US Open Cup returns with six local amateur sides eyeing Cupsets

Open Cup Digest #12

The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is back. The 110th edition of America's oldest soccer tournament kicks off this week with a slate of 32 games all pitting amateur teams against professional sides.

The New York area's top-level professional teams from Major League Soccer are back after both the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC didn't compete in the 2024 tournament. However, neither will enter until the Round of 32 later this spring. The tournament-opening First Round is still full of intriguing match-ups that involve amateur sides from in and around the NYC area. 

Will any of the seven local-ish teams pull off a shock Cupset against their professional opponents? Read on as we take you through each game of local interest in this week’s First Round and tell you everything you need to know about it before making some iron-clad Open Cup predictions.

If you can’t go to the games yourself, US Soccer announced on Thursday that First and Second Round matches will be broadcast live, for free on the federation’s YouTube channel. Links to streams of each local game are provided below.

New York City

FC Cincinnati 2 (MLSNP) vs New York Pancyprian-Freedoms (APSL)
Thursday, March 20, 7:30 pm ET at Northern Kentucky University Soccer Stadium, Highland Heights, KY
Watch on YouTube

The defending National Amateur Cup champion, three-time US Open Cup champion, and Astoria, Queens powerhouse Pancyprian-Freedoms are a sneaky bunch in this match. The Freedoms head west to face last season's MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference regular-season champions, FC Cincinnati 2.

After toiling near the bottom of the league in their first two years of existence, head coach Tyrone Marshall and the efforts of FCC's front office seem to have cultivated a strong youth team. The issue here, though, is that consistency is hard to find for a reserve team and FCC 2 has lost its first two games of the season without scoring a goal. Then again, they have Peter Mangione on the squad. Considering his family’s past (alleged) experience with shots in New York, that could be a concern.

The Freedoms are first in the American Premier Soccer League's Metropolitan Conference. Former Houston Dynamo forward Joseph Holland leads the squad with 13 goals and will be with the team in Kentucky. Reportedly, he chose to stay with the Freedoms over joining FC Motown for the Open Cup. The team has a lot of goal scorers, with 50 goals in 14 games this season. It will be tough to get traction against a professional team on the road, but I don’t believe the Freedoms' first Open Cup appearance since 2016 will be a blowout.

Prediction: The Freedoms honestly have the experience edge here. But despite MLSNP being kids, it's still a professional team that trains every day. I expect a 2-1 win for Cincy 2. Maybe Auxilia One will feel some conflict while watching.

Long Island

Columbus Crew 2 (MLSNP) vs NY Renegades FC (UPSL)
Wed, March 19, 6:00 pm ET at Lower.com Field in Columbus, OH
Watch on YouTube

This has the potential to be the biggest bloodbath of the First Round.

This is not an indictment of the Renegades’ talent. The UPSL side is well-equipped, having beaten New York Greek Americans and Lansdowne Yonkers FC during qualifying last Fall. In the last UPSL season, the team scored 52 goals in ten games in their conference, reaching the Round of 16 in the National Playoffs. Center-back Samuel Cáceres played professionally with clubs such as the New York Cosmos, Club Nacional (Paraguay), and Portuguesa FC in Venezuela. Midfielder Omar Campos had a brief stint with Loudoun United FC of the USL Championship in 2019. Probably most interesting, 36-year-old José Nájera played over 100 games with Colombian side Real Cartagena and has a cap with the Colombia national team.

The issues come down to two things: Crew 2’s talent and the temper of the Renegades.

Columbus Crew 2 has been one of the best teams in the short history of MLS Next Pro. They were inaugural league champions in 2022, reached the Final again in 2023, and even with a weaker side, they still reached the Eastern Conference Final last year. Former MLS forward Federico Higuaín is in his first season with the team as Head Coach, but considering the formula, I wouldn’t be worried. The team’s leading goal scorer from last season, United States Under-17 forward Chase Adams, is back.

The other issue: Past experience with the Renegades points to a team that doesn’t handle losing well. Renegades player Yohance Alexander will be available for this game after serving a three-game suspension by USSF, a punishment that came after he allegedly threatened a referee during a 2024 Open Cup qualifier.

Prediction: Renegades will let in a goal or two, get aggressive, and will be shown a red card before the end of the night. 5-0 to the Capybaras.

Long Island Rough Riders (USL2) vs Charlotte Independence (USL1)
Thur, March 20, 7:00 pm ET at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, NY
Watch on YouTube

The Rough Riders are back in the USOC for the first time since 2018 and for the 10th time in team history.

The group from South Huntington, Long Island, founded in 1994, is one of the oldest teams in the United Soccer League system. In that time, the group has become a cornerstone of New York soccer - which includes a lot of famous alumni. One recent example is MLS SuperDraft pick Nico Cavallo, who was picked by New York City FC as the 88th pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft and signed a MLS contract at the end of preseason, making three appearances to date in 2025.

This year in the USOC, the Rough Riders roster includes past talent, some ex-pros, and a handful of college players. That includes former Chicago Fire II and US Youth National Team defender Carlo Ritaccio, who is returning to his former team for the tournament.

On the other side, the Independence are a fortified, professional bunch. The defense is solid, with experienced veterans like Nick Spielman, Mike DeShields, and Clay Dimick. The team still lacks a top striker, but former MAC Hermann Trophy winner Jon Bakero did join the team for this year. This is a team with time and patience, and one that will piss off defenses. Against college kids, you usually just need to wait them out.

Prediction: Against a well-formed professional team, the Riders are in for a long night on Long Island. Take the Independence, 2-0.

Upstate New York

Hartford Athletic (USLC) vs New York Shockers (NPSL)
Tues, March 18, 6:30 pm ET at Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford, CT
Watch on YouTube

The Shockers are making their USOC debut at a good time.

Since joining the National Premier Soccer League in 2021, the Albany squad has seen a ton of upward momentum. A dark horse run to the Regional playoffs in 2022, an Amateur Cup debut last year, and now a USOC match against Hartford. Head coach John Adeseko has been able to build a group around a core unit of returning players each year, while also snagging some young college talent that helped the team win its second North Atlantic Conference title last summer. The question will become how much of that roster will be available on Tuesday night.

On the other side, Hartford Athletic is sort of stuck. Last season was supposed to be the big year for Connecticut's professional soccer team. A big name signing in Renan Ribeiro only lasted one season and the club still missed the playoffs in 2024. Still the group has made improvements, especially on defense. USL journeyman and former Cuba national team defender Adrián Diz is a big grab for a team trying to cut the number of goals allowed.

Prediction: Last year’s loss to New York City FC II in the Third Round was the first time Hartford ever went one-and-done in the Open Cup. Considering how close that game was, and knowing Hartford generally can take on amateur sides, I don’t think the Shockers are going to be too much of a threat. Athletic wins, 3-0.

New Jersey

New Jersey Alliance FC (UPSL) vs Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL1)
Tue, March 18, 7:00 pm ET at Lubetkin Field, NJ Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ
Watch on YouTube

Of all the locals, New Jersey Alliance has the best shot of pulling off a Cupset.

Simply put, despite the United Premier Soccer League side being in their offseason, the team from Lyndhurst, NJ has been busy. The lower-division side took the unprecedented step of holding preseason in Ecuador, playing professional teams in friendly matches. NJAFC beat Liga Deportiva Universitaria de El Carmen in a shootout before falling to Serie B side CD Quevedo. Overall, this is a solid set of high-caliber amateur talent. Not a lot of former professional experience, but enough in place to run a lower division table.

Not to mention the team’s top goal scorer from qualifying still wants his chance against New York Red Bulls star Emil Forsberg.

Compare them to Chattanooga, a team traveling hundreds of miles for this game while in organizational distress. Last month, team general manager and president Sean McDaniel stepped down for unannounced reasons. According to various sources, the team is running bare bones in terms of staff. This comes after past controversy regarding alleged coaching staff abuse of players. Not to mention, the team on paper isn’t that good. Last year’s leading goal scorer Ropapa Mensah is off the team and the replacements don’t look like they can do much.

Prediction: NJAFC will overpower and stun the East Ridge Red Wolves, 3-1.

FC Motown (NPSL) vs Westchester SC (USL1)
Tue, March 18, 7:30 pm ET at Montclair State University (MSU) Soccer Park, Montclair, NJ
Watch on YouTube

The defending National Premier Soccer League national finalists are back in the Open Cup, but their Cupset window seems to be closing.

In the face of the dreaded offseason Open Cup game, FC Motown has been able to form a pretty decent outfit. They have former Birmingham Legion players Eli Crognale and Anderson Asiedu, ex-New York Red Bulls ecosystem players like Joe Fala and Chris Bermudez, and other regular Motown talent like Danny Cordiero and Maudwindo Germain – who was on trial with NYCFC II in February.

FC Motown has announced its roster for tomorrow’s 2025 U.S. Open Cup First Round match against Westchester SC of USL League One. There’s a lot of New York Red Bulls connections. Former Academy, U23, & #NYRBII players. Plus ex-USL talent and Gary Speed’s son! #RBNY #USOC2025

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— Michael Battista (@battista.bsky.social) March 17, 2025 at 10:10 PM

Motown’s biggest concern will come down to goal scoring. Having watched the team in preseason, they have solid defense and ball-playing ability. However, the lack of a finisher up top was noticeable against NYCFC II trialists and amateur side Hoboken FC 1912. One of the better players from the preseason, former St. Louis City 2 striker Stanislav Koval, isn’t on the USOC roster. Though Eddie Speed, the son of Welsh international legend Gary Speed, is.

They take on the new local team on the block in Westchester SC. The USL League One expansion side is coming on the scene with a lot of bang, especially on the roster. Former New York Red Bulls player Kemar Lawrence and lots of other big-name talents are here. Still, the team’s first game earlier this month wasn’t anything to write home about. The 1-1 draw against Greenville Triumph SC saw two penalty kick goals, with Juan Carlos Obregón scoring WSC’s first-ever goal.

I like a lot of what I’ve seen from Westchester and, on paper, they should be fine to handle an out-of-season Motown team.

Prediction: But I’m not paper. I have questions about WSC’s defense and don’t like Motown’s offense. Someone is gonna crack here. I have this going to extra time, Motown eeks out a 2-1 win.