The U.S. Open Cup dream is still very much alive for Cal FC.
Former Real Salt Lake forward Artur Aghasyan's goal in the fifth minute of extra time gave the United States Adult Soccer Association side a stunning 1-0 victory over the Portland Timbers at Jeld-Wen Field Wednesday night and sealed the club's unlikely place in the fourth round.
Aghasyan's goal, the first one ever scored by a USASA team against an MLS team, came in the midst of a number of missed chances for the Timbers, none more golden than Kris Boyd's 80th-minute penalty kick, which the Designated Player forward missed badly.
The result capped a round in which half of the MLS participants were eliminated by lower-tier teams, making for some potential deep Cinderella runs. Two amateur sides remain — Cal FC and Michigan Bucks — and two of the fourth-round matchups are guaranteed to be won by non-MLS teams.
Here are all of the fourth-round matchups for the U.S. Open Cup:
U.S. OPEN CUP FOURTH ROUND (all games June 5)
Carolina RailHawks vs. Chivas USA, 7:07 p.m.
Harrisburg City Islanders vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
D.C. United vs. Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Michigan Bucks vs. Dayton Dutch Lions, 7:30 p.m.
Sporting Kansas City vs. Colorado Rapids, 8:30 p.m.
San Antonio Scorpions vs. Charlotte Eagles, 8:30 p.m.
Seattle Sounders vs. Cal FC, 10:30 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Minnesota Stars FC, 11 p.m.
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What did you think of this past round of the Open Cup? Are you on the Cal FC bandwagon? Which teams do you see advancing to the quarterfinals?
Share your thoughts below.