U.S. Open Cup third round: Cinderella stories from lower divisions take center stage as USL sides enter

While the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup reaches the third round (which can all be seen Paramount+), Cinderella stories keep shining. El Farolito insured the price because he was the furthest amateur side for the Second consecutive edition of the tournament. While the USL championship teams are starting to enter into the competition, some of the Feel-Good stories about the early rounds of the tournament can start to end. Will MLS next professional sides, Tacoma Defiance and Columbus Crew II continue long enough to face MLS teams?

Even new teams such as Portland Hearts of Pine and FC Naples get their names there with early victories in the competition. Only eight teams can continue to the fourth round, where MLS parties start playing, but these are the times when the path to the US Open Cup -final shape starts to take. A lower division side has not made the final since 2022, when the Republic of Sacramento fell to Orlando City SC, but this is a year in which that could change.

Of MLS change the qualification of the Cup competition For teams within the competition, teams that qualified for the Concacaf Champions Cup will only participate, together with the Leagues Cup. Other teams that only qualified for the Leagues Cup will participate in the Open Cup, while parties that did not end high enough in the table to qualify for the Leagues Cup only participate in the Open Cup. Some of those teams that do not participate are replaced by their MLS Next Pro teams, but opening opportunities for teams in other divisions to make some noise.

Who are some of those teams to keep an eye on?

Portland Hearts of Pine seems to make noise in their first season

Portland Hearts of Pine debuts in USL League One, Portland Hearts from Pine is one of the newest teams in the block and it is only appropriate that they will have a pretty successful regional rival in Rhode Island FC. Under Khano Smith, Rhode Island made the USL Cup in their first season of playing and will want to follow it with more success. Portland will not only use this as an opportunity to test themselves against their region, but they have also unveiled a new mascot for the occasion Moxie The Moose. Given that things like lambs have become cult heroes during earlier campaigns for open cup, could Moxie be the newest improbable star of this competition?

The following professional sides will continue

In the Columbus Crew II and Tacoma Defiance there are chances that two MLS next pro -sides can pass the third round. Only last season Carolina Core passed this phase, but that could change this season. Columbus Crew II Spits Chase Adams has already made a name for themselves on the U-17s, Score 10 goals in a matchBut in this open cup he shows up with his creative eye with three assists so far. So far, this has put forward the Crew II and will test the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. For the resistance they will be confronted with an Oakland Roots side that are not strangers to end, also feel good stories, which causes a considerable collision.

Who takes control of Florida?

FC Naples is another USL League One -Debutant who makes noise, making the third round of the tournament. Opposite a Rowdies side of Tampa Bay that is historically one of the best in USL, they get the chance to make some noise in the midst of the unrest in Tampa. After a bad start to the season, the Rowdies Robbie Neilson fired, so Steve Coleman will serve as an interim head coach for this competition. Naples fly high in the competition one, undefeated by six games and this will be a chance to really show that they have arrived by beating above their weight to beat in-state rivals in Tampa Bay.

They are still Farolito here

Post against the Republic of Sacramento, this could be the must -watch. Sacramento has not had a shortage of success in open cup game, while El Farolito shows that their football setup is sustainable despite their amateur status. Named after a popular Burrito spot in San Francisco, teams such as El Farolito can produce the best things to get out of this tournament, with the magic of the cup. Under the name San Francisco CD Mexico, this team won the Open Cup in 1993, while Sacramento Republic made the final in 2022, so these will be both teams that want to go as far as possible.

Our Open Cup schedule

Always Eastern, all competitions available on Paramount+

Tuesday, April 15

• Columbus Crew II vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 6 p.m.
• Louisville City FC vs. Loudoun United, 7 pm (CBS Sports Network))
• Charlotte Independence vs. North Carolina FC, 7 pm
• Portland Hearts of Pine vs. Rhode Island FC, 7 pm (CBS Sports Golazo Network)
• Charleston Battery vs. Torenta FC, 7:30 PM
• Union Omaha vs. San Antonio FC, 8 p.m.
• AV Alta FC vs. Orange County SC, 10 pm (CBS Sports Golazo Network)
• Tacoma Defiance vs. Oakland Roots, 10.30 p.m.

Wednesday April 16

• FC Naples vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies, 7 pm (CBS Sports Golazo Network)
• Detroit City FC vs. Westchester SC, 7 pm
• Indy Elf vs. Miami FC, 7:30 PM
• FC Tulsa vs. Phoenix Rising, 8 p.m.
• Colorado Springs FC vs. One Knoxville SC, 9 p.m.
• New Mexico United vs. El Paso Locomotive, 9:30 PM (CBS Sports Golazo Network)
• Sacrament Republic vs. El Farolito FC, 10 p.m. (CBS Sports Network))
• Las Vegas Lights vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves, 10.30 p.m.