Memphis 901 FC erased an early first-half deficit on Wednesday night to eliminate 2019 U.S. Open Cup winners Atlanta United.
Philip Goodrum’s 96th minute penalty kick helped force extra time at Fifth Third Bank Stadium before Nighte Pickering’s eventual winning goal in the 100th minute led Memphis 901 FC past the Five Stripes 2-1. Veteran goalkeeper Bill Hamid made one save for the USL visitors as the Five Stripes became one of two MLS clubs eliminated in third round action.
Tyler Wolff’s third-minute opener propelled Gonzalo Pineda’s squad in front as the young attacker finished off Luiz Araujo’s pass for a 1-0 Atlanta United lead.
Luiz Fernando and Bruno Lapa were both denied by Clement Diop as Lapa’s pair of shots in the 32nd minute kept the visitors chasing a tying goal.
Memphis 901 FC continued to pressure until the final whistle and were rewarded with a last-gasp penalty kick after Goodrum was fouled in the box by Juan Purata. Goodrum stepped up and slotted home his effort, forcing 30 minutes of extra time.
Fernando was once again denied by Diop, this time in extra time, but Nighte Pickering delivered the winning goal off Fernando’s pass in the 100th minute. It was the 18-year-old’s second goal of the season across all competitions.
Machop Choi forced Hamid into his only save of the night just minutes later, but Atlanta United would not be able to force penalties.
Here is a closer look at this week’s U.S. Open Cup results:
Sounders 5, San Diego Loyal 4 (After Extra Time)
The Seattle Sounders received a major scare in their third-round tie with the San Diego Loyal on Wednesday night, but used a last-gasp penalty kick winner from Fredy Montero to escape in extra time.
Fredy Montero scored twice for the Sounders in a thrilling 5-4 result which forced both teams to play 120 minutes at Starfire Sports Complex. Ethan Dobbelaere, Reed Baker-Whiting, and Paul Rothrock all scored for the Sounders as well while veteran midfielder Joe Corona scored twice for the visiting Loyal.
Montero’s 123rd minute penalty kick helped seal the Sounders berth into the fourth round after the MLS hosts were pegged back on multiple occasions.
Montero originally broke the deadlock after 15 minutes before Dobbelaere’s close-range finish doubled Seattle’s lead in the 26th minute.
Joe Corona cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 53rd minute from the penalty spot, but Seattle would use Paul Rothrock’s first senior goal two minutes later to regain its two-goal advantage.
Corona’s stellar free kick kept San Diego in the tie at 3-2 before Kyle Adams’ long-range missile in the 93rd minute would force extra time.
Reed Baker-Whiting and Jackson Kasanzu traded goals in the extra time periods, before Kasanzu was whistled for a penalty in the dying moments of stoppage time. Travian Sousa drew the penalty kick and Montero stepped up to seal Seattle’s fourth round berth in dramatic fashion.
FC Cincinnati 1, Louisville City 0
FC Cincinnati rekindled its rivalry with Louisville City FC on Wednesday as Pat Noonan’s squad eliminated their local rivals by a 1-0 scoreline.
19-year-old Arquimides Ordonez scored the winning goal for FC Cincy while veteran goalkeeper Alec Kann registered a five-save clean sheet.
Louisville City FC had the early pressure at TQL Stadium as Cameron Lancaster and Manny Perez were denied by Kann in the opening minutes.
Wilson Harris was also repelled midway through the second half before Alvaro Barreal created FC Cincy’s first shot on goal in the 77th minute.
Barreal would connect with Ordonez in the 85th minute before the Guatemala international slotted home from close range. FC Cincy would hang on to book its spot in the fourth round this May.
Monterey Bay F.C. 1, San Jose Earthquakes 0
The San Jose Earthquakes became the first MLS club eliminated from this season’s U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday after falling to Monterey Bay F.C. by a 1-0 scoreline.
Christian Volesky’s first-half goal proved to be the winner as the USL Championship hosts advanced into the fourth round. Antony Siaha made four saves in net for Monterey Bay F.C. while Luchi Gonzalez’s squad lacked the cutting edge in the final third.
Volesky’s strike in the 26th minute broke the deadlock as Monterey Bay F.C. put the Quakes under early pressure. His right-footed shot nestled into the middle of the net forcing San Jose to press for an equalizer.
Jackson Yueill’s long-range shot was denied by Siaha just two minutes later keeping Monterey Bay F.C. in front.
Jeremy Ebobisse and Tanner Beason were both denied after halftime as the USL hosts stayed in front. San Jose failed to muster up an equalizing goal as the MLS visitors were condemned to elimination.
Here is a closer look at this week’s scores:
Tuesday
Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2, Maryland Bobcats FC 0
Charleston Battery 1, Charlotte Independence 0
New England Revolution 2, Hartford Athletic 1
Detroit City FC 1, Minnesota United 3
Charlotte FC 4, South Georgia Tormenta FC 1
St. Louis CITY SC 5, Union Omaha 1
Sporting KC 3, Tulsa Athletic 0
Monterey Bay FC 1, San Jose Earthquakes 0
Wednesday
Loudoun United 5, Flower City Union 0
FC Cincinnati 1, Louisville City FC 0
D.C. United 1, Richmond Kickers 0
Atlanta United 1, Memphis 901 FC 2
Columbus Crew 1, Indy Eleven 0
Miami FC 2, Inter Miami 2
Tampa Bay Rowdies 0, Houston Dynamo 1
Birmingham Legion FC 1, Chattanooga FC 1
Chicago Fire 3, Chicago House 0
Nashville SC 1, San Antonio FC 0
New Mexico United vs. Phoenix Rising
Colorado Rapids 3, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC 1
Sacramento Republic FC vs. Oakland Roots SC
Las Vegas Lights FC vs. Real Salt Lake
Seattle Sounders vs. San Diego Loyal
Potland Timbers vs. Orange County SC