Matchups to Watch After U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 Draw
Highlighting 4 games that are must-watches for the next round of play as MLS and USL teams enter the competition.
Today, the 16 matchups for the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 were drawn after yesterday’s chaotic and exciting third round reached its conclusion. The eight MLS first teams and the top 8 USL Championship sides enter the competition at this stage under the year’s revised format, with the stipulation that none of the new teams can be drawn against each other.
The stipulation also enforces that only one MLS team and only one top USL Championship side are put into the divisional groups of four (divisions are used to decide both the Round of 32 and 16 matchups), meaning that the 8 MLS sides will not have to play against one another until they absolutely have to in the quarterfinals. While this rule is extremely unfavorable to lower-league soccer, it has allowed for some games to be drawn between MLS and USL clubs that should be very entertaining. So, we picked what we believe are the best games to look out for in the upcoming round. The full draw results are linked here: https://beyondthe90.substack.com/p/us-open-cup-fourth-round-draw and all games in the Round of 32 will be played on May 7 and 8.
Charleston Battery (USLC) vs. South Georgia Tormenta (USL 1)
Tormenta have started their year in USL League One slow, but they have lit up their Open Cup competition. After beating the amateur America CFL Spurs 1-0, they thrashed local rivals Savannah Clovers of NISA fame 4-0 and stormed to a 4-2 comeback win away against USL-Championship Miami FC. Captain and midfielder Connor Doyle leads the side into Charleston, looking to extend their flawless Open-Cup record against Championship sides. Yes, you read that right: the Tormenta have never lost to a USL Championship side in the Open Cup. If they keep that streak going, they have hosting rights for the winner of Atlanta United-Charlotte Independence (Peach State rivalry?).
Charleston will be the Tormenta’s toughest test to date. The defending Eastern Conference Champions of the Championship have exploded to an early hold on first place in the second division, being unbeaten in seven games and led by explosive forward Nick Markanich. On paper, they should win this match comfortably, but Tormenta’s performances over recent weeks leave potential for a massive cupset.
Union Omaha (USL1) vs. Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
What. A. Draw. Union Omaha, one of the best teams in League One, get to host Sporting Kansas City. SKC hosted Union Omaha in last year’s Open Cup quarterfinals and proceeded to thrash them 6-0. The rematch will be an absolute must-watch for the fan atmosphere alone as Omaha fans will show up in the masses. And show up they should, supporting a team that is currently unbeaten in League One play after their first two games and just upset the Championship’s El Paso Locomotive in penalties in the third round of the Cup.
SKC will bring strong away support, even for their team which is struggling, to say the least. 9th place in the West isn’t bad, but they have blown multiple leads as of late and put Peter Vermes’ long-lasting managerial reign into jeopardy. It may or may not be catastrophic for Vermes to lose to Omaha, but it would certainly keep him on the hot seat.
Las Vegas Lights (USLC) vs. LAFC (MLS)
This game is very important for the future of the Las Vegas Lights. The team infamous for their extravagant themes for game day and abandoning their own supporter’s groups were bought by former Toronto Blue Jays star Joey Bautista, and while he has made some stadium changes and made the roster competitive (currently 5th in the Western Conference), their average attendance is a measly 1,394. With the threat of an MLS expansion side being very real, this match’s fan support will be a key sign on whether the USL should continue to support a team in Las Vegas or relocate the side. Las Vegas are coming off a dramatic 2-1 win over the Spokane Velocity after extra time in the third round.
For a matchup as big as this, who better for Las Vegas to host than one of the best teams in MLS, LAFC? They’ve gotten off to a middle-of-the-pack start at 6th in the West, but we should never count out a team led by the powerful goal machine that is Dennis Bouanga. LAFC, like Charleston versus the Tormenta, are projected to win on paper, but this matchup could have the right ingredients for a cupset.
FEATURED MATCH: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) vs. Oakland Roots (USLC)
This is not only the best draw in the Open Cup this year, but one of the best draws in the last half-decade. If you don’t know why, the owner of the Earthquakes is John Fisher. Yes, that John Fisher of Oakland Athletics ownership fame. Yes, that John Fisher who has abandoned the city’s attempt to keep the team multiple times, ignored fan protests, and is trying to move the A’s to Vegas with a faulty stadium plan and a multi-year stop at a minor-league baseball park in Sacramento. That should be enough reason for Oakland fans to hate Mr. Fisher, but there’s more. Oakland Roots co-founder Benny Nagel left the club to form The Town FC, the MLS NEXT Pro affiliate of the San Jose Earthquakes, in Oakland as a direct attempt to compete with the Roots (Info here: https://beyondthe90.substack.com/p/stunner-benno-nagel-teams-with-mls?utm_source=publication-search). Along with rumors that Fisher and The Town are trying to undo the Root’s agreement for a stadium in the Oakland Colosseum parking lot, this game is a real representation of good vs. evil and the values American soccer fans hold dear vs. the the powerful hand of top-division soccer pushing to make a closed system even less inclusive.
This matchup is also the one most likely to be a cupset. The Earthquakes have one win in eight league games and are last place in MLS due to both poor coaching from Luchi Gonzalez and John Fisher’s unwillingness to invest in the team (sounds familiar, doesn’t it?). Oakland are only 8th in the West at this moment of time, but they have shown flashes of brilliance and could realistically get a result at PayPalPark. Expect good away support and lots of “SELL THE TEAM” shirts for Oakland’s first matchup against an MLS opponent and the birth of a fiery rivalry.
It would be great to have an analysis of how or why Las Vegas has made so fundamental bad decisions, especially abandoning its vital fan base? That fan base translates to community support, critical to properly renovate Cashman field, so it was stupid on so many levels.
Also, to be clear, the Oakland A's are definitely headed to Las Vegas. They are still playing in Oakland only for contractual reasons/ avoiding a big financial penalty....