The 2023 U.S. Open Cup rolls on this week with the next slate of MLS clubs entering the competition.
The LA Galaxy enter the fourth round with a tricky home showdown with the Seattle Sounders. Seattle outlasted USL side San Diego Loyal 5-4 in the third round while the Galaxy face their first opponent of the 2023 edition.
Los Angeles FC will try and avoid being the second MLS club eliminated by Monterey Bay FC on Tuesday night. Monterey Bay FC ousted the San Jose Earthquakes in the third round by a 1-0 scoreline and will throw everything they have at the defending MLS Cup Champions.
Elsewhere, FC Cincinnati welcomes New York City FC to TQL Stadium while DC United and the New York Red Bulls resume their East Coast rivalry.
Here is a closer look at this week’s U.S. Open Cup schedule:
Galaxy vs. Sounders
Wednesday, 10:30 p.m. ET
Two of the multi-time winners of the U.S. Open Cup will meet in Carson with aspirations of reaching the fifth round.
Brian Schmetzer’s Sounders are coming off a disappointing home loss to Sporting KC on Sunday and will be focused on bouncing back. Reed Baker-Whiting and Obed Vargas are two young players who have earned longer minutes in MLS play and could be called on to lead the way midweek. Ethan Dobbelaere is also a candidate to start after scoring against San Diego Loyal in the last round.
The LA Galaxy have been horrendous in MLS play this season and might need a cup run to grow the confidence in the squad. Back-to-back losses to Orlando City and the Colorado Rapids have Greg Vanney’s men sitting 13th in the Western Conference. Tyler Boyd, Jalen Neal, and Preston Judd all came off the bench on Saturday and could be in contention to start for the Galaxy on home soil.
FC Cincinnati vs. NYCFC
Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. ET
FC Cincinnati and New York City FC square off for the first time in 2023 ahead of two MLS meetings later in the year.
NYCFC heads to TQL Stadium after back-to-back league defeats to Toronto FC and Charlotte FC. Nick Cushing’s men were blanked by the Canadian club before watching Richie Ledezma’s own goal condemn to a recent 3-2 road loss at Bank of America Stadium vs. Charlotte FC. Cody Mizell and Matt Freese will fight to start in between the posts for NYCFC while Stephen Turnbull is a promising talent up from the MLS NEXT Pro affiliate, NYCFC II.
FC Cincinnati is riding a four-match unbeaten run heading into Wednesday’s contest, blanking Louisville City FC 1-0 in the third round. Six different players have contributed goals over this recent unbeaten run including 19-year-old Arquimides Ordonez, who delivered the winner vs. Louisville City FC. Ordonez and Isaiah Foster are two young talents to watch for FC Cincy after earning minutes at the MLS NEXT Pro level.
New York Red Bulls vs. DC United
Tuesday – 7:30 p.m., ET
One of the Eastern Conference’s biggest rivalries also takes place this week with MSU Soccer Park serving as the host venue.
DC United visits the New York Red Bulls fresh off the back of a 2-1 road loss to FC Cincinnati on Saturday. Wayne Rooney watched as his side suffered their first defeat since April 8 this past weekend. Taxi Fountas and Christian Benteke normally lead the line for DC United, but Rooney will be expected to go with some younger options in hopes of keeping his stars fresh for league play. Jackson Hopkins and Kristian Fletcher are two of those young players will be pushing to start.
The New York Red Bulls will have a new head coach on the sidelines following Gerhard Struber’s firing on Monday. Troy Lesesne was appointed as the new Red Bulls head coach after joining the club ahead of the 2022 season. Lesesne might be eager to give his consistent first teamers a run out this week in hopes of finding two his long-term starters might be this summer. Wikelman Carmona has impressed with Red Bulls II and will be among the players with plenty to prove this week.
Monterey Bay FC vs. LAFC
Tuesday – 10:30 p.m. ET
Defending MLS Cup champions Los Angeles FC makes the trip to Monterey Bay FC on Tuesday with hopes of avoiding an upset against the USL hosts.
LAFC advanced to the Concacaf Champions League Finals last week after eliminating the Philadelphia Union, but slipped up in MLS play on Saturday against rivals San Jose Earthquakes. Denis Bouanga’s lone goal against the Quakes was the only promising moment for Steve Cherundolo’s squad, who suffered their first domestic loss of 2023. With LAFC already having one eye on the upcoming CCL Finals, Erik Duenas and Christian Torres could be among the starters for LAFC this week.
Monterey Bay FC eliminated the Earthquakes in third round play and will be fighting to do the same to LAFC in front of their home fans. Frank Yallop’s squad are riding a seven-match unbeaten run in all competitions, tying each of their last two USL matches. Alex Dixon leads the team with seven goals while Christian Volesky has four tallies of his own, including scoring the winner against San Jose last month.
Here is a full schedule of this week’s U.S. Open Cup action.
Tuesday
Charlotte FC vs. Orlando City – 7 p.m. ET
Inter Miami CF vs. Charleston Battery – 7 p.m. ET
New York Red Bulls vs. DC United – 7:30 p.m. ET
New England Revolution vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – 7:30 p.m. ET
Chicago Fire vs. St. Louis CITY SC – 8 p.m. ET
Minnesota United vs. Philadelphia Union – 8 p.m. ET
Monterey Bay FC vs. Los Angeles FC – 10:30 p.m. ET
Sacramento Republic FC vs. Colorado Rapids – 10:30 p.m. ET
Wednesday
FC Cincinnati vs. New York City FC – 7 p.m. ET
Loudoun United FC vs. Columbus Crew – 7 p.m. ET
Birmingham Legion FC vs. Memphis 901 FC – 8 p.m. ET
Nashville SC vs. FC Dallas – 8:30 p.m. ET
Houston Dynamo vs. Sporting KC – 8:30 p.m. ET
Austin FC vs. New Mexico United – 9 p.m. ET
LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders – 10:30 p.m. ET
Potland Timbers vs. Real Salt Lake – 10:30 p.m. ET