After an exciting first round of the US Open Cup, a USL League One sides advanced after defeating amateur sides, with the exception of Lexington SC.
In round two, we’ll have a mix of professional teams and those amateur sides that pulled upsets (or a forfeit) in round one. Here’s a quick rundown of the teams USL League One sides will face in round two.
Richmond Kickers vs. Maryland Bobcats
Tuesday, April 2nd, 7:00 PM ET
City Stadium, Richmond, VA
NISA side Maryland Bobcats advanced after defeating West Chester United of the NPSL. Led by striker Darwin Espinal’s brace, the 2-0 win happened on the road at the YSC Complex in Wayne, PA.
The Bobcats finished 5th in the NISA table in 2023, and fell to Albion San Diego in the first round of the playoffs on penalties. Espinal has a long career, going back to Tampa Bay Rowdies’ NASL days. NISA is where he’s recently found the most success, scoring 25 goals in all competitions over the last three seasons.
The Bobcats also feature former USL players Elija Amo (South Georgia Tormenta 2023), Abdou Thiam (Forward Madison 2022, Louisville City 2019-2021) and Kelvin Mwape (Charlotte Independence 2018, Richmond Kickers 2019-2020, South Georgia Tormenta 2022).
Maryland Bobcats FC was founded in 2016 as World Class Premier Elite, competing in local leagues before moving to UPSL ahead of the 2019 season. The club turned professional ahead of the 2021 NISA season. They are currently the only professional outdoor men’s club in Maryland.
Richmond advanced on a 1-0 win against USL League Two side Christos FC, a result that was a lot closer than it needed to be. The hosts will be without star striker Emiliano Terzaghi, expected to return from injury this coming weekend, and may still be without center back Nathan Aune, midfielder João Gomiero and winger Toni Pineda.
With Maryland Bobcats FC as one of the better sides in NISA, and Richmond struggling, the edge has to go to Maryland for this match.
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Charlotte Independence vs. South Carolina United Heat
Tuesday, April 2nd, 7:30 PM ET
American Legion Memorial Stadium, Charlotte, NC
UPSL side South Carolina United Heat upset MLS Next Pro side Crown Legacy 1-0 in the first round. They’ll face another Charlotte-based side in round two.
South Carolina United Heat’s lone goal came from a late penalty conversion from striker Will Inalien, who last played professionally for former MLS Next Pro side Rochester New York FC. The 24 year old had 4 goals and 2 assists in the 2022 season, and has been a free agent since.
That being said, Charlotte is a team of seasoned veterans and has shown they take the US Open Cup seriously with their 2-0 win at Vereinigung Erzgebirge in the first round. This North Carolina side will certainly present more of a challenge for the South Carolina amateurs than a struggling MLS Next Pro expansion side. The edge here goes to The Jacks.
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Central Valley Fuego vs. El Farolito
Tuesday, April 2nd, 7:30 PM PT / 10:30 PM ET
University of California Merced-Bobcat Field, Merced, CA
Tournament darlings El Farolito will meet the Jermaine Jones led Fuego FC at a neutral location, nearly halfway between Fresno and San Francisco. El Farolito knocked out Portland Timbers 2 in the first round on second half goals from Johann Yabur and Dembor Benson.
Fuego took care of business against FC Folsom, taking down the UPSL side 2-1 on goals from Jason Ramos and Shavon John-Brown. Ramos is now injured, along with multiple other Fuego players, resulting in the team having a shallow bench against Madison this past weekend.
With the neutral site and with Fuego struggling with injuries, this may end up another competitive match for the NPSL amateur side, named for the taco and burrito bar in San Francisco at which it was founded. An advancement wouldn’t be the first time for the club that won the tournament in 1993 under original name CD Mexico.
Slight edge to Fuego, but it’s very slight.
READ MORE: San Francisco Originals El Farolito: A Bar, Burritos & Open Cup Glories (US Soccer)
One Knoxville vs. Greenville Triumph
Wednesday, April 3rd, 7:00 PM ET
Regal Soccer Stadium, Knoxville
The lone matchup of USL League One sides in round two, these teams know a thing or two about each other. Both will come in hot, and as the top two in the league table. Knoxville is 3-0-0 on the season, having dominated its first three opponents, Charlotte, Lexington and Tormenta. The squad retained its potent defense, and seems to have added the pieces needed to fix last year’s anemic offense. Knoxville advanced in the tournament by defeating former USL League Two rivals Asheville City 2-0.
Greenville also has yet to lose, coming in with a 2-0-1 league record. They started the season with a decisive 3-1 win over Spokane, followed by a 0-0 draw with Madison and a thrilling come from behind 3-2 win at Lexington. Greenville advanced by defeating USL League Two side South Carolina United Bantams 1-0.
Slight edge to Greenville, but very slight.
South Georgia Tormenta vs. Savannah Clovers
Wednesday, April 3rd, 7:00 PM ET
Tormenta Stadium, Statesboro, GA
Supporter-owned Savannah Clovers FC made the jump from NPSL to professional tier NISA ahead of the 2023 season. The side finished 9th in the table, but were able to take care of USL League Two side Brave SC with a 2-0 win in the first round of the US Open Cup. Goals came from Roddy Green and Vlad Jokic in the first half. Both are new additions to the squad in 2024, having scored four goals a piece for Gold Star Detroit in 2023.
Tormenta advanced after defeating USSL side FC America CFL Spurs 1-0. Nick Akoto scored the lone goal in that match. Tormenta now has four regular season matches plus the first round US Open Cup match under its belt, and sits 5th in the table with a 1-2-1 record. The lone win came at Richmond in week 3, but the squad fell at Knoxville this last weekend.
The sides are based just an hour apart, but have never played a match against each other.
With Tormenta having plenty of time to figure things out, and Savannah’s season not yet started, we’re giving the edge to Tormenta.
Apotheos FC vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves
Wednesday, April 3rd, 7:30 PM ET
Silverback Park, Atlanta
With the pitch somehow not quite ready a month into the season, Chattanooga will instead travel to Atlanta to take on NPSL side Apotheos FC at Silverback Park. The hosts advanced by default when their first round opponent Georgia Lions forfeited due to being unable to field a team.
Without having a look at Apotheos in the first round, we don’t know what to expect as far as the roster. We do know that Chattanooga will likely be missing star midfielder Jonathan Filipe, who exited the side’s only regular season match, a 1-0 loss at Lexington. Chattanooga advanced on a wild 4-2 win against UPSL side Brockton FC United. That match required extra time, after Brockton mounted a comeback from a 2-0 deficit. However, Chattanooga striker Ropapa Mensah managed to score two in the last four minutes of the second extra time to advance the professionals.
We’ll give a slight edge to Chattanooga here, but with their struggles in the first round, and having not played a match since the first round, this could easily turn into an upset.
Chicago Fire II vs. Forward Madison
Wednesday, April 3rd, 7:00 PM CT, 8:00 PM ET
SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview, Illinois
The Mingos will travel to Chicagoland to take on the II side of MLS’ Chicago Fire. The MLS Next Pro side had no problems dispatching USL League Two side Chicago City SC by a score of 6-0. In regular season action, the side has two draws in two matches, both of which were won on penalties (it’s an MLS Next Pro thing).
Forward Madison advanced on a 2-0 win at NPSL side Duluth FC, on a Christian Chaney brace. While we don’t yet know Chaney’s availability after he exited a weekend regular season match with an injury, we do know that Madison was able to recovery just fine in his absence, taking down Fuego FC 3-0. Madison has yet to lose, and has only conceded one goal in three matches, with one win and two draws.
This should be one of the more evenly contested inter-league matchups. Chicago Fire II is a young squad, while Madison has plenty of professional experience. We’re giving the slight edge to Madison.
Union Omaha vs. Des Moines Menace
Wednesday, April 3rd, 7:30 PM CT, 8:30 PM ET
Caniglia Field, Omaha
Union Omaha will host the other darlings of the tournament, USL League Two side Des Moines Menace. The side advanced in penalties over NISA side Capo FC after taking a 2-2 draw through extra time. Multiple former professionals appeared for the Menace, including retired US Men’s National Team and MLS star Sacha Kljestan, former Greenville Triumph defensive midfielder Peter Pearson, former Omaha defender Eddie Gordon and former Knoxville defender Gabriel Claudio. While all of these (except Kljestan) are obstenably free agent professionals, subject to signing a professional contract as the opportunity arises, the fact that the Menace were able to attract these names speaks volumes. Supposedly, former LA Galaxy start AJ DeLaGarza might appear in round two?
Union Omaha, despite only playing two matches (2-1 regular season win over Fuego, 4-1 US Open Cup win over Western Mass Pioneers), is a formidable squad and should present an immensely more difficult challenge than Capo. Omaha has multiple offensive weapons, a rebuilt defense, one of the best goalkeepers in the league and a deep bench.
Despite any former professionals Des Moines can round up, we’re giving the strong edge to Union Omaha.
Colorado Rapids 2 vs. Northern Colorado Hailstorm
Wednesday, April 3rd, 7:30 PM MT, 9:30 PM ET
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colorado
Hailstorm will travel to the Denver area to face Colorado Rapids’ 2 team. Colorado Rapids 2 defeated Colorado Premier League side Azteca FC 3-0 in the first round, while Northern Colorado traveled to Tulsa Athletic and came home with a 4-1 victory.
Colorado Rapids 2 sits at 1-1-1 in the MLS Next Pro regular season. The last match was over the weekend, a draw lost on penalties (that MLS Next Pro thing again) to LAFC 2. Meanwhile, Hailstorm is winless in two road matches in USL League One play, having drawn Lexington and narrowly lost to Spokane.
Like many MLS Next Pro sides connected to a parent side, Colorado Rapids 2 are a young squad, with a median age of 20 and the oldest player 25 year old goalkeeper Ethan Bandré. They’re so far led by winger Marlon Vargas, responsible for 2 of the 3 goals scored this season. The 23 year old has 19 goals in 50 MLS Next Pro regular season appearances, and 4 more while competing under USL Championship.
Hailstorm still appears to be finding its footing after losing massive talent in the off season. They’re another side in which the pieces are probably there, but are still adjusting. With this past weekend off, they may have found their groove, but we won’t know until we see them play. Colorado Rapids 2 will definitely present a much greater challenge than Tulsa Athletic in this tournament. We give the slight edge to Hailstorm.
Spokane Velocity vs. Los Angeles Force
Wednesday, April 3rd, 7:30 PM PT, 10:30 PM ET
ONE Spokane Stadium, Spokane
Spokane Velocity took down cross-state USL League Two side (and defending league champs) Ballard FC by a score of 1-0 to advance. And after four regular season matches, the USL League One expansion side hasn’t looked bad. They’re currently sitting at third in the table with two wins and two losses, coming off one of those losses this past weekend at Charlotte.
Los Angeles Force defeated USL League Two side Redlands by a score of 2-1 to advance. Unlike other sides in NISA, LA Force has been steady announcing roster additions and seems to be one of the better run sides in the league. Notable members of the 2024 squad include former Montreal Impact and LA Galaxy 2 striker Michael Salazar, and former USL League One players Ronaldo Pineda, Ronaldo Lomeli and Josue Cartagena. The 2023 side finished 3rd in the table.
This will be LA Force’s first non-friendly professional opponent this season, while Spokane now has four matches against professional sides down in the last month. We give the slight edge to Spokane.