U.S. Open Cup – Round of 16, Tuesday May 6 | OneFootball

It’s your friendly, neighborhood Qooligan here, positively chuffed that the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is returning for its Round of 16. If you’re more sequentially minded, this is the fourth round of the tournament.

The sixteen winners from Round 3 now get to square up against sixteen teams from the MLS, who by virtue of their high and lofty status, are deemed above playing League 2 and League 1 sides in earlier rounds. Math-oriented readers will quickly realize that with 30 MLS clubs, and only sixteen new additions, this leaves out fourteen clubs. So when do these get to join the fun? In short, they don’t. But don’t feel bad, they deliberately excluded themselves from the competition.

Cynicism aside, we do get sixteen midweek matches that play out AFTER the Champions League semi-finals. Plus, the air is thick with #cupset possibilities as nearly every MLS club will be facing a lower league side. Who doesn’t love a little more soccer to watch? And the potential for a MLS to get knocked down a peg? Amiright?

D.C. United (MLS) vs. Charleston Battery (USL-C)

7:00pm ET @ Audi Field, Washington, District of Columbia Streaming on Paramount+ Both teams played on Saturday in their respective leagues, so neither has any advantage over the other there. Charleston are one of the stronger USL Championship sides, currently third in the West with 5W and 2L. Even though his form has been off, Battery striker Cal Jennings is a major threat that United had best take seriously. For Charleston, the secret to their success is containing Belgian superstar Christian Benteke, whose 10 goals this season represents 77% of the team’s total.

North Carolina FC (USL-C) vs. Charlotte FC (MLS)

7:00pm ET @ First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, North Carolina Streaming on Paramount+ It speaks to the popularity of soccer in North Carolina that we’ve had a Cakalacky head-to-head fixture in every round so far. I hope residents of the Triangle come out to witness this battle in Cary. The odds favor Charlotte, despite a recent dip in form which has seen them drop from first to fourth in the Eastern standings. Pep Biel will be available and if he takes the pitch his wizardry should cause NCFC headaches.

Nashville SC (MLS) vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves (USL-1)

8:00pm ET @ GEODIS Park, Nashville, Tennessee Streaming on Paramount+Despite being neighbors, these two have never faced off in a competitive match. Chattanooga are the more rested side; their last game was back on April 26th where they fell 3 – 1 to Birmingham Legion in the opening round of the Jägermeister Cup. They have advanced out of the previous three rounds via penalty shootout. Nashville are 10th in the overall MLS standings and coming into some form. Watch out for Nashville’s Sam Sturrige and Hany Mukhtar. That duo could wreak havoc among the Red Wolves’ defense.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL-C) vs. New York Red Bulls (MLS)

9:30pm ET @ Weidner Field, Colorado Springs, Colorado Streaming on Paramount+ My underdog supporting heart would love to see a Switchbacks win, but the defending USL champions have struggled this year and have yet to win a game at home. Aside from the elevation, I see few obstacles standing in the Red Bulls path to victory.

Tacoma Defiance (USL-2) vs. Portland Timbers (MLS)

10:00pm ET @ Starfire Sports Stadium, Tukwila, WashingtonStreaming on Paramount+ We have a true #cupset Cinderella story at play here. Tacoma, a 4th tier affiliate club of the Seattle Sounders (who opted out of this year’s U.S. Open due to their participation in the FIFA Club World Cup), will be hosting regional rivals the Portland Timbers. Portland was embarrassed by San Jose on Saturday in a 4 – 1 and will looking to take out their frustration on Tacoma’s young squad.