U.S. Open Cup first round regional recap: South Carolina Heat, Miami United shock MLS NEXT Pro; Chattanooga Chaos, and more

What a week. The first round of the U.S. Open Cup kicked off last week and was a fantastic opening act to the most historic tournament in the country. Games around the country went down to the wire, and plenty of surprise upset winners rose to national glory (or at least the next round). Let’s review the games involving teams in the Southeast region and see who moved onto the second round.

March 19

Chattanooga FC (MLSNP) 0-1 Miami United FC (NPSL)

The first game of this year’s tournament was a fantastic one, with amateur side Miami United FC shocking MLS NEXT Pro newcomers (but longtime existing) Chattanooga FC on the road. The game’s deciding goal was the best of the first round, with left winger Jhon Pajoy, a 35-year-old Colombian making his club debut, hitting a wonderful free kick from 30-35 yards out into the top left corner.

After the early goal, Chattanooga never really had a strong reply. While it dominated most of the match with 69% possession, it only had 7 shots (none on target) and Miami saw out the game to advance.

Brave SC (USL2) 0-2 Savannah Clovers FC (NISA)

Brave SC, formerly The Villages SC (yes, that huge retirement town near Florida’s turnpike), hosted Savannah Clovers of NISA and put up a good fight before ultimately losing to the higher-quality opponent.

Savannah’s first goal, by debutant center forward Roddy Green, was a good, persistent finish, putting away a rebound after his first attempt was blocked.

The second Savannah goal, just before halftime, was fantastic. Chaos in the back line after a possible foul missed by the referee led to Vladimir Jokic smashing a rebound from the first blocked Clovers shot into the bottom right corner from 20 yards out.

And, while Brave SC ended up with more possession and shot attempts, it couldn’t convert and the more physical Savannah side left with the win.

South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL1) 1-0 FC America CFL Spurs (NPSL)

Statesboro’s professional squad Tormenta got their first win of the 2024 season Tuesday night against the Spurs of Lake Mary, Florida, just outside Orlando.

The Spurs impressively qualified for the U.S. Open Cup on their first time trying, but their hopes for their first win in the tournament were quickly fading away after Nick Akoto met Ajmeer Spengler’s cross with a beautiful diving header that flew into the bottom right corner.

The Spurs kept the game way too close for comfort throughout as both sides traded chances, but neither side created any significant threats in the final third, meaning Tormenta saw out a clean sheet and a morale-boosting win that can hopefully lead to better results in USL1.

March 20

South Carolina United FC (USL2) 0-1 Greenville Triumph SC (USL1)

The semi-pro South Carolina United FC Bantams, based in Columbia, hosted the first-ever professional team to play in the city according to the Bantams, Greenville Triumph SC. The Bantams had a great fan atmosphere cheering against a large crowd of traveling Triumph fans. The Triumph fans were the only ones who got to go home happy.

In the 45th minute, Triumph forward Leonardo Castro met a great cross hit to the back post that ended up being the lone and decisive goal of the match. This goal was all the Triumph needed, as the Bantams had chances but their woeful passing undid them (57% passing accuracy) in the end.

Asheville City SC (USL2) 0-2 One Knoxville SC (USL1)

A rivalry known as the Smoky Mountain series between Knoxville and Asheville formed when both were semi-professional, and now it has been reborn since One Knoxville’s move up to USL1. Knoxville won the last matchup in 2022 and set their sights on another win with a nice chip into the top left corner by Rodolfo Castro after a great ball across goal in the 13th minute.

Knoxville made it 2-0 right before halftime as Calum Johnson snuck in a near-post effort after running in from the back post.

While Jalen Crisler was sent off after receiving a second yellow card in the 61st minute, Knoxville saw out the win over their rivals, meaning they got to keep the matchup’s trophy, the Golden Hiking Boot.

March 21

Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL1) 4-2 Brockton FC United (UPSL)

One of the best games in round 1 of the cup was the Red Wolves’ exhilarating 4-2 win over Boston-area 4th-tier side Brockton FC United. Omar Hernandez’s first professional goal opened the scoring from the penalty spot, followed by another penalty conversion by Chevone Marsh in the second half.

However, Brockton managed to pull the game back in the most dramatic way possible, first by a Wuilito Fernandes header in the 89th minute (no video) and then by a beautiful header to the left side of goal by Leonardo Teixeira in the 95th minute!!!

However, the cupset was not meant to be for Broxton, as substitute forward Ropapa Mensah scored two incredible goals in the 116th and 120th minute! The first was an impressive header into the top left corner, and the second was firing a shot over the Brockton keeper, who flew out of his box way too early, and over defenders into an empty net. Absolute scenes in Chattanooga as they advance to the second round.

Crown Legacy FC (MLSNP) 0-1 South Carolina United Heat (UPSL)

The Heat, based in Columbia with the Bantams, pulled off one of the shocks of the tournament, but not without late drama. That late drama included a penalty miss by the Legacy in the 88th minute that flew over the crossbar.

Then, the Heat, the team that lost to Charlotte FC’s academy team in the UPSL Mid-Atlantic division final, was able to knock off the club’s second team with their own 95th(!!!) minute penalty conversion by Wilterlynd Inalien. The upset is even more impressive considering that the Heat only had 30% of possession throughout the match.

Here’s video from the celebrations:

This is true passion.

Georgia Lions SC (NISA) FORFEIT to Apotheos FC (NPSL)

Before the end of the article, it should be mentioned that the Georgia Lions, a team that moved from Conyers to Dalton before even kicking a ball, had to forfeit their round 1 match to Apotheos FC, a 4th division side that currently plays out of Silverbacks Stadium in Atlanta, because they couldn’t put their roster together in a timely manner. This move corresponds with the 3 other newcomers to NISA going through the same struggles, pushing NISA’s season start date into April.

And that’s it for the round one regional recap! We cannot wait for round 2 to begin on April 2-3.