After five MLS teams booked a Round of 16 ticket in the US Open Cup on Tuesday night, another seven secured their own bids Wednesday night – many against lower-division opposition.
Here's how MLS clubs fared as the Round of 32 winds down, with a lengthy weather delay pushing the Minnesota-Colorado match to Thursday.
Richmond Kickers 1, Charlotte FC 5
MLS expansion side Charlotte FC kept their first US Open Cup dream alive with a 5-1 win at USL League One side Richmond Kickers on Wednesday night.
After an opener from Charlotte's Daniel Rios, Richmond fought back to equalize through a 53rd-minute strike from ZacarÃas Morán Correa. But Charlotte exploded for three goals in the immediate aftermath of the leveler, with Yordy Reyna restoring the lead in the 54th before a brace from McKinze Gaines put the contest out of reach.
Recently-acquired forward Andre Shinyashiki added another insurance tally with an 86th-minute finish for Charlotte's final goal.
Goals
New England Revolution 5, FC Cincinnati 1
The New England Revolution are through to the Round of 16 after topping FC Cincinnati, 5-1, at Gillette Stadium behind a hat trick from Carles Gil and a brace from Adam Buksa.
The sides traded goals in the first half, with Cincinnati's Alvaro Barreal opening the scoring in the 12th minute, only for the Revs to equalize on 34 minutes via a penalty kick from Gil. The reigning MLS MVP then put New England out in front with his second just three minutes later, beating goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer from atop the box.
That set the Revs on their way to the blowout result, as Buksa earned his brace with goals in the 47th and 57th minutes, with Gil completing his hat trick through a 54th-minute strike in between. The Polish striker went airborne on his first before netting a long-range curler, helping boost new Revolution goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic's first-team debut.
Goals
New York City FC 3, Rochester New York FC 1
New York City FC are into the Open Cup's next round courtesy of a 3-1 victory over MLS NEXT Pro side Rochester New York FC, winning the Empire State derby.
The MLS NEXTers held NYCFC off the scoresheet through the opening 20 minutes, but the Cityzens struck for a pair before the end of the first half, with the opener coming from Thiago Andrade on 23 minutes on a lofted volley. Heber doubled the advantage just past the half-hour mark.
Jesus Batiz gave Rochester a lifeline with a back-post tap-in that cut NYCFC's lead in half during first-half stoppage time, but Maxime Chanot's 76th-minute headed finish to make it 3-1 ensured there would be no Cupset.
NYCFC nearly added a fourth in the 90th minute, though Gedion Zelalem's attempt from the spot was denied and winger Gabriel Pereira was red-carded a minute later, having set up Andrade's beauty earlier.
Goals
Houston Dynamo FC 1, San Antonio FC 0
Houston Dynamo FC avoided the Cupset fate Austin FC met a round earlier against San Antonio FC, beating the in-state USL Championship side 1-0 behind a late header from Sebastian Ferreira.
The Paraguayan international striker nodded home a cross from Sam Junqua in the 82nd minute at PNC Stadium, making Houston the last Texan team alive in the 2022 Open Cup after FC Dallas were bounced a night earlier.Â
Goals
- 82' - HOU - Sebastian Ferreira | WATCH
Nashville SC 3, Atlanta United 2
Atlanta United nearly became the first team to defeat Nashville SC at newly-opened GEODIS Park, but instead relinquished a 2-0 lead and took a 3-2 defeat thanks to a late equalizer from CJ Sapong and an extra-time winner from Ethan Zubak.
Thiago Almada opened the scoring on 13 minutes, running onto a feed from Andrew Gutman and depositing home a close-range finish. Luiz Araujo then added Atlanta's second in highlight-reel fashion just before the half-hour mark, setting himself up with a gorgeous touch off an assist from Marcelino Moreno and smashing home a clinical first-time volley.
Nashville pulled one back in the 50th minute from the penalty spot after Atlanta's Alan Franco was whistled for a foul in his own area on Ake Loba, allowing Hany Mukhtar to cut the lead in half with a spot-kick.
The hosts thought they leveled from Walker Zimmerman's head in the 79th minute off Mukhtar's free kick, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Replays showed Franco keeping several Nashville players onside.
Sapong ensured Nashville found their equalizer, heading home a feed from Brian Anunga to make it 2-2 and sending the home crowd into a frenzy. The celebration really got started at GEODIS Park in extra time, when Zubak struck for a 93rd-minute game-winner to send Nashville through.
Goals
Cal United Strikers FC 2, LA Galaxy 3
The LA Galaxy left it late but avoided the Cupset with a 3-2 win over NISA side Cal United Strikers, reaching the Round of 16 at Championship Soccer Stadium.
LA Galaxy II defender Owen Lambe, who signed a short-term loan agreement ahead of the match, gave the MLS side a lead in the 80th minute. The visitors also got two penalty kicks from striker Dejan Joveljic, in the 45th and 83rd minutes, to help fuel the comeback result.Â
Cal United took a 19th-minute lead through Shinya Kadono, then the third-division side pulled one back in the 88th minute through Kevin Garcia-Lopez. But the late flurry fell short, and the hosts couldn't force extra time.
Goals
Seattle Sounders FC 2 (9), San Jose Earthquakes 2 (10)
The San Jose Earthquakes booked a road upset in the only penalty-kick shootout of the night, topping Seattle Sounders FC 10-9 in PKs after the match finished tied 2-2 in regulation and extra time at Starfire Sports Complex.
The visitors surged to a 2-0 lead, opening the scoring through a 10th-minute penalty kick from Jack Skahan, then doubling their advantage thanks to a 50th-minute breakaway finish from homegrown attacker Cade Cowell.
But the Sounders struck back and equalized, as Jimmy Medranda cut the lead in half with a free-kick golazo in the 54th minute. Fredy Montero then found the leveler on 77 minutes, heading home a cross from Kelyn Rowe.
Neither side managed to score in extra time, setting up a dramatic penalty shootout that was all level at 9-9 going into the 11th round. Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland had his spot-kick saved, while Quakes goalkeeper Matt Bersano converted his attempt to send San Jose through.
Goals
Minnesota United FC 2, Colorado Rapids 1
In a game that started Wednesday night and resumed Thursday afternoon due to a severe weather delay, Minnesota United FC overcame a late red card and got a highlight-reel game-winner from Emanuel Reynoso to beat the Colorado Rapids 2-1 and enter the Round of 16.
The match picked up in the 18th minute and with a 1-1 scoreline, with Minnesota's Abu Danladi and Colorado's Nicolas Mezquida scoring in the first act at Allianz Field.
The Rapids went up a man in the 83rd minute when Minnesota center back Brent Kallman was sent off for a foul on Jonathan Lewis that drew a second yellow card. But Colorado couldn't capitalize on the man-advantage, instead yielding the opener just four minutes after Kallman's ejection.
It was a moment of magic from Reynoso, who danced through a pair of Colorado defenders on the right side of the penalty area and cashed home an inch-perfect finish to the far post.
Goals
