By FRANCO PANIZO
NASL clubs made their entrances into the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, and the majority of them lived to fight another day.
Six of eight NASL representatives won their respective third-round matches, setting up some intriguing fourth-round showdowns with debuting MLS teams. The six clubs to reach the next round of the competition were the New York Cosmos, Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, San Antonio Scorpions, Minnesota United FC, and Indy Eleven.
The Cosmos beat NPSL’s Brooklyn Italians, 2-0, to book a match against the New York Red Bulls while Indy Eleven defeated USL Pro side Dayton Dutch Lions, 5-2, to schedule a date with the neighboring Columbus Crew. The other MLS-NASL match-ups in Round 4 include Sporting Kansas City-Minnesota United FC, FC Dallas-San Antonio Scorpions, Chivas USA-Carolina RailHawks, and Real Salt Lake-Atlanta Silverbacks.
The two Florida-based NASL clubs were the ones that failed to advance from their opening game. The Ft. lauderdale Strikers suffered a 3-2 defeat to PDL outfit Laredo Heat and the Tampa Bay Rowdies were handed a 4-1 mauling by I-4 rivals Orlando City.
Here is a full rundown of the third round results in the Open Cup and the fourth-round matches:
THIRD ROUND RESULTS
(USLP) Richmond Kickers 2-1 Greek American AA (USASA)
(NASL) New York Cosmos 2-0 Brooklyn Italians (NPSL)
(PDL) Baltimore Bohemians 2-4 Harrisburg City Islanders (USLP)
(USLP) Rochester Rhinos 2-1 aet Reading United AC (PDL)
(NASL) Indy Eleven 5-2 Dayton Dutch Lions (USLP)
(USLP) Pittsburgh Riverhounds 3-2 aet RWB Adria (USASA)
(PDL) Des Moines Menace 0-1 Minnesota United FC (NASL)
(NASL) Ft. Lauderdale Strikers 2-3 Laredo Heat (PDL)
(NASL) San Antonio Scorpions 4-2 NTX Rayados (USASA)
(USLP) Arizona United SC 2-1 aet Oklahoma City Energy FC (USLP)
(USLP) Sacramento Republic 6-0 Fresno Fuego (PDL)
(NASL) Carolina RailHawks 2-0 Charlotte Eagles (USLP)
(USLP) LA Galaxy II 0-0 (1-3 pks) PSA Elite (USASA)
(NPSL) Chattanooga FC 0-5 Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL)
(USLP) Charleston Battery 2-2 (11-12 pks) Orlando City U-23s (PDL)
(USLP) Orlando City 4-1 Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL)
FOURTH ROUND MATCHES
(USLP) Richmond Kickers vs. New England Revolution (MLS)
(NASL) New York Cosmos vs. New York Red Bulls (MLS)
(MLS) Philadelphia Union vs. Harrisburg City Islanders (USLP)
(USLP) Rochester Rhinos vs. D.C. United (MLS)
(MLS) Columbus Crew vs. Indy Eleven (NASL)
(MLS) Chicago Fire vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USLP)
(MLS) Sporting Kansas City vs. Minnesota United FC (NASL)
(MLS) Houston Dynamo vs. Laredo Heat (PDL)
(MLS) FC Dallas vs. San Antonio Scorpions (NASL)
(USLP) Arizona United SC vs. LA Galaxy (MLS)
(MLS) San Jose Earthquakes vs. Sacramento Republic (USLP)
(NASL) Carolina RailHawks vs. Chivas USA (MLS)
(MLS) Seattle Sounders vs. PSA Elite (USASA)
(NASL) Atlanta Silverbacks vs. Real Salt Lake (MLS)
(MLS) Portland Timbers vs. Orlando City U-23s (PDL)
(MLS) Colorado Rapids vs. Orlando City (USLP)
—–
What do you think of the Open Cup’s third-round results? Which games in Round 4 are you most excited by?
Share your thoughts below.