US Open Cup 1st Round begins new era for competition

US Open Cup returned with the 1st round and teams across the United States. Some of them feature amateurs and semi-professionals dreaming of a fairytale run in the oldest ongoing national soccer competition.

These games as well as a handful in the next couple rounds, are available via Bleacher Report.

Here’s what happened in the 1st Round of the 2023 US Open Cup:

US Open Cup 1st Round scores

West Chester United 1-3 Ocean City Nor’easters

The visiting team from southeastern New Jersey represents USL League 2. Those Nor’easters trailed early after a 12th-minute goal from Finn Reese. However, Andres Latorre equalized six minutes later with a glorious low rebound shot.

Then, Ocean City took the lead and advanced to the second round with a thunderous header by Dylan Evande. That goal at 60 minutes, and a penalty from Andre Sabroso eight minutes later, launched Ocean City into the second round.

El Farolito 3-0 (AET) Inter San Francisco

For 90 minutes, this was an even match. That was until Herebert Soto received a straight red card in the 86th minute. The home side was down to 10 men for the rest of the 90 and the extra time period. That is when all the goals arrived for El Farolito.

Jonathan Mosquera scored the match winner in the 94th minute. Mosquera deflected a free kick. A one-goal lead became two just five minutes later, as John Quinones took advantage of a San Francisco goalkeeper error. Cesar Benitez finished the scoring in the 113th minute to seal the victory.

Appalachian FC 2-2 (3-0 after penalties) North Carolina Fusion u23

The twists and turns in this match were wild and crazy, but the new kids on the Open Cup block from the NPSL advanced on penalties after a two-goal draw through regulation and extra time.

Beaman United FC 0-3 Des Moines Menace

The amateur Iowan club continues to show why they are one of the top sides to qualify and advance out of the opening round of the US Open Cup as they defeated the amateurs from Tennessee 3-0.

Gabriel Rodriguez converted twice with a hard shot to the lower left side of the net in the 21st minute, then converted a penalty in the 58th minute for his brace. Fernando Garcia finished off the scoring inside second-half stoppage time.

Chicago House AC 1-0 Bavarian United

It was a tightly contested match that offered only one goal late in the first half when John Makowiecki headed home from point-blank range. But within the final moments of the match, in second-half stoppage time, it was Chicago House’s goalkeeper Tony Halterman who made two spectacular saves in succession to prevent an equalizer.

Manhattan SC 2-1 (AET) Motown FC

With a picturesque view of the Hudson River along the Bronx, the match was held on the campus of the College of Mount St. Vincent. Manhattan SC needed extra time to advance into the second round.

After Franco Catania scored in the 26th minute for the visiting FC Motown, the Manhattan SC’s equalizer came in the 55th minute from Bibo Hakim-Karamoko. The match winner was in the 106th minute of extra time when 18-year-old Will Loka hammered the ball home to begin the celebrations.

However, Motown FC have filed an official complaint to protest the match because they allege the game was played on a field that wasn’t in compliance with minimum dimensions per the US Open Cup rules.

Ventura County Fusion 1-4 Capo FC

After an opening goal by Ventura County’s Jerry Desdunes in the 6th minute, Capo FC exploded for four goals and took out the Fusion as they frustrated their hosts all match long.

Joshue Gallardo equalized 10 minutes later. Then Capo FC took the lead in first-half stoppage time from Sergio Vega. Parker Scaizo made it a two-goal lead in the 53rd minute, and then Hevany Ramos Mota finished the job in the 77th minute.

Hartford City FC 1-2 Lansdowne Yonkers

On a cool evening at Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford, Connecticut, it was the first suburb north of the New York City border that was Lansdowne Yonkers that advanced into the next round of the Open Cup.

Jacksonville Armada 1-1 (9-8 after penalties) Miami United

What a fantastic match this was. Battles happened all over the pitch, as both sides scored in regulation time. Micah Thomas for Jacksonville scored in the 42nd minute, then Bautista Dominguez equalized in the 48th minute. A dramatic penalty kick shootout was next. The final round of penalty kicks came when goalkeeper Nicklas Ruhle converted the winner and stopped the last kick from Miami’s Peterson Occenat to send the home team into the second round.

The only blemish for the Armada is that their goalscorer Micah Thomas got two yellows and was then sent off. He will face a one-match suspension.

Other scores in the US Open Cup 1st round

Cleveland SC 1-0 Lionsbridge FC
Project 510 0-3 Crossfire Premier
UDA Soccer 1-0 Park City Red Wolves
Tulsa Athletic 1-0 Brazos Valley Cavalry
Club de Lyon B 0-1 Nona FC

Photo: IMAGO / Icon Sportswire