The 2023 U.S. Open Cup Spherical of 16 featured two main upsets with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Birmingham Legion FC reaching the quarterfinals.
The Riverhounds eradicated MLS opposition for the second-consecutive spherical, defeating the Columbus Crew 1-0 at Highmark Stadium on Wednesday. Albert Dikwa’s first-half objective paired with Jahmali Waite’s three-save clear sheet propelled the USL Championship facet into the ultimate eight.
Dikwa continued his spectacular home marketing campaign by boosting the Riverhounds in entrance 1-0 after 22 minutes. Robbie Mertz’s by ball go was slotted dwelling by Dikwa, propelled the hosts forward.
Thomas Roberts’ long-range shot within the 52nd minute was denied by Waite earlier than Gibran Rayo was additionally denied by the Jamaican goalkeeper. Nonetheless, the Crew had been unable to actually check Waite for the rest of the match, bowing out within the Spherical of 16.
Edward Kizza was despatched off in stoppage time for the Riverhounds, which may rule him out of competition within the subsequent spherical. Wednesday’s win clinched Pittsburgh’s first quarterfinal berth since 2001.
Here’s a nearer have a look at this week’s U.S. Open Cup outcomes:
Birmingham Legion FC 1, Charlotte FC 0
Birmingham Legion grew to become the second USL crew to punch their ticket to the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday after blanking Charlotte FC 1-0 at Protecting Stadium.
Prosper Kassim’s long-range strike within the sixtieth minute was all of the Legion wanted to shock their MLS guests.
Kerwin Vargas and Karol Swiderski had been each denied within the opening phases of the match whereas Brandon Cambridge struck the left put up after 28 minutes. Each Vargas and Swiderski had been repelled once more earlier than halftime as Legion goalkeeper Trevor Spagenberg made 4 first-half saves.
Charlotte FC had been diminished to 10 males within the 51st minute following Adilson Malanda’s second yellow card, giving Legion an additional man benefit the remainder of the best way.
Juan Agudelo arrange Kassim within the sixtieth minute earlier than the winger raced up subject and drilled a left-footed shot into the bottom-left nook for a 1-0 lead.
Agudelo and Anderson Asiedu had extra offensive probabilities later within the match to increase the Legion’s benefit, however each had been denied by Kristijan Kahlina.
The Legion did nicely to run down the remaining time, sealing a fourth Open Cup win this 12 months, and a 3rd on dwelling soil.
Dynamo 4, Loons 0
The Houston Dynamo superior to the quarterfinals after utilizing a hat trick from Corey Baird to get rid of Minnesota United on Tuesday evening.
Baird scored three objectives whereas Ibrahim Aliyu additionally added his first senior objective in a 4-0 dwelling victory over the Loons. Kervin Arriaga was despatched off within the thirty eighth minute for the Loons, earlier than the Dynamo added three extra objectives within the second half.
Baird’s opener got here from the penalty spot within the thirty third minute after Bongokuhle Hlongwane was whistled for a handball. The veteran ahead made no mistake, drilling his penalty kick down the center of the Loons internet.
Arriaga’s ejection simply 5 minutes later put the Loons in a significant gap for the remainder of the match.
Baird prolonged the Dynamo’s result in 2-0 within the 68th minute after Amine Bassi’s go was chipped dwelling down the center of the web.
Ibrahim Aliyu’s long-range strike within the 79th minute made it 3-0 Dynamo earlier than Aliyu assisted Baird for his hat trick end simply 10 minutes later.
Andrew Tarbell registered a three-save clear sheet to cap off the Dynamo’s excellent evening.
LAFC 0, Galaxy 2
The LA Galaxy used a full power squad in Tuesday’s journey to Los Angeles FC and made the defending MLS Champions pay.
Tyler Boyd and Riqui Puig scored three minutes aside within the early phases of the second half to steer the Galaxy previous LAFC 2-0 at BMO Stadium.
Nathan Ordaz and Danny Crisostomo had been each denied by Jonathan Klinsmann within the first half whereas Puig was repelled twice by Eldin Jakupovic. Jakupovic saved LAFC stage going into halftime after denying Puig from the penalty spot within the thirty fourth minute.
Nonetheless, the Galaxy would discover their opening objective within the second half earlier than including an insurance coverage tally not lengthy after. Tyler Boyd’s left-footed missile into the top-left nook broke the impasse after 49 minutes earlier than Puig lastly discovered the again of the web after Marky Delgado’s help.
Klinsmann was stellar in objective, making six saves to earn a clear sheet on the street.
Regardless of enjoying a number of LAFC2 gamers, Steve Cherundolo’s squad held their very own, however couldn’t discover a approach again after happening.
Listed below are all of this week’s U.S. Open Cup outcomes:
Inter Miami 2, Nashville SC 1
Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1, Columbus Crew 0
New York Crimson Bulls 1, FC Cincinnati 1 (FC Cincy superior 5-3 on penalty kicks)
Houston Dynamo 4, Minnesota United 0
LAFC 0, LA Galaxy 2
Birmingham Legion FC, Charlotte FC
Austin FC, Chicago Hearth
Colorado Rapids, Actual Salt Lake