Matches 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9… MLS on MLS. Not Tasty.

Some team from MLS won the USOC last time… who cares

8. NYCFC (MLS) vs Rochester NYFC (MLSNP)

Wednesday, 05/11/22 - Belson Stadium, Jamaica, NY. 7:00 pm (EST)
Last year’s MLS Champions are entering the tournament in the Round of 32 and while they have no stats or highlights from the first three rounds of the USOC with which to compare to the efforts of their guests, MLSNP franchise Rochester NYFC, we can probably glean a result based on the absolute gulf of class between the two squads.

Rochester joined in the fun during the second round and got past amateur side Lansdowne Bhoys 1-0; boasting 65% possession and taking 15 shots. They then struggled to beat another fully amateur side, FC Motown by going up by two goals in the first half but giving up two goals in the second half, then losing two players to red cards; however managed to hold onto the very end and win in penalties.

Its fair to expect NYCFC, who despite being 6th in the Eastern Conference of MLS, is tied for the second highest goal difference in the league, to run away with this match. It’s unlikely the Rhinos will be able to suppress these professionals they way they did against amateurs - this may be one to skip.

7. Houston Dynamo (MLS) vs San Antonio FC (USLC)

Wednesday, 05/11/22 - PNC Stadium, Houston, TX. 8:30 pm (EST)
The Dynamo joined the party in the third round and avoided extra time with a 93’ winner by Sam Junqua after trading a pair of Own Goals with RGV Toros. They had less possession than their former affiliate team out of south Texas, fewer passes, fewer corners and more fouls. Houston Dynamo are currently sitting outside the playoff spots in the west and have a -1 GD in Major League Soccer.

Meanwhile, San Antonio FC of USL Championship defeated the D’Feeters Kicks in the second round 3-1 then astonished Austin with two late goals in their round three meeting to send them packing. San Antonio is sitting in second place in their respective Western Conference with a +7 goal difference, led by Elliot Collier with 4 goals in 8 appearance; Collier also scored against Austin in their last USOC match and if he plays on Wednesday, will be the focus of Houston’s defense.

While it’s possible and even likely that San Antonio get past Houston Dynamo in this game, it should be noted that they lost just four days prior, 0-3 to conference rivals Phoenix Rising and have a very important league match only three days later, away, to the always tough Miami FC. It will be interesting to see if head coach Alen Marcina prioritizes keeping pace in the league or taking a stab at the glory of the Cup.

Once upon a time, a team from Rochester called the Rhinos won the US Open Cup

6. Inter Miami CF (MLS) vs SG Tormenta FC (USL1)

Tuesday, 05/10/22 - DRV Park Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL. 8:00 pm (EST)
Inter Miami have not been good, maybe ever, and are actually getting worse every year; currently, they sit second bottom, 13th place, in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer and given up 19 goals in 10 games played; had a -17 goal difference at the end of last year and a -10 GD the year prior. This isn’t just league form either; somehow they managed to beat USL’s Miami FC while being out-possessed, out-passed, and other than an 83’ goal by Campana, the only stat they dominated in last Cup match was out-fouling Miami FC, 21-11 with 4 yellows and a red card to cap the evening.

Under normal circumstances, one would assume South Georgia Tormenta FC, a team several tiers below Inter Miami in the US Soccer pecking-level, would be a shoe-in for a loss, but these aren’t normal circumstances… Despite Tormenta not necessarily being a beacon of historic form in their respective league; finishing 6th in 2019 with a -2 GD, 8th in 2020 with a -3 GD, and second bottom last year with a dire -11 GD, they currently sit 2nd in USL League One. Big deal right? Except that while they have only scored four goals in five league matches, they have only given up 1.

In fact, if we include their 1-0 win away to USL Championship side Charleston Battery in Round 2 and their 2-0 defeat of USL Championship side Birmingham Legion in Round 3, SG Tormenta FC have strung together 6 consecutive shutouts and it shouldn’t shock anybody if they continue that trend against Inter Miami - who, I suspect, will be more focused on their league match with fellow cellar dweller DC United on Saturday. In fact, if head coach Phil Neville should happen to lose both, he very well may be in the hot seat.

5. Sacramento Republic (USLC) vs Phoenix Rising (USLC)

Wednesday, 05/11/22 - Heart Health Park, Sacramento, CA 10:30 pm (EST)
Both of these clubs entered the fray in Round 2 - Sacramento obliterating Timbers U23s 6-0 and Phoenix Rising struggling to get past NISA side Valley United, just getting doing so with a goal by Claudio Repetto deep into extra time. Round 3 saw Sac Republic largely dominate USL League One team, Central Valley Fuego, but needing a dramatic 95’ minute winner from club legend Rodrigo Lopez to seal the deal while Phoenix was out-possessed and out-passed by New Mexico United but sent their rivals home with a 81’ Greg Hurst winner.

The two teams are neck-and-neck in USL Championship’s Western Conference as well; 4th and 5th respectively, Phoenix leading by 3 points in the table and with a better goal difference. They have yet to work out their differences in the league, and will surely have June 4th circled on the calendar for their first league match of the season. Historically, Phoenix has the advantage with 4 wins and 4 draws going all the way back to 2014 - to find the last time Sacramento beat Phoenix, you have to go all the way back to June 13, 2015 and technically, they were Arizona United SC, so Republic have never actually beaten them.

Its been a minute, but Sac Republic know how to lift a trophy

4. Richmond Kickers (USL1) vs Charlotte FC (MLS)

Wednesday, 05/11/22 - City Stadium, Richmond, VA 6:30 pm (EST)
Originally constructed in 1929, Richmond’s City Stadium has been the site for the many highs and few lows for the Richmond Kickers. From their historic US Open Cup run in 1995 (they actually did the double that year, winning the inaugural year of the USISL PL too). In their history, they have finished 1st in the league four times, won the playoffs three times, and made it, at least, to the Round of 16 in the US Open Cup 11 times, including this iteration.

Kickers joined the tournament in Round 2 and advanced by defeating USL League 2 side, Northern Virginia FC, 1-0. Head Coach Darren Sawatzky then won at home against NC Fusion U23s, 1-0, off a very late winner arriving in the 118’, but arriving nonetheless. Richmond’s league form is all over the place but look to leverage home field advantage, in the grand old City Stadium, to give MLS franchise Charlotte FC a run for their money.

Charlotte FC, perhaps the least interesting cookie-cutter franchise put out by MLS in the last decade, joined the Cup in the 3rd Round and advanced through an unconvincing win against Greenville Triumph, a team two tiers below them in the US Soccer scheme. Charlotte also sits outside the playoffs spots in Major League Soccer and may be looking to play their bench in order to prioritize their league situation. On the other hand, it is their expansion season and perhaps they get in where they fit in and target Cup glory as a way to access the CONCACAF Champions League in 2023. Either route, Kickers just might have a little home-cooking surprise in store for the shiny new pro club.

3. Union Omaha (USL1) vs NoCo Hailstorm (USL1)

Wednesday, 05/11/22 - Caniglia Field, Omaha, NE 10:00 pm (EST)
USL League One side, Northern Colorado Hailstorm opened their inaugural season with a bang by going away to USL Championship club Colorado Spring Switchbacks and beating them 1-0 with a lone goal by Jerry Desdunes. They followed that up in the only way a fairy tale knows how to be written by going to Rio Tinto, the home of Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake, and beating them 1-0 too - this time the winner provided by Robert Cornwall. In that time, they have also won once in their league, drawn once, and lost twice - so there have been some mixed results.

Their hosts for Wednesday’s USOC matchup, is fellow USL League One club, and 2021 Champions of said league, none other than Union Omaha - who also got underway in the 2022 USOC during the second round. First, they hosted last year’s USL League Two Champion, Des Moines Menace, and won 2-1, dominating the match in every positive statistical category. While “Own Goal” gave them the winner, we would be remiss not to give John Scearce credit for his 19’ goal. Union Omaha followed that up with a little giant killing of their own in Round 3, by taking MLS’s legendary Chicago Fire all the way to penalties and advancing 5-4. Again, giving credit to Noe Meza for his regular time goal and Alex Touche for his dramatic 118’ goal to take the match into penalties.

While these two have not yet met in the regular season, that happens in just two weeks, not a lot separates them - Union Omaha have just one win, a pair of draws, and a loss early in the season and have to turn around and travel to Richmond on Saturday to play the Kickers. On the other hand, the season is so early on that maybe these two gamble and go all out in what very well may be a delicious match.

The Round of 32 features several teams who have been successful recently… including Union Omaha

2. Cal United Strikers (NISA) vs LA Galaxy (MLS)

Wednesday, 05/11/22 - Championship Stadium at OC Great Park, Irvine, CA. 10:30 pm (EST)
Depending on how bad traffic is on Tuesday night, LA Galaxy’s 30 mile trip from Carson, California to Irvine California could take between a half hour to an hour and a half… you never know with traffic in SoCal. That being said, California United Strikers’ home field advantage may not amount to much and whatever tickets they didn’t sell to their own fans have absolutely sold out to Galaxy fans who may look at this as a bonus home match for the year. That having been said, don’t count the last NISA side in the tournament, out of it quite yet.

Cal United Strikers, alongside their fellow NISA teams, joined the Open Cup in the second round and on the strength of an Anthony Edward Lopez-Carillo brace, eviscerated San Fernando Valley FC 5-0. Then, in Round Three, they travelled to FC Tuscon and won 2-1 with goals from Omar Nuno and Ryotaro Kawashima. The nine other NISA clubs were knocked out and Strikers are the last representative of their independent professional league - which is fine because they are a great representative of their league. Sitting atop their Western group with four wins and draw in their last five league matches; in fact, they haven’t lost a match since LA Force beat then in September of last year. While they are not a prolific goal-scoring team, they give better than they get and are always in a match.

Meanwhile, LA Galaxy may not be first in their respective Western Conference, they have just as many wins on the season and in a league stacked with squads who play at a higher level. Their recent form, however, is all over the place, including their Round Three win over USL Championship side San Diego Loyal. Kevin Cabral scored the early goal and they held on for the victory by out-passing and out-possessing the Loyal for the ensuing 62 minutes of play. Much like most teams in the competition at this point, Galaxy have a league match on Saturday against FC Dallas, who could leapfrog them in the table with a win. We may see Head Coach Greg Vanney prioritize the league and play his bench in this one.

Conversely, despite having to head up to Bay Cities in Redwood City on Saturday, Cal Unite Strikers’ last league match vs Valley United was postponed and they may be heading into this game on some good rest and willing to go all out to steal a win from a favored opponent.

California United Strikers host some rando MLS team in what should be a very tasty match

1. Detroit City FC (USLC) vs Louisville City FC (USLC)

Tuesday, 05/10/22 - Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck, MI 7:30 pm (EST)
For a whole buffet of reasons, this is the tastiest match of the Round of 32 - first of all, Detroit City FC, the club itself, has a salient point to prove and whether they do that this iteration or next, they will eventually make that point; that a club does not need to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in expansion dues to become one of the biggest and most influential clubs in the land. Heck, they may have actually already proven that point - every lower league darling across the country may not copy directly how DCFC is run, but they surely emulate them as best as possible. For that reason alone, Detroit City FC has already done what MLS teams never could, and that is to give aspiring clubs hope and show them the path to meaningful growth within a broken system.

Add to that the angst and feelings of spurn Northern Guard Supporters always drum up just in front of big events - no supporters group screams at the top of their lungs “everybody hates us and we don’t care” louder than NGS. For their club to win this would be huge, but for them to leverage that attention to raise awareness of essential issues, regardless of what limits their league or federation would wish placed upon them, is gigantic. There are certainly issues of free speech swirling around them now and Tuesday night has the potential to be as enlightening as it will be entertaining.

Detroit City FC first got here by reminding a past league foe that they will always be the better team; soundly defeating Michigan Stars 3-0 and dominating in possession 68% to 32%, out-passing them 557 to 272, and outshooting them 14 to 3. In the following round, DCFC foiled 2-time MLS Champion, 3-time Supporters Shield winners, 2-time USOC Runners-up and 2002 USOC winners Columbus Crew. Despite Crew having more of the ball, Detroit attacked when it mattered, Maxi Rodriguez was the hero and sent the MLS franchise home with a 2-1 loss.

Louisville City, on the other hand, are a whole different kettle of fish - they were untroubled by Chattanooga Red Wolves in the second round, when they entered the tournament, and earned a simple 1-0 win. Wilson Harris with the lone goal - Wilson Harris is also their leading scorer in the league with 5 so far, and 3 assists, so it would be best for DCFC to keep an eye on him. Louisville City then went on to play 120 minutes against MLS Next Pro franchise St Louis II and won on penalties. One might suggest City struggled - but one look at their league form and you can see what they are prioritizing.

With 7 wins, 3 draws, and no losses on the season so far, Louisville City are in a very rich vein of form - they sit atop the East and have not even given up more than 2 goals in a game since their Eastern Semi Final vs Tampa Bay back in 2021. To be fair, Detroit City are also doing well in the league and Head Coach Trevor James has done a masterful job of managing injuries and balancing priorities. These two teams have yet to meet in the regular season (not until August 20), both have matches the following weekend, and both would love to make a statement by advancing to the Round of 16 - but only one can and this looks to be a knock-down, drag-out slugfest.

by Joshua Duder