By DAN KARELL
Against the odds, four Premier Development League (PDL) sides came through victorious in the second round of the U.S. Open Cup, defeating professional opposition on Tuesday evening.
FC Tucson outlasted the NASL’s San Antonio Scorpions on the road on penalty kicks, winning 4-3 after the score was level at 2-2 following regulation and extra time. The Des Moines Menace took down Minnesota United of the NASL on the road, 1-0, thanks to a goal from Brandon Fricke in the 86th minute, while the Ocean City Nor’easters defeated the USL-Pro Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 1-0, at home.
Finally, Reading United defeated nearby rivals Harrisburg City Islanders of USL-Pro by a score of 1-0.
Dreams for amateur sides Icon FC (4-1 defeat to USL-Pro Richmond Kickers), Dearborn Stars (4-1 defeat after extra time to USL-Pro Dayton Dutch Lions), and the Georgia Revolution (3-2 defeat to NASL Atlanta Silverbacks) were put to an end with losses on Tuesday.
The four PDL sides who advanced will face Major League Soccer opposition in the third round of the competition next week. FC Tucson will visit the Houston Dynamo, the Des Moines Menace will face Sporting Kansas City, the Ocean City Nor’easters will take on the Philadelphia Union, and Reading United will play the New York Red Bulls.
Here’s a closer look at all the action from the second round of the U.S. Open Cup:
(USL-Pro) Richmond Kickers 4, (USASA) Icon FC 1 (REPORT)
(USL-Pro) Dayton Dutch Lions 4, (USASA) Dearborn Stars 1 (AET) (REPORT)
(PDL) Ocala Stampede 1, (USL-Pro) Orlando City SC 3 (REPORT)
(USL-Pro) Charlotte Eagles 3, (PDL) Seattle Sounders U23’s 0 (REPORT)
(USASA) Georgia Revolution 2, (NASL) Atlanta Silverbacks 3 (REPORT)
(NASL) Carolina RailHawks 3, (PDL) Carolina Dynamo 1 (REPORT)
(PDL) Reading United 1, (USL-Pro) Harrisburg City Islanders 0 (REPORT)
(USL-Pro) VSI Tampa Bay FC 1, (NASL) Tampa Bay Rowdies 2 (REPORT)
(PDL) Ocean City Nor’easters 1, (USL-PRO) Pittsburgh Riverhounds 0 (REPORT)
(NASL) Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1, (PDL) Laredo Head 1 (7-6 on PK’s) (REPORT)
(USL-Pro) Rochester Rhinos 1, (PDL) Portland Phoenix 0 (REPORT)
(NASL) Minnesota United FC 0, (PDL) Des Moines Menace 1 (REPORT)
(NASL) San Antonio Scorpions 2, (PDL) FC Tucson 2 (3-4 on PK’s) (REPORT)
(PDL) Austin Aztex 0, (USL-Pro) Wilmington Hammerheads 2 (REPORT)
(USL-Pro) Los Angeles Blues 5, (PDL) Ventura County Fusion 1 (REPORT)
(PDL) Portland Timbers U23’s 0, (USL-Pro) Charleston Battery 1 (REPORT)