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Three PDL sides record shock upsets in second round of U.S. Open Cup

Photo by Reading United AC.

The second round of the 2017 U.S. Open Cup just wrapped up, and there have already been some major upsets in the early stages of the tournament.

Reading United, the Philadelphia Union’s PDL affiliate, recorded one of the biggest upsets of the night as they defeated the defending NASL champions, the New York Cosmos, 3-2, on Wednesday night. This marks the third time that Reading has reached the third round since 2013.

Elsewhere, the Michigan Bucks knocked off Indy Eleven, 1-0, at home, Chicago FC United cruised past the USL’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 3-1, and amateur side Christos FC eliminated the Richmond Kickers.

The third-round matches will be played on May 31. The winners will advance to face the MLS sides in mid-June.

Here is a closer look at the results from the second round:

RESULTS

Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL) 3, Jacksonville Armada U-23 (NPSL) 0

Reading United AC (PDL) 3, New York Cosmos (NASL) 2

Chicago FC United (PDL) 3, Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL) 1

Michigan Bucks (PDL) 1, Indy Eleven (NASL) 0

Atlanta Silverbacks (NPSL) 1, Charleston Battery (USL) 2

Richmond Kickers (USL) 0, Christos FC (Maryland) 1

Rochester Rhinos (USL) 3, FC Motown (New Jersey) 0

Boston City FC (Massachusetts) 1, GPS Omens (Massachusetts) 2

Miami United FC (NPSL) 1, Jacksonville Armada (NASL) 2

Carolina Dynamo (PDL) 1, North Carolina FC (NASL) 6

Charlotte Eagles (PDL) 2, Charlotte Independence (USL) 3

Tartan Devils Oak Avalon (Pennsylvania) 0, Louisville City FC (USL) 9

FC Cincinnati (USL) 1, AFC Cleveland (NPSL) 0 (AET)

Miami FC (NASL) 3, South Florida Surf (PDL) 2

Ocean City Nor’easters (PDL) 0, Harrisburg City Islanders (USL) 0 (6-7 PKs)

FC Wichita (NPSL) 3, Saint Louis FC (USL) 4 (AET)

Dutch Lions FC (NPSL) 1, San Antonio FC (USL) 2

Tulsa Roughnecks FC (USL) 5, OKC Energy U-23 (PDL) 3

OKC Energy FC (USL) 5, Moreno Valley Fútbol Club (California) 1

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL) 2, FC Tucson (PDL) 0

Fresno Fuego (PDL) 1, Phoenix Rising FC (USL) 3

FC Golden State Force (PDL) 2, Orange County SC (USL) 5

L.A. Wolves FC (California) 1, Chula Vista FC (California) 0 (AET)

Sacramento Republic FC (USL) 4, vs. Anahuac FC (Nevada) 0

San Francisco Deltas (NASL) 2, vs. Burlingame Dragons (PDL) 1

OSA FC (NPSL) 1, Reno 1868 FC (USL) 1 (3-4 PKs)

Comments

  1. If Christos can get past PDL side Chicago FC United, they would face DC United. That would be an interesting match-up.

    Reply
  2. I watched some bits of Richmond – Christos FC, and Christos FC were definitely the more hungrier and determined side. Seems the amateurs were more confident and composed on the ball than the USL side. It looked like they were playing for their last pay check despite not being full time pros.

    Reply
  3. Also, a pretty rough night for the NASL, losing two of it’s better teams. The other guys need to step it up next round or they’re going to continue the narrative that they are D2 in name only.

    Reply
  4. I was a little disappointed to see how few people were viewing the USOC streams last night (usually a couple hundred people), even though US Soccer went to all the trouble of putting links on a landing page that could easily be found on their site. You would think the legion of pro/rel advocates in message boards across the country would take the time to support the only open competition in the US.

    Reply
    • Tex, good points, especially regarding some of the pro/rel crowd. Considering the zeal shown in some of he usual suspects posts, it’s a bit surprising hat there isn’t more interest.

      On the other hand, maybe most of the people actually tuning in are the people that we’re calling out.

      Unfortunately, we’ll never really know…

      Reply
      • True. It would be interesting to see a breakdown of viewers by fan affiliation, reason for watching or other metrics. My guess would be mostly team fans and USOC fans.

        The type of fans that constantly harp on pro/rel often have an air of snobbery imo, which makes me think they consider watching these games beneath them, the early games especially. For example, the Indy Eleven game vs. the Michigan Bucks was being played in some indoor facility that resembled a tomato can and many games looked like they were played on HS football fields.

      • The Bucks play at Ultimate Soccer, and it is a fine facility.

        Plus, the Bucks beating a pro team in USOC is not exactly uncommon. We do it on the regular.

    • You would think the legion of pro/rel advocates in message boards across the country would take the time to support the only open competition in the US.

      I think that’s an extreme stretch. By that virtue, it’d be comparing why a first round/second round match of the Carling Cup doesn’t acquire the same amount of viewership as a typical EPL match on a Saturday/Sunday morning.

      Same sport, but completely different entities. Connecting the dots on that false analogy is something a contortionist would appreciate.

      Reply
      • To be clear I’m not saying the USOC is the same as MLS. Let me clarify:

        People, like Peter Wilt for example, that have helped build soccer in this country say that the biggest thing working against pro/rel is the gap between MLS and the lower tiers. I clearly mentioned that the games are lacking aesthetically, but I guess it was implied that watching does indeed demand some level of sacrifice from the the would be audience (or at least duel monitors). Ultimately you can’t say you support pro/rel without supporting local soccer/lower division soccer on some level outside of wishing it were so. Can you connect the dots yet buddy?

      • Ultimately you can’t say you support pro/rel without supporting local soccer/lower division soccer on some level outside of wishing it were so.

        Sure you can.

        Your inability to understand why the crowd wants Pro/Rel has nothing to do with a cup, outside of a few MLS clubs, clubs quite clearly don’t even care about. That’s evident by the rosters even in the latter stages.

        The dots your trying to connect is about as laughable as your ignorance on the topic, evidently. Take notes next time the discussion comes up if you’re still lacking an understanding because this has nothing to do with the topic.

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