hartford Athletic (6th)
The second red card of this round had a much bigger impact. Detroit’s Kobe Hernández-Foster was shown a (admittedly controversial) straight red for violent conduct in the 19th minute. Online commentary lambasted the referee for essentially deciding the game with that call, but Detroit refused to roll over.
The third seed had to play 70+ minutes down a man, yet still managed nine shots on frame, 51% possession, and nearly double Hartford’s xG (1.89 to 1.01). They even scored after Devon Amoo-Mensah was able to pounce on a blocked shot right before halftime. But effort only goes so far, and in that respect Hartford’s Sadat Anaku’s brace undid Les Rouge.
The Qooligan is an alias of Hooligan Soccer founder Q Williams. Q is a 20+ year veteran of numerous technology and media companies, including MTV, Gracenote, Watchwith and Crunchyroll. He has a master’s degree in European History from Columbia University. Q is also a respected Sports Journalist with extensive experience in Soccer, particularly the Premier League, Champions League, MLS and USL. The Qooligan provides analysis and valuable insights based on years of professional practice. Connect with The Qooligan on X and Bluesky. He is committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy content that reflects expertise, experience and no shortage of attitude.
