Cinderella danced on Tuesday night in the second round of the 100th Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, but a pair of MLS-affiliated U-23 teams were knocked off nonetheless.
The Seattle Sounders U-23s (PDL) opened the night with a one-sided 3-0 loss to the Charlotte Eagles of the USL PRO, while the Portland Timbers U-23s closed it with a closer, but nonetheless futile 1-0 loss against the Charleston Battery (USL PRO). Seattle's and Portland's U-23s were the final two MLS-affiliated youth teams still in the tournament.
Several of their PDL brethren had more luck against the second-flight NASL and third-flight USL PRO sides on the evening, with four PDL teams advancing to the third round. Reading United beat Pennsylvania neighbors Harrisburg City Islanders 1-0, while the Ocean City Nor'easters knocked off the Pittsburgh Riverhounds by that same margin.
Later in the evening, the Des Moines Menace topped NASL's Minnesota United 1-0, while FC Tucson beat the heavily favored San Antonio Scorpions on penalties.
Reading, Ocean City, Des Moines and Tucson are the final four amateur teams left in the competition. All the NPSL (fifth tier) and USASA (sixth tier) have been eliminated.
MLS teams will enter the competition next week in the third round.
Here are the complete second-round results, with home teams listed first:
- FINAL: Richmond Kickers (USL PRO) 4-1 Icon FC (USASA)
- FINAL: Reading United AC (PDL) 1-0 Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO)
- FINAL: Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) 4-1 (AET) Dearborn Stars (USASA)
- FINAL: Carolina RailHawks (NASL) 3-1 Carolina Dynamo (PDL)
- FINAL: Ocala Stampede (PDL) 1-2 Orlando City (USL PRO)
- FINAL: Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) 3-0 Seattle Sounders U-23 (PDL)
- FINAL: Georgia Revolution (NPSL) 2-3 Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL)
- FINAL: Ocean City Nor'Easters (PDL) 1-0 Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO)
- FINAL: Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) 1(7)-1(6) Laredo Heat (PDL)
- FINAL: VSI Tampa Bay (USL PRO) 1-2 Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL)
- FINAL: Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) 1-0 GPS Portland Phoenix (PDL)
- FINAL: Minnesota United FC (NASL) 0-1 Des Moines Menace (PDL)
- FINAL: San Antonio Scorpions (NASL) 2(3)-2(4) FC Tucson (PDL)
- FINAL: Austin Aztex (PDL) 0-2 Wilmington Hammerheads (USL PRO)
- FINAL: LA Blues (USL PRO) 5-1 Ventura County Fusion (PDL)
- FINAL: Portland Timbers U-23 (PDL) 0-1 Charleston Battery (USL PRO)
