MLS teams enter the U.S. Open Cup's third round Tuesday night, and while plenty of regional bouts headline the night's slate, the non-regional ones carry some of the top story lines.
The Seattle Sounders begin a third straight Open Cup title defense at home on Wednesday night against the NASL's Atlanta Silverbacks. Atlanta was supposed to host the match, but the teams came to an agreement, with Seattle making an offer that Atlanta accepted to move the match to the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash.
U.S. youth national team defender Gale Agbossoumonde and his Carolina RailHawks will get tested by the Los Angeles Galaxy, who have to make the cross-country trek for the match. The other MLS team with the roughest travel for the third round is Colorado, as the Rapids face the Tampa Bay Rowdies down in Florida.
Elsewhere, the two defending champions from the lower tiers of U.S. Soccer, Orlando City SC (USL Pro) and the Minnesota Stars (NASL) have tough matchups against Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake, respectively. Also, the three remaining amateur sides will look to keep their shock runs going, with Cal FC going up against the Portland Timbers, Michigan Bucks facing the Chicago Fire and Ventura County Fusion taking aim Chivas USA.
Here are all of the third-round matchups along with the pairings for the following round:
U.S. OPEN CUP THIRD ROUND (all times Eastern)
Richmond Kickers vs. D.C. United, 7 p.m.
Carolina RailHawks vs. Los Angeles Galaxy, 7 p.m.
Harrisburg City Islanders vs. New England Revolution, 7 p.m.
Michigan Bucks vs. Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m.
Columbus Crew vs. Dayton Dutch Lions, 7:30 p.m.
Philadelphia Union vs. Rochester Rhinos, 7:30 p.m.
Charleston Battery vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.
FC Dallas vs. Charlotte Eagles, 8:30 p.m.
Sporting Kansas City vs. Orlando City SC, 8:30 p.m.
San Antonio Scorpions vs. Houston Dynamo, 8:30 p.m.
Real Salt Lake vs. Minnesota Stars FC, 9 p.m.
Seattle Sounders vs. Atlanta Silverbacks, 10 p.m. (Wednesday)
Ventura County Fusion vs. Chivas USA, 10 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers, 10:30 p.m.
Portland Timbers vs. Cal FC, 10:30 p.m. (Wednesday)
FOURTH-ROUND PAIRINGS
Seattle Sounders/Atlanta Silverbacks vs. Portland Timbers/Cal FC
New England Revolution/Harrisburg City Islanders vs. New York Red Bulls/Charleston Battery
Chivas USA/Ventura County Fusion vs. Los Angeles Galaxy/Carolina RailHawks
Real Salt Lake/Minnesota Stars vs. San Jose Earthquakes/Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Colorado Rapids/Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Sporting Kansas City/Orlando City SC
Houston Dynamo/San Antonio Scorpions vs. FC Dallas/Charlotte Eagles
Columbus Crew/Dayton Dutch Lions vs. Chicago Fire/Michigan Bucks
D.C. United/Richmond Kickers vs. Philadelphia Union/Rochester Rhinos
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Are you heading out to any Open Cup matches tonight? Which MLS teams do you see getting knocked off in the third round? Can you see any of the amateur sides advancing to the next round?
Share your thoughts below.