The 2024 US Open is back at it this week with Round Two Proper and some of our very favorite teams are involved! We cover all 16 fixtures in this installation of the USOC Circle the Date and look at the matchups involving NPSL, UPSL, USL League One, NISA, MLSNP and anywhere else in between - Let’s get stuck in!

Richmond Kickers (USL League One) vs Maryland Bobcats (NISA)

Tues, 04/02 - 4:00 pm PT / 7:00 pm ET at City Stadium in Richmond, VA

Richmond didn’t blow out Christos, just winning 1-0, while Bobcats advanced 2-0 thanks to the Darwin Espinal show. Maryland has a chance in this one, especially with a strong roster that is only just now learning to play with each other.

Dan Vaughn - Protagonist Soccer / Knights Who Say NISA

Charlotte Independence (USL League One) vs South Carolina United Heat (UPSL)

Tues, 04/02 - 4:30 pm PT / 7:30 pm ET at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, NC

Currently Independence are 8th in USL League One with goals by Clay Dimmick, Joel Johnson, and Luis Alvarez in the league. Outstanding shot stopper, Austin Pack, has 7 saves so far. They advanced to Round Two of the USOC after defeating Vereinigung Erzgebirge 2-0 with goals from Omar Ciss and Kharlton Belmar. They are set to host South Carolina United Heat of the UPSL. SCU Heat knocked out MLSNP side Crown Legacy in Round One, behind a goal by Wilterlyno Inalien - they kick off their regular season at Soda City on Saturday.

Josh Duder - Protagonist Soccer / One League Under the C

NY City FC II (MLSNP) vs NY Red Bull II (MLSNP)

Tues, 04/02 - 4:30 pm PT / 7:30 pm ET at Belson Stadium in Queens, NY

In terms of the MLS first teams, New York City FC has never beaten the New York Red Bulls in the U.S. Open Cup, having been shut out in all three games. The Baby Blues won the first edition of the Junior Hudson River Derby last year, winning two of three regular season meetings in MLS NEXT Pro. However, NYRB II were the better team overall and made the 2023 playoffs, and will go into this Second Round clash sitting atop the Eastern Conference (at the time of this writing).

Both teams cruised through amateur opposition in the First Round with victory margins sitting at three goals or more. The two teams will reconvene at St. John’s University one week after this game for a regular season match. It’s funny, a common complaint about the Open Cup was the repetitive matchups every year involving the MLS teams - so this pairing feels like the doing of a monkey’s paw. Fun fact, the first Open Cup match I ever saw in person was a 2017 RBNY win over NYCFC in Harrison, NJ.

Michael Battista - Hudson River Blue / Red Bulls Nation

Lubbock Matadors (NPSL) vs Foro SC (UPSL)

Tues, 04/02 - 5:30 pm PT / 8:30 pm ET at LCU Soccer Field in Lubbock, TX

Lubbock plays in NPSL in a competitive Texas conference while Foro SC competes in UPSL. Foro SC was the only undefeated team going to the UPSL Fall 2023 finals, with a stingy defense. The Lubbock Matadors made the 2023 NPSL playoffs after becoming the Lone Star Conference regular season champs.

Danielle Gawronski - Protagonist Soccer

Has to be the tie of Round for me, being from DFW. I’ve covered Foro and interviewed The Matadors in the past. The Lubbock Matadors of NPSL face off against FORO SC from UPSL and while Foro SC boasts a strong defense, having gone undefeated in the UPSL Fall 2023 finals, the Matadors are fresh off their NPSL Lone Star Conference regular-season championship.

Ben Brannigan - Protagonist Soccer

Minnesota United FC 2 (MLSNP) vs Michigan Stars FC (NISA)

Tues, 04/02 - 5:30pm PT / 8:30pm ET at Allianz Field in St Paul, MN

Minnesota United 2 cruised past Chicago House in Round One, with a Jordan Adebayo-Smith second half hat trick. Michigan Stars advanced with a 1-0 win over Steel City. Stars are known to be stingy on defense and find a goal on the edges. Will that be enough to top Loons2?

Dan Vaughn - Protagonist Soccer / Knights Who Say NISA

Central Valley Fuego FC (USL League One) vs El Farolito FC (NPSL)

Tues, 04/20 - 7:30pm PT / 10:30pm ET at Univ of Cal Merced - Bobcat Field in Merced, CA

Everyone’s favorite burrito restaurant will take on the squad coached by USMNT legend Jermaine Jones - the magic of the cup truly knows no bounds. El Farolito mounted a come from behind win against Timbers 2, while Fuego found a late winner against Folsom to lead both teams here, and I think both will put on a show.

Jon Hunt - Bluegrass Soccer Cast / Protagonist Soccer

Miami United (USSL) vs Club de Lyon FC (NISA)

Wed, 04/03 - 3:00 pm PT / 6:00 pm ET at UPSL Stadium in Pembroke Pines, FL

Let’s give Club de Lyon FC their proper due. Coming into a round one match without having any competitive games played in 2024 and knocking off the 2023 UPSL Summer Champion AS Frenzi in a 3-2 offensive flurry was no small task. But a nice win against a strong amateur side in the (empty) friendly bleachers of Daytona State College doesn’t exactly prepare CD LFC for the much graduated trial that awaits them in round two.

Down in the humid confines of Hialeah Pembroke Pines, the USSL-based Miami United, a forever dozing giant of an amateur side that has persevered, both in on-pitch performance and in community support, even when multiple professional outfits have set up shop in their backyard. That perseverance has adorned their cases with several different league trophies at all levels of amateur soccer, earned them a place as one of the most consistent lower league contestants in the USOC, and embodied the ethos of “Respect All, Fear None” in tilts with professional sides over and over. For United, that last tilt was an impressive defensive display in Tennessee against MLSNP-side Chattanooga FC that resulted in a 1-0 victory. A home match in South Florida against the comparatively makeshift outfit up the coast has the makings of another (don’t call it an) upset for the Pink & Teal

Ryan Stallings - Protagonist Soccer / USL League 2 “The 2how”

SG Tormenta FC (USL League One) vs Savannah Clovers (NISA)

Wed, 04/03 - 4:00 pm PT / 7:00 pm ET at Memorial Stadium, Seattle WA

South Georgia Tormenta FC are 5th in the USL League One, after 4 games played, and are led by Nial Watson with 2 goals - the veteran Conor Doyle has one so far. Keeper Ford Parker leads the league with 20 saves! They snuck by CFL Spurs in the first round, 1-0, with a 5’ goal by Nick Akoto. Tormenta will take on NISA’s Savannah Clovers, who have not yet started their season, and by some accounts, may not be able to afford to? They managed to advance from Round One of the Cup after beating USL League Two opponents, Brave SC, 2-0 with goals from Roderic Green and Vladamir Jokic.

Josh Duder - Protagonist Soccer / One League Under the C

One Knoxville SC (USL League One) vs. Greenville Triumph SC (USL League One)

Wed, 04/03 - 4:00 pm PT / 7:00 pm ET at Regal Soccer Stadium in Knoxville, TN

Intra-league competitions are the norm this year with USL League One teams playing league matches, the inaugural USL Jägermeister Cup, and, with this match up, the U.S. Open Cup. Both teams sit atop the league table and look to be contenders for the USL1 title. For Greenville, players to watch are the Triumph’s attacking trio of Leo Castro, Lyam MacKinnon, and Zion Scarlett. Knoxville’s keeper Sean Lewis and stout back line will likely need a big performance.

Dan Creel - Protagonist Soccer / One League Under the C & Knights Who Say NISA

Vermont Green (USL League Two) vs Carolina Core (MLSNP)

Wed, 04/03 - 4:00 pm PT / 7:00 pm ET at Virtue Field in Burlington, VT

There isn’t a more unlucky team than Carolina Core, drawing the absolute worst possible away trip in the Open Cup. Vermont Green absolutely packed out their First Round Match, going above capacity and above expectations as they knocked off Lexington SC of USL1. Core are almost certainly the easier opponent but two upsets in a row is tough for anyone. Will the crowd power Green to a 3rd Round berth?

Phil Baki - Protagonist Soccer / The USL Show

Apotheos FC (NISA) vs Chattanooga Red Wolves (USL League One)

Wed, 04/03 - 4:30 pm PT / 7:30 pm ET at Silverbacks Park Stadium in Atlanta, GA

With all the (warranted) commotion around El Farolito, the burrito spot-borne club, knocking off Portland Timbers 2 two weeks ago, and the forfeiture of Georgia Lions, there wasn’t nearly the deserved buzz around the coffee shop-originated Apotheos FC. Now, the Latte Locomotive churns onto the pitch for their first competitive action since the NPSL 2023 national final. If the Coffees from north suburban Atlanta can pull off the upset of near-universally (around USA lower league fandom) reviled Chattanooga Red Wolves, it’ll be hard to stem a caffeinated nation’s celebrations.

While the higher-placed club, the visitors from East Ridge will hardly find themselves the favorites, having battled open qualifier Brockton FC from Massachusetts in a 4-2 victory at home, a visit to a rested Atlanta metro-based side isn’t welcoming. If there is a noticeable edge to cite for the pro side, it's that their League 1 tilts the past, and future, weekends have been postponed, giving the lower Tennesseans a chance to rest and focus on the USOC contest.

Ryan Stallings - Protagonist Soccer / USL League 2 “The 2how”

Chicago Fire II (MLSNP) vs Forward Madison (USL League One)

Wed, 04/03 - 5:00 pm PT / 8:00 pm ET at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, IL

The Chicago Fire’s MLS stand-in swamped the amateur Chicago City S.C. 6-0 in the cup’s first round. But, they will find a much tougher opponent against the USL League One side, Forward Madison. Due in large part to the stellar play of keeper Bernd Schipmann, the Mingos have only given up one goal over four competitive matches. Plus, Madison’s multi-pronged attack led by Christian Chaney should give Fire II’s defense fits.

Dan Creel - Protagonist Soccer / One League Under the C & Knights Who Say NISA

Union Omaha (USL League One) vs Des Moines Menace (USL League One)

Wed, 04/03 - 5:30 pm PT / 8:30 pm ET at Al F Caniglia Field in Omaha, NE

AJ DeLaGarza tweeted and this whole tie changed. Des Moines Menace have turned Instagram DMs into transfer business again and they will take on an Union Omaha team that has made light work of teams above them in the pyramid. Could this match be the one that produces a lower league deep run again?

Phil Baki - Protagonist Soccer / The USL Show

Colorado Rapids 2 (MLSNP) vs Northern Colorado Hailstorm (USL League One)

Wed, 04/03 - 6:30 pm PT / 9:30 pm ET at DSG Park in Commerce City, CO

The first time these two will face off in a competitive match in their history despite the pre-season matchups in the past. Rapids 2 made history by winning their first ever US Open Cup match by defeating Azteca 5280 FC at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park in the First Round and are looking to make more history and expand the tournament reputation for MLS Next Pro sides. Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC is back in Colorado, but away, having won their First Round against Tusla Athletics on the road in Tulsa. Although Hailstorm are scoreless in USL League One after two games; the return of key players and four goals in the First Round shows a different team with some magic of the cup. We’ll see good player matchups like the skillful Kimani Stewart-Baynes of Rapids 2 against Trinidad & Tobago Wonderkid Real Gill for Northern Colorado. Lots of offense, sound defense, and a battle in the middle of the park - all ingredients of a new rivalry in Colorado that’s brewing. The game will be on Wednesday April 3rd, at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park with kickoff at 7.30 pm MT.

Riccardo Cominelli - Linners & Wosers / Area Sports Net

Ventura County VC (MLSNP) vs Irvine Zeta (NISA)

Wed, 04/03 - 7:30 pm PT / 10:30 pm ET at Dignity Health Sports Stadium in Carson, CA

Back in February, LA Galaxy II of MLSNP announced a name change to Ventura County FC and in Round One of the US Open Cup the Galaxy’s second side defeated, Irvine Zeta II - the second side to NISA’s Irvine Zeta FC. With 73% of the ball, they outshot Zeta II 26 to 8 and advanced behind goals from Joseph John Barry and Sean Karami. So far in their league, Ventura County FC are unbeaten and have 10 goals from 7 different scorers - they are potent and can hit you from anywhere.

Now they face Irvine Zeta proper in Round Two of the US Open Cup - Zeta have yet to begin their 2024 NISA campaign, which was postponed; however, they managed to beat SC MesoAmerica of the CSA in Round One and only travel about an hour to face this week’s SoCal opponent.

Josh Duder - Protagonist Soccer / One League Under the C

Ventura County FC will face Irvine Zeta FC in the second round of the 2024 USOC after besting their UPSL side - Irvine Zeta FC 2 in the first round. On paper, VCFC played a much better match (72% possession, double the SOG), but if not for an own goal by Zeta 2, that match was all but tied. It'll be very interesting to see how Ventura fare against the pro version of Irvine Zeta.

MaryBeth Zmuda - Protagonist Soccer

Spokane Velocity FC (USL League One) vs Los Angeles Force (NISA)

Wed, 04/03 - 7:30 pm PT / 10:30 pm ET at ONE Spokane Stadium in Spokane, WA

Spokane have been impressive for a brand new League One side so far, and are undefeated at home in league play. Oh, and the Velocity are here in the Second Round after beating USL League Two champs Ballard FC. The Force have had an impressive roster build for a NISA club this past offseason, but needed a late goal to get by Redlands FC from USL League Two in the First Round. A statement game for NISA? Perhaps.

John Howard-Fusco - Protagonist Soccer / Knights Who Say NISA

Edited by Joshua Duder
Special thanks to all contributors - we couldn’t do things like this without you!