The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup resumes Wednesday night with Third Round action across the United States, as lower-division professional clubs enter the tournament in 15 matchups which will determine the opposition for MLS teams in next month's Fourth Round.
One match has already taken place, as the Rochester Rhinos of USL PRO edged PDL side Reading United AC 2-1 on Tuesday night in an extra-time thriller decided by a 119th-minute goal from Colin Rolfe. Rochester will now host defending Open Cup champions D.C. United at Sahlen’s Stadium on Tuesday, June 17, at 7:05 pm ET.
US Soccer has selected Tuesday's Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) vs. Indy Eleven (NASL) match at Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis as its “Game of the Round,” meaning that the clash will be streamed live on the federation's website (7:30 pm ET). The winner travels to Columbus to face the Crew on June 17.
Wednesday night's slate opens in Towson, Md., as the Baltimore Bohemians (PDL) host the Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO) at Calvert Hall College High School at 5:30 pm ET. The winner advances to meet the Philadelphia Union on June 10 or June 17.
Further south, New York Greek American Atlas (USASA) visit 1995 Open Cup champions the Richmond Kickers (USL PRO) at Richmond City Stadium at 7 pm ET. The winner will face the New England Revolution next month. If Richmond advances they'll host, while Greek American Atlas will travel to New England should they win.
Chicago-area amateur side RWB Adria, one of the bracket's surviving Cinderella candidates, visit Houston Dynamo affiliate the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO) for another 7 pm ET kickoff, with the victor slated to face the Chicago Fire on June 18.
In a keenly anticipated local clash at Belson Stadium on the campus of St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y., Brooklyn Italians SC (NPSL) face off against the New York Cosmos of NASL. It marks the first-ever Open Cup appearance for either incarnation of the Cosmos, and Tuesday's winner can look forward to another backyard brawl next month, as the New York Red Bulls await in the Fourth Round.
There's also a Carolina derby on tap for 7:30 pm ET, as the NASL's Carolina RailHawks host USL PRO side Charlotte Eagles at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. The winner will host Chivas USA on June 14 or June 17.
At the same time the Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) will meet Chattanooga FC (NPSL) at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn. The survivor of this matchup pays host to 2013 Open Cup finalists Real Salt Lake on June 14 or June 18.
Orlando City's U-23 side (PDL) journeys to South Carolina to duel the Charleston Battery (USL PRO), also at 7:30 pm ET, and the winner will advance to a Fourth Round clash with the Portland Timbers next month. The date and location of that match will depend on which team wins on Tuesday.
Further south, PDL side Laredo Heat drop in on the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) at the Strikers' Lockhart Stadium home at 7:45 pm ET. The victor will travel to Houston for a meeting with the Houston Dynamo on June 11.
At 8 pm ET, Orlando City's first team (USL PRO) welcomes the Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) to the Seminole Soccer Complex in Sanford, Fla. The winner will visit the Colorado Rapids on June 10 or June 17.
North Texas Rayados (USASA), another amateur side, meet the San Antonio Scorpions (NASL) at Toyota Field in San Antonio at 8:30 pm ET. The winner plays at FC Dallas on June 14.
At the same time, Minnesota United FC (NASL) travel to Iowa for a matchup with the Des Moines Menace (USASA) for the right to face 2012 Open Cup winners Sporting Kansas City on June 18.
Oklahoma City Energy FC, the new USL PRO club coached by former Sporting KC goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen, meet Arizona United SC (also USL PRO) at the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona at 10:30 p.m. ET. The LA Galaxy will travel to face the winner on one of two dates next month.
At the same time, PSA Elite (USASA) will take on Galaxy II, LA's USL PRO reserve team, at StubHub Center's Track & Field Stadium in Carson, California. The winner advances to a meeting with the Seattle Sounders on June 18; the Sounders will visit Galaxy II if they win, while Seattle will host should PSA Elite pull off the upset tonight.
In another Golden State showdown, Fresno Fuego (PDL) go to Charles C. Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, California to play USL PRO's Sacramento Republic at 10:30 pm ET. The winner plays the San Jose Earthquakes at San Francisco's Kezar Stadium on June 11.
