US Open Cup: FC New York, Harrisburg, Rochester, Pittsburgh, Richmond, Charlotte, Orlando City Among Clubs Advancing

The Lamar Hunt US Open truly got under way with 16 games involving teams from the third level of US Soccer and below on Tuesday.


At Queens, New York:


The New York Pancyprian-Freedoms (United States Adult Soccer Association, which is the fifth level of soccer in the United States) defeated the visiting Brooklyn Italians (National Premier Soccer League, fourth level) 2-1.


At Garden City, New York:


FC New York (USL Pro League, third level) blanked the visiting Western Mass Pioneers (Premier Development League, fourth level) 3-0.


At Harrisburg, Pennsylvania:


The Harrisburg City Islanders (USL Pro) defeated visiting Reading United (PDL) 2-1.


At Rochester, New York:


The Rochester Rhinos (USL Pro) downed visiting Phoenix SC from Pennsylvania (USASA) 2-1.


At Bridgeville, Pennsylvania:


The Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL) outlasted visiting Chattanooga FC (NPSL) 3-2.


At Richmond, Virginia:


In a battle of USL Pro clubs, the Richmond Kickers dominated the visiting Dayton Dutch Lions 4-1.


At Browns Summit, North Carolina:


The Charlotte Eagles (USL Pro) defeated the Carolina Dynamo (PDL) 3-1 on the road.


At Wilmington, North Carolina:


The Wilmington Hammerheads (USL Pro) proved way too much for the visiting Central Florida Kraze (PDL) 4-0.


At Orlando, Florida:


The ASC New Stars from Houston (USASA) proved no match for Orlando City (USL Pro) as the hosts breezed to a 4-0 victory.


At Charleston, South Carolina:


The Charleston Battery (USL Pro), with goals from Niki Patterson (PK-47') and Dane Kelly (77'),  blanked visiting Regals FC from Houston (USASA) 2-0.


At Madison, Wisconsin:


The Madison 56ers (NPSL) demolished the visiting AAC Eagles from Chicago (USASA) 4-0.


At West Des Moines, Iowa:


Chicago Fire Premier (PDL) knocked off the Iowa Menace (USASA) 1-0 on the road.


At Highlands Ranch, Colorado:


Real Colorado Foxes (PDL) demolished the visiting DV8 Defenders from Redwood City, California (USASA) 5-0.


At El Paso, Texas:


After 120 scoreless minutes in a battle of PDL clubs, Steve Mohn, David Gray, Elliot Fauske, Mark Lee, Nik Besagno, and Bryan Burke all converted their spot kicks as the Bremerton, Washington-based Kitsap Pumas knocked off the hosts Chivas El Paso Patriots 6-5 in the penalty-kick shootout.


At Riverside, California:


The Los Angeles Blues (USL Pro) defeated the visiting Hollywood United Hitmen (NPSL) 3-1


At Ventura, California:


The Ventura County Fusion downed visiting Doxa Italia from Manhattan Beach, California (USASA) 3-1.


Here are the matchups for the second round proper:


New York Pancyprian-Freedoms vs. FC New York


Harrisburg City Islanders vs. Rochester Rhinos


Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. Richmond Kickers


Charlotte Eagles vs. Wilmington Hammerheads


Orlando City vs. Charleston Battery


Madison 56ers vs. Chicago Fire Premier


Real Colorado Foxes vs. Kitsap Pumas winner


Los Angeles Blues vs. Ventura County Fusion


All these games are scheduled to take place next Tuesday.


The winners would advance to the Round of 16.  This is where eight US-based Major League Soccer clubs (Chicago, Columbus, FC Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Real Salt Lake, Sporting Kansas City, and two-time defending champions Seattle) will start seeing action.


Since the North American Soccer League did not receive their provisional sanctioning as the second division of US soccer on time, no NASL clubs were invited to take part in this year's competition.